I'd like to take a minute to discuss my favorite part of Duino's anatomy: his beak.

It's awesome-looking. Bright orange with a white tip like a traffic cone that warns to stay out of his way. Sharp enough to cut even the stalest loaf of bread on. Smooth and sleek like his personality. And Just so darn cute.

And on top of that: I love beak jokes. They're my absolute favorite. Flicking it so it bounces like a diving board, stretching it out like rubber, having it popped off in an explosion... the best. The absolute best. If I could find it (and even more so, pay for it) my ideal avatar would just be a picture of someone smacking Duino's beak, making it vibrate, and him stopping and leering before it happens again. This is a thing I want because of reasons.

...I just really like beaks, man. They're awesome.

What are the kids calling it? TMI Tuesday? Yeah, alright, let's go with that.

I'm bored. Ask me things! About myself, my character, or anything in between.

Alright, maybe we could stand to do a semi-serious journal here for once...

I love RPGs. Ever since I was a little kid they've been my favorite genre. The best aspect of them to me was the idea that you get out of it what you put into it: you'd be better off fighting for a half-hour rather than five minutes, for example. Or the extra time you took to check down another hallway would net you a new, slightly better sword. It's the reason I really took to things like Minecraft- it takes time to build up, but once you get there it feels really good.

The issue is, I haven't played an RPG like that in a very long time. Most Xbox ones I've bought are more action games with RPG elements. I like that style too, but I'm really looking for something with a leveling system at its core. I'll try and provide examples, but I think most of them will be obscure, so sorry for that:

-Shining Force Neo for the PS2, while having the shittiest voice cast ever and a super-repetitive combat system, was fun in the fact that you went out, killed a bunch of dudes, and then went back to town with enough experience points to beef up every skill in the book. I love that about it and want to see it again.

-Final Fantasy XII had a similar thing with the license points: kill a mess of enemies, learn a ton of new skills, head back to town to sell the spoils and buy new things, lather, rinse, repeat.

-Metal Saga for the PS2 was a game built around exploration, but had the same elements as above. I didn't like it for the leveling system, which was fine although straightforward, but its focus was giving you a massive world map and a solid number of dungeons to discover on your own terms. I've yet to play another game like it and really would like to.

If anyone gets the gist of what I'm talking about then please, toss me a few titles! I can emulate any system in a pinch, if need be, though Steam is also a good platform of choice. Thanks to any of you who have an answer to this riddle, it's more appreciated!

How come you're such an idiot?

To all my friends who've tried talking to me in the past two weeks, I'm sorry if I ever came off as rude, short, or inattentive. Those are jerkiness qualities I'm not actually trying to embody. But I've been having some crazy sleep issues in terms of how much I get and when I get it, so I've had some wild fluctuations in both energy and mood. I'm trying to get back on track, and getting close, but still felt this needed to be said. Even if no one noticed, screw it, I like posting journals.

If this event didn't affect you at all feel free to tell me how your day is going instead.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/6314788/

Can you believe I actually used to be like this? *shivers*

It's a good thing I realized how awful everyone is.

Update: We've decided that there's no more room in the shot without making it look excessive. Thanks to all those who participated and we'll try to have it done soon!


Well, since that journal checking for interest was a resounding success, we're going through with it! Thanks, guys!

For those of you who aren't familiar, Thanksgiving is a holiday hallmarked by spending time with friends and family and eating a lot. So I decided to throw a Thanksgiving party with the only main course I could think of that would attract people: me.

That's right! For a mere $5, you can have a seat at the table where the main course is Duino, hushed by an apple and totally not happy about it! Slots are unlimited, so don't be afraid to invite a friend to come too! It's a celebration of friends, family, and mutual hatred of yours truly.

To get on the list, comment below with the following:
-An affirmation that you'd like to be in the picture
-A reference
-Any specific props, pose, or placement you want (head of the table, arguing with someone else, ect.)

 santiyume has kindly agreed to draw all this, so go give him a watch and some love for all his effort! He also told me to tell you he'd most likely be streaming part of this image's creation for those interested. Which should be all of you.

Payment: Send $5 to Santiyumejutsu[at]hotmail.com via PayPal. Santi has also asked that due to the nature of such a large pic, that all purchased spots be final, and character revision will be minimal. He also asks you include your FA username with the payment, again for the anticipated large amount of patrons. We just want to make sure everyone who wants in is accounted for.

Also remember to keep the image G, people. This is something fun and goofy to get us all in the spirit of eating too much.

Now, with all that business out of the way... who's hungry? :3

EDIT: YOU GUYS LIKED IT SO IT'S HAPPENING http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4038180/


I was having a chat with Cat and there were a few jokes floated about Duino being for Thanksgiving dinner. I remembered a few pictures I had with similar jokes in the past, http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8444358/ and http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8944296/ coming to mind. I think both of these are hilarious, and I kind of wanted to gauge interest in doing them again.

Basically, everyone who wants to could chip in a price settled upon an artist willing to do it, hopefully $5-$10 a character, and everyone would be seated around a big table with ducko as the center dish. I think it's a hilarious idea, and group pics are always fun, but the issue is I don't know any artists willing to take up so much work, or even more so, if anyone would be interested in participating. What do you all think? Would anyone want to be in it, or know someone willing to draw it? Just curious. Thanks, guys!

 rcmouse told me jerks were talking about me on it. So I got one.

I'M WATCH YOU, JERKS. MainMandarin

You all know what it is. Comment and get served, suckers.

Some of you have been getting rather uppity lately. Just thought your good mood could use a reminder: I don't like you.

Kindly get out of my face and then off of a cliff.

...no, seriously, I forget. Who are you, again?

I'm very computer illiterate, despite all the time I spend on it, though I feel like this should be more simple than it is.

When I play games on Steam, I like to do so in a windowed mode. It's a lot more casual and I can easily IM with someone or what have you when I do. However a lot of games don't have a default graphical option to run in a window, even if they have lower resolution.

So my question: is there a way to force some Steam games into a windowed mode? I've fiddled around as much as I can, and I'm just wondering if there's a command prompt I'm missing or what.

I just hit 200 watchers. Isn't the bush you guys all hide in outside my window getting a little crowded?

Seriously, though, thanks to each and every one of you. I'm happy you've found something here that entertains you. Whatever your reason for sticking around, I'll try and do more of it in the future! And a special thanks to everyone who draws Duino, whom are some of the nicest and most talented people out there.

On that note: There's going to be a mini-flood of reposts coming your way from "Draw Duino Day" should I get permission from the artists. Thank  dingoroo. It was all his fault, the jerk.

I'm sure a lot of you have noticed Duino's necklace. And in case you haven't: look at any picture. He wears a necklace. You caught up? Good.

I don't think I've ever told the story behind it, so for those interested: the very first picture of Duino ever, waaay back in the concept stages, was done by a good friend of mine at the time with notes sent via Facebook. At the time he was being designed as a more typical fursona, i.e. just a version of myself with wings rather than a character. I sent her a picture of me in the shirt combo Duino wears, saying it was my favorite and that it'd probably be the best representation of myself. I was also wearing a necklace in that photo: the symbol of the Chess Pieces from the anime "MÄR."I loved that necklace, but had no intent of it being in the sketches. She added it, though, and I liked it so it stuck. (His goggles wound up in there for the same reason, come to think of it.)

After I got some more art and Duino started to become more cartoony, I noticed the necklace getting turned into a lot of different shapes by a lot of different artists. It was cool to see but I wanted some more consistency. I had recently named my new laptop Thalia, after the Greek Muse of Comedy, and had the idea that his necklace could be the comedy mask you see in theaters and such. It wound up sticking and it's become official.

Which brings me to the secondary point of this journal: I don't own a necklace like that, but I'd really like to. Does anyone know a place I could buy a pendant that's just the comedy mask, without the tragedy one attached? It doesn't need a chain, if that helps. Or at least, does anyone know of a metalworker I could commission to maybe make one? I've always loved necklaces- I own like, five that I swap out- and I'd really like to have one like this.

Don't get used to it. But for tonight?

I love you guys. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart- man. Today was good. <3

I'm sure you've all noticed that I've commissioned a lot of art lately. Well, neither has the bank, much to my dismay. I'm hardly in dire straights, but it wouldn't hurt to see if there was a way to make a little extra spending money here or there. Though, since I'm hardly an artist, those kinds of commissions are beyond me, and while I'd freely take writing commissions, I doubt anyone would pay much for them, or at least enough to expend my effort since I take a long time to get through even one page. I had the idea of offering dialogue pages, i.e. two people talking about a select topic, but stopped because that sounded super boring. And I don't want to charge for insults, since the point of those is to be a free diversion, and no one is stupid enough to actually throw real money at me for that.

I guess what I'm asking is, is there any sort of commission someone out there would be willing to pay for from me? And I do mean in the $1 and under range, I realize writing isn't a real "hot commodity" in the furry community. Still, it's late and I wanted change for a gumball, so what's the harm in asking?

Well. Halloween is over. Which only means one thing:

Thanksgiving's coming. And people are gonna be hungry.

*sits in corner in the fettle position*

Yes, it's that time again! Where I pick you sorry sacks of fur up, dust you off, give you a sound verbal thrashing and then let you get back to your pathetic lives! But, after a few of these journals, I've noticed the process getting a bit too formulaic for my tastes. So! I endeavor to change that.

What I'd like to do is insult you all verbally. Yes, you heard me right- simply post a comment here, and in the next week when I find some time to do so, I'll recite verbal poetry that will make you see the utter pointlessness of your own life! Imagine, your worthlessness decked out for all the world to hear from my golden pipes!

Just leave a comment below and I'll add you to the audio cue. I can't promise I'll record right away, but it should be relatively soon. My mic and such are untested, so I can't promise good quality, but it's the strength of the words rather than the sound, people. Hope to be making you all feel terrible soon!

Now there's a question everyone on FA would like to ask everyone else. Though its commonality aside, I'm honestly curious. Some of you I know, so you're obligated to watch me lest you be scorned and denied my glorious company, but the vast majority I don't know too well or at all. I mean, I don't produce any original content, so it can't be for that. Are you trying to get to know me better? Like my character? Were just hoping to get a few pageviews and a backwatch from the transaction?

Bottom line: If I don't do anything but post things you can see elsewhere, why bother to pay me any mind at all?

And that's because I am. :D

But man. Sometimes, I could go for a hug.

*sigh* Making the creeps' dreams come true with this one... *shivers*

Does the "Reflections" part make these things more or less appealing to read? I don't really know.

Fursuits are perhaps the ultimate symbol of furry-dom. They've even come to encompass the fandom as a symbol, perhaps second only to any picture of a red fox that's too anatomically correct for its own good. It's no wonder, since it's the most outlandish thing furries do compared to societal norms, and an oddity in the fandom as one of the few practices everyone seems to be OK with. I'm hardly an expect on the subject, having never worn one and the only ones I've seen in person being... well, horrifying. I know nothing of their construction, or their upkeep, or their operation. So, if I sound like I'm talking out of my ass like I'm sure I will in a second, keep in mind I'm flying a tad blind.

Fursuiting interests me greatly, but there are a few reservations I hold with it. The first is pretty straightforward in that I never want to get a Duino suit, no matter how cute it would be. There are the obvious proportional issues- Duino is roughly four feet tall compared to my solid six, his legs could fit in copper pipes, and I wouldn't consider it a good suit for him unless the beak could pop off and stick to any other spot on his head because explosions are like that. But even deeper than that, Duino's character is not what in he does, but what he says. The insults I sling, the hollow threats I make, that's all him. What he "does" is the typical toon menagerie of activities, so that's out the window anyway. But he's a vocal character, and getting in a suit that looks like him with an impaired ability to talk it like getting in a car with no steering wheel. I've often considered making a new character expressly for the idea of suiting, but Duino isn't one to share mental space, so he normally just comes to mind whenever I do.

But beyond those technical details, there's something a little less concrete. I can't really explain why, but for basically my entire expanse in the fandom, fursuits have freaked me the hell out.

Don't think I click away from the front page every time I see one; I love fursuits, and like I said, it interests me greatly. But with that interest is this heavy dread. It's tough to explain, and I can only speculate on what it is that worries me, but while I could look at a picture of a certain suit all day in jealousy, someone could pop into the room wearing it and I'd be terrified. Even some videos I can't watch because seeing those static faces moving around weirds me out something fierce. There are exceptions, of course- suits with jaws that move put me at ease a ton more, for one. The reason I'm in the fandom is because of videos made with suits like that. And a lot of my friends who I've seen wear suits via webcam (i.e. just that one time I did that) wrote it off like casual conversation, and despite it being kind of awkward it was relaxed and fun.

I guess my point here is, am I crazy for having this fear? Well, not so much fear, but worry; which makes it even more confusing, really. It's a big part of my hesitation to attend cons; I hinted at it in my last journal, but it seemed like the issue needed further explanation. It also occurs to me saying I have a weird phobia of suits could come back to bite me in the tailfeathers, but screw it, I procrastinated another half-hour on homework so mission complete.

I've been wanting to write a journal for a half-hour now but have come up with nothing. You'd almost think it was late at night and I had classes tomorrow!

But, you guys all seem to like the individual response stuff I do with the insult journals, so I figured I'd try a variation on that. Give me a topic- anything at all, no matter how obscure- and I'll give you my thoughts and input on it. Could be your favorite TV show, the quality of your art, or even something on your mind you want to discuss. This ranges from completely serious to totally silly, so if there's anything you guys want to hear me blather on about, have at it.

...if this gets even one response I'll be amazed.

Popularity is a relative term with a universally negative connotation. It's not the same as "fame," where there's critical acclaim behind the object in question, or an infamy of stupidity or whatever reality TV likes to dig into. "Popularity" is more a general statement on what- or more specifically, whom- is held in high esteem. It's negative because it pertains to those kids in school no one likes but everyone respects, almost fearing them in a Machiavellian duality. And it comes into play with the fickle nature of trends, and how often that which is popular changes. But in the fandom, being a popular person (or"popufur" if you like your furry puns everywhere) simply means you are a well-known member, be you an artist, fursuiter, or just good person, that is held in good regard.

The reason I'm going through such a laborious definition is because it's something I've spent a lot of time thinking about. Because, for my entire life- it's all I've really ever wanted to be.

I just want to be liked. It's hardly a complex dream; heck, it's not even lofty. But the majority of my life goals revolve around the idea of a fanbase, or being adored. It's shallow, I know, but it's what keeps me going. Duino is the way I play a lot of my more negative traits off as jokes, but he keeps the deepest one I have: the physiological need to be looked at and noticed.

It was something I always had issue with, since while I'm normally pretty extroverted on a good day and can meet people, the idea of a lasting popularity was fleeting. And then the internet came along and showed me Facebook friends and quantifiable ways to check on the status. Not that I felt friendships were less important; I love all my friends deeply, but have an obsession with making even more, like some kind of weird Katamari Damacy level based around a speed dating service.

So why this somber stuff now? Well, I'm tired and not in my right mind for one. But for another, it's to let you guys know how thankful I am you're all around me. I hit 4,000 pageviews last week and 150 watchers around the same time, and the numbers are still growing fast. I'm amazed at the idea that people are actually seeing me, actually paying attention; it's a dream come true, in a big respect. I know I don't deserve as many comments or favorites as the artists who actually draw Duino, but I read everything posted on their pictures that have me on their accounts and just feel all warm inside when I do.

I've hob-knobbed and become friends with a lot of awesome people here, and after a long time feel like I've found an FA community that I can be a part of. You're all awesome, and thank you for even just acknowledging that I exist. I love all the comments you guys post, the art you've done for me, and every time I get a note or a random Skype add my heart skips a beat in excitement. I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with, so thanks for tolerating me, guys. I'm glad to be among friends.