The Furtean Times

/news/ Culture News

Fur Affinity Sold to Lead Admin Dragoneer

Fur Affinity, the fandom's largest and most active art community, has been taken over by lead admin Dragoneer. Following the leadership scuffles reported in the last edition of The Furtean Times, the future of FA's administration has been in constant doubt. Now a final agreement has been reached with Dragoneer - also known as Preyfar - taking full ownership over the Fur Affinity website for a currently undisclosed amount.

Alkora - previously named Jheryn in previous FA incarnations - opted the sale of the website citing personal commitments, but claimed to continue the running of the site. In his journal reporting the takeover he stated that he is "confident in his [Dragoneer's] ability to manage FA. He has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to the website and the FA community." TB

Furries, Trekkies Bowling Tournament Results

The much-hyped bowling tournament between the furry and Star Trek fandoms took place on September 29th with turnout of not only both groups, but people from G4 and FarkTV, as well as a bunch of mariachi singers too!

Although the furries eventually lost - the balls being impossible to hold while in fursuit as well as obscured vision - the furries generally celebrated that such an event had recieved such a turnout; the furry team greatly outnumbering the Trekkie hoards. And of course, everyone got some good beer! TB

For more on the Furries/Trekkies Bowling Tourney see this issue's Mediaphile.

ANTHRO Saved From Imminent Bankrupcy

The fandom's most popular furry fanzine, ANTHRO, has been saved from imminent bankruptcy last October by none other than it's loyal readers.

Editor of ANTHRO, Quentin Long, was at risk of immediate eviction from his home and indeed the headquarters of the internet fanzine; however the community came to the rescue, raising over $500 in just a few days. On the 12th of October, Long posted an announcement to the front page of ANTHRO, thanking the readers and furs who had ultimately saved his home and the fanzine - as well as documenting that he didn't expect such an amazing response from a last resort. TB

Funday Fans Dig Deep For PawPet Show

November saw another success for furry fundraising events as the Funday PawPet Show surpassed it's target of $10,000 in just two of their 4-hour broadcasts, thrashing last year's total of $3,940.19 in less than half the time.

Over 120 people are documented as donating to the show, many already regular viewers and visitors to the shows IRC channel; T.H. Squirrel was celebrated as the largest donor, paying $1,400 for a Herbie Bearclaw commission. Many fursuiters also donated their services, and one fursuit maker raised an extra $350.

The donations are set to go to licensing fees, operating expenses and hardware upgrades. TB

Furries Find a Home at French Art Festival

The chilly start to December saw another example of furries in the mainstream art world at the French exhibition Rassemblement des Mondes Hors-Pistes - or Assembly of the Off-Track Worlds to those not proficient in French - where the fandom's artistic qualities were put on show for TRACKS, a French TV magazine showcasing subcultures and independent artists broadcast on French-German culture channel Arte.

This isn't the first time furries have been on Arte, with another TRACKS report from Conifur Northwest in 2002. The Eurofurence staff were invited along to the festival; where they sold examples of furry artwork, literature and comics in the main hall. Up on stage fursuit DDR was a big hit and a photo shoot followed soon after.

Reportedly 3700 people attended the festival, including many influential journalists, artists and politicians. Arte will be broadcasting a special on the event in March 2008. TB