When: May 15, 2013 @ 6:00pm (the third Wednesday of every month)

Where: Husky's
16010 West Road
Houston, TX 77095

What: A new furmeet. Husky's is a burger and sub place with spacious eating area, arcade, and beer bar. This is a family establishment, so be kind and respectful.

Please let me know if you would like to join, so we can give a head count. This meet is a tail and ear free sadly. We don't need to spook the locals. Just yet.

After 7 years of living in this hell, I'm finally moving... to Houston.

No more late nights alone drinking to just kill time, no more country bars that play the same 10 songs, no more rednecks dominating the populous of the city, and no more endless horizon of barren wasteland filled with mesquite trees and cows. Hello brave new world!

Warning: This journal is for Americans ONLY.

Hey, guys! It's that time of the year again. It's time to do your taxes before the IRS throws you in prison and takes all your stuff. Yay!

If you are curious if you need to pay taxes I have a short guide:
1) Are you breathing?
2) Are you making any money greater than one penny per year?
3) Are you living in America?

If you answered yes to one ore more of the questions above, you get the wonderful right of paying your taxes to Big Brother Uncle Sam.

If you are curious if you apply for Self Employment Taxes, then a quick google search and BOOM. It you didn't catch that that was a clickable link, then BOOM>>> http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employment-Tax-(Social-Security-and-Medicare-Taxes)#2 <<<

If you think you do not need to file for taxes because you are too good for them or do not make enough, then you are wrong wrong wrong and make Patriotic Ferret Jesus cry. Plus, you are no better than those politicians, that people whine about, evading their taxes. So be awesome and write up them forms and get to owing Murica what you made this year. I was forced out of gave roughly $2k to the gov't this year, so rally up them dollars and throw 'em at congress. Yeeeeehaw!

Lately, I have been trying to research the music of the Victorian Era (1837-1901). I am extremely unfamiliar with this genre and would like to ask for help with who was a popular composer or what would people go to listen to at the opera house or musical theater. Are there any historians or music aficionados that would like to help me find classical pieces? Truly, I just want to expand my knowledge of this subject and my taste in music, but lack the time to do full in research to get to this point. Please lend a helping paw.

Warning: May be offensive.

[This is for my own personal documentation of my thoughts. You do not have to read it. This is not a strict set of laws and absolutes, but it would be nice if used as a guideline. These are my own personal codes and standards that I uphold to myself and are not meant to be pressed upon others. If people do uphold these practices, then bravo, you are a hero-- and also very poor.]

Something I have never quite understood is why digital art is so closely priced to traditional pricing or just flat out expensive at all. There really is not a good reason. (To be fair, this is directed towards the popufur artists and people who charge too damn much for their stuff.)

With traditional you have overhead cost of materials and learning curve of color blends with the stipulation of nigh impossible to erase a mistake. I have heard the argument of the price of a computer and tablet and how hard it is to learn the specific program justifies its expense. But, it's like painting in easy mode. You can rotate the picture, mirror it if you can't get a certain curve just right, erasing is like it was never there, and you can make millions of prints from the original copy. With traditional, if you ruin a line during inking, you might have to chuck the whole piece, if it's that bad, which adds to the overhead cost. Mastering the art of not messing up is VERY hard and time consuming, thus must be compensated for with money, decent money.

Now to break down the price of a computer is plain and simply retarded as you did not buy that computer specifically for art just in the same reason I built mine for only browsing porn. Computers are a multi-tool, it would be like going to your boss (in a real job) and demanding they pay you extra for the gas it takes you to get to and from work. That is not reality. If you ONLY use the computer to make art, then you may claim that part of overall cost in a fractional manner, but I know that this is completely unpossible, as I see artists posting tweets, facebook status, and posting youtube videos to both. This is not shelling out art like some kind of weird soulless robot, so you cannot charge this price like you are somehow. Well, you can, but it makes you look pretentious and egocentric.

Now the tablet: a tablet is between $60-200. Now that was specifically bought for art and art alone. It can be used as a mouse, but that is not really an issue as it facilitates the ability to reference poses and draw faster. The real issue is that it is a "one time" buy. Meaning you only have to buy this once as it is not a consumable like prisma color pencils or markers, etcetera. You "never" really have to replace it, or at least, not often. Unless you like to grind your stylus like it's running out of ink or use it in lieu of a phallus when you get lonely/bored, then you will have to replace that, but that is still not a consumable. Charging extra for this would be like me charging extra for me writing my novels on my $100+ switch keyboard because this keyboard costs more than the standard $15 keyboards they sell at walmart or really taking the total cost of all my computer components and adding that into the price, because it cost me money, so it should cost you as well. No! This is utter wrong and a wrong way to think. I didn't build my network of computers specifically for writing novels, I bought it as a round about media station and data backup center while using it to learn how to better myself for future jobs. Adding this to the toll is just silly as it is a low overhead cost that can be made up fairly quickly.

Time: It seems to take less time to shell out something in a virtual state than it does traditional using the same effects, so this is another fallacy. Though, if treated like a job. A job, in America, has minimum wage. This is $7.25/hr. Seeing as entry level artists (ones that have NOTjumped through the hoops of college and kissing people's asses to get an actual job) are entry level. The pay should be between $7.25-8/hr. I say this, because most artists here are not studio artists, even though some should be and the way the world/wage system works-- the more education, job experience, and skills required to do the job, the more money you get. Effectively, anyone can be an artist. From scribbles and blotches on paper to the Last Supper, it is art. Because everyone can be an artist, this means that the job market is kinda saturated. If the job market is saturated, then that means the pay is low. Regardless of skill, this formula works. Skill is disregarded, because even if you are the best burger flipper in the world, you are still flipping burgers at near minimum wage. I'm sorry if this hits you right in the pride, but it is sadly true. Art is not necessary to sustain yourself, but it is fucking awesome, so entertainment value can come into play. If your skill can be easily replicated by so many people, then the skill itself is not that needed, thus not needing a big price tag.(We need scientists to be paid more, not actors!) So charge a fair price. You do not get to play supply and demand, unless you own a company. And FA is not really a place that you can claim as your own website to sell things. It's not ebay or furbid, nor yours. Also, if you make money on this site, you really should donate a small percentile[1-10%] to FA, so it can be less shitty. You are the one making money using someone else's hard work. Be respectful and give some money to FA, so Dragoneer can get better mods and coders to make the site less of a trash heap. Personally, I have never made a cent from using this site, but that is because furries are illiterate and poor, but I have donated. Protip: claim this(your monetary gain from artwork and donations) on your taxes, because when it comes time to get a loan or if you get audited, you are royally screwed.

I think a lot of the pricing scheme has to do with the highschool mentality of furries of who is the most popular and how cool does it make you to have a piece by said popufur. However, it all boils down to what people want to pay for. No one can really tell you how to spend it, as it is a free country in that respect, but use some courtesy when selling and don't get greedy.

Also, get a job, hippie. :V

One of my best friends gave me an invite to Weasyl: https://www.weasyl.com/profile/ferretjesus

So far, I like the UI, but... I have not really been bug searching. So far the site has no issues doing what it is supposed to do, but it would be nice to have a popup versus a page redirect for everything. I'm sure that will be worked out eventually.

Christmas is a little of a was away, but  firefeathers takes a while to paint, so I was wondering who would like to be in a furry nativity? Since the only anthros will be Mom, Dad, and the 3 wise men(going off the traditional nativity scene not history, as to not confuse people) the rest will be animals/ferals. If I can get enough people that want to be in on this, I will then discuss prices for slots, seeing as how it will be charged by slot.

Edit: The price for the Furry Last Supper was around $60. This will give you a ballpark estimate.

It seems that I forgotten to tell people on FA that I am now a minister. This means I can join people in marriage, perform funerals, and you may address me as Reverend, if you feel the dire need to do so.

Today some time in the wee hours of the mourn, I was invited to be one of the administrators of  poi-spinners group. If you are a spinner of fire, glow sticks, sock, flags, flow toys, or large rocks tied with twine, then come on down to see the page. It should be under construction soon enough. Journals detailing what is going on in the poi community should also be on its way soon. As soon as I clear some ideas with the owner and other admin, we should be good to go. ;)

IAmA Ferret Jesus AMA.

Reddit translation: Hi! I'm Ferret Jesus, nice to know you exist. You may ask me anything you like and I will answer as truthfully as possible.

Stolen from:  t-kay

Thanks for everything. Your presence, comments, and concern makes my whole day worthwhile. I don't say thanks enough, so really-- thank you kindly.
When I see xC, xF, xW, xN (x=n; n=value) on my FA at anytime, it just fills my day with joy, because I knew someone cared enough to say something to me. I could not handle being truly popular like a well known fursuiter or artist, because I would not be able to know who is being sincere or just a suckup to weasel something out of me. My friends have really become my life and I kinda like it that way.
To my watchers, whom I have never met: I do hope that one day we could meet at a convention and hang out for a while and discuss whatever comes to mind. I'd really like that.

Thanks to all those who participated in naming my new characters as well, I got a list of really good names and it was hard to choose, but I like the way it all turned out.

On an impulse buy, I bought two characters that I will use for stories and whatnot. The first is a female otter with black and white markings. The second is a male otter with rusty orange and dinghy yellow markings. One will be a warrior and the other shall be an archer. I do not know which.
I ask of you, me fellow watchers and friends, for help in naming these two new characters. I am not creative enough to name anything that is not a funny reference to something, so I need help.

I almost got into a deadly high speed head on car collision on my way home from Houston...
A car was driving down the fast lane the opposite direction(coming towards me), while riding the shoulder a little. The only reason I didn't think it was just a car on the opposite side of the road was because it had its blinker on. I was doing about 75mph and it was doing from 50-70mph making this a very dangerous situation.
I thought I would like to share that I might have been dead with my friends had I not had reaction time skills.

So, I decided to release ~$3000 into the wild as bait for computer to come back. It has an Intel i7 3770k Ivy Bridge processor cooled by a Corsair H80 liquid cooling system, 16 GB of DDR3 1866 ram, 2- EVGA Nvidia GTX560 2GB GPUs, Asus Sabertooth Z77 motherboard, bluray read/writer, 2- Asus LCD 23" screens, OCZ Vertex 4 128 SSD, and OCZ 1000W PSU. My current computer is being turned into a file server powered by Linux with a ZFS software RAID with 4 2TB 64MB cache HDDs. My new Asus RT-N16 router gigabit router running DD-WRT.

As for Tera online. My screenname is Jesus.H.Christ on Basilisk Craig. I'm not on too terribly much, but send me your info and I should add you promptly. Please let me know around what time you play, since Tera is teh suck and does not let you add players if they are offline.

 werewolvesftw was the winner of my story kiriban for 12,345 page views, this time around! Everyone, give him a hand! *claps*

So, I will be getting the game Tera soon, as in, I am downloading it as I type this. I do hope it is good. I should be playing under my usual aliases, but I do not know if they are taken, so we shall wait and see. I will be on Basilisk Craig (pvp server) for sure and, of couse, playing a Popori Priest (furry-race healer); how fitting, I know. Note me if you are going to play too, so we can party and what not.

As for the kiriban. It will be coming up soon, so let me see that luck winning screen cap as soon as you can. I do have a bit of a wait for it, but I never renege on my gifts/offers. So, don't be stunned to see it take a while for me to get to it. I have been having a bit of a writer's block lately, so it has been a bit hard for me to write anything, even status updates.

Came back from Wild Nights 2012 last night around midnight. It was as amazing as ever. I met so many new people and got to go rock climbing over the caves near the park. I did my poi panels which were horribly messed up, but we all just dealt with it. Fire poi was done every night by the campfire, which for some reason was mostly empty, but regardless I had fun doing it.

As for my health, my doctor has no idea what it was. It wasn't an STD(not that I have any), kidney stones, or some kind of freakish bowel impaction. It was just random searing pain in my back. So, wish me luck! :D

I was talking to a friend on Skype and as I signed off, my kidney area felt like someone was stabbing me from the inside. I went to pee, because the inside of my bladder itched/tickled and that's when the pain became unbearable. I passed out from the pain and woke up having a micro seizure on the floor. I felt drunk and thought I was, but I didn't drink anything, so I went to me room and got a pillow and my cellphone(just in case) and laid down by my bathroom, so if I had to puke, it would be on tile, also, if I passed out again/died, someone would find me soon.

So, I go the time off from work. This means a poi panel will be happening at Wild Nights 2012.

Poi is the art of dance that involves spinning weighted objects on tethers around your body in a graceful and geometric manner to amaze and captivate your audience.
Everyday of the convention I should be teaching a class for beginner, intermediate, and advanced poi spinners. I will be providing the sock poi, so you do not have to bring your own, unless you want to do so. I have enough sets to teach small classes (5-10) people at a time.
At night, I will be doing fire poi at the campfire area, if you wish to see it. This will be done every night, unless I become sick or decide to pickle my insides until my blood truly becomes wine. (I WILL NOT BE IN COSTUME FOR THIS!)

It is possible for me to teach contact juggling as well, like last year, but I only have enough contact spheres for 2 students. If you want to learn, bring your own, because these are too expensive for me to buy for a class en mass. If you need a link to get practice spheres or actual acrylic ones, contact me.

Well, I'm back from TFF. I had such a blast. All the people I met were so kind and amazing to talk with-- from truck drivers and pyrotechnics to glow stringers and Australian psychology majors, and even some doctors in the making. Everyone will be sorely missed. Luckily, PCD has not set in, because my new job keeps me so busy. I made a lot of new friends and met some amazing furs. Next year cannot come faster, so FF is right around the corner again. Austin might be a new destination to come and hang out now, since there seems to be so many cool furs living in that area. <3

Overall, the poi panel did well, I think. I had a few really good glow stringers help teach the class for more advanced moves, so I could concentrate on teaching the basics. I will talk with Glass, the chairman of TFF, and ask him if he would like me to do a semi-permanent panel at TFF. If you were at the panel, please let me know how well you liked it and let me know what I could do to improve the panel or better teach you.

Another one of my friends has passed away. Gary Lees, age 62 and gay as springtime, died this morning at 3:55am of lung cancer. Gary has been one of my more odd friends, but, nonetheless, a kind and gentle soul. He was the friend that took me to Las Vegas, NV, not once, but twice and the person who bought the ring you always see me wear.

We were coworkers at Home Depot; me in the paint department and he was the manager of receiving department. We were inseparable for nearly a year. We would eat at IHOP every other night and talk until 5:00am, but for some reason he no longer wanted to be around me anymore. So, for nearly a year we did not speak. Half a year ago I saw him for a little while and we spoke as if we were friends again, but after that, he continued to ignore my calls or would make an excuse not to see each other. Apparently, he was in a huge depression.

I got a text from his neighbor, our mutual friend, that he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and in the hospital. Now, since Gary and I had not spoken in nearly half a year, I was wary of going to see him. His neighbor told me that he didn't want me to know, but she didn't think that was fair to me, so she told me regardless of Gary's request. I saw him and he looked like a talking corpse. He was crying. I do not know if he was happy to see me, sad to know that I had seen him like that, or angry with me for coming to see him. I don't care, because I have always seen him as one of the most amazing friends I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, despite him pushing me away. I never faulted him nor hated him for wishing to not speak with me.

Already, I do miss him. I wished things could have gone differently between us, but that's life, never know what's going to happen next. Never will he be forgotten, never will his image be tainted in my mind.

So, I have been talking to the chairman of Furry Fiesta and submitted a panel application. As far as I know, I will be doing a poi panel on Saturday @ 10pm-midnight. If you want to learn, please let me know, so I know how many poi to make for the panel. This will actually be the first actual panel that I will be directing, so please be gentle with me; I don't want it to hurt.
If I do not get the slot, I will be happy to continue my impromptu panels as usual, so, no matter what, I will be teaching poi.

Upload; complete. Got first degree burns on my wrists; check. Bringing in the new years with fire poi;

Leaving tomorrow to head for Houston to see  taigitsune and pals. Thursday, I will leave again and be in Baton Rouge, LA until roughly the 27th. If anyone wants to meet up, we can. :D

I have noticed that I just post bad things on here, but, sadly, that's all that has been happening to me.

Recently, I was laid off from my job and have been trying to apply at the local ISD as their computer tech. So many hoops have been jumped through-- tests, group interviews, calling them like crazy, waiting for responses. Today, I found out that the position I was going for had been filled a few days after my interview when they told me that it would take them weeks to hire me and i might have to wait til January to even hear a call back from them. My application was sent almost a month ago and the interview was last Tuesday. It would have paid me nearly $15/hr to do what I do best-- fix computers. Now, I have nothing. No leads, no ideas, no energy, no nothing.

In October, I had to buy a used Honda Civic '04 to replace my dying, nearly dead, Chevy S10 '98. I have yet to make a single payment on it, because I was laid off a few weeks after acquiring it. Because I live with my father, who makes too much money for me to qualify for financial aid, I have to pay for college out of pocket. I know I can do scholarships, but they have too many restrictions on my grades, when all I want to do is just pass the classes to get the crap paper that says that I know how to do what I already knew in the first place. I needed a job to give me more that just $8/hr and >10-20 hours a week, so I can pay for these things. Soon, my father will be moving from this city and I will have nowhere to go, because apartments are expensive and roommates are hard to come by that won't rob you blind. Plus the average wage here is $7.25-8.50 for most jobs. Do some math-- it's not much.

Sigh. At this point, I have no clue what to do, because I was really banking on the idea that I had that job in the bag, because one of my friends works there and put in good words for me. All there is here is retail and if I have to talk to one more under-educated backwater redneck, I will go on a killing spree and not stop til this hellhole is nothing but a charred memory. I went into the tech field, so I wouldn't have to deal with customers directly and just do what I love doing the most. Being secluded with a few coworkers and fixing computers and networks. For right now, I need a stiff drink.