A group that works to protect the rare Okapi, a type of forest giraffe found only in the Congo Basin, has has won mongabay.com's 2012 conservation award.

The Okapi Conservation Project has been working to protect the Okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years. The group was instrumental in establishing the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a 13,700-square-kilometer tract of wilderness in the Ituri Forest of northeastern DRC.

While the Okapi Conservation Project has had a long track record of success, earlier this year it was devastated by a brutal attack on the reserve's headquarters. Two wildlife rangers were among the six people killed during June 24 assault. 14 endangered okapi were slaughtered during the early morning raid, which was reportedly a response to a crackdown on illegal elephant poaching and gold mining inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.

The attack was led by Mai Mai Simba rebels. The militia destroyed buildings and equipment at the facility, which is shared by the Institute in the Congo for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and the Okapi Conservation Project. Computers, phones, medical supplies, food, and other gear were stolen.

The dead included two ICCN rangers, the wife of one of the rangers, an immigration worker, and 2 residents of Epulu, the town where the attack took place.

In recognition of the shocking attack and the general struggles of working in the DRC, Mongabay.com selected the Okapi Conservation Project as this year's recipient of the award.

"What happened in Epulu and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was truly tragic," said mongabay.com founder Rhett A. Butler. "I hope the Okapi Conservation Project and its local partners are able to fully rebuild and continues their efforts in the Congo."

Each year mongabay.com selects an organization to honor with its conservation award. The award includes a cash prize and prominent placement of mongabay.com's homepage and in its weekly newsletter for the month of December. Previous winners include the Amphibian Ark (2011), AITo and the Nantu Forest Conservation Program (2010), WildlifeDirect (2009), Health In Harmony/Project ASRI (2008), and the Amazon Conservation Team (2007).

Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2012/1205-.....eFwH3P2BQXT.99

Received a couple of e-mails from the Hotel hosting MFF this year. They wanted to remind me (and all other registered guests at the con) that parking will be "limited".

Lets do some math; MFF will have approx 3,000 attendees this year. The hotel which is hosting the event for the third year in a row has approx 900 parking stalls in the garage. That makes about 1 stall for every 3-1/2 attendees. Les say only half of those going will be driving, the rest will be taking a plane or use public transpo. That still leaves 1,500 attendees fighting for 900 slots.

But thats not all. You see, this is an O'Hare Airport fully operational Hotel with transient business folks going to and from where ever. So those 900 lots will not be just for us but shared between the thousand or so people during their business trip. Not to mention being a hotel right next to the Rosement Convention Center. So there may be a few hundred coming and going for whatever they have running that same weekend as well.

If you are driving to MFF, keep this in mind. Arrive early, find parking and never for the love of the Hoof move your car for any reason during the weekend.

I noticed one of the furs I watch mentioned a resturant giving Veterans a free meal on Veterans Day, I thought it would be nice to expand that to all the places I know that are offering meals and discounts that day. Here is a list of all the verified locations that I know that are offering discounts:

Olive Garden; free meal; Monday 12th
Applebees; free select meals; Sunday 11th
Golden Coral; free meal; Monday 12th
Chilis; free select meals; Sunday 11th
TGI Friday (Not all locations); free meal; Monday 12th
Hooters; free wings; Sunday 11th
Texas Roadhouse; free early meal; Monday 12th
Subway; free 6" sub; Sunday 11th
Krispy Kreme; free doughnut (whoopdee-do); Sunday 11th
Dennys; free pancakes (All you can eat); Monday 12th

Skyridge Inn B&B (Utah); free night stay; Sun 11th to Mon 12th
Cabela Stores; discounts from 5 to 50%; Sun 11th to Mon 12th
Home Depot; 10%; All weekend long
Lowes; 10%; All weekend Long
Sportclips; free haircut; Monday 12th (20% discount all other days)
Sleep Number Beds; crap ton of discounts; through Nov 18th
Sonic Car Wash; free car wash; Sunday 11th

The following are unverified discounts. May not be available at all locations and dicounts vary by store:

Restaurants: Arby's, A&W, Burger King, Carl's Jr. Chevy's, Fresh Mex, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Dunkin' Donuts, IHOP, KFC, Long John Silver's, McDonald's, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Quizno's, Red Robin, Sonic, Taco Bell, Wendy's.

Travel: AmTrak, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Continental Airlines, Cruise lines (most), Hyatt Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Car Care: AutoZone, Checker Auto Parts, General Motors, Jiffy Lube, Kragen Auto Parts, Meineke, NAPA Auto Parts.

Cell Phone Service Discounts: Alltel, Cingular, Sprint/NexTel, T-Mobile Verizon.

Clothing and Shoes: Aeropostale, The Children's Place, Dress Bar,n Fanzz (10%), The Finish Line, Foot Action (15%), Foot Locker (20%), Hot Topic, Jos. A. Bank, Jockey, Kohl's, Lerner, New York & Company, Pac Sun, Reebok, Timberland Outlets (active duty only), Wilson's Leather.

The male okapi calf was born on July 5. This is the second okapi calf born at the Sedgwick County Zoo and to adult female, Likimi.

At birth Epulu weighed 68 pounds, and he has now doubled that number. Because okapi calves do not control their own body heat, Likimi and Epulu have remained off exhibit for the duration of the summer heat. Now that the heat has passed, it’s time for Epulu to come out and play.

This is good news!

Is not an Okapi, but still, a rare Ungulate and enough to mention none-the-less.


Australian zoo welcomes a most important new guest as white rhino calf is the first female born in its history the zoo is toasting the arrival of this adorable baby girl rhinoceros.

The Southern White Rhinoceros calf is the first ever to be born at Monarto Zoo, Adelaide, Australia.
The pint-sized tusker, who has not yet been named, kept close to her mother while enjoying a gentle wallow in the mud followed by a little nap.


Ungulate Zookeeper, James Morrison, said there's a buzz in the air with zookeepers and visitors alike enjoying the antics of the new babies. He said: 'Everyone's thrilled to welcome this new girl to the Monarto Zoo family; it's especially exciting for zookeepers to see the animals they care for healthy, happy and breeding.
'The baby was born on exhibit which meant lucky visitors and zookeepers got to see the new additions enjoying their first few hours of life.'

Zoos South Australia CEO, Elaine Bensted, said it was timely to announce the new arrival on World Animal Day and highlight the important conservation work happening on the ground at Monarto Zoo. She said: 'With only 20,150 Southern White Rhinoceros left in the wild this new calf is extremely important to the region, especially considering one day she will go on to produce her own offspring. 'It's a great achievement and very exciting not only for Zoos SA staff but also our volunteers, members and visitors.'

The major threat facing Southern White Rhinoceros is poaching for their horns, which are of high value on the black market. Approximately 400 rhinos have lost their lives this year alone to this barbaric trade.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art.....#ixzz28zzu6Fxi

IUCN Motion for the Protection of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and communities of the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo

RECOGNIZING that conservation of the exceptional biodiversity of the Ituri Forest, including the okapi, eastern chimpanzee, and forest elephants has been carried out for two decades in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (known by its French acronym RFO) by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) supported by the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), US Agency for International Development, German Development Bank, and other partners;

UTTERLY DISMAYED by the murderous assault on 24 June 2012 at Epulu, where six local people, including two ICCN rangers, were killed, fourteen okapis slaughtered, and facilities of the RFO destroyed;

AWARE that this assault was conducted by some known elephant poachers in retaliation against enforcement by the ICCN of laws protecting elephants, okapis, and other species, and prohibiting illegal mining and other activities destructive of the ecological integrity of the RFO;

INFORMED that some members of FARDC, the national army of DRC responding to this assault, were involved in looting and ransacking facilities in or near Epulu of the ICCN, OCP, WCS, and Forest Biodiversity Project, and looting houses and shops in Epulu;

ALSO AWARE that many villagers were forced to carry looted materials by the leader of the poachers, as they moved back into the forest of the RFO; and that ten village women were still being held as hostages by them at the time of submission of this motion;

ENCOURAGED that the Government of DRC and FARDC are currently seeking to apprehend the leader of the poachers and his associates and rescue the hostages; and

RECALLING Resolution 2.37 Support for Environmental Defenders adopted by the 2nd IUCN World Conservation Congress (Amman, 2000) and Recommendation 4.119 Protection of Rangers Within and in Areas Adjacent to Protected Areas:

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, at its fifth session in Jeju, Republic of Korea, 6-15 September 2012:

1. URGES the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to apprehend and bring to justice the leader of the poachers and his associates, who conducted the assault in and near Epulu on 24 June 2012;

2. CALLS upon the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and leading officers of FARDC to identify, indict, and bring to justice members of FARDC who participated in ransacking conservation facilities and looting the village of Epulu in the aftermath of the assault by the lead of the poachers and his band on 24 June 2012;

3. APPLAUDS UNESCO for immediately extending financial support for the Emergency Fund of ICCN to help in protecting the RFO, which was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997;

4. THANKS those who have provided assistance by supplying food, medicines, and other supplies to ICCN rangers and families and the people of Epulu in wake of the assault;

5. CALLS UPON government and non-government Members of IUCN to assist the government of DRC, and ICCN with financial and technical help in their efforts to reestablish full protections to the RFO and to restore the community of Epulu;

6. ENCOURAGES other partners to bolster their support to ICCN and the people of Ituri Forest through science, education, agroforestry, community assistance, medical care, and immigration control;

8. RECOMMENDS to the government of DRC the desirability of ensuring that the core no-hunting zone of the RFO receives enhanced conservation and protection.

Sponsor:
Wildlife Conservation Society NG-195

A friend of mine here in FA was asking about gangs found in northern Idaho. After a bit of research I found this information, but he seemed to have deleted the journal before I could reply to it. So I'm putting it here for everyone's interest.

The largest gang is the Russet clan. They were mostly earth tone colors, browns and tans. They are nearly ubiquitous all over Idaho. All the other gangs if they team up in total still could not out number the Russets.

Not long after the fall of Soviet Russia, a new gang appeared and became prevalent during the 90s. The Russian Bananas. These guys have pale yellow skin with rich yellow clothing and a firm texture. When they are not doing criminal activities, you can find them grilling in their backyards. They seem to do well with salads too.

There is a euro trash gang called the French Fingerling, they were waxy pink and yellow clothing. Their preferred criminal activity is arson. In fact when a few of these get together it is common knowledge that there will be a roasting. They are good at it.

The Red Gold gang has been growing in numbers. You can find them a lot running front businesses such as restaurants and cafes to launder their il-gotten gains. Quite a few of the leaders of this gang is known for their cooking skills and you can find their skills in many dishes.

Finally the Norland Red or Irish gang has a good foothold. Members of this gang starting coming over from Ireland during the great famine in that country. Many of their members have ginger colored hair, hence the name reference. They excel in physical violence. When a few of these gather to attach members of a rival gang it is usually called a mashing.

This weekend I'll be attending IFC, Indy Furry Convention. I've been looking forward to this one actually. More so then MFF to be honest. I just think the latter has outgrown its individualness and is just another large con. Whereas IFC still has its small town comfortability to it. I'll be primarily in the Okapi outfit, so no change there. Arriving Thursday evening, leaving Sunday.

Something to mark on your calendar to keep the date: I will be hosting two panels back-back. In Panel Rm B, Suite 3; I will present the Military Furs Panel from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. So if you are either a member of or supporter of the Military, come out for a little comraderie of like minded furs.

Immediately following in the same room I will present Ungulates United the annual business meeting of the ongoing Ungulate Revolution within the Furry Fandom. This year's topics will include important discussions of set backs and progressions in Africa and the ever popular meet and greet portions. There may also be some mentionings of Ponies as well.

After IFC, I will be taking another drive down to the Peoria area to take a look at more stables and to find a place stay. There is a very strong chance that I may be renting an efficiency apartment from my friend Dasha. Going to physically take a look at the place and decide then if its a fit for both of us. My new career with the US Army Corps of Engineers starts on the 27th of this month, so a whole new chapter in my life starts then.

We are one-month away from Midwestria now. I'm getting very excited for that con now.

See y'all at IFC.

Its official Everypony. I just got the call about an hour ago. I will be transfering federal agencies from the Dept of Veteran Affairs, Construction and Facility Maintenance to Dept of the Army, Corps of Engineers. It will be a lateral jump, so no promotion, but I'll be eligible for higher grade promotions in two years. I was topped out with the VA already so I had no room for growth here anymore.

This means, I will be leaving the Joliet area of IL and moving down to the Peoria area of IL effective in the next couple of weeks. My report date to my new office will be near the end of August.

When I moved to Joliet from Waukegan about 10 years ago, it took me nearly 7 months to sell my house I had there. I hope to all the hoven dieties that it doesn't take as long or longer to do it again. I have no idea how I will be able to afford two mortgages. I may just have to do the Apartment thing for a bit, until the one sells (if it sells) and keep some stuff in storage.

Anypony own a truck and want to earn some beer?

Also, if any of my friends, contacts or watchers live in the Greater Peoria area and have some suggestions on places to live, let me know, like stat. I will need to live somewhere near an English (dressage) stable that has boarding available too. I'd like to be no more then five miles from the stable, so I can get to my girl quickly if needed.

Okapi Conservation Project

Update – July 9, 2012

The situation in Epulu remains calm with several staff moving back to start cleaning up and making basic repairs to accommodations. The UN forces have withdrawn and a small group of Congolese army troops are based at ICCN headquarters. Most of the people from town that were taken as hostages to transport stolen goods have been released and made it back to Epulu. Over $160,000 generously donated by so many concerned supporters of OCP and WCN has arrived in Beni DRC and is being used to pay for medical care at the Mambassa hospital and provide food, medicine, transport and shelter to displaced families. Money is being distributed by OCP to allow ICCN and OCP staff and their families to repair their homes and buy cooking supplies and furniture. An inventory of remaining medical supplies at the Dispensary is now underway as well as a determination of what can be salvaged and what needs to be replaced or rebuilt at the ICCN headquarters.

A meeting with ICCN and all partners is planned for this week to develop a rebuilding strategy that will provide security to people working to protect the environment as well as those working to educate and assist the communities around the Reserve. We will be meeting with staff to hear what they think about how we organize and function under a new reality of potential retribution from poaching rings. I will provide all of our supporters a full report of the results of the meetings and a summary of what the OCP staff envision as the best way we rebuild to safely meet our goal of securing community support for okapi conservation and assisting ICCN in protecting the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. I will let all the people I meet in the DR Congo know of the great outpouring of support and concern you have shown for their safety and well being. You have shown your willingness to help them in their time of need and I feel this will go a long way in getting communities to understand the need to set aside and protect part of their world for okapi and the rest of the wonderful diversity of life in the forest. Thank you for your support as it provides encouragement in this time of uncertainty.

John Lukas

Wildlife Conservation Network

Because of you, in the last week we have raised over $100,000 to support the Okapi Conservation Project!! This phenomenal flood of support is overwhelming for all of us. Thank you for being a part of our Network.

Update – July 3, 2012 - Congolese Army and UN Troops continue to pursue the Mai Mai Simba rebels led by Morgan, but have to be cautious as over 30 hostages were taken from Epulu to transport stolen goods through the forest. At last report the rebels had crossed the Ituri River on the southern border of the Reserve and were heading west. The Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) Conservator Somba is in Epulu now coordinating the ICCN salvage operation and making assessment of rebuilding needs. Several guards from remote patrol posts have gone to Epulu to help restore order and clean up.

OCP staff still in Epulu are closing up damaged buildings and salvaging what they can. It appears that a truck with smashed windows still runs and the generator suffered only minor damage, as did the satellite relay dish.

Over 150 staff and families are now in Mambassa and the Project is providing funds for shelter, food, medicines and transport to other villages where relatives reside.

It is important to emphasize that the Projects’ three satellite offices, in Mambassa, Nia Nia, and Wamba were unaffected and continue to operate essential education, agroforestry and community assistance programs around the perimeter of the Reserve. Likewise, the five ICCN guard posts around the Reserve are fully manned and continue to undertake patrols and vehicle checks.

It has been verified that the attack led by Morgan was an act of revenge against ICCN for targeting his elephant poachers and illegal gold miners operating in the Reserve. The continent wide war on elephants, driven by escalating prices for ivory, provided Morgan with the funds to buy weapons and mount his attack on Epulu. ICCN leadership and partner organizations are encouraging Congolese Army officers and U.N. leaders to continue to pursue and apprehend the rebels.

The response to our appeal to help those who lost everything in this attack has been overwhelming. The OCP and ICCN staff and their families want to express a heartfelt thank you for your generosity and concern for their wellbeing. The Okapi Conservation Project will continue to pay our staff and ICCN staff from Epulu while we work out a satisfactory rebuilding plan and budget. Rebuilding the Epulu Station is critical as it functions as the logistical center for the Reserve, providing supplies, equipment, rations and direction to staff working in remote sites.


I, personally, want to thank each and every one of the people and institutions that have contributed to support the people that have devoted their lives to the preservation of okapi and all the wildlife of the Ituri Forest.

Rosie Ruf and I are traveling into the DR Congo to meet with staff, ICCN leadership and partners. Once I return from the DR Congo, I will share with you what your donations have done to ease the suffering of so many affected by this horrific attack. We will also share with you our plans to rebuild our infrastructure and that of the ICCN so that the Okapi Wildlife Reserve will continue to provide a secure future for the okapi in the wild and all of the wildlife that share its forest home, including elephants.

John Lukas
Okapi Conservation Project

TL;DR
The Okapi Conservation Project earned over $100k in donations after the attack by rebels last week. The Congo Army is in pursuit to capture the attackers, but moving slowly as the rebels have approx 30 hostages from Epulu in tow. The OCP is assessing the damage and making a plan to rebuild the facilities. The attack was confirmed to be for revenge purposes only. The rebels were angry that ICCN forces prevented them from slaughtering elephants for their illegal ivory trading.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Early in the morning on Sunday, Simba rebels (Mai Mai) attacked the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and headquarters for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve near the village of Epulu in the northeastern area of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the Okapi Conservation Project, at least five guards were killed, and destruction of buildings and looting has occurred. Fighting his way past the rebels, the reserve's Conservator Gishlain Somba escaped and walked through the night to Mambassa, where he is coordinating with the Congolese Army (FARDC) being deployed to the area, along with top rangers from Virunga National Park.

"We are gravely concerned about the fate of our 100 staff members and the 14 okapi at the breeding and research station," said John Lukas, Founder of the Okapi Conservation Project. "As soon as the area is safe, we will go and provide whatever help we can."

The Okapi is the flagship species for one of the most biologically diverse spots on Earth—the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri Rainforest. Today, there are approximately only 10,000 – 20,000 okapi in the wild.

To make a donation to help the local people, rebuild the conservation station and provide assistance to the ICCN to continue to protect the wildlife of the Ituri Forest, please visit http://www.okapiconservation.org/.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1fQmy)

Today Venus moves in front of the Sun. This transit is the rarest type of solar eclipse known -- much more rare than an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon or even by the planet Mercury. In fact, the next transit of Venus across the Sun will be in 2117. Because this Venus transit is so unusual and visible from so much of the Earth, it is expected to be one of the more photographed celestial events in history. Go to this website and refresh the screen (F5) every 15 minutes starting at 4:10pm CST to view Venus in transit across Sol, our sun. The website's live image on the Sun is being taken by the Earth-orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

To where there is less traffic.

I was alerted to a newspaper editorial from a few months ago today that made me slap my forehead so loud, it sounded like Krakatoa in my office. It was a short one, but was probably quite a stretch for the literacy level of the writer.

The editorial reads:
"Move the deer crossing to where there's less traffic. A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic." - Tim Abbott, Crown Point

What really causes me grief is that this person probably votes too. There is just so much wrong with this I am not going to go into it. Feel free to let your opinions known.


You can take a look at the source here:
http://thediggerer.com/index.php/co.....s-less-traffic

No, not that kind, the golf kind.

Every year, I attend a Golfing Event in Joliet, IL called the "Chicago Street Pub Annual Golf Outing". Normally, I just join as an individual and link up with others so we make a random foursome for the event. However, I thought this year, I'd make a call out to my furry friends and see if anyone wants to join in the action.

This is a very incredibly fun event. Since it is hosted by my favorite Irish Pub, the booze flows freely. Every other hole, there is a cooler well stocked with all the patron's favorite carbonated adult beverages plus special holes with themed cocktails and other drinks and a roving drink cart filled with many mixed drinks and hard stuff. In other words, this is NOT an event for tea totlers. This is a Drunk's event. If you're still sober by the 9th hole (we play a full 18) then you're not doing it right.

oh yeah, we also play golf too at this event, but trust me, its not pretty. I myself do not play golf. I spend the afternoon driving around in the cart and trying to find exactly where did that little white ball I hit actually go. This is a Shotgun Start Scramble game. Which means we will start on some random hole from 1-18 but will go through the entire course in order from where ever we actually start and when we play, we only use the best placed ball from all four of us that actually hit the damn thing. Do the scores actually matter? No, not really, we are there to drink and have gobs of fun. Only the Lawyers and Salesmen actually go out and try to win that event. The Pub Patrons (AKA the Drunks) go there to drink, have fun and enjoy a nice summer day in Joliet, IL.

After the event, we retire from the golf course and return to Chicago Street Pub (using designated drivers) for an evening of free drinks from the draft and bottom shelf booze and a free steak dinner. During the night, there are tons of raffles for stuff that has been donated by the beer distributors. I won a HUGE Beer display mirror two years ago that sits in my basement/game room. You can also win T-shirts, golf bags, clubs, irons, BBQ grills, various electronic toys, bottles of booze, and many many other things.

Interested? Let me know.

The bad news: there is a price. Besides waking up in some gutter of downtown Joliet, you need to pre-pay for the event. Pre-registration up to June 1st is $100. After June 1st its $120. This has to be prepaid in cash or a check that will not be deposited prior to the event so the organizer can avoid paying taxes on it before hand. I've done this for many years and have never been burned, plus the Pub owner is a very close personal friend of mine, perhaps the best friend I have.

The date: August 25th, 2012; sign in at 8:30am and shotgun start at 9:00. hosted at Inwood Golf Course, Joliet, IL.

This is usually sold out prior to the end of the Pre-Reg period. So if you want to get drunk with me, I will need to know like now. For $100 you get a full 18 holes, cart rental, lunch at the course, all the beer you can drink, a free steak at the pub and prizes. Its really a great price for a full day of drunken bliss and debauchery. Oh, no one under 21 should apply, hehe.

*edit* Some people say Golf is boring. Here is a pic I took last year at the same event. Does anything look boring to you here?

http://i48.tinypic.com/2jbnzbd.jpg

Be with you!

Its been a very long ride this season. We had 26 episodes, starting way back on September 17th. Many songs, surprises and some derpy eye'd drama later, it all came to a close this afternoon, with episodes 25 & 26 back to back. I will post no spoilers yet, since the YouTube community has not uploaded the set, but it was a good ending.

Season three is in production, we have a confirmation of at least 13 episodes and hopefully more on the second half as well. Top Draw Animation is tracking the progress. Looks like the 13 are due to hit the airwaves sometime after the 10th of August. Probably around middle September like last year. http://topdrawanimation.com/production.htm

So, what was your favorite parts of Season Two? What were some of your critiques?

For me, my biggest critique was the lack of any advancing plot. Season One was centered all around the Grand Galloping Gala and the design of the dresses to all sorts of preparations for it. This season was all sorts of stand alone vignettes. However, I did like the continuity inside this season much better then the last. If something was revealed about a pony during season two, they stuck with it throughout the rest of the episodes. An example is Rainbow Dash's reading. After "Read it and Weep" you would find RB sitting around somewhere reading, which you would never see prior to that. So continuity gets a huge A for effort from me.

We had a few good production song numbers that I really liked, but didn't knock my socks off like "Winter Wrap Up" or "At the Gala" but ranks up there with "Art of the Dress" for sure. My favorites this season was "Smile Smile Smile" which will probably become the season's favorite from most of the MLP community. Also "The Flim Flam Brothers", "Becoming Popular", "Find A Pet" and "The Perfect Stallion" all getting high marks as well. Dan Ingram is such a talented song writer. He really knows how to tug on an emotion. I hope some day he released an album with his Pony Compositions and songs.

As for episodes, there were a few stand outs and a lot of good to mediocre ones. "Return of Harmony", "Lesson Zero", "Luna Eclipsed", "Family Appreciation Day", "Last Roundup (Original)", "Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000", "Read it and Weep", "Hurricane Fluttershy" and "Canterlot Wedding" being my favorites. Of those, I think I would say "Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000" gets the highest score. I loved the "Music Man" production feel to it and liked how they finally allowed Applejack to grow in that one learning from her past lessons. Also, the closing lines made me spew my cereal in a surprise move as AJ wrote the letter to Princess Celestia.

Without doubt; my favorite scene of the entire season is also coupled with my least favorite scene. I speak none other then the opening sequence of "The Last Roundup". Derpy Hooves, dear old Derpy Hooves. Oh how they changed you. When I first saw it on the fateful day of January 21st, I was so excited. I couldn't contain myself and had to yell it from the rafters; not only was our favorite mare named in that episode, she spoke! It was the biggest head nod that Hasbro and Studio B gave to the Brony Community yet. It was such a rush to watch it all happen live. Then it crashed. Derpygate started soon thereafter and that episode and all those magical moments were changed forever. The opening sequence was redone. Names were dropped off the script and voices were switched. From the ashes there was some light still. I did like the new voice for Derpy better though. Being a fan of Baldumbrat, an artist and voice actress, the new improved Derpy voice sounded much closer to the voice that BDR had created and used for the past year on YouTube.

Favorite Villain of the season goes to Discord. There were many others that came and went, but Discord was such a well done part. Hearing the voice of Q only added to the joy.

Favorite twist was from "Sisterhood Social" when Rarity was revealed under the mud instead of Applejack. I truly did not see that coming. I thought it was very well done.

Thats about all I can come up with at the spur of the moment. I'm interested to hear all of y'all's list. Post it hear, or make your own journal and post the link here so I can tune in.

The Pony Episode drought of the summer has started, but stay calm and Brony on. September is just around the barn.

Did you see it on Sunday night? Hasbro became a sponsor for the HBO's smash hit "Game of Thrones" and used some clever indirect marketing to advertise for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Check out the promo for it here: http://www.foxtrot.com/2012/04/01/

A great episode for Derpy fans. We has about 10 or so Derpy sightings today and most importantly, her eyes were crossed. Also, anyone catch the Brony easter egg in the very beginning? For those that haven't seen the episode yet, I'll refrain from mentioning it here, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.

By this time tomorrow, I expect a lot of Fluttergasms on youtube, FA and DA.

All in all, Hurricane Fluttershy was a very well done episode. I didn't expect much from it but it was very surprisingly good. Definitely a 5 hoof rating this week. Fluttershy is not even close to my favorite so saying this means something.

One question though, WTF is up with 'roid rage pony?

I have gone to close to a dozen McDonalds now, but I haven't found a Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie anywhere. I've found all the others, but Rainbow Pie is just too rare out here it seems. I'll go out again this weekend to try and find them, but not sure how lucky I'm going to be.

Anyone got the date on the new Blind bags? When they are coming out? I gots to get my Lyra and Trixie.

Did you watch Winter Wrap Up today? You should. Stop reading this and got watch it naow.

What a roller coaster ride its been for the Derpy Hooves fans these past couple of weeks. Today's episode is no exception.

*Spoiler Alert for episode s2e19 ON

During the shopping scene when Fluttershy was trying to buy the asparagus, Derpy came into the scene from the right side of the screen. She was wearing a saddlebag like many of the other ponies that were out shopping, but hers was unique. If you look closely to the latch that holds the bags closed, you will see that its a latch in the shape of a Muffin.

You can see the bag in this pic: http://derpyhoovesnews.com/images/t.....ner3_s2e19.png

Sure, the executives of Hasbro may have taken our favorite mascot's derp eyes away and changed her voice (which I still like better then the original voice, but that is only because I've been a fan of Baldumbrat's work for a year now) but Studio B is still giving a little nod and a wink to the Bronies by sneaking in a few hidden easter eggs like this. I don't blame anyone from Studio B for the past week of Derpy Gate, I for one understand how the executives from Hasbro had to come down and force the change. I love Tabi's voicework, but if she just understood the character a little more and didn't use that slow masculine sounding voice, the whole situation probably would not have happened. Her voice as Rarity was in top form this week though.

Back to the episode. It was meh for me. I'm not a Fluttershy fan at all. She is just too diametrically opposed to me I guess. In my list of favorites of the mane 6, she would come up as last I hate to say. So, for me, the episode was just too uninteresting. Also, what happened to her stare? In season one on the Stare Master episode, she could make any creature do anything with just looking at them. But it seems she may have lost that power. Anyone know the voice of the Minotaur? I am sure I've heard it before, but just can't place it.

Spoiler alert OFF

So I really just wanted to talk about Derpy's new fashion accessory. Everything else was just fluff in this journal.

So, for the past several weeks (nearly two months now) I've been living nearly 1,000 miles from my home to attend a training course with the Military. Lots of pros and cons to this, but one of the biggest pros is that the apartment I'm living in has the Hub Channel. Which means that every week I've been able to wake up on Saturday morning and watch My Little Pony live. No low quality streaming sessions, no waiting a couple hours for Youtube uploaders. I sit down with my gyrobowl, eat cereal and watch my favorite pastel colored little marshmallow ponies. Life has been good.

However, watching MLP live, you must sit through the Hub commercials too. There are approximately 8 minutes of commercials for each episode. Each commercial is about 30 seconds long, so I have to patiently deal with 16 different commercials every time, give or take. Here is a little something I've learned:

The Hub Channel is very quick on recognizing their new demographic. The Bronies. Or specifically fans of the show outside of the originally targeted demographic of 8 to 12 year old girls. However, they just haven't effectively tapped into this new market well yet. They seem to be using the "mud approach" right now. What is that you ask? The mud approach is like a shotgun blast. You take a handful of mud and throw it against the wall. Sure, most of it will fall off, but some will stick. That is what the Hub Marketeers are doing. They are taking a lot of weird and unusual types of commercials, types you would never previously see on Saturday morning cartoons and play it during my Pony hours.

I call to your attention, the Hip replacement lawsuit commercial. I don't think I have ever seen an 8 to 12 year old girl having to undergo a hip replacement or rather had one and then had to have another one later since the first one was failing. This is a commercial aimed at 60 to 70 year old folks. Now Bronies do vary in age. However, I personally do not know many older then middle 40. That seems to be the upper end of the spectrum from my observations. The median age is around middle 20s. Not too many 20somethings out there are having hip replacement surgery either.

I dunno who the ad rep was for Hub that sold that time to the law firm doing that commercial, but I am sure he/she is laughing to the bank. Its about as effective of a ad campaign as selling bacon ads in Israel.

This was a wordy journal today. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

My favorite Pony, Derpy Hooves, is no longer a voiceless background pony. She is now officially part of the supporting cast and was given a good number of lines in today's episode. I'm very happy for my Bubble Butt pony.

Seems the voice actress Ashley Ball is behind the mic for her. That name should mean something to the true Bronies out there. Ashley is also the voice of Rainbow Dash and Applejack too. Watch out Tabitha, she is after your job as best voice, ever.

YouTube is up and running now too. YOu can check out Derpy's performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZVi.....ature=youtu.be

I'm talking about Reindeer here. We've all seen pictures, drawings and other art of Santa Claus and his eight tiny reindeer. A lot of us, can probably read off their names by memory. But I was reading a article about Reindeer today and learned some pretty neat stuff.

Antlers: Both male and femle Reindeer (Also known as Caribou in North America) grow Antlers. Male racks can grow up to 4 feet wide. However, the males shed their antlers in autumn and regrow them to full size by spring. Which means all the pictures and drawings of reindeer with their full racks pulling Santa's Sleigh are all females. Interesting huh? Come to think of it, the names do kinda sounds feminine too: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.

Hooves: Many people across the world change their car tires during certain seasons; you have both Summer and Snow tires. Reindeer can basically do the same thing. During the winter months, the footpads on a reindeer's foot will shrink and toughen up. This forces the hard nail like hoof to dig into snow preventing the animal from slipping. During warmer seasons, the footpads become spongy allowing greater traction.

Coat: Reindeer have an undercoat of hollow fur which insulates their body much like a down filled jacket does with us. These hollow hairs also increase the reindeer's boyancy in water. They have been known to cross rivers and ponds even in arctic conditions with no difficulties.

Sight: Studies are being done now which in pretty interesting. The University of London believes that Reindeer are the only mammal that can see Ultraviolet light. So they can see urine marks and predator fur in an area which no other animal on the planet can see. This is something I never knew about.

Sounds: Every hear the christmas carol "Up on the Rooftop"? One of the lines is "Up on the rooftop click, click click". The Clicks refer to the noise that certain joints in the Reindeer legs makes. This is done on purpose and not part of arthritis or anything. During a heavy snow storm in the arctic, herds of reindeer will follow eachother across the tundra by listening to the clicks of their bones instead of navigating by sight or smell.


See how cool and interesting Ungulates can be? This is just one of over 350 species of Ungulate too. Stick around and I'll teach you a thing or two from others as time goes on.

Liedt, Ungulexpert.