...I'm working on my AC Photo Collages now. (*SIGH!*)

(*...since Furnal Equinox / March)

Yeah, yeah.. I know.. I'm bad at thanking you guys/gals for watching me. I don;t just blow off the watch list, I actually leave it running 'till I finally think, "GEEZE! just say something fer cryin' out loud!"

So this is me thanking all 72 or so of you for having watched me since Early March.

I don;t do "Watchbacks"... so don;t be insulted if I don;t do it... but believe me when I say I DO go through everyone's submissions and faves (well, a few pages worth of each at 60 a page) to get a feel for what I think I might see from you later. Some stuff I like, some I think is interesting... some I watch just so I know what my enemies are up to. (*Looks at Rithy*)

In any event, thank you for your time! I'll be seeing about A.C. photos, FINALLY, in the coming week or so... Flashback Newscast through the month.. then Aug 1st, Back to Spamming you with DJ Announcements!

'till later, everyone.... as always i wish you the Peace I no longer have, I wish you the Strength that I've learned.... I wish you Well.

http://fbnc.mevio.com
I recorded myself with webcam and did a LOT of editing to make it work... and still ran into some little problems, including not being able to do the whole video... but as a first effort, not TOO bad, right?

So.. Opinions?

Work on this week's Flashback Newscast - and MAYBE record it as a VIDEO! (This will be a first if I do!)

So... Who wants to see my hairless mug reading the news?

I'm ok.. made a side-trip to Ohio to visit a friend for lunch, sat in LOTS of traffic at one point, got home about 9.40... and not 1/2 hr later was on the air for my last Monday Night show 'till August.

I'm still tired, going to eat and rest... have to pick up TT tomorrow AM.... and just.


(<_<) (>_>) Ok... little info on the Con:
Stress Levels - VERY High, but semi-expected due to the Furry Femme Shoot (I ran it this year at AC)
Surprise Factor (aka Shock and D'AWWww!) - Through the roof! Got to speak with two VERY gracious people at AC... and both gave me something priceless!
Sense of Fulfillment - "WEEEEEEE!!!!"</Mark Lundholm>

I'll tell you all about it later. Promise. As it is, you'll have a LOT of Post-Con reports to wade through; I'll get mine done - just be patient.

FOUND THAT LAST BADGE!

Next stop... Bakery.. then PITTSBURGH!

If you need me, Follow me on Twitter or email my phone: ShujinTribble[at]GMail.com


(*WHOOSH!!*)

Getting all the computer / audio stuff together and ready for the trip. ETA 9.30pm local time.. MIGHT have a side trip to the airport. Keep up to speed on my Twitter or Facebook info. Use ShujinTribble[at]GMail.com to send msg to my phone.

Item 1 - If this is your FIRST trip to AnthroCon, PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE... Read this journal ( http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/413790/ ) in it's entirety... including the links off it to  CigarSkunk's journals as well. If you have NEVER been to a place where you suddenly have 5,000 Close, Warm, PERSONAL friends all around you (some you actually DO want to see), it can be VERY overwhelming VERY fast! BELIEVE me!

Item 2 - I will be hosting this year's AnthroCon Furry Femme Shoot in  Shrag &  Laurenrivers' absence...
.... and I am REALLY hoping to do well by them! So I ask to PLEASE-PLEASE.. Pimp out the invitation ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5833425/ ) if you are planning on attend and / or to help make sure the Femmes know about this. (Please! Any help would be GREATLY appreciated on this!)

Item 3 - There will be a number of my Second Life family attending A.C. this year... (Go to 4:00 to see me) - the crew from The Feline Conspiracy and Peach Fuzz / Xanadu. To that end I will be recording my Wed-Night 80's Bash from The Zoo from ~9.30pm - 1.30am on Saturday night. If you know someone who might like to be interviewed, PLEASE drop a note in their ear; So far I've been able to interview GoH Xen and Babs at FurnalEquinox 2011 ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5430022/ ) and Uncle Kage at AnthroCon 2010 ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4091912/ )... (--and that was my FAVORITE interview so far!)

Item 4 - If you ARE attending A.C. remember.... Be Polite! I CANNOT stress this enough! I am not bringing my 'fursuit' this year simply because someone Palmfaced me, nonconsentually, in front of the elevators. there was no security there at the time to witness it, so I could do nothing about it at the time. Maybe next year I will again, but for now.... (*Shrug*) Just keep your hands to yourselves.

Item Last - For those of you going to HomeCon™ this year, please PLEASE remember - if you REALLY want to go to a FurryCon some day, you CAN - it'll just require a little work and a little saving to get there.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/#!/ShujinTribble ) and travelers can sign up on http://www.waze.com/ if you have a Smart Device - just search for and join the group "AnthroCon" to help other travelers!

SEE YOU SOON!

Some of you know about my hoof / ponygirl fetish, some don't. (*Shrug*) In any event....

I commented to someone about how lucky they were to be out horse riding today, since the weather here's been WAY too wet to do that comfortably. They suggested I could move away from here (Buffalo, NY) to get away from all the snow / rain and have much better weather.... which is an interesting idea.

When I mentioned how would I be able to have the ponygirl ranch of my dreams, I was given this... amazing idea....
As for your pony girl farm..... we would start a not for profit organization "(LocationWithheld)pony rescue" for ponys with no homes or owners.. ponys who have been abused....
You can have your herd.... and they will love you and charish and do anything for you
A pony is a loyal loving creature....give them a chance and they will move mountains for you to hear only the words "Good girl"

...you know, Fujin and I worked long and hard to build this house. It's our dream house.

--but this is the first time I ever considered, seriously, a reason to relocate one day.

I could see that as a truly noble reason - perverted as it might be to many.

http://amzn.com/B004Q7BF5M

ME WAAAANT!!!!

If you've never joined me in Second Life at Peach Fuzz's Xanadu (seen here in it's still incomplete construction...)



Here's what you missed seeing - a Flock of dancers!
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5842574/

You should REALLY consider joining us Thursday night, you know....

As posted by:

 Ganador - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5781737

 Opius - http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5793196

The Peach Fuzz Group will be showcasing one of the test movies from the cutting room floor on Thursday 26 May from 6 - 8pm Second Life Time. You'll get a look-see at what they've been testing and succeeding at.

This is a Second Life Exclusive - you will need to be in Second Life AND be able to view movies in Second Life. If not, you will not be able to see the vid.

Hope to see you down there!

(Reposted from Twitter and Facebook)I am temp using the seal from my fund raising group for RideForRoswell - Please consider donating to my team: End Of Cycle For Sarcoma
This Sunday marks the 6th year since Fujin's, my wife's, passing.... she was just 2 months shy of 35 years.

Every year I do fund raising for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the group that diagnosed and treated her. This weekend, I invite those that can to consider donating to my team, "End Of Cycle For Sarcoma", Becoming a Virtual Rider by signing up to the team, joining us this weekend for the fund raising party in Second Life, or, if you might, to also use this avatar picture for the weekend and pointing folks here.

I know times are tough - there are LOTS of people deserving of help and emergency moneys.

I ask for RPCI, because I promised Fujin, "We will beat this for someone else... My Word."

...and I'm not going back on my word yet.


..thank you.

--Shujin

Some remember, others did not know.... Sunday the 22nd marks 6 years since my wife's (Fujin) passing from a RARE cancer, "Angiosarcoma"; she was 34 years 10 months.

As this week happens I will be trying very hard to keep my spirits level - keeping them 'up' is too high a goal, I know from past experience. But, as always, I will do my online radio shows, do my Fund Raising in Second Life and bring dinner to the nurses' station at Roswell Park Cancer Institute 7West - that was where Fujin was at the end.

I don't ask for sympathy. I don't ask people to imagine what this must be like, because, truth be told, I don;t want you to imagine it. Until and unless you have to face it, don't think of what its like to have half of yourself removed, taken, from your life. Just know it isn't pretty.

The Ride For Roswell fund raiser goes on the last weekend of June, and unfortunately this has been in direct conflict with AnthroCon recently. I've opted to do the fundraising, send in the money and go to A.C. because it's the Right Thing to do; R4R gets the funds it needs and I get to have a 'vacation' all to myself. Even Fujin would have approved.

If you are in Second Life and want to help by hosting a donation box or rebroadcast our fundraiser show on Sunday night, please contact Aaron Cianci (Head DJ at The Feline Conspiracy), myself (ShujinTribble Kawanishi) or EndOfCycleForSarcoma Davidov (the fund raiser account).

If you'd like to join the team as a Virtual Rider or make a donation to the cause, please See our page at the Ride For Roswell website.

And lastly.... if you have a cancer treatment hospital nearby (RPCI is about 40 minutes away for me), please consider making a delivery of "home made(*)" lasagna to a nurse's station, just to say they are appreciated, in Fujin's honour and memory. You might be surprised how grateful they are.

Fujin died, May 22nd, 2005 at 7.00pm Eastern Time, with me and her mother by her side, holding her hands; Leo the Lion was overhead - the star Zosma / Delta Leonis, specifically, directly overhead. I told her as she slipped off, "We will beat this for someone else... My Word".

This week, look up at night and see if you can see Leo. And know that, very likely, you are looking where my Love is too.

Matane, Fujin.... Dream of me.



(* - It's easy enough to make lasagna with dry noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and extra water in an aluminum baking pan. It was Fujin's specialty. Get that - she was Half Japanese and her Lasagna beat anything I could do and I'm Italian! I got her back, though - my Japanese Tempura wowed even her!)

Took the test... and it said...



Twilight Sparkle

Imagine the statue, "Blind Justice", with the scales tilted... one side with a sword, the other with the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence on the other, and Justice yelling, "Just because I'm BLIND doesn't mean I'm DEAF TOO!!!"

This. Was. just. WRONG. in my book.

But, then... as I say, 'Who listens to the angry Tribble, anyway?"

So, Tiny Tribble was playing in the dining room play room, when there was a loud THUD on the window... instantly prompting me to look over and ask, "What'd you do?"

Apparently she DIDN'T do anything this time....

A bird has run into the window and was lying on it's back on the ground right in front of it. Didn't look good at all.

Sure enough, I want outside to tend to it, hoping for the best... but there was no twitching, no breathing in his speckled chest... Picking it up I was scared to red RED on the back of his neck, only to see it was his feathers' normal color.

All I could do it pick it up, hold it, stroke it's head gently, speak quietly... try to give it some measure of not being alone........

I gave TT the chance to see it, to stroke it, to hold it and to talk about what happened. How he didn't suffer at all - likely dead before he hit the ground after flying into the window.

...and you know what? it wasn't easy to talk with her about it; not sure she was getting it at first. But little by little, she got it. She understands that everything lives has to die. Hunters killed for necessity and nothing was wasted - think of the Native Americans hunting deer for instance.

but, at the end of the day.... I really DO think she's going to be one HELL of a person.

And maybe I'll start feeling proud about being a 'Dad'.

...maybe just a little.

(*Reposted from Facebook*)

Ok.. Now that Christianity has had it's party, I'm going to throw out my two cents.... and before anyone gets upset, I INTENTIONALLY waited 'till now so there would be no bellyaching about how I was being disrespectful to Those That Believe.

I broke out of my Roman Catholic upbringing when I started to question WHY somethings were the way they were: Why taint the well by making children part of the religious party, literally, from birth? How can they question something they are brought up to believe is 100% normal, even while every piece of natural experience tells them otherwise? How can people believe someone could be nailed through the arms to some lumber, be suffocated in one of the most gruesome forms of capital punishment known to Man... only to then come back three days later, seemingly right-as-rain.

--and this is accepted as real without question because WHY, exactly?

You Christians, you wear a recreation of a capital punishment device on your necklaces and rings and on your walls and in your gathering places. Do you not realize this? Thousands died horrible, lingering, agonizing deaths on these things... not from blood loss, but from suffocation! They, literally, could not breath because there was no strength to move the diaphragm!

Try singing, full bore, for an hour, with your arms stretched out and see what your diaphragm feels like. Anyone who went through any music training will tell you, it HURTS!

So, now that the linchpin of Christian holidays is past us, how about taking the time to consider WHY you believe these things: Is there some evidence that is independently verifiable, or were you, like me, simply born into a society that believed these nonsensical stories because they themselves were born into the same society?

Why believe in something that has yet to be shown to be true?

There are stories about Cyclopes, a race of neo-humans with only one eye in the middle of their foreheads. Turns out there are certain birth defects where offspring are born with that deformity - and not just humans. There's no race of people living like this, only innocent lives who got dealt one of the crappiest genetic hands.

The ancient Greeks had their gods, the ancient Egyptians, the Mayans, the Romans, the Celts, the Aborigines, the Native Americans....

Hell, the Norse believed Thunder and Lightning were products of Thor's Hammer, Mjöllnir! We now know it's little more than static electricity.

Folks, you think of yourselves as rational, thoughtful, smart, well educated people.

How can you NOT see how irrational this all is?

Thank you.

I'm registered for AnthroCon. Are YOU?

Ok, Ok... Truth be told, I just wanted to get this done so I can start telling the Furry Femmes that it's time to get prepped!

Very likely Lauren and Shrag will not be at AC-11, but I would STILL like to host the Furry Femme Shoot for you ladies again... mostly because I wanna get pictures with you all.

HEY! Sue me for being honest! (*WINK*)

For those of you planning on attending AC and looking forward to the Furry Femme Shoot, please contact me - ShujinTribble[at]Yahoo.com and spread the word! I've never hosted a photo shoot myself and, truth be told... I'm afraid I'll make a colossal screw up of it.

My friend's band, www.Roar84.com , is trying to decide what song they should learn next.... and WE'RE going to help them pick!

Right after the Flashback News Cast, your requests will be what you think an 80's cover band should already know.. that ISN'T in their play list already!

So get workin' on it, folks... and send me your suggestions during the next show.

** EDIT **
Remember.. 80's Cover Band.. meaning songs released from 1979 - 1991

Those of you who aren't in New York State may not know about this one; "Out Of State Tax Free Purchasing" doesn't exactly exist here.

See, on the New York State Income Tax Form here, there is a line item specifically for the collection of sales tax on products sold to you from outside New York State.... follow me on this:
(2010 Instructions for Form IT-150 Pg 23)
Line 35 — Sales or use tax
Report your sales or use tax liability on this line.
You owe sales or compensating use tax if you:
• purchased an item or service subject to tax that is delivered to you in New York State without payment of New York State and local tax to the seller; or
• purchased an item or service outside New York State that is subject to tax in New York State (and you were a resident of New York State at the time of purchase) with subsequent use in New York State.
....
An unpaid sales or use tax liability commonly arises if you made purchases through the Internet, by catalog, from television shopping channels, or on an Indian reservation, or if you purchased items or services subject to tax in another state and brought them back to New York for use here.
Example 1: You purchased a computer over the Internet that was delivered to your house in Monroe County, New York, from an out-of-state company and did not pay sales tax to that company.
Example 2: You purchased a book on a trip to New Hampshire that you brought back to your residence in Nassau County, New York, for use there.
Take a look at Example 2 again.... if I bought a book somewhere-other-than-NYS, paid the tax in person at the point of sale, then brought this home to NYS, I, apparently, owe sales tax on this product.

Technically, would that not mean that if I bought gas in Ohio and drove home to NY, that I owe taxes on that purchase to NY?

Now, here's the kicker! NYS in it's most magnanimous style, says, "Look, instead of trying to figure out what you REALLY owe on all those purchases we KNOW you made over the year, how about we just let you pay a tax based on what you earn in a year, 'cause we KNOW you would have been using part of that money for out-of-state purchases, and call it even?"

(^_o)

Isn't. That. Just. DUCKY?!

In our Last Story, I told you about a TV production company that wanted to use one of my photos on FLICKR for their upcoming series, "Fanboy Confessions".

Well, imagine my surprise that I got ANOTHER email from them... and it was quite impressive, really! They wrote about how they understood the reluctance of the Furry Fandom to take part in these production groups, considering all that's happened before; made me think they really GOT it, you know?

To help belay my fears and reluctance they did let me see the trailer for the series, and I must say it was VERY impressive to me! The production looks great! The video and audio seem first-rate to me....

--but I can't help but to think back to comedian Mark Lundholm talking about drug addition:
"If you hit yourself in the head with a brick everyday.... every day... you know it hurts after the first one, maybe two times. WHY would you KEEP doin' it when you KNOW what it'll do to you?!"

......

Because of that, I wrote again....
I'm impressed! I was not expecting to hear back from you on this, never-mind so quickly.

I did look at your trailer - and I must say, I like the way it looks! There is an obvious level of professionalism in your production so far from what I've seen.

I asked some people (other furs, naturally) about this situation to get an outside perspective thinking that maybe I was being too critical and cynical. The vast majority though I was making a good choice considering past situations. A few suggested that they wouldn;t mind me being "The Face Of Fury", claiming I have a level head in most matters.... and one who backed up your claim about Condition Fur / working with them and filming et al.

Several folks went forward, extending themselves in the hopes of White Knighting the Furry Fandom - with disastrous results both personally and socially.

Because of that, past history and all from many groups, I'm still going to have to respectfully decline at this time.

PLEASE understand! I truly and DEEPLY hope that your production will be as you claim.... since The Fandom's been burned several times over, HARSHLY and unjustly, I think it's the only rational answer I can give you at this time.

However.... If there is a group that shows itself willing to be consistently even handed, fair, trustworthy and non-sensationalistic, there would be MANY more people willing to help and support that group....

...and I would be willing to be one of those people. Proudly.

Again, xxxxx, THANK you KINDLY for your time. I'm sorry to disappoint you and your production crew on this, but I can see you seem to understand my / many fur's position on this issue.

I wish you ALL well in your continued endeavors, and truly hope that one day I might be of assistance to you.(*)

I wish you the Peace I no longer know, I wish you the Strength that I've learned, I wish you Well.

-- Shujin

(* - I know this is likely going to be the one and only time we'll end up in contact for this kind of event. But, contrary to my normally cynical nature, I DO hope something fruitful will come of your project.)

...you know, I really, REALLY would have liked to have helped them if this project is going to be as stated....

But, you know, there's just this BRICK thing weighing on my head.....

Just received this in my FLICKR account... the originator's information is being intentionally X'ed out by me.:
From: xxxxxx No real name given
Subject: Documentary photo request

Hello,

My name is xxxxxxxxx and I work for a documentary production company called Markham Street Films Inc/ Fanboy Confessional Inc. based in Toronto, Canada.

I am contacting you because I am interested in showing one of your photographs in a documentary we are working on.

www.flickr.com/photos/shujintribble.....izes/l/in/photostream/

We are currently producing a 6 part TV series for the Space channel in Canada (similar to Syfy in the US) that celebrates the best of fan culture. Each episode follows self-professed Fanboys (and Fangirls) -- pop culture enthusiasts and aficionados - as they navigate the inner-workings of their sci-fi worlds. The objective is to celebrate these people as ultimate fans and to highlight the DIY, community-building aspect of these creative subcultures.

I would like to stress that this is a fun, light portrait, with absolutely no negative commentary being shed on anyone, in any way.

One of our episodes is about Furry culture. We interviewed and filmed a fursuiter who goes by the name xxxxx and one of the organizers of the new London, Ontario fur con CONDITION FURRY.

I would love tell you more about our project.

Can you email me at:
xxxxxxxx[at]markhamstreet.com

or call me at:
416-xxx-xxxx x xxx

I look forward to hearing from you.

xxxx

--
xxxxx
Production Manager
Markham Street Films Inc. | Fanboy Confessional Inc.
T: 416-xxx-xxxx xxxx | F: 416-xxx-xxxx
xxxxx[at]markhamstreet.com | www.markhamstreetfilms.com

Well, now... never thought I would be approached about the Furry Stuff, but that doesn;t mean I didn't think about what to say should this ever happen:
To: xxxxx No real name given
Subject: Re: Documentary photo request

Thank you very kindly for your request! I will admit to being both surprised and proud you thought so highly of my photograph.

Truth be told I know nothing of your organization at this time. Because of that and due to many media groups having used the furry community for gratuitous sensationalism, I feel it necessary to decline your request at this time.

I do, however, wish you and your group well.... and do sincerely hope your project is as stated.

-- Shujin

So...
1) Anyone connected with Condition Furry know anything about this?
2) Do I get Style Points for this one?

(x-posted from my FaceBook status...)
Finally took the time to watch "Jesus Camp" on YouTube.... all I can say is, I'm HORRIFIED by what I've seen and PROUD that I was able to break out of that brainwashing I went through. The outright lies and manipulation and emotional suffering and obfuscation of reality just boggles my mind. (Before flaming me, please take the time to look up / watch "Jesus Camp" yourself... it's in 9 parts.)

Now, for those that want to see this film, Part 1 of 9 is here, and you can switch to each section as you go. And if you're going to discuss this with me, and I REALLY don;t want it to be a flame fest, please make sure you've seen it all the way through and not just taken someone else's say-so on the film.

Do I think this is indicative of all Christians? Of course not. But the fact that this is happening at all to children no older than TinyTribble....

Just, "why"?

Just... Just tell me, "WHY?!"

Back in High School (so, meaning 1985 - '87 or so) I was... ok, STILL am.... into Star Trek.

Well, oddly enough, I started trying to figure out if it were possible to make a Star Trek: The Motion Picture era starship, one that people could actually inhabit for about a week.... with the idea of making it an extended vacation / role play experience. You know... learn about what it's like to live and work and play in the fictional Enterprise's innards.

No, that isn't the odd part... this is....

I actually started to run the numbers, finding out how massive the Enterprise Refit is and how big a tank it would have to inhabit to be a free-floating / submerged vessel, and the amount of water to begin with was STAGGERING: well over 3 MILLION cubic meters of water! If you consider that ONE Cubic Meter of water weighs about (1,000kg / 1 Metric Tonne / ~2,200 lbs), that turns into a MINIMUM of 3 Million Metric Tonnes....

After a while I finally came to the realization that the only good way to make it work would be to put it in the ocean, connected to it's support systems on the mainland.

And you know what? In this day and age of incredible computer programming power, bluetooth and wifi connected personal devices, immense flat-screen monitors, touch-sensitive displays, highly energy efficient motors, batteries with immense storage capacity, inductive (wireless) charging systems, fiber-optic data connections, noise dampening insulation, voice recognition algorithms....

...maybe I should re-find my designs and see what is doable today.

...not that Paramount / CBS / Viacom / Desilu would give it a second glance.