| Bucktown Plays in the Snow |
[Feb. 9th, 2010|06:15 am] |
It's a winter wonderland outside, and the weather outside is frightful, but I'm a Siberian tiger, so let it snow! I just wish I had a one-horse open sleigh with jingle bells... but since I don't, I'll make a snowman. I'll call him Frosty. =^_^=
(x-posted to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) fursuit_videos) |
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| Today's JPP |
[Feb. 7th, 2010|01:44 pm] |
Today is the date of the National Football League Championship game, commonly known as the Super Bowl, featuring the New Orleans Saints defeating the Indianapolis Colts (hopefully). It is by far the biggest Sunday in American sport. However, it will not be the biggest Sunday in sport worldwide this year.
The World Cup Final is watched by upwards of 700 million people worldwide, or fully one-ninth of the entire earth's population. This compares with a worldwide Super Bowl audience of around 150 million people. However, in the United States in 2006 (the last year where comparable stats are avilable), 91 million viewers tuned in to the Super Bowl (Pittsburgh vs. Seattle), versus 16.9 million viewers for the World Cup Final (Zinedine Zidane's forehead vs. Rammstein). This 16.9-million was comparable to the NBA finals and World Series of that year, but was less than the viewership of the 1999 Women's World Cup Final, in which the United States defeated China on penalty kicks, earning Brandi Chastain a permanent spot in my photographic memory archives.
With those numbers, I am curious as to just how large a viewership a men's World Cup Final appearance by the United States would generate. In particular, whether it would be larger than the Super Bowl. And of course, I'd like your input... so without further adieu, today's Journal People Poll to you LiveJournal readers is:
Poll #1522586 Super Bowl vs. World Cup
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 32Which of these do you think would draw more TV viewership in the United States?
Comments welcome. Geaux Saints! Go USA! |
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| Furry Fiesta Pre-registration: Only One Day Left! |
[Jan. 30th, 2010|09:10 am] |
Only One Day Left to Preregister for Furry Fiesta! Help make me SHAVE MY HEAD!
And if you need another reason to attend Furry Fiesta, it is official now -- I will be in the Dealer's Den this year! Wouldn't you like to see me in the Dealers Den wrecking shop with a shaved head?
The plan was to shave at closing ceremonies when the record-breaking (for a second-year furry con) numbers were announced... but here's a new deal: if Furry Fiesta gets 1000 attendees at pre-registration, I WILL SHAVE MY HEAD AT OPENING CEREMONIES!!!
Also, I brought something new to Morphicon last year when I wrecked shop there, and I'm also bringing it to Furry Fiesta this year, and have made it bigger and better! You DON'T want to miss it! It's the first shopwrecking of 2010, and it's gonna be off tha chain!
Not to mention, the one and only Sub-Level 03 will be filming a live DVD at Furry Fiesta!!! Knotcast will be doing a live show there! The award-winning Kyell Gold is Guest of Honor and will be signing books there! And much, much more!
Help make Shopwrecker Nation history -- and furry fandom history -- by pre-registering for Furry Fiesta today! See you there! |
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| Five More Years! |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|04:25 pm] |
The opening track to Shop Music is officially outdated, as of today.
I have traditionally tracked my induction into The Best Social Network of Friends Around (tm) as having been done on January 27, 2005.
I haven't used the word "Yipf" if a long time. The word is extremely corny and nonsensical and highlights just how wet behind the earspots I was back then.
"In the coming entries you will see how this Siberian tiger copes in a world full of Bengal bureaucracy. I'll try to be humorous without offending people, but I will probably fail."
Truer words were never spoken.
Anyway... happy five-year annifursary to me! If each five-year period can be as great as the last five years, life will be good indeed. =^_^= |
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| nice |
[Jan. 24th, 2010|07:41 pm] |
Turns out, there was once a sports team in Chicago called the Bucktown Tigers!
Not only that, but they played in a league called CAFA! (Chicago Australian Football Association)
If someone in LAFF (or anyone) can score a Bucktown Tigers jersey, I would be most appreciative. =^_^= The team is now called the Lincoln Square Tigers, though...
Check out the Bucktown Tigers' game results by filtering at http://www.usfooty.com/usfooty/allgames.aspx
Also, check out CAFA at http://www.chicagofooty.com |
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| It's Saturday night. |
[Jan. 23rd, 2010|07:47 pm] |
Everyone NOT at Further Confusion throw your paws up. =^_^= |
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| The Keys to LiveJournal |
[Jan. 23rd, 2010|07:45 pm] |
...are hereby awarded to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) rhettfoxcoon, the Most Interesting Fopskewn in the World, for sharing with us his autumn Saturday preference:
dresden_wolf, thank you for watching the Keys with diligence. rhettfoxcoon, guard the Keys carefully while they are in your possession. |
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| Kigurumis at Furry Fiesta |
[Jan. 23rd, 2010|10:37 am] |
[ghetto]
I need erry body who got a kigurumi to wear it to my concert Friday night at Furry Fiesta. We gonna bring the house down and take over the whole convention. Let's do it!
And you know ya boy will be on stage, in a kigurumi, wreckin' shop like it should be wrecked, already. We ain't playin' with ya.
[/ghetto]
(x-posted to furryfiesta) |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Jan. 19th, 2010|08:38 pm] |
...goes to Little Rock attorney John Walker, who asserted that the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery program is guilty of discrimination, in what he calls a "civil wrong."
The Arkansas Lottery provides scholarships to eligible Arkansas high school graduates for college. To qualify, a student must have made at least 19 on the ACT. Since the average ACT score for black Arkansas students is only 16, Walker claims, the scholarship program will unfairly distribute more funds to white Arkansas students (whose average ACT score is 21).
Walker also laments the fact that black students in Arkansas will not be able to receive benefit from Advanced Placement classes because those classes are full of white students.
Here are some more comments by the esteemed Atty. Walker, along with nice quotables.
What a moron. |
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| Certificate of Shopwrecking |
[Jan. 17th, 2010|08:14 pm] |
It is certified on this Sunday, January 17, 2010, that the wrecking of the shop depicted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVA-xTBeHyM has been completed, and the results will be released to Shopwrecker Nation at 8 a.m. Eastern time on Monday, January 18, 2010. It is the hope of the Lead Shopwrecker that the submission will be listened to and enjoyed by all of the Shopwreckers for whom he makes music. |
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| Super Bowl Droughts |
[Jan. 17th, 2010|01:17 am] |
Out of the 32 teams in the NFL, only five have never made a Super Bowl.
Lions (never will*)
Browns (never will*)
Jaguars (someday)
Texans (someday)
Saints (2010)
* This was meant as a joke. See my second reply to wildfox34 below. |
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| a meme i will do |
[Jan. 13th, 2010|07:15 am] |
In memory of family and friends who have lost the battle with cancer; and in support of the ones who continue to conquer it! Post this on your LJ if you know someone who has or had cancer. |
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| snow? |
[Jan. 9th, 2010|10:03 am] |
Per the firsthand reports of Shopwrecker kellogg_collie, it was snowing in Orlando, Florida this morning.
My investment advice to you is to take your life savings and put it on the New Orleans Saints to win the Super Bowl this year. Because Hell may not have frozen over, but it was snowing in Orlando, Florida this morning. |
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| The Past Decade In Review |
[Dec. 31st, 2009|07:34 pm] |
When this decade started, I was a senior in high school and had just locked up the top seat in my class. Now, I have a high school diploma, a BullSh*t degree in gEEk, and a Master Bullsh*t Artist degree.
In 2000, I was single, naive, and desired more than anything to be "one of the cool kids." Wanting desperately to shed my image of being the class Steve Urkel and having no clout. Going into 2010, I am mated, self-confident, and am cooler than the cool kids ever will be.
The day after akelavincent's 20th birthday, I knew that a Siberian tiger lived inside me... and I thought I was the only one of my kind. Alone. Now, on akelavincent's 30th birthday, I know that a Siberian tiger lives inside me... and that I have thousands of tiger brothers and tiger sisters and brothers and sisters of all different species all around the world.
I slept with stuffed animals at age 16 years 51 weeks, and I hated myself for it. I sleep with stuffed animals at age 26 years 51 weeks, and I've never loved myself more.
Back then, I would write poems and would rap them to who I thought were my friends, and they laughed at me and called me a nerd and said I was a loser. Now, I write poems and rap them to who I know are my friends, and they cheer me and support me and put me on top of the nerdcore charts at CDBaby.
I knew how to play piano in high school, but I never practiced it because I didn't feel anyone in high school really cared. So, I spent my time playing baseball on a team with my friends, because I wanted to be the best. I still know how to play piano, and people all over the Internet watch me play.
In high school, I had no idea who I would become.
Now, I know exactly who I am. |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Dec. 28th, 2009|11:35 am] |
...goes to Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell for benching his offensive starters in the third quarter of yesterday's game against the New York Jets, while holding a five-point lead. The Jets went on to score 19 unanswered points and end the Colts' undefeated season, 29-15.
This gets a Not Cool award for one simple, easy-to-understand, undebatable reason: tens of thousands of Colts fans paid hundreds--thousands--of dollars to watch their home team, the Colts, win a football game. They did not pay hundreds--thousands--of dollars to watch their team roll over like cell phone minutes in the third quarter of a close game. The Colts threw the game. Period. I won't even mention the impact this had on the thousands of sports fans that wagered money on the Colts to win the game, to go undefeated, to become the first team to finish a season 19-0, etc. Or the millions of sports fans that wanted to see history made this year.
If I were a Colts fan, and I had spent hundreds--thousands--of dollars to watch my beloved team intentionally lose that game, I would be writing the team ownership and demanding a 50% refund of the cost of my ticket. My team only played half the game; I should only pay half the price of the ticket. Bottom line. tigjah and all other Colts fans had every right to boo their team yesterday, and the Lead Shopwrecker approves of any and all punitive actions taken by Colts fans with regards to it.
Let me make one thing clear: this Shop supports the New Orleans Saints 100% to win the Super Bowl this year, but an undefeated Colts season would still be an historic event that I would have been happy to see.
---------------
And yes, I know there were other more Not Cool--indeed, Really F***ed Up--incidents that happened in the past two days, but I will not fulfill the desires of those Really F***ed Up people by blogging about it here. |
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| A Merry Christmas Indeed |
[Dec. 27th, 2009|09:52 pm] |
I had a great Christmas. Lots of quality family time. Everyone seemed to love their gifts, as did I. I got a custom tiger pool stick, as well as a poker tabletop that was well-used this weekend. We had our families over at the Shop, including the lioness's sister and nephews from Shreveport who stayed with us all weekend, as well as my brother and sister who stayed over on Christmas night.
How have your holidays been? Hopefully really good! *snugs* |
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| Yet and Still Another Retraction |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|11:13 pm] |
Yes, I just retracted my own retraction. And the apology that accompanied it. Yeah, the company may have had reasons to not offend any non-Christians or whatever. Well, ya know what, if they don't want to observe Christmas, then they shouldn't observe Christmas. They should just stay business as usual on December 24 and December 25.
And you know what: I'm not about to get into religious flamewars with any of you. I've said my piece, and I will defend my piece, but beyond that, I'm not hearing it.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. |
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| Yet Another Retraction |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|10:18 pm] |
I hereby drop any protests and/or dissent and/or name calling and/or argumentation, etc. regarding the store that I visited yesterday. chance_furlong yetanotherbob (sorry for the errant crediting there) made an excellent comment pointing out something that I didn't even consider: by calling it the Christmas holiday, the establishment would be seen as endorsing a particular religion/faith over others. Precisely because the store did not close on Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Solstice, or Festivus, etc. Christmas, in such a sense, cannot be seen in the same light as Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, both squarely nondenominational and nonreligious holidays.
There could be many different reasons--financial, legal, or otherwise--why that store had to avoid endorsing a particular religion over others, and I did not consider these possibilities. As such, I am dropping the "Not Cool" tag from the previous post about the "Winter Holiday" closing. I also would like to apologize to my readers and commenters, especially my civilly dissenting readers and commenters, regarding my lack of insight which led to what can easily and rightfully be construed as a post laden with excessive Christian fervor. (See next most-recent entry.)
I will also note that I heavily altered the setting of the previous post, as well as the sign saying where the store was closed, to protect the not-so-innocent (namely, myself.) No further details will be given here.
And in closing, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season. |
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| it's CHRISTMAS! |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|02:47 pm] |
I was out doing some last minute shopping yesterday, and one of the stores I stopped at had a sign reminding customers of the days it would be closed this year. They had all their late end-of-year closings listed on the sign. They were closed on November 26 and 27 for the "Thanksgiving holiday." They will also be closed from December 31 through January 1, 2010, for the "New Year holiday." And, this store is also closed today and tomorrow for...
...the "WINTER holiday." WTF?????
It's not the "Winter Holiday," dammit. It's Christmas! CHRISTMAS! No matter how pagan the holiday's origins really are, or how secular the day has become, dammit, December 25 is still Christmas! And I, and billions of others, celebrate Jesus' birth on this day, and even those billions who don't celebrate Jesus' birth on this day still recognize it as CHRISTMAS!!! It's CHRISTMAS, dammit! And I'm rightly pissed off that you wish to call it the damn "Winter Holiday!" Like it's not politically correct to say CHRISTMAS anymore!
You know what? If you don't want to call it Christmas -- if it's not a holiday worth recognizing by name -- if it's just not that bleeping important that you just call it the "Winter Holiday" -- then don't f***ing close on those days. Treat those days as "business as usual". You're not closed on Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Solstice, or Festivus. No. You're closed on December 24 and 25 -- CHRISTMAS Eve and CHRISTMAS Day. And you call it the f***ing "winter holiday closing."
F***ers.
In related news, this store also had a Hanukkah table and a Kwanzaa table set up by the front door. There was a Christmas tree, too -- tucked back in the corner away from everything else. Or should I call it a "holiday tree"? |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Dec. 20th, 2009|03:14 pm] |
...goes jointly to Mark Sanford and Tiger Woods because I haven't given either of them one yet because I've been asleep at the wheel here, and I apologize for that. For those of you who hadn't heard about either, the tl;dr:
South Carolina governor Mark Sanford went missing in 2009, and later admitted to have flown to Argentina multiple times to see a mistress, cheating on his wife, with public funds. Sanford resigned as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer to ever have lived, admitted to cheating on his wife with what has discovered to be more than a dozen waitresses, escorts, and other women, and has taken an indefinite leave from golf (while his wife, Elin, has taken an indefinite leave from him.)
This brings the number of various people and/or organizations that have received Not Cool awards or Really F***ed Up awards in 2009 to twenty-three. Feel free to review them all at http://bucktowntiger.livejournal.com/tag/not+cool for we will be voting on which is the Most Not Cool of 2009 starting on Tuesday.
------------
Also, there were nine Not Cool awards given in 2009, but there will not be a poll for what was 2009's Most Not Cool. That award goes to U.S. Airways pilot Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger, who saved 155 passengers and crew by making a spectacular emergency landing in the Hudson River. Congratulations, Sully! |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Dec. 19th, 2009|08:16 am] |
...goes to the author of the Stop Avatar blog, who wants everyone to protest the movie Avatar because it does not depict any non-heterosexual relationships. The author of the blog suggested that protesters go to the movie, but remain standing for its entire duration. The author also suggested that protesters buy all the tickets to the movie in bulk, and then refuse to attend, because "an empty theater sends a message." Lastly, the author warned those of us living in "Middle America" in states that voted for John McCain in 2008 to be extra careful because there may be "incidents."
The full title of the blog is "Stop Avatar: The Future is Transgender NOT Straight," implying that in the future, everyone will be transgender. One transgender Shopwrecker has already stated that the blog does not speak for the T community. Hopefully this blogger doesn't speak for anyone reading this. The blogger definitely doesn't speak for the queerty.com staff. |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Dec. 15th, 2009|07:02 am] |
...goes to Democrats in Congress for being neo-Republican Joe Lieberman's metaphorical female dogs.
Reports are that Democrats in Congress, to save Senator Lieberman's crucial vote, is scrapping the Medicare buy-in for Americans age 55 to 64. This, after Democrats scrapped the "public option."
So, what the hell does this gutted health care reform bill actually do? Nothing. Nothing, except force 30 million Americans who couldn't afford private insurance previously, to buy private insurance they still can't afford.
My girlfriend said it best: "Change You Can Believe In My Ass." |
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| Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy |
[Dec. 10th, 2009|12:09 am] |
I try to learn a new Christmas song each year...
Here's this year's Christmas song. Enjoy. :) |
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| Paw Recognize Paw Studios Goes Digital! |
[Dec. 9th, 2009|07:13 pm] |
I know a lot of you have been patiently waiting for me to join the twenty-first century when it comes to my music...
...as such, I would like to reintroduce to you http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/BucktownTiger
you'll notice that each album is now available as digital MP3 downloads :)
99 cents per song
9 dollars per full album
You can also preview each track right on the CDBaby page :)
Feel free to check it out, and thank you for all your support and awesomeness =^_^= |
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| list of #shopwreckers on Twitter |
[Dec. 8th, 2009|06:20 pm] |
#shopbear bearnoiz
#shopcollie jtr115
#shopiguana psudowolf
#shopwolfamute akhanuhusky
#shopwrecko trilbydork
#shopwreckerelite jtigerclaw
#shopwhitetiggy dumatiggytiger
#shopduke dukezewolfe
#shopfennec blarion
#shopsnowcat greysnowcat
#shoptiger vitaislade
#shopskunkbunny skunktronix
#shopfox hyperx69
#shopchakat chakatsilver
#shopjackal khrenphyros
#shopdawg hobbesdawg
#cutesttigerintheshop fzzytiger
#shopcuddlyhugglewolf texywolf
#shoplion nbowa
#shopkoatl hetzakoatl
#shopcub ramalion
#shopshepherd taikoshep
#shopwuff fuzzwolf2000
#shopfruitbat tahotepirty
#shopdrag mikemccloy
#shophorse flarestarfire
#shopwuffy lupine_silver
#shopleopard tahamaki
#shopcougar 55seddel
#shopdragon sargeabernathy
#shopcoon daecoon
#shopbear bearnoiz
#shopcroc crocosaur
#shoprat madius
#kitsunelabsshopwrecker hakuzo_nightfox
#shopbadjah badjahsensei
#shopwah tarynwahboi
#scshopwrecker embertiger
#shopskunk firr
#shopsquirrel scootersquirrel
#shopmetalhead bearetic
#shopkinkajou flamedryad
#shopmicwrecker isfacat
#superbluerainbowshopwrecker tristwolf
#shophuman howoddnichole
#shopchaplain brutusdbernard
#shoppitbull sethralavode
#shopplum prumdargon
#shopstinker dragoskunk
#shoprocker aethwolf
#shopfolf keeyakitsune
#shophybrid rykejace
#shopplatypus dragoninja
#ittybittykewtkittyshopwrecker kewtkittykat
#shopbassisthookahfox toddfawxy
#shopwolf mattkips
http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23shopwreckers
if i missed you, please let me know =^_^=
and oh by the way MFM was great!!! more to come |
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| The Keys to LiveJournal |
[Dec. 1st, 2009|10:00 pm] |
...are hereby awarded to dresden_wolf for sharing with us a new way to show affection and/or friendship that is in full accordance with the teachings of Christianity:
I give the song "Christian Side Hug" the Official Paw Recognize Paw Studios Seal of AppROFL. (Yes, I just coined that term. Zero results on Google, until now. It's mine. Bam.)
lupinesilvertai, thank you for watching the Keys with diligence. dresden_wolf, guard the Keys carefully while they are in your possession. |
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| Happy Thanksgiving!!! |
[Nov. 26th, 2009|11:23 am] |
May your day be filled with those things and those people you are most thankful for. <3 |
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| Today's JPP |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|04:47 pm] |
American Idol first runner-up Adam Lambert was selected to perform his new single "For Your Entertainment" at the finale of the 2009 American Music Awards, aired on ABC. The result was a rather controversial performance during which the openly-gay Lambert, among other things, shoved a male dancer's face into his crotch and made out with his straight tiger-fursuit-wearing keyboardist.
Parts of Lambert's performance, including the crotch-shoving, was edited out of the west-coast re-airing by Dick Clark Productions, the producers of the AMA's, despite the crotch-shoving having been rehearsed earlier. The ABC morning talk show "Good Morning America" then rescinded its invitation for Lambert to perform on its show the following day, saying that it did not feel comfortable airing a similar concert during its early morning time slot.
Adam Lambert has said that he felt discriminated against by ABC and by the AMA's through what he views as censorship. He told Rolling Stone, "I think that there’s a double standard going on in the entertainment community right now. Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out." Supporters point to the relative lack of backlash after Madonna and Britney Spears kissed on air as evidence of the double standard Lambert referenced.
Without further adieu, today's two-part Journal People Poll to you LiveJournal readers is:
Poll #1489982 2009 American Music Awards
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 51Was Good Morning America justified in canceling Adam Lambert's appearance after his AMA performance? Do you feel that there is a double standard in entertainment regarding permissible actions for women and men?
Discussion is welcomed. |
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| Christmas song |
[Nov. 24th, 2009|03:29 pm] |
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What Christmas song would you like me to cover in fursuit this year? Last year I did "Wizards of Winter." Submit your suggestions today by replying, and I'll pick a favorite amongst your ideas ^^ |
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| RETRACTION |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|06:58 pm] |
I have received notice that the board of AAE (which runs Further Confusion) is currently looking into the charges that the Fairmont San Jose have levied on convention-goers with reserved rooms and that they will be taking definitive steps to remedy the situation as soon as possible for aggrieved fans.
I also have received notice that the "dry con" status of Midwest Furfest was implemented at the behest of the Westin Hotel and Convention Center, and that due to that and other numerous complaints from convention-goers and staff, Midwest Furfest will not be returning to that hotel in 2010.
In the interests of remaining fair, I will not delete the post I made on Friday about Further Confusion and Midwest Furfest, but I would like to offer a retraction, with apology, for any implication that I may have made holding either convention, or their staff, at fault.
I also summarily reject any arguments that a convention is responsible for all of the policies of the hotel that is hosting it. In the case of Midwest Furfest, the no-alcohol policy was enacted after the contract was signed. I do not expect any furry convention to ask for explicit verbiage in hotel contracts that allows for the possession and/or consumption of alcohol in certain parts of the hotel premises the hotel wishes to not have alcohol possessed or consumed. In the case of Further Confusion, the policy was clearly stated on the convention website that one room night would be charged beginning November 1, and it has been admitted by convention spokespersons that additional room-night charges were in error and will be fixed. Also, the numerous documented aggrievances committed by the Holiday Inn in Waterbury, CT where FurFright was held this year--which the convention had no part in perpetrating and which included violations of Connecticut state law--should be noted. |
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| What is con space? |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|12:12 pm] |
To extend the conversation from yesterday: I errantly spoke yesterday regarding MFF's alcohol policy and its divergence from the alcohol policies of other furry conventions. I realize that quite a few furry conventions, including MFF, FWA and others, have banned alcohol "within con space," and that this rule is clearly stated in convention policy. An outstanding question, however--and one that may have come into play at MFF this weekend--is what constitutes con space.
I was of the impression that "con space" was space that was reserved for the convention. i.e. that con space basically required a badge to enter. I have heard differing interpretations of this, including one that basically says that any part of the hotel that is not a private hotel room is considered con space. I understand that conventions sign contracts with hotels and make deals, and included in those deals are agreements regarding how the convention will behave, which areas the convention has and/or doesn't have access to, room prices, parking rates, other concession deals, shuttle services, etc. etc. Generally, the convention secures a certain number of rooms for the convention (a room block) from the hotel, and the con is on the hook for that amount of rooms whether or not they are all sold. I have seen interpretations that any room that is part of this convention room block is indeed part of the convention and that convention policies apply there (pending the discretion of convention staff). One case in point here is a recent policy regarding "ghosters" enacted at another convention: if a "ghost"--one who comes to a convention but does not purchase registration to the convention--is found to be staying at the convention hotel, the room in which the ghost is staying is removed from the convention room block (reverting the room to full price). Given all this, I'd like to facilitate a discussion here on which interpretation of what constitutes con space is most correct.
I will also include a note that all hotel and/or convention policies are superseded by applicable local, state, and federal laws on matters including public intoxication, indecency, etc.
And I will close this post with a note that I am in no way condemning MFF for its policy (shared by most furry conventions) or its interpretation/enforcement of the policy this year (which could be fueled by any number of reasons from hotel strictness to local authority strictness). It was with great pain that I removed MFF from this year's convention schedule, and I hope that I can make it to MFF next year. |
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| Okay... |
[Nov. 22nd, 2009|08:00 am] |
...I thought they were just playing when they posted this video... and then I watched... and I LOL'd for over six minutes :)
and the best part about it: the TV station is WITF-TV
as in, What In The F***? |
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| Maybe I should just quit... |
[Nov. 21st, 2009|10:10 am] |
Further Confusion--through their agreement with the Fairmont--has charged multiple people the entire convention's hotel stay, up front, to their credit cards or (worse) debit cards -- causing furs' accounts to overdraft, etc., and (per a friend) FC's official policy to all these room chargings (contrary to both stated policy at the FC website and confirmed by the booking agent at the hotel at the time) is for that friend to just cancel their reservation if they don't like the terms--essentially, to go pound sand.
Midwest Furfest has declared their event a "Dry Con" and--in conjunction with the Westin--started kicking attendees out of the convention for possessing alcohol in general hotel space, and (per another friend) stated that any increase in rowdiness/noise/etc. that is due to alcohol can cause one to be kicked out of the con.
Now, granted, I am not at MFF this year, and I canceled my FC reservation before the October 31 deadline, but these developments could potentially impact my desire to attend either of these conventions in future years. FC is a 4000-mile round trip that requires six days of paid time off, and MFF is the weekend before Thanksgiving which has always in the past left me with a very uneasy feeling leaving the con and going back home right before Thanksgiving. Basically I probably won't attend MFF again unless I have the vacation time to take the entire following week off, so I can just stay in Chicago for Thanksgiving. As for FC: it would take quite a bit for me to block off the travel time required to get there and back, and after their response to my friend about the rooms, I'm not really enamored with them right now.
And I know that I have a reputation for getting tho'd at furry cons, but I can have and have had fun without alcohol. Anthrocon is one of my favorite furry conventions OF ALL TIME! OF ALL TIME! and I had relatively little alcohol (compared to other cons hehe). I drank on Friday night both years I've gone, but stayed sober Saturday and Sunday both years. Also, Oklacon 2009 is also waaaaay up there on my list of favorite furry cons, and I had no alcohol the entire con. (Correction: I think I may have had a drink on Sunday night.)
Still, I can definitely envision both trends (the charge-part-or-all-of-the-stay-in-advance trend, and the no-alcohol-at-the-con trend) catching on fandom-wide in light of these developments. And if these things become policy, at most or all other furry conventions, then... I just don't know... Maybe I shouldn't be posting any of this at all, given my situation and given that I'm not attending either con, but I have attended both of them in the past, and fact is right now I'm not liking either of these developments, so there you go. My position will probably change as I learn more information about either con and its happenings.
As for now, I hope everyone at MFF is having a great time, and hopefully I will have enough vacation time to join you all there next year. But right now with next year's schedule, honestly, it's not looking that way. |
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| Like a Fox Is Finished! Shopwreckers Unite! |
[Nov. 18th, 2009|10:36 pm] |
Greetings, Shopwreckers! I hope you all have been having a GRRRRREAT November!
You've probably recently seen a bunch of submissions of the song "Like a Fox" here and on FurAffinity. And you may see more. This song was worked on by more Shopwreckers than I can count, with direct contribution by over a dozen Shopwreckers around the world. Anyway, what is being released as "Like a Fox" is THE OFFICIAL "Like a Fox" by Shopwrecker Nation, with lead vocals by DJ Fennec and also featuring Isfacat as the interviewer. Yes.
So, go download "Like a Fox", link to it, tell your friends about it, give it a +fave EVERYWHERE YOU SEE IT, because we all worked very hard on this song for two months so that you all can enjoy it and revel in the ingenuity and creativity of the furry fandom. =^_^=
If you need a link, here's one:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3055094
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That link I just posted to is on the Shopwreckers group on FurAffinity, created by john8792! :) The group was so awesome that I thought I'd make a shopwreckers community here on LiveJournal. Feel free to head on over there and join shopwreckers if you are so inclined. Also if you are on FA, feel free to join Shopwreckers there too! They are groups where all Shopwreckers on LiveJournal and FurAffinity can unite and fellowship, a quick identifier to help everyone know that you too are awesome and full of win. ^^
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If you're going to Midwest Furfest this weekend, have a great time and safe travels, and WRECK SHOP! I've wrecked ten furry conventions, one anime convention, and two furry softball games... I am done for the year. Well, not quite. There is one more shop that I'm wrecking in 2009...
...but the best chance to catch me next is Furry Fiesta in 2010, who has invited me back to perform again. *blushes* Come to Furry Fiesta and be a part of the over 1000 attendees that will make me Shave My Head!!! more details to come... |
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| keyboard cover in fursuit for the FPS auction |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|05:04 pm] |
Hey everyone! I am offering a commission for a song to be covered on the keyboard, in fursuit, of the bidder's choice, to benefit the Funday Pawpet Show this year =^_^=
I can play or learn to play pretty much anything in fursuit except really challenging pieces (think Hungarian Rhapsody #2 hard -- I'm not quite that good yet) and songs that aren't really adaptable to piano/keyboard like some percussion/rap pieces...
Here's the video made as a result of last year's auction :) For other examples of my fursuit keyboard and piano works, check out my YouTube page
Thanks for supporting the Funday Pawpet Show, and happy bidding!
Oh, and also, bidding will end at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, and if the winning bidder could send the donation to the FPS paypal (fps @ pawpet dot org) that would be great =^_^=
EDIT: Congratulations to greysnowcat for winning with his $66 bid! Also, a big big thank you to everyone for bidding :)
(x-posted to pawpet) |
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| Who does my music sound like? |
[Nov. 15th, 2009|11:40 am] |
So, I'm trying to figure out what style of music I do... i.e. who my music sounds most closely like. This question is mainly for those of you who have and/or have heard the tracks on "Shop Music", but basically I'm trying to write an album description and need to know which well-known acts I can most closely benchmark "Shop Music" to.
I asked on Twitter yesterday, and got a few replies... one listener, seattlefur (who knows my music better than I do!), said I sound like a lot of Jay-Z's newer material... which I can kinda see/hear that.
But I really want your opinion. Who do you think my music sounds like? |
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| Today's Cool award |
[Nov. 12th, 2009|05:37 pm] |
...goes to Will Phillips of West Fork, AR, age 10, for refusing to stand for or recite the Pledge of Allegiance at his school because he "really [doesn't] feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all." Will is refusing to observe the daily ritual because of the many ongoing efforts to provide GLBT individuals and same-sex couples "liberty and justice" in America.
It is great to read about people like Will Phillips and his parents, especially being that they live right here in Arkansas. It gives me hope... |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|09:07 pm] |
...goes to the American Family Association which has called for an expulsion of all persons of the Islamic faith from the United States Armed Forces.
Need I say more?
By the way, the shooting incident referenced in the first few paragraphs happened less than a mile from my home in Little Rock, at a recruiting office at Rodney Parham and Reservoir.
thanks to bosn for the link |
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| Today's Not Cool award |
[Oct. 16th, 2009|11:43 am] |
...goes to Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell of Hammond, LA, for refusing to marry an interracial couple.
Read the article above. J.P. Bardwell feels justified in his decision. To summarize, he said he was concerned for any possible children, that he believes interracial couples don't last long, and that most of the black and white communities do not readily accept mixed-race couples or offspring.
So basically, in addition to trying to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment, the bigot-wing will now also seek to overturn Loving v. Virginia (1964). Good job.
And, by the way: Not Cool. |
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| Today's JPP |
[Oct. 14th, 2009|10:02 pm] |
Without further adieu, today's Journal People Poll to you LiveJournal readers is:
Poll #1471417 Mike's Hard Lemonade
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 95Is Mike's Hard Lemonade a "girly" drink?
Discussion is welcomed. |
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3 (9.4%)