Now, first of, I'd like to note this isn't some "New Yorker" sort of gay publication. It's always full of sex articles, the raunchier the better. So the focus on sex is not actually something they themselves as the publication (and presumably their readers) see as bad. Also, as a gay publication, they choose to focus often on homosexuality in the various fandoms.

Aparently, the kitten wanted a bath. Reuters reports on a kitten who jumped into the spin cycle of a washing machine. The cat (named Sylvester) is doing fine, even though he's wants another spin...

According to this article (free registration required) in the New York Times, all great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and humans) are so close that none of them could be considered 'animals'. It quotes advocates from the Great Ape Project, a group advocacating "human" rights for all of the great apes.

I really don't seek out news about sea turtles, but this article was a little too weird for me to pass up. Weird, sad, but funny in an ironic kind of way. Satellite-tracked sea turtle ends up being eaten. Scientists hope to recover their expensive transmitter at some point.

The Library of Congress Professional Association's

What IF... Discussion Forum for Science Fiction and Fantasy present

There's currently an article in the New York Times (free reg. req.) about the rainforests and national parks in eastern Congo that are being destroyed to mine for mud. Slashdot has also covered it, you might be able to find the article from the Times in the comments to avoid registration.

Some folks haven't heard, even though I've posted it up on my comic strip, Stalag '99. My grandfather, Ray Fulton (a resident of Nova Scotia), recently died. While my Canadian relatives have helped with transportation, some costs were incurred and we wish to repay them as well as try to get back on our feet a bit. Thus, any print and commission ordered through Stalag '99, as well as any Stalag '99 wares through Cafe Press, and any WolfSkunk Designs prints, will go to offsetting the costs. You may also donate though the Stalag '99 web site. I've posted more information there, and will answer any related questions in the forums there. --Kelly "STrRedWolf" Price, WolfSkunk Designs

Nature's Guard is an animated series created by myself, Jonathan Bryans -- I thank you for the announcement on your site -- Just to let you know, I have signed Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok, Willow) to the project to do voices -- also, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) is coming on and we are talking with Mark Hamill's (Luke Skywalker) agent to bring him on -- I will continue to forward you information as it comes out.

We also have a 3 issue comic book mini-series coming out, starting in February of 2002 from Warpton Comics in the UK.


www.naturesguard.com

Jonathan Bryans

(creator of Nature's Guard)

Fans of talking-animal transformation stories should enjoy the Danish animated feature "Help! I'm a Fish" ("Hjelp! Jeg er en fisk"), about three children turned into fish and their adventures while trying to become human again. It was released in October 2000 throughout Scandinavia, and in April 2001 in France and Germany, getting excellent reviews there and at the Annecy (France) International Animation Festival in June. The British release was scheduled for 10 August, so an English-language version does now exist. English-language previews are available on the animation studio's website: http://www.helpfish.com/default1.html.

British author Garry Kilworth's 1997-1999 talking-animal trilogy "The Welkin Weasels" (v.1, Thunder Oak; v.2, Castle Storm; and v.3, Windjammer Run) has proven popular enough that Kilworth is adding a second trilogy to the series. It has just started with v.4, Gaslight Geezers. If the first trilogy can be summarized as "Robin Hood with weasel good-guy outlaws fighting stoat nobility", the new trilogy is "Sherlock Holmes with weasels". Very witty. This is a British series with no American edition, so those interested should look for it at Amazon.co.uk. The specific page with cover illustration is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0552547042/.

COONTRAX
Official newsletter of ConiFur NorthWest
October 26th-28th
Fife, WA (15 miles south of SeaTac Airport)

In this issue:

FROM THE TOP - Conchair James "Tibo" Birdsall
FURSUIT MASQUERADE - Announcing plans and recruiting fursuits
CHARITY AUCTION - Help out local ferrets!
ART SHOW UPDATE - Artist Information Packets mailed
VOLUNTEER / STAFF MEETING / BBQ - Free food!
SPONSOR SUPPORT - Help fellow furries make it to ConiFur
HOTEL RESERVATIONS - Get your reservations in soon!
CARTOONS & CEREAL - Even more free food!
DAILY NEWSLETTER - The _Daily Howl_
PROGRAM BOOK ARTWORK - We need your illustrations for the 2001 Program Book

I've noticed the website has recieved a marked increase in traffic, post-Anthrocon, despite doing practically no advertising at the convention. To all you new readers: I hope you're enjoying the site! I plan to do more advertising at upcoming conventions with the hope of increasing readership further. To facilitate this, a few issues have to be taken care of. Read more to see what my plans for the next three months include.

Suggested by our own Toraneko, Kaisha.cx (run by two Florida Furs) is now collecting donations to apply toward the Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS! This is really just to get the word out -- as noted in our FAQ, it doesn't matter if you donate money through Kaisha, through the PAWS website, buy a membership with PAWS, or Adopt one of the animals yourself... just do something!

ConiFur is looking for black and white art, cartoons, stories, and poems for this year's convention book. Deadline is September 15. They are also accepting advertisements. The full announcement appears when you click "Read more" below.

A man wearing only boxer shorts climbed into the Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit at the Bronx Zoo, claiming he wanted to be "at one with the monkeys". Zoo employees herded the gorillas away to their feeding cages while police arrested the man. Click here for the story.

(Aside: I'mot sure what category this story belongs in, but I'm beginning to think Micah was right - we need a Weirdos category.)