Turns out April 27th is, indeed, the International Hyena Day.

To all yeens and fans of hyenas on FA, I wish a very cackling day!

It's been 60 years since the first human left Earth, even for a moment. May Yuri Gagarin's name be never forgot!

For all the space enthusiasts, here's a song by the Finnish band Miljoonasade, celebrating Gagarin's flight. (English version; the original Finnish version is here, if you're interested.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cz5SbSN22o

It's Christmastime, so have a merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!

2020 hasn't been a bad year to me on a personal level, though the ongoing pandemic and its second- and third-order effects haven't entirely passed me by. But a lot of people I know, both on- and off-line have had it worse, and for all of them -- you included, dear reader, if this year has knocked you down and kept on kicking while you're on the ground -- I hope and wish that things will be better sooner or later.

So, yeah. Now, I'm not ditching furriness, I've got characters and story ideas and half-finished fics aplenty; the trick is in getting any actual writing done, and that has been surprisingly hard this year. With any luck, the next year might be better in that way!

Congrats, America. You did it.

"The weirder, nastier and more niche your fetish and the uglier your art, the less likely you are to use a thumbnail as a courtesy to those who don't care for your shitting dicknipples or whatever."

This has been verified by many, many times when I've innocently looked at the FA's front page and wanted to burn my eyes out with a blowtorch because someone wanted everyone to see and appreciate their MS Paint art of a cake-farting multi-limbed sparkledogtaur, or whatever.

Also, I really want this place to get even a halfway functional tagging system, and an option to ignore some tags entirely.

(How's that for a grumpy come-back journal after a long time? )

A big memory leak at Cloudflare, a major internet service and security provider, has potentially compromised thousands of passwords across a whole lot of sites. One of the sites listed as affected is Patreon.

So, if you have a Patreon page, or are an user there, change your password at once!

See here: https://gizmodo.com/cloudbleed-pass.....are-1792709635

EDIT:
JayHusky on the FA forums has checked Cloudflare's announcement, and a number of furry sites, including Furaffinity itself, are on the list of potentially compromised. So better change your password here, too!

See here: https://forums.furaffinity.net/thre.....words.1624355/

So, to all of my readers: hello again, and sorry that I haven't been around!

Had some major writer's block problems this year, but I have finished some stories that will be coming out this October, with the accompaniment of genuine  gspanovich art. I hope there will be something there for all of you!

And in case you haven't done so yet, please check out Taking Care of Her; a softer, sweeter little story with a loving cat-and-mouse couple.

At last, it's time to reveal something I've been working on with  gspanovich for many months now:

Kaede no Monogatari

It all started as a way to bash my way through a bad case of writer's block, but it has grown, changed and become something much more: the Dawn Empire, a setting for a series of stories about sexy ninjas, lustful spirits, and all kinds of atmospheric, action-packed fun in a furry version of old Japan.

If you like my stories, Greg's artwork, Lafcadio Hearn's ghost stories, cheesy ninja flicks, and any number of anime or manga series, I think you'll find something to like in this story and the others to come. Give it a try, and don't hesitate to comment on things! I'd love to hear your opinions.

To all of my followers who aren't also following  gspanovich :

Go read Red Kryptonite Rampage at once! I worked on that story, and it's one hell of a fun, furious superhero sex romp. Definitely worth reading, faving and commenting on ( ) even if you're not usually a fan of DC heroes.

Folders on FA? Unexpected, but very welcome!
Who knows what comes next, a solid and useful tagging system maybe? (A man can hope, after all...)

Anyway, my stuff should now be nicely sorted into folders, so you can easily find every story featuring, for example, Sierra Hewes. Give the gallery a good look: maybe you've missed out on some older story!

---

Also: Soon. Very soon!

Soon.

RULES :
1. Pick one of your OCs. or how many you want
2. Fill in the questions/statements as if you were your OC.
3. Tag at least four people to do this meme!
4. Tell people that they been tagged with a link from your journal

Answer as your OC/keep in character.


1. What is your name?
W: "Will Crockett."
Z: "Zuri Abbott."

2. Do you know why you were named that?
W: "My grandpa was William, and my Dad's William Jr., though everyone calls him Bill. I'm named after them."
Z: "I took the name 'Zuri' to embrace my ancestral savanna culture. Mom and Dad still occasionally call me Amanda, especially when they think I'm being unreasonable. Drives me crazy."

3. Single or taken?
W: "Eh, it's a little complicated. I mean, there's Zuri, but then there's Ellie, too, and her weirdo friend Clare, and..."
Z: "I resent the implication that, as a woman, I would belong to my partner. That said, I am in sort of a relationship with Will."

4. Have any abilities or powers?
W: "Well... uh. The only really unusual thing is that I've got a lot of stamina in bed. Ask Zuri about it sometimes. It makes her blush every time!"
Z: "Since this is the real world, being a gifted student, talented hacker and a good amateur poet should suffice."

5. Stop being a Mary Sue!
W: "A what?"
Z: "Yeah, fuck you too!"

6. What's your eye color?
W: "Gray-blue."
Z: "Brown."

7. How about hair color?
W: "Kind of mid-brown."
Z: "Brown, but I dye my mane pink."

8. Have you any family members?
W: "I'm an only child, but I've got several cousins."
Z: "Mother, father and my little sister Penny."

9. Oh? How about pets?
W: "Nah. I don't think they let you have any pets in the Starkers dorms, anyway."
Z: "No. Besides, I think most pet-owners do not treat their animal companions in an ethically sustainable fashion."

10. That's cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don't like.
W: "Seafood, because I'm allergic to it. And bad code. Oh, and bossy predator girls."
Z: "Carnivore bias in art and history, mass-market beer, car drivers who don't pay attention to us cyclists, clueless users wasting my time, the military-intelligence-industrial complex..."

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?
W: "I go to gym, play video games - mostly online FPS - and sometimes M:tG, read comics, and tinker with computers."
Z: "Performance poetry, riding a bicycle, karaoke, practical student activism, and hacking."

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before?
W: "Of course. I don't think you can avoid hurting anyone unless you hide in your room all the time."
Z: "Well duh. Life is a struggle, and suffering is inevitable. I try to lash out at the deserving targets, though."

13. Ever… killed anyone before?
W: "Only in online shooters. Most lethal player in last night's CoD match!"
Z: "Of course not, and if I had, what the hell makes you think I'd tell you?"

14. What kind of animal are you?
W: "Spotted hyena. Isn't that obvious?"
Z: "Zebra."

15. Name your worst habits.
W: "Well... I'm bad with interpersonal conflicts, and tend to withdraw when things get too tense."
Z: "I've got a temper, and sometimes I probably get too pushy."

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?
W: "Sounds weird when I say it like this, but my dad. He's a good man."
Z: "Noam Chomsky, Malcolm X, Anna Politkovskaya and Edward Snowden."

17. Are you gay, straight, or bisexual?
W: "I'm straight, thanks."
Z: "Mostly straight, but I sympathize with my lesbian sisters."

18. Do you go to school?
W: "Yeah, I go to Starkers U., studying computer science."
Z: "I'm a student at Starkers University, majoring in CS, with a minor in Herbivore Lit."

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day?
W: "Uh... I haven't really thought about it yet."
Z: "I refuse to marry anyone until same-sex marriage is legal everywhere in the US. And I'd prefer to adopt instead of having children the old-fashioned way."

20. Do you have fangirls/fanboys?
W: "Heh. I guess Clare counts as a fangirl, huh?"
Z: "Well, my poetry and lyrics are getting good feedback, so..."

21. What are you most afraid of?
W: "Losing my health."
Z: "Getting inured to injustice, and knuckling under to the Man."

22. What do you usually wear?
W: "Jeans or chinos, collared shirts and such. Oh, and boxers, never briefs."
Z: "Purple jeans, pink sneaker boots and T-shirts. I like pink, black and purple clothes."

23. What's one food that tempts you?
W: "Baby back ribs with BBQ sauce!"
Z: "Eggplant parmesan."

24. What class are you (low class, middle class, high class)?
W: "We're pretty well off, with Dad being a bank manager, so I think my family's upper middle class."
Z: "My parents are middle class, and by extension so am I. Though I definitely ally myself with the lower classes against the one-percent elite on top."

25. How many friends do you have?
W: "Depends; how do you define friend? I'd say maybe four or five really close ones, and about a dozen others."
Z: "Enough."

26. What are your thoughts on pie?
W: "Nah, I'm not a fan."
Z: "Home-made apple pie, with organic vanilla ice cream and some whipped cream... delicious, but it goes right into my hips."

27. Favorite drink?
W: "Coffee, I think. If you mean my favorite booze, it's Southern Comfort and Coke."
Z: "Genuine cane sugar soda, but it's bad for my teeth and for my figure, so I carry an aluminum water bottle around. Also, I'm a fan of craft beers."

28. What's your favorite place?
W: "Probably the steps outside the student union. You sit there on a nice autumn day, and you feel like you're right in the middle of everything, a real part of the university."
Z: "The Mallory St. Co-op. We have a good crowd of socially and politically aware young people there, plus the fair trade coffee is really good."

29. Are you interested in anyone~?
W: "Well, yeah. Zuri, more than anyone else."
Z: "Do you even keep track of these questions? Yes, I am."

30. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?
W: "In a lake. I don't like the idea of all the deep-sea fishes and weird things down there in the ocean."
Z: "In the ocean. My family vacationed in Florida when I was a girl, and I still enjoy the beach."

31. What's your type?
W: "Eh... Don't think I have one, unless you count herbivore girls, maybe?"
Z: "I seem to attract losers. Will's been a refreshing exception, so far."

32. Any fetishes?
W: "Well, I like dominating Zuri, and playing the part of a sexy alpha predator. Do facials count? Because I really enjoy giving her a couple of extra stripes!"
Z: "Uh... er... okay, I admit it, I get a kick out of rough sex and submitting. I like giving blowjobs, too."

33. Seme or uke?
W: "I don't do that anime crap. Ask Ellie or Clare, they'll know what you're talking about."
Z: "Fuck that sexist, heteronormative bullshit!"

34. Camping or indoors?
W: "I was in the Boy Scouts when I was younger, but I never enjoyed camping. Too much bugs and stuff."
Z: "I'm a city girl, so outdoors, but not in the woods."


I'm not tagging anyone, but encourage everyone reading this to steal and share the meme.

Another meme that's going around on FA!

Write a comment with an assumption you have about me and I'll let you know if it's true or not!

1. Why did you join FurAffinity?
I migrated here once SheezyArt banned adult art.

2. What does your username have to do with you?
I was on a Glorantha kick when I chose it.

3. What is your current avatar of?
My hyena guy, Will, being enthusiastic!

4. How many watchers do you have, and how many do you watch?
I have 627 watchers and watch 328 people myself.

5. Do you have more than one account?
Nope!

6. Name 3 of your favorite artists on FA.
Hard question, but three good ones that come to mind at once are  gspanovich,  leucrotta and  chrisgoodwin

7. What artist do you admire because of their personality?
Several people.

8. Do you comment, fave, or both?
I try to comment, because I know how neat it is to get feedback from your audience.

9. What do you typically post on FA?
Stories!

10.What's your favorite submission in your gallery?
It varies. Right now, looking at my own stories, I'd put Uncomfortably Hot first.
Of the pics I've commissioned or received as gifts, either Savannah Star or Hanging Around.

11. What are the things you wish you could draw better?
I wish I could draw! As for writing... I would like to be better at presenting subtle emotion.

12. How many hours a day do you spend on FA?
I don't know; not that long per day, really.

13. Are you a fast, slow, or medium typer?
Medium to fast.

14. What is the most annoying thing people ask you?
Thankfully, I haven't received really annoying questions.

15. What is the most annoying/offending comment you've received?[/b
The same as above!

[b]16. What/who inspires you?
History, fantasy, and my friends.

17. Everyone has considered leaving FA once or twice. Have you? Why?
Not seriously, no. FA is still the biggest and most popular furry site, and most of the alternates have their own flaws in addition to that.

Just to notify everyone watching me that:

1) I'm not dead;
2) I haven't given up on writing;
3) I haven't given up on furry stuff.

However, I have been busy on real-life stuff, and at the same time I've been on a MMO kick; namely, playing Star Wars: the Old Republic. As a result, I've been running low on creative energy. Sorry about that!

There are a few minor projects I'm working on that might bear readable fruit soon, so wish me luck. Eventually, I'm sure to get back into writing groove and engage on some of the bigger things I've got planned. Until then!

Another year, with new opportunities and possibilities.

May we all have a better year than the last one, and live life to the fullest!

No, I am not joking.


As you might have guessed from my recent stories, I'm a huge Star Wars fan, always have been, despite finding most of the EU stuff unbearably awful. This... this is something I did not expect, even in my wildest dreams or worst nightmares. I was absolutely certain that Lucas would go to his grave keeping the control of the Star Wars universe.

I honestly don't know whether I should be elated, terrified or what. I think I'm going to settle for "utterly surprised, confused and conflicted" for now...

Seriously. e621.net has one, SoFurry has one, every half-bit *booru has one.

We already have tags on FA, yes, but they're almost pointless since a) only the artist/author can tag things, and most don't bother to do that; b) all it does is marginally help with searches. On a site like FA, a functional blacklist system that allows you to opt out of viewing any number of fetishes or series or whatever that you don't like would be so good to have.

I enjoy FurAffinity a lot, and it is and has been a tremendously important site for me and for the fandom in general over the years, but how I wish it was a bit more up-to-date tech-wise...

Hello, any faithful readers and watchers that still remain!

I'm not dead, as the subject line says. I've been busy with various cons (of the SF/fantasy/anime/RPG variety, instead of furry) and otherwise occupied, so my writing has been erratic to say the least.

However, all is not lost! I've been working on a Star Wars stuff with GSP, and I have one story pretty much completed, another under way, and ideas for a third one. Most likely, there will be SW art accompanying those too!

Beside those, there are ideas for at least two stories set at Starkers, with good chances of something Halloween-related coming in late October as well.

So, do not despair! The wait is long, I admit, but I hope it will be worthwhile.

I'm constantly surprised that artists who use PayPal for their payments do not use PP's invoice system.

See here how to do it: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6903907/

The solstice's here, and I, like every other Finn, will return to my roots. Sauna, swimming in a lake in the woods, new crop potatoes with pickled herring and smoked salmon, all manners of barbeque, beer and spirits, and the company of friends and family.

Have a good time, everyone, wherever you may be or whatever you may be doing!

I've seen Disney's "John Carter", and I heartily recommend it to everyone. It is not "The Princess of Mars - the Movie", but that is okay. It combines elements from the first two books, discards some things entirely, and adds some others. It modernizes the story and the conflict, making them more plausible and easier to relate for the modern audiences. And, remarkably, it does this without sacrificing the feel of Barsoom!

The movie gives you a dying world of dried-up seas and desolate uplands, where barbarous Tharks and other Green Martians dwell in ancient, ruined cities; and the civilized Red Martians, heirs of an ancient civilization, clashing and wasting one another's strength in endless wars driven by millennia-old grudges and the harsh realities of Barsoom. It gives you Dejah Thoris - beautiful, intelligent, brave, and both willing and capable of grabbing a sword and slaughtering some enemies. It gives you John Carter as a catalyst of change, a spanner thrown into the gears of fate and history, and manages to humanize him beautifully.

It is a gorgeous, fun, well-done movie that I believe is as faithful to the spirit of the original books as you could ever get in a movie adaptation, and you should go see it. Take some friends with you, too! This movie deserves a sequel!

The theatrical trailer for Iron Sky is up now.

You can't afford to not see this Finnish-German-Australian super-project, lest you be ground under the jackboots of the Nazis from the dark side of the Moon!

Not the American thing, who cares about that?

No, I'm talking about the Finnish presidential election today! And going onto the second round of voting, two weeks from now, are Sauli Niinistö, the Coalition Party candiate, former Minister of Finance, parliamentarian, lawyer and banker, the forerunner and expected next President; and Pekka Haavisto, the Green Party candidate, parlimentarian, former Minister of Environment, successful diplomat and the first openly gay candidate ever. (Seriously, he's in a registered partnership with an Equadorian hairdresser.)

In Finnish terms, it's mostly a case of Moderate Right against Moderate Liberal Right; in US terms, Niinistö would be a left-leaning Democrat, and Haavisto would be off the charts.

This is going to be interesting!

So, yeah. My old computer couldn't hack either of Mass Effect games, so once I upgraded, I got ME 1, because hey: a Bioware-made, critically acclaimed SF RPG? They would have to work, and work hard to make me not like it.

Unfortunately, turns out they did just that, and succeeded very well. I couldn't get anywhere with ME1; I loved the game up until I left the Citadel, even though I had some trouble with a few of the battles. But after that? No matter what I did, it seemed that I got slaughtered like some hapless civilian, when Shepard was supposed to be a hardcore Alliance navy special forces dudette. (I played FemShep, 'cause I like ass-kicking action ladies, and the female face options turned out better than the male ones, IMO.) Huge disappointment. It was when I realized that whoops, I haven't touched this game in a week after my last unsuccessful attempt at finding Liara T'Soni, that I gave up.

Now, I spotted ME 2 in the post-Christmas sales: get three, buy two - and they were already at really cheap prices! And I'd heard that ME 2 was not only a very good game by itself, its shooter elements were also much less annoying. So I grabbed that, Dragon Age (another RPG I never got around to playing when it was the hot new freshness) and Civ IV with all the expansions (I already had the core game, but not the expansions, so it was a good deal).

And what do you know? I love ME 2. It's cut down on all on the annoying stuff from ME 1, it has the most kick-ass beginning I remember ever seeing in a game, the plot and the characters rock - I'm getting a real kick playing a Paragon who's not enjoying having to work with Cerberus, but goes along with it because it seems like the best way to get to the bottom of these colony disappearances - and most importantly - Mariel Shepard is the sort of interstellar bad-ass that an extensively cyborgized former Alliance sniper-infiltrator and Spectre should be. The battlefields are more reasonably set up, with better cover and fewer cases of the damn enemies rushing in to bludgeon my elite soldier character to death in close combat; the use of clips eliminates the way your gun tended to overheat and jam right at the most critical moment; and the way you use your squad's powers is really smooth and intuitive, at least to me. "Miranda, fry those mechs; Jacob, pull that rocket guy off the balcony and let him fall to his death. Me, I'm going to drill a fifth eye into that batarian bastard's head from a hundred meters away."

So... yeah. In case you're wondering, this game is really occupying my time right now.