In my conversations with people about AC, more than a few have expressed dismay at the expensive cab fare from the airport to the con hotel area. If you don't know already, there is a dedicated airport to downtown express bus operated by Pittsburgh's city bus authority. It costs $3.25 each way, and runs every 30 minutes during the week. I don't know all of the ins and outs of disembarking and embarking from downtown, but the downtown area is relatively small and a walk of a few blocks is certainly worth a savings of $30 or more, in my opinion.

http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/t.....1/default.aspx

This was supposed to be a general "10 things" meme, but by the 7th entry it was clear that all I think about is media!

1. I didn't listen to much current music until I followed the postings of other people here on FA. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and El Guincho are current FA-found favorites.

2. In my youth, I used to dislike anime because of the reduced frame rate.

3. In my youth, I used to dislike movies that were in black and white. I wanted color!

4. I love ridiculously over-the-top comedies and TV shows like Anchorman, Airplane, the Naked Gun series, MXC, Look Around You, etc. It's hard to watch serious drama because most of it seems so fake, especially when technology is involved ("zoom in on that reflection on the mirror... enhance... That's the perp!!")

5. I can't stand modern TV commercials but I absolutely love watching old ones.

6. I used to obsessively take photos and video of my surroundings and social events. I've since learned to live in the moment rather than try to capture it.

7. I collect old cameras, but I try to use my best and most modern equipment when documenting my surroundings and loved ones.

8. I think the future of broadcast TV will be mostly limited to live events only (breaking news, sports, etc.) DVRs and On Demand/Netflix make me feel silly when I schedule my evening around a broadcast time.

9. I like an inordinate amount of fusion jazz from the early 80's if only for the heavy use of synths during that period.

10. I hope renewed popularity of vinyl and cassettes continues. I think it is important for younger generations to be exposed to tangible media, and not just a piece software loaded onto a locked-down music player.

I dreamed I went to a con, met with a bunch of cool people, and even suited a little bit in someone else's fursuit! Some of my RL friends came along as well and we all had a great time.

Next I dreamed I was at my credit union depositing a check, and a huge flatscreen monitor above the cashier's counter was showing everyone's youtube videos of me at the con.

When I yawn while listening to music, sometimes it sounds like the audio momentarily pitch-shifts; A little tape crease in the soundtrack of life.

EDIT: Many have suggested eardrum stretching. I believe that's it! Mystery solved.

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last journal; I read and appreciated every word you folks sent my way. It was insightful to hear about our shared semantic concerns.

I think I'll follow the advice of  artdecade and call my work "cartoons," and follow the advice of  sauces and call myself a "cartoonist."

Is it hidden from all? Do you tell close friends? Do you tell family? What was their reaction? Do they care? I mean, I can say "I like cartoon animal people and I've traveled to distant states to meet with other like-minded people at conventions," but I know they'll hear "I'm a furry."

Did you, like me, have a cover story for trips to conventions afar?

I ask because I haven't shown my works to anyone outside of the fandom, and I'd like to begin making books and prints around others without needless bother. I know most people won't make the connection between humanoid cartoon animal people and "furry," but I guess I just want to be prepared for those few who only know about it through CSI and whatnot. I'm not broadcasting it to all, but I just want to be prepared, you know?

This new tumblr account of mine will allow me to share various esoteric recordings, images and findings that are tangentially related to my drawing style and inspirations. I might not post very frequently. It is not my new drawing blog, which will come at a later time. It's just for interested watchers here on FA who wish to take a behind the scenes look at my virtual library, so to speak.

http://redactron.tumblr.com/

I can't remember the last time I didn't want to go home after a vacation.  defender and  phylum were the most gracious and accommodating hosts, and it was a joy to hang out with them and all of my furrriends, both new and old. It's too early to tell if I can attend FWA next year, but I'll do my best. Everyone seemed to agree that it was the best con in recent history. I miss it already.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing many of you FWA '11 veterans at AC this June! Furthermore, there will be plenty of new folks to meet there as well. See you soon, fellows!

Taken from  cubetriangle

Four Jobs I've Had
- Bookstore book stocker
- News video editor
- Tape Operator
- Substitute lecturer

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over
- Raising Arizona
- Sexy Beast
- My Neighbor Totoro
- I Married a Strange Person

Four Places I've Lived
- Wolfsfield
- Wolfport
- Wolfton
- New Wolf City

Four TV Shows I Love
- Mythbusters
- Regular Show
- Tim and Eric
- Iron Chef (original)

Four Places I've Vacationed
- Switzerland
- Scotland
- British Columbia
- Florida

Four Of My Favorite Dishes
- Macaroni and Cheese (from scratch)
- Beef Pad Thai
- French Toast
- Chicken Pot Pie (from scratch)

Four Sites I Visit Daily
- BBC
- Guardian
- FA
- Youtube

Four things I like to do in my spare time
- Drawing
- Listening to music
- Making things
- Used bookstore scouring

It looks like my little mini-comic is going to be printed after all. It's nothing too linear; It's just a tiny pamphlet of puns and whatnot. However, I'm making them by hand and I would like to know how many I should print up for Atlanta. If you're going to FWA and you want one, leave a message in this journal. I'll make extras later for AC and mail-only peeps, so don't worry about missing out!

Graham Oakley's "Church Mice" picture books are a delight. They're about the adventures of a cat, Sampson, and his two mice friends who live in a church with other mice residents. I've only read two of them, but I re-read them frequently during my youth. They were The Church Mice Adrift and The Church Mice Abroad. Aside from the charming stories, the illustrations are packed with detail and tons of puns and jokes that one always seems to miss during the first read. Much like science books filled with cut-away illustrations, Graham's books always kept me coming back for another pass.

I'm currently reserving as many unread ones as I can from my local library.

In the process of researching Oakley, I discovered he drew books other than the Church Mice series, including some about a team of anthropomorphic English police foxes(!). One of the "Foxbury Force" books is available at my local library; I'll check it out and let you know how it goes.

Am I completely oblivious or is there no check-in start time posted at the FWA site? When can I finally cross the threshold into the unknown?

Where are you staying?
Off-campus at defender's place!!

Who will you be with?
Clup, defender, hottapwater and others!

Do you do trades?
Maybe an exchange of sketches in a notebook, sure! I won't be drawing big, completed pieces, though.

What suits will you have?
I don't have one. I'll be wearing a blue, short sleeve pilot's shirt with epaulets at least one day.

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
28

Can I talk to you?
Sure!

Can I buy you a drink?
No, because I'm a lightweight.

What's your poison?
Good beer! I rarely drink, so when I do, I'm usually under the table at the third pint. Poison, indeed.

Can I commission you?
No.

What events will you be attending?
Any event that involves drawing, drinking and good conversation.

Can I hug you?
Sure, but no crotch touching, please!

How tall are you?
6'2"

Are you nice? Or do you think so (no personal references needed)?
I'm told that I look somewhat serious, but I really am approachable and I like to meet and talk with people! I might just have a permanent smile on my face for the entire con.

Are you friendly?
Yes, but please understand if I don't recognize your name or FA handle; I'm terrible with names. But I'm surely interested in talking with all you kind folks!

How long are you going?
Thursday-Sunday afternoon

Do you have an artist table? If yes, what will you be selling?
Nope, but I'll have a small mini-comic-zine to hand out.

Do you like parties?
Yes, but I like the conversational type better than the shouting over the music type.

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
You can call me by my FA handle, Redacteur. It's pronounced like the english word "redactor" (reh-dacter)

Anything else?

Yes. In all likelihood this won't be a problem, but I'm a person who stutters and stammers sometimes, and it might take a second to get a word out in conversation. If there's a weird pause in the middle of a sentence, know that I am not trying to make a weird dramatic point.

Also, because I take extra effort in forming my words completely and fluently, and the intonation is sometimes off, some people think I come from a foreign land. I'm from the US, though.

On a related note, if there are any other furs who stutter, I would *love* to chat. You can come up to me and stutter your way through your introduction all you want; Believe me, I know what that's like and I won't be made uncomfortable by it.

Is there a way to reduce the "MS Paint" look? It's fine for my daily doodles, but it would be nice to have a paper comic that doesn't look like it was drawn on an oekaki board. I'm drawing with a pencil and not a brush in the program; that might have something to do with it.

I'm thankful for my health. And when I read this story, I couldn't help but be touched.

http://www.georgiafurs.com/2011/02/.....heart-surgery/

He's from Georgia; When I go to FWA, I want to hear all about his improving health and not another story about someone lost to our shameful healthcare system. I had a few bucks kicking around in my PayPal account, so I donated, and if you can, please do so as well. Thank you.

I've received a good amount of interest in my future comics and graphic novel/novella to be printed on paper. Here are some details about their creation:

1. Many Charming Wolves. Short, silly collection of drawings and stories involving a variety of characters. Printed on a photocopier and bound by hand, then given away at FWA and AC as a gift/promotional item for my upcoming blog. Will also be available by mail via SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope).

2. All-Wolves origin story. (working title). Pun-filled adventure. A lighthearted story of just how the trio came to be. Price and publication date TBD, but hopefully available before next fall.

3. Copy Cat. (story secret). (price unknown). (publication date unknown).

My new tablet will probably arrive this week. In the meantime, I've taken to borrowing a tablet every night from school so that I might continue my sketches. My time away from the tablet has made me realize how much that drawing constitutes my daily entertainment- I don't watch TV or play video games and I rarely watch movies. I really hope I can buckle down and produce a longer sequential work!

I said I would have a graphic novella/comic ready before AC this year, but with school, this probably won't happen. I will have a shorter collection of comics and drawings for FWA and AC, though. Initial ideas for the graphic novella expanded into a full-fledged action/adventure/pun-based comedy that will take a long time to complete. In the meantime, a self-stapled and photocopied zine will have to suffice.

My classmate took back the tablet that I was borrowing from him. I'm surprised he let me keep it as long as I did; Nearly every drawing in my gallery was made with that Inutos 3. I bought an Intuos 4 as a replacement and it will be here next week. In the meantime, expect some sporadic sketchbook uploads over the weekend.

Usually my dreams are absurdist stream-of-consciousness brain dumps of the previous day, but occasionally they'll produce something notable.

There were two groups of people I was getting ready to meet at the convention: Two close, non-furry real-life friends who I secretly knew were attending. They had a genuine interest of observing furries as examples of artists working in sincerity for their art. The other group was the large number of furries I'd made friends with online over the past year, and I was looking forward to finally seeing them in person.

There are some interesting levels of separation in my life regarding the fandom: No one (to my knowledge) outside of the fandom, including my real-life friends, knows about this part of my life. Very few people in the fandom have actually seen me in person. There's the face of ignorance I put on when someone mentions furries in my everyday life, and there's the face of a gray anthropomorphic wolf that I put on when I interact with the majority of people on this site. Finding myself drawn by others in their artwork is a very similar feeling to meeting them in person, for they've taken time out of their day to devote some time to bring me to corporeality in some form (either in person or in ink), and that's touching.

But back to the dream: Out of curiosity, I thought I could try one final layer of separation with the two groups of people: The old friends who were about to discover that I was a furry, and the online furry friends that had never seen me in person. I put on a fursuit (a mixed breed black and white dog of some kind, not my wolf character) to meet both of them and experience their reactions to some person in a dog suit without knowing who I was. It would be one final masking event before exposing myself forever.

Unfortunately, my dream shifted to the experience of trying to reach the convention center floor by means of a dedicated escalator/slide chute for penguins which shampooed them as they slid down to the ground level. I was covered in foam as I exited the hotel and found the streets of Chicago were now serving both cars and airplanes. DC-10s and semi trucks shared the urban canyons of downtown in perfect harmony. I woke up.

It's a shame, because I was really looking forward to seeing the reaction of both groups. Hey guys, I'm not this dog, I'm me! Hello!

I've got a friend who I think might be into the fuzzy side of things, but I dare not ask him directly. Mr. C, you love huge furry beasts in mainstream comics and media. You draw, but I've never seen you do specific anthro work. If your own drawings are on FA, I've never seen them.

We were recently in the french comics section of our favorite bookstore, and you looked at a translation of a superhero comic with a werebear in it and you were all "Eeeeeee a werebear! Rawr!"

If you're following me, contact me, guy! :3

EDIT:

I just remembered two incidents in which he expressed interest/amazement in people wearing plush animal tails out in public. I changed the subject for fear of seeming too knowledgeable. Either he was going to try to research it with me later so we could both "discover" furries ("How interesting! What do you think of that hobby?"), or he is totally uninformed about them, but oh so close!

From this point onward, all upcoming drawings will be cross posted to both Inkbunny and FA. Some old favorites from the past six months on FA will be uploaded to Inkbunny, but not all drawings will be copied over. No old material from my FA account will be deleted.

https://inkbunny.net/redacteur

I hope everyone is having a pleasant new year.

I'm still drawing; I'm home for winter break but sketchbook drawings continue and I should be scanning them in the next day or so. I will also upload some super-old drawings dating back to 1988(!)

Also, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting with  voln and  colnathanrjessup recently. They are true gentlemen and I enjoyed exchanging drawings with them. I am looking forward to meeting and drawing with many more of you folks!

I'm not religious, but the exchange of thoughtful or genuinely useful things among family and friends makes for a charming holiday. My family has a strategic gift limitation treaty so that we might enjoy ourselves instead of breaking the bank with an excess of gifts. The most cherished gift is the ability to be with my loved ones during this time, and I shall not forget it. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday time!

If I fill in my address (as is required), are they going to send a letter to my apartment that my roommate will see that has printed on it "HERE IS YOUR TICKET TO A FURRY CONVENTION! YOUR ROOMMATE IS ONE OF THOSE FURRIES!!"

I know I'm just being paranoid, but I worry.

LONG VERSION

When I first joined FA in June, I uploaded drawings only occasionally and enjoyed the few comments as they came in. As I drew more and more, I relished the morning after uploading a drawing, when I would read all the kind comments people left for me. Over time, I became compelled to draw something every night so that I could read the comments in the morning.

On one hand, this has been good for my drawings, because I'm practicing every day and enjoying making little doodles to share with all you kind folks. On the other hand, I'm constraining myself to an hour or two on the vast majority of my drawings (often less if I'm surfing/IM-ing/wikipedia binge-ing/etc), so they're always limited in their potential.

This is an unusual brotherhood, and it's amazing that I can look at my drawing the next day and see- Holy crap- 300 people have seen it, 50 people call it a favorite, and 15 people have taken a moment out of their day to write me a kind compliment or constructive feedback. It's absolutely intoxicating to connect daily with such a disparate group of fellow enthusiasts. However, posting material solely to get comments is totally the wrong reason for making a drawing. I think I'll be updating less and working on bigger and better pieces.

In case you haven't caught on, I do read and cherish every comment, fave and watch that you fellows send my way. I appreciate it very much; Thank you. You make me think I can achieve my illustrative dreams.

SHORT VERSION

I will be updating less so that I may work on bigger and better drawings and sequential work.