I resigned my post as hyena caretaker. One I have had for over 11 years. Now I move on to a new job for a higher purpose. With the new job I can set things in motion for the hyena sanctuary. If we get it together in time, we can do a lot of good. A race against the clock but things are looking up. I hope it continues.

Sorry I have not been around much. It has been a busy year and only getting busier!
In the next few days I drive from CA to TX. Roadtrip time!

Look for more pictures to be posted in the near future!

Thank you all! It has finally happened. I can't thank everyone personally for their faves. I have been busy working on the groundwork for the hyena sanctuary and I see all the faves. Just.. WOW! Thank you! I hope to be posting more as time allows. I have a few pics I want to share so what little time I spend here I should do that but I wanted to say thank you for the faves. It means a lot. I really enjoy taking the pictures I post and I am so glad folks enjoy them. Thank you all again <3

So I am finally starting to post some of the reference shots of various hyena body parts. Keep in mind these images are for reference not for maximum aesthetics. Sorry if they are a bit blurry, mis-balanced, poor color saturation, grainy, etc etc.

Hello all,
Well I have been updating regularly to DA. Not much I have for here, mostly landscapes, plants and stuff like that. Not taken many animal shots recently. I will try to post more soon but until then I am trying to update DA on a regular basis.
http://crocuta.deviantart.com/

Laptop nuked, need CD drive to reboot from backups. Work is busy and depressing at times. Car work continues. More car work to come for a friend, my most complex project to date. Scary. Got other huge plans going. As soon as I get the Powerbook back on its feet I can DL all the shots from my last LA trip. Some sure fire winners in there I'm sure. Snakes snakes and more snakes. I see a trend. I shall post again..one day.
Got some faves from someone I look up to. That's always a self esteem boost!
I'm turning into a part time mechanic, part time photojournalist and still keeping my current full time job. Wish the photo gig paid.

I know it is a bit early but I just wanted to say I'll be doing a hyena panel at FC! I should have some very special visual aids there. I'll try to touch on more of the natural history and less of a scientific overview of current research. It will be fun, geeky and full of spotty goodness!
See you there!!

Edit: I've heard from a few that say they would be interested but can't make it: Would taping it and posting it on a website be something folks are interested in?

The hyena has been extra illusive and hard to find...well.. I've had a bit of a project.

My 2001 Subaru Impreza Hatchback GF8 has been under the weather. The autobox in it went, 1st and 4th gears. So I had to do something. $3800 for a rebuilt autobox or... $750 for a used manual along with /all/ the parts to do the swap. .. .. so I embarked on my biggest automotive project to date! I swapped the 4eat with a 5mt along with the rest of the drivetrain!
It took me a while and a grand total of $1500 to do the entire thing. New clutch kit, rotors, brakes, upgraded the front brakes to 2.5 RS 2 pot calipers, bigger rear swaybar, Limited Slip rear diff and 2.5 RS discs in the rear. I had help with a few of the steps including removal of the 4EAT and the wiring up of the 4MT. It took a while but it's done and today I took it out for the first REAL run! Wow..it is actually a lot lighter now, probably 150lbs in the front which makes it feel much more properly distributed as to front/rear weight. I'll post pics and more info as I get around to sorting it all out.

I can't believe I actually did it! XD

Here is a contest for a free fursuit head:

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1558271/

 shadowsani and  blue-fox-fursuits are putting it on trying to drum up some traffic to their pages. It is a good idea on how to spread the word on your business! Looks like they make some cool stuff, check em out, pimp their business and get entered...easy!

I'm Crocuta-crocuta on the PS3 network and Crocuta_crocuta on steam.
That's all for now..carry on!

Well, I'm branching off into the realm of photojournalism so I'm dealing with new techniques, issues and blunders! It is much more difficult than I thought and I now see why they take SO many pictures to get one good one.
Been super busy with this and I actually have a LOT of animal oriented pics to post! Now if I can only get some time to sort and post them.
Also with the new direction, it means the pics I take are not meant for me but for others and thusly I will be doing some manipulations on them, mostly levels, colors and such. Previously I left my images totally untouched but now it's all different!

Cross posting actually but that's a boring title.
Sorry for the cross posting (from DA) of several pictures to come... they are not furry but relevant I suppose.

... has reached a new low. I have a twitter.
http://twitter.com/crocutax2
Twitter get! I'm finally part of the cool kids crowd!!

I grabbed this meme from an airsoft board. Everyone answered with images because it was more fun that way.
If you were battling/escaping hordes of zombies what would you pick for:

1. Main weapon
2. Backup weapon
3. Vehicle
4. Babe to repopulate earth with
5. Theme song
6. Battle cry
7. Base of operations

1. MP5 9mm, because you can find 9mm ammo just about everywhere. "There is just no substitute for 800 rounds a minute" (bonus for naming that movie) XD

2. (because it never runs out of ammo) Baseball bat. It won't stick in bodies like a machete. However that isn't fun... so an AA12 because 12 gauge ammo is easy to come by as well.

3. As much as I love Land Rovers and BTR40s.. I'd go with a Stryker or Buffalo because of the air filtration systems.

4. Fraid the earth would be S.O.L... no kids means no kids. No excuses.

5. Hybrid's "Last Man Standing" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52eHvqsu38M

6. "Eat lead you cracker pricks!"

7. Floating city of death dealing.. AKA the Nimitz class aircraft carrier. Any one will do..but I guess I'd say the USS Abraham Lincoln..just because we all know how badass he was.

ANIME/MANGA NERD

[x] You watch anime.
[x] You read manga.
[x] You buy/collect anime DVDs or manga volumes.
[x] You own some other form of anime/manga merchandise.
[x] You have referred to an anime character as 'hot' before.
[x] You have cosplayed.
[x] You have done so in public. (well I was just wearing the jacket and not trying but I got my picture taken at the anime con so I guess it counts?)
[x] You have been to an anime/manga convention.
[ ] You have created/joined a fanclub for an anime/manga character.
[ ] You have created/joined a hateclub for an anime/manga character.
[ ] You have squealed when you found out somebody had the same name as an anime character you knew.
[ ] You enjoy drawing anime.
[ ] People you know know you as the 'anime' person.
[x] You know that it is pronouced 'mawnguh' and not 'manga' like it is spelled.


Anime/manga nerd = 9


ART NERD

[x] You like art.
[x] You actually consider yourself an artist.
[ ] When using art supplies, the brand of them matters to you.
[ ] You have a favorite brand.
[x] You have asked for art supplies as a Christmas/birthday gift before. it.
[x] You give people your drawings as gifts.
[x] People actually ask for your drawings.
[ ] You are/were known as 'the art person' at your school.
[x] Instead of just 'brown' or 'pink', you'd be specific; it's 'sienna brown' or 'blush pink'. (depends on the conversation, I'm assuming an art discussion)
[x] You have taken an art class outside of school.
[x] You have considered a career as an artist.
[x] Your school papers are always covered in doodles.
[x] You have a favorite artist.
[x] Your drawings have been framed.
[ ] You carry a sketchbook with you everywhere you go. (I used to, now just a note pad more for writing story ideas than drawing anymore)

Art nerd = 11


MUSICAL NERD

[ ] You play a musical instrument.
[ ] You play more than one instrument.
[ ] You actually really enjoy playing your instrument.
[ ] You've given your instrument a name.
[ ] You've participated in an extracurricular activity for your instrument.
[ ] You are known by what you play.
[x] You listen to classical music. (recently the classical station has been the best thing on the air.. Vivaldi roxxorz bitches)
[x] You are wondering whether that refers to the classical music genre or the classical music time period. (either or is fine with me)
[x] You have a favorite composer.
[ ] All of your friends are from your band/orchestra class.
[ ] You write music.
[x] You've had discussions with your friends about music; your favorite composers/instruments/musical time periods/key/etc...
[ ] You have considered a professional career with your instrument.
[ ] You are never nervous playing for other people.

Musical nerd = 4


VIDEO GAME NERD

[x] You play video games.
[x] You own more than 4 different video game systems.
[x] You've had debates over which system is the greatest.
[ ] You play video games every day.
[x] You have played a video game for over 10 hours.
[x] You have songs from your favorite video games on your MP3.
[x] You love to talk about video games.
[ ] You memorize the dates for when a new game is being released.
[ ] People know you as the 'gamer' person.
[ ] You spend more time on video games than you do hanging out with friends.
[x] Your gaming system is in your room. (computer yes, consoles are in the livingroom)
[ ] You have preferences when it comes to what company your game came from.
[x] You've had debates over which company is the best. (sort of, had debated over when a company is f'in up things)
[ ] You keep playing a game until you beat it.
[ ] It makes you angry when you found out somebody looked up cheat codes on the internet to beat their game.

Video game nerd = 8


COMPUTER NERD

[x] You use the computer every day.
[x] You have an account/username on some sort of social website.
[ ] You go into random internet chatrooms.
[x] You spend at least 2 hours a day on the computer.
[x] You use computer faces.
[x] It is hard to go a day without using the computer.
[x] You spend time in online forums.
[x] In the forum/chatroom you use, you are known there by everyone else.
[x] You have friends you have only met online.
[x] You have actually met an online friend in person.
[x] U cn ezly rd 'txttlk.'
[x] You have said 'lol' or 'omg' in speech that is not online.
[x] You can type really, really fast.

Computer nerd = 12

I .. am.. pathetic.
*googles his name...just to see... yup. pathetic.*
I shudder to think my rating if they included movie nerd >.>

I was tagged by  rarakie
I don't believe I was ever tagged on here for a meme before. Hmmm, if I have I've missed it.

these are the rules
-post 8 true things about yourself
-at the end you must tag 8 people and post their icon
-then you must go to their page & tell them you got tagged
-NO tag backs!

1. I am made up mostly of water. There are a few other bits that make me up but really, largely water.

2. I am attracted to monsters in art. Aliens, strange creatures, things your lizard brain inside tells you to run from, I gravitate towards. What is in it for me? Fascination, arousal... a nice game of scrabble.

3. I'm a fan of Lancias, mostly the Stratos and Delta. Just about any other 80s rally car is game as well.

4. I used to draw, paint, model, sculpt, and do ceramics. I do none of those anymore.

5. I don't feel my photography is anything to write home about. Others do. I trust in the judgment of others.

6. I used to roadtrip everywhere. I used all my spare cash on fuel and drove over 300k miles when I was in college. I still use all my spare cash on fuel. I've put almost 300k on my current vehicle.

7. I dislike living in California, a lot of my friends are here so it makes moving very hard.

8. I have a set of rules that I used to follow. I broke a cardinal rule and decided to try living without them. I realized why I made them in the first place!

Tag to:
Uhh... *points* You... you... YOU in the back..and yes, the fellow in the white shirt up front. Go!

No this is not a hippie message... my good friend  rarakie has a suit she made in the fursuit tourney!
More info in her journal here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/766692/
Go to here to vote for Peridot: http://community.livejournal.com/fursuittourney/

This has nothing to do with the fact that Peridot is one of my favorite semi precious stones.. I really don't know the owner of the suit at all. Emerald is my fave precious stone. Beryl FTW! (not some fur named Beryl but the stone, silly). Beryl is a neat mineral.. I mean one form is called Heliodor, which sounds a lot like the neighboring community of Mordor... but enough of this tangent!

Also it has come to my attention that I could be posting more here since I have some extra animal related pics. I should work on that soon. End tangents. GO VOTE!

Well we thought he was a Pit Bull, turns out he is probably a Staffordshire Terrier.
I call him Sir Edward Niblington III G.B.E. or Nibbles for short. I found him in the apex of a corner so I thought about calling him Apex.

He is getting a good home with a friend.

I should post pics soon.

Land Rover is back in action, expect pics! New friends, new adventures, what more can one ask for?

PS I almost said Sir etc etc OBE which would be incorrect since you must be either a GBE or KBE to get the sir before your name. Actually since he wouldn't be a British citizen he could use sir but not before his name and still be OBE but it would be Edward Niblington III OBE or GBE even however one could argue if he is a Staffordshire Terrier he could be British and hence Sir. Yes I do overthink just about every joke I make. I really do have a sense of humor. Really.

I failed the contest so it was redacted.

I did not win the contest..so.. redacted.

This is why I want a blu-ray player: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie.....mp;show=review

I mean seriously. If you fancy yourself a photographer, the cinematography in this is worth the price of admission! Every scene is as well composed as a fine photograph hanging in a gallery.
It has been my inspiration for over 10 years.

WOW! 2000 page views! I would say I will post something special for it but I am already overdue for the 1k deal-e-o, yo. I hope I am more productive in the coming year! I want to give everyone something interesting to look at.
Thank you all again! :D

Thank you for 1000 page views! I shall post something worthy! Thanks for the 1000!! :D