Fist of Furry

[GeneChing]

I just couldn't resist this. Furry Fu.


Panda man issues Tai Chi challenge (http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3787979.Panda_man_issues_Tai_Chi_challenge/)
9:15am Friday 24th October 2008

CAN you take down the Tai Chi Panda?

That’s the challenge being thrown down by York martial arts instructor Stuart Harrison, who will be taking on all-comers while dressed as Tai Chi Panda, in the Museum Gardens on Saturday next week.

The challenge is intended as a fun way to promote his latest venture, Chi For Children, which is the name of classes aimed at introducing youngsters to the health benefits of the traditional Chinese art.

“People are more than welcome to try to push me over. If they think they can, bring it on,” said a confident Mr Harrison.

“The stronger they come the easier they are to bring down,” he added.

“My fellow instructor, Betty Sutherland, will be teaching Tai Chi for children on the Saturday and I will be teaching my own style which translates as push hands.”

Mr Harrison, a bronze medal winner at this year’s Tai Chi Union GB competition held in Oxford earlier this year, said his style was all about using people’s momentum against them.

“You manipulate your opponent’s centre of gravity to topple them,” he said.

Speaking of the children’s sessions, which he intends to begin in December, Mr Harrison, 32, said it would be Tai Chi set to a fun narrative.

“It helps to develop cross-lateral movement, balance, concentration skills and focus. This is a tried and tested method for kids.”

Betty Sutherland will be taking the Chi for Children session at the Museum Gardens on Saturday, November 1.

If you would like to take part in the sessions, or if you dare take up the challenge of the Tai Chi Panda, you are invited to turn up at 2pm.

Mr Harrison hopes to begin regular children’s classes in York in December at Roko Health Club, at Clifton Moor and Next Generation in Windmill Lane.

For details on any of the sessions, phone Mr Harrison on 07989 251 771.

[SimonM]

ROTFLMFAO!

Good one Gene.

[GeneChing]

My sources tell me Furry Fu is growing.

Check out this vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qfOhoeDP0&feature=related)from our Long Beach TCEC (http://www.tigerclawelite.com/) Tournament. A pic from this made it in our last issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=789) (see page 64)

:o

[GeneChing]

Lu-OW! (http://vimeo.com/2987588)
Starring Reveille and Kannik
Performed at Further Confusion 2009
Doubletree Hotel, San Jose, CA 1/25/2009

[GeneChing]

Tai chi polar bears for climate change. :confused:


U.N. Climate Talks Greeted With Polar Bear Doing Tai Chi In Tianjin, China (VIDEO) (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/08/un-climate-talks-greeted-_n_755837.html)
Posted: 10- 8-10 04:54 PM

International delegates meeting in Tianjin, China this week for U.N. climate talks were met with a friendly, albeit peculiar, surprise. Our friends at Mother Nature Network brought to our attention this video of a polar bear taking part in a Tai Chi class with Chinese youth in Tianjin.

So what in the world does this have to do with the climate negotiations? According to MNN, the Tai Chi class was practicing "the art of balance," and the polar bear's involvement was a part of TckTckTck campaigners' efforts to highlight their belief that U.N. negotiators are pursuing "the balanced package" rather than actually making successful progress toward an international agreement on tackling climate change.

The polar bear's tactics paid off, as the man behind the mask, Paul Horseman, was interviewed by China's largest TV network, and was able to deliver a clear message about the serious and urgent crisis climate change poses while U.N. climate talks continue to falter

Polar bear does Tai Chi for the climate (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wDJafNMtfo)

[jdhowland]

I'd really like to see Furry Fu vs. Wombat Combat.

[MasterKiller]

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/os-21.jpg

[sanjuro_ronin]

LOL !
Take down for the win and a well done one too !

[lkfmdc]

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/os-21.jpg

that's just a pic from our last instructor training seminar, me doing single leg :D

[sanjuro_ronin]

that's just a pic from our last instructor training seminar, me doing single leg :D

Hey, you got electrolysis done, good man !

[lkfmdc]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs140.snc1/5972_1040789680501_1848336234_85276_5480843_n.jpg

[sanjuro_ronin]

You're still getting the women, that's what matters !
http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/legacyimages/thedishrag/images/2008/11/11/angelinajolie_2.jpg

[lkfmdc]

my wedding picture ;)

[MasterKiller]

my wedding picture ;)

That's better than your honeymoon!

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/os-22.jpg

[lkfmdc]

master killer's honeymoon

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3138352741_608aa2c6cc.jpg

[David Jamieson]

INK BLAST FTW!!

:D

that's an awesome last stand move by the squid or whatever the heck that is...

[David Jamieson]

master killer's honeymoon

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3138352741_608aa2c6cc.jpg

I don't see the pron mags anywhere in that picture and therefore dispute it's validity....

[MasterKiller]

That picture makes no sense out of context. Here are some photos from the same day to make it more clear.

http://www.baconbabble.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/16.jpg

http://www.baconbabble.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/38-wtf.jpg

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/os-43.jpg

[lkfmdc]

Jamieson's honeymoon

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oZCLuUUzO7Q/RrjShaxNArI/AAAAAAAAAcI/K5BldX9V7vI/s320/sheep_shagger1.jpg

[MasterKiller]

Jameison's honeymoon, Part 2

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4691/laughyouloseautomaticfa.jpg

[David Jamieson]

lol.

for the record, I don't live in new zealand and I have never seen twilight. :p

[lkfmdc]

Jamieson and the mrs. at the reception

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3xrymnydf1qbqhc5o1_400.jpg

[MasterKiller]

Jamieson's wedding cake:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/TobiasMoran/cake1.jpg

[MasterKiller]

Jamieson's bachelor party:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc344/vikessoccer13/08ba0.jpg

[lkfmdc]

Master killer crashes Jamieson's reception

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00641/stripmain_641142a.jpg

[David Jamieson]

awesome... :D

If we could put together a timeline montage of this.... I think we could get a space on the comixed.com page for the lulz!

My bachelor party was awesome. I have no idea why the Ross's brought their kid though, Dave knew there would be lap dancing!

[MasterKiller]

The happy couple

http://tackyweddings.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/wed4.jpg

[lkfmdc]

Jamieson isn't so bad, he just didn't get much attention as a kid

http://do-while.com/img/fun/bad-parenting/bad-parenting08.jpg

[MasterKiller]

Jamieson isn't so bad, he just didn't get much attention as a kid

That's because his mom had a career.

http://imgur.com/4L1St.gif

[lkfmdc]

Fortunately, his "uncle willy" came over and taught him to play with used soda cans

http://www.absurdintellectual.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/william20-20crack20pipe2.jpg

[David Jamieson]

The happy couple

http://tackyweddings.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/wed4.jpg

That's not us, these are the Sprats. :p jack and the missus...

[lkfmdc]

Master killer has done destroyed Gene's thread!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_orkXxp0bhEA/Sa0VbN04HLI/AAAAAAAAQY4/ND7FwuiR-JE/s400/090303-sorry2.jpg

[David Jamieson]

I dunno, I thought it was a pretty good ruination myself...

after all, it started with a ghey panda tai chi guy going on about jibber jabber...

sort of writes itself an end right there. :D

[MasterKiller]

They honeymooned at a lovely mediterranean villa

http://pics.blameitonthevoices.com/022010/small_the%20moment%20before%20impact.jpg

[David Jamieson]

when they said "gaza strip" I expected "club" to come after that. :mad:

[Yum Cha]

I'd really like to see Furry Fu vs. Wombat Combat.

Now you're talking.

[Yum Cha]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs140.snc1/5972_1040789680501_1848336234_85276_5480843_n.jpg

ROTFLMAO!

Snap!

[Yum Cha]

Jamieson and the mrs. at the reception

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3xrymnydf1qbqhc5o1_400.jpg

Please tell me that that woman has no titz and a pot belly....

[lkfmdc]

Please tell me that that woman has no titz and a pot belly....

pst...

over here....

it's not a woman at all

:eek:

[Yum Cha]

pst...

over here....

it's not a woman at all

:eek:


I think I'm going to be sick....

[MasterKiller]

LKFMDC organized the bachelor "entertainment"

http://i.imgur.com/UGP5E.jpg

[Yum Cha]

That is so wrong I had to wash my eyes out with soap...

[GeneChing]

Wushu Kung Fu Panda (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVj3nmHIXAc)

[SPJ]

Wushu Kung Fu Panda (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVj3nmHIXAc)

it must be cumber with the big thing on the head and oversize outfit.

I like 3 posture/move.

1. jing gang dao zhui or smashing mortle. or zhen jiao za quan or stomping feet with hitting palm.

2. riding/taming the tiger or kua/fu hu shi. (one hand up to the right, one hand down to the left)

3. luo han guan tian or luo han in observation. (one hand up and one hand down close to the knee)

may need some leg sweeps or sao tui.

to make them shao lin.

so not tai ji panda but shao lin panda fu.

:D

[GeneChing]

Click for a YouKu vid....or not.

Watch: Kung Fu Panda proposes marriage on BJ-SH high-speed rail (http://shanghaiist.com/2011/07/21/watch_kung_fu_panda_proposes_marria.php)

Okay, it's not really Po the panda, but still: dressing up as Po to propose marriage on the Beijing-Shanghai high speed rail is awesome any way you slice it. On July 5th, a cosplay enthusiast proposed to his girlfriend of over three years, who he called 'the most important person in my life', freaking her out with his repeated pawings before going for the big reveal. Apparently it was all organized on Weibo!

He tells her that he doesn't really know what to express, which isn't true at all: going all out for a high-speed rail Po-posal (forgive us) is pretty much as romantic/aww-inducing as it gets.
Fist of Furry - It's all about KFP (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56148)!

[SPJ]

yes we all enjoyed jack black

or we are all in awe of his awesomeness.

:)

[GeneChing]

Did you know it was Panda Awareness Week?

Tai chi pandas in Trafalgar Square (http://www.washingtonpost.com/tai-chi-pandas-in-trafalgar-square/2012/07/05/gJQATBvqcb_video.html)

[GeneChing]

It's the 26th, just coming back from Xmas break, and I just couldn't make sense of this item that popped up on my Shaolin news feed, so I'm posting it here.


The Smell of a Tanuki Monster Captured in a Perfume, Approved by the Triforce (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/12/24/the-smell-of-a-tanuki-monster-captured-in-a-perfume-approved-by-the-triforce/)
Dec 24, 2012 by Master Blaster

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/30666_1_hiqrsisujv.jpeg?w=580&h=247
Yuru-kyara, those lovable mascots of urban and rural districts all over Japan, have finished their annual yuru-kyara Gran Prix with Bari-San the chicken clinching a long awaited first place.

But that doesn’t mean these men and women in giant animal costumes have time to rest. No sir. Just as the last Gran Prix closed yuru-kyara it’s now time for the hundreds of mascots to begin campaigning for next year’s vote.

This brings us to Takibou, the Tanuki Monster of Shaolin Temple (not the kung-fu one) in Hachioji, Tokyo. Takibou had finished 58th place (top 6%) in 2012 and is hoping to improve on that performance. So, for the first time – probably in the world – a mascot is releasing their scent for the public to buy.

Although the scent of someone in a raccoon costume doesn’t sound appealing the scent is purported to be quite pleasant. The scent named Takibou Fragrance Cure Sunset is based on a poem by Hachioji resident Uko Nakamura, Yuyake Koyake (Sunset Small Burn) and “the smell of the sun.”

It’s described as a sweet orange base with elements recreating the scents of rivers, sunshine, and forests. They claim that it’s suitable for men or women and can even be used as a room freshener.

As an added bonus the bottle is emblazoned with the ubiquitous “triforce” symbol, which is also the crest of a prominent Japanese clan in the 13th century, long before Zelda came out.

Takibou is a 400-something year-old Tanuki Monster who once terrorized the other animals of the forest. Then, one day a powerful monk of Shaolin Temple defeated Takibou and showed him the error of his ways. Now he represents the temple at public events.

These events are the only place you can purchase the smell of Takibou for 4,200 yen (US$50) a bottle. It may be possible to arrange a bottle delivered by contacting shop@takibou.jp.

Time will tell if the fragrance line will help Takibou at next year’s Gran Prix. Cross promotion is quickly becoming the key to victory for many a big headed animal.

[GeneChing]

...I should have studied Japan.

Fake zebra escape at Tama Zoo in Japan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndtvvmzFWrA#!)

Some past examples:
Tiger on the loose in Japan! (drill) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOc-VUz9lkU#!)
Police scrambled to deal with escaped papier mâché rhino a (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4RCxX0yjVY)


I know, I know, OT. But the rest of this thread isn't. :o

[GeneChing]

Kung Fu Pandas Play Tai Chi (http://english.cri.cn/11354/2013/10/04/2361s790517.htm)
2013-10-04 07:29:35 Chinanews.cn Web Editor: Wang Wei

http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2013/10/04/dabeedbdb1ae4bcb952a474abdf29b47.jpg
http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2013/10/04/3eb8ee58b87c448faa470b7605b9061c.jpg
http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2013/10/04/a9cb39db74f34d3b9af3e3186c963d60.jpg
http://english.cri.cn/mmsource/images/2013/10/04/ec50cacc82484bbfbc81741e502ea94e.jpg
Photo taken on Oct. 1 shows a person dressed up in panda clothes plays Taichi at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Sichuan province. [Photo: An Yuan/China News Service]

Meanwhile...in America...:(

By Danielle Elliot / CBS News/ October 1, 2013, 1:00 PM
National Zoo's 'panda cams' go dark (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57605474/national-zoos-panda-cams-go-dark/)

Much to the dismay of panda lovers around the world, the National Zoo's panda cams are down.

"The cams (incl. the panda cams) require federal resources, especially staff, to run. They have not been deemed essential during a #shutdown," the National Zoo tweeted Monday afternoon.

The zoo is part of the Smithsonian network of museums, galleries and research facilities, which are 70 percent funded by federal money. The two panda cams are among the zoo's 15 live web cams.

Thousands of viewers log on each day to check in on female panda Mei Xiang and the cub she gave birth to on Aug. 23. At times, traffic has grown so heavy that the website had to limit viewing time.

The National Zoo is one of four zoos in the country that feature live-streaming panda cams. It's not the most exciting webcast, because pandas prefer to spend their days eating and sleeping, but that doesn't stop true fans from logging in.

"There are people that are panda lovers, so they really take an interest and want to see what they are doing. There are several hundreds who watch for hours at a time," Memphis Zoo spokeswoman Laura Doty explained to CBSNews.com. The Memphis Zoo also has a panda cam.

After the National Zoo's announcement, panda cam fans quickly took to Facebook to express their dismay. "A world without the panda cam is a world without happiness," wrote Caitlin Bauer.

"Congress, get your act together. For the love of the baby panda," pleaded Lauren Jenkins.

Among hundreds of comments about loving animals and hating politics, Facebook user Mark Haycook raised a good question: "Why would you stop the panda cam?" he asked. "It costs nothing to keep running. Typical misuse of the public trust to make a political point."

Funding does not appear to be the issue here, because the National Zoo's panda cams are sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund, as part of a two-year, $400,000 grant to study giant panda health. The majority of the grant covers research into disease transmission, but the cameras are factored in.

"The new system will continuously record the pandas, allowing behavior research to continue even while researchers are not physically at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, and enable virtual Zoo visitors to watch live video of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian on any smart phone and tablet PC," Ford announced in a 2012 press release.

So if funding isn't the main hurdle in keeping the cameras on, it must be staff salaries. But the Zoo's cameras are operated by volunteers.

The Zoo's announcement said that the cameras were not deemed essential. Only essential staff, mostly animal caretakers and security guards, will be permitted on Zoo grounds during the shutdown. Non-essential staff are furloughed, along with volunteers.

On Facebook, users wondered if Congress fully understood the fallout of the shutdown.

"If Congress knew they were risking the shut down of the Panda Cam if a resolution wasn't passed, I think things would be moving a LOT faster!," wrote Drew Winner. "I could care less about anything else they are trying to tack on, but PLEASE don't let me suffer even one day without the Panda Cam!!!"

Winner doesn't have to stay completely in the dark. He can always watch the panda cams from Zoo Atlanta, the San Diego Zoo, and Memphis Zoo.

"This isn't really going to effect hardcore panda fans," Doty said. "The real panda lovers check them out all four cameras."

[Syn7]

This stuff makes you wonder if we have it too easy these days or maybe we're just going insane. A lil of both? How bored or messed up do you have to be to have the desire to dress up like a mascot and preform everyday tasks. I get the whole performance thing, but the dudes who dress up and go about their day are just weird.

[GeneChing]

maybe we're just going insane. Gotta agree with you on this one, Syn7.


Furry Convention Chlorine Gas Incident Sickens 19 Near Chicago (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/08/furry-convention-chlorine-gas_n_6286342.html)
The Huffington Post | By Ed Mazza
Posted: 12/08/2014 4:46 am EST Updated: 12/08/2014 4:59 am EST

The streets outside a Chicago-area hotel were filled with people in costume early Sunday after a furry convention was evacuated due to a chlorine gas incident that police believe may have been intentional.

Several thousand people were ordered out of the Hyatt Regency Hotel around 1 a.m. after guests reported a chlorine odor on the 9th floor, according to local media.

Many of the guests were staying at the hotel while attending the 2014 Midwest Furfest convention, an annual gathering for people who enjoy art, literature, and performance based around anthropomorphic animals, according to the group's website. Many attendees enjoy dressing as those characters, and were in costume when the evacuation order was given.

Although 19 people were taken to local hospitals after being sickened, 18 were soon released.

A hazmat team at the scene said they found a “substance, consistent in odor and appearance to powdered chlorine" in the stairwell, according to a statement cited by Fox6.

“It was like when you walk into a pool. It was pungent,” evacuee Chris Delaney told the Chicago Tribune.

“It was shocking,” Morgan Smejkal, who was dressed as a red panda, told the paper.

The way the chlorine was found leads police to believe the incident was intentional.

"In the course of investigating the scene, the Rosemont Police Department determined that this was a criminal act and began investigating it as such," Furfest organizers said in a statement released online.

Video from the scene showed people milling outside the hote.

"We've been having a grand old time and we do not know what's going on at this time," Anthrocon organizer Samuel Conway, a.k.a. "Uncle Kage," told AP. "We've been asked to leave the hotel for unknown reasons but we have a lot of costumers out here with big fluffy costumes that'll keep people warm so at this point we're not at all worried."

For those not warmed by their costumes, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and other nearby facilities opened to offer the guests refuge.

"There was a dog-grooming trade show going on and in walk all these people dressed like dogs and foxes," Pieter Van Hiel told AP.

The furry convention continued on Sunday without further incident.

In a statement, Furfest said:

"As we wake up today we want to continue to provide the best possible convention that we can, despite the trying circumstances. The convention will be running on a full normal programming schedule today. We ask you to continue to be patient, and remember that the volunteers who make Midwest FurFest happen intend to give 110% to make sure that the fun, friendship, and good times of Midwest FurFest 2014 overshadow last night’s unfortunate incident."

The organization said it would not offer refunds, and the hotel would not be comping rooms, as a result of the incident.


The news report is even better (follow link for vid)

Mika Brzezinski Learns About Furries, Proceeds To Run Off Set (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/08/mika-brzezinski-furries-awkward-morning-joe-segment_n_6288468.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063)
The Huffington Post | By Jackson Connor
Posted: 12/08/2014 11:35 am EST Updated: 12/08/2014 1:59 pm EST

Mika Brzezinski just learned what a furry is ... and it was glorious.

During a segment on Monday's "Morning Joe," Brzezinski was reading a headline from the teleprompter about a gas incident at a convention in Illinois when she came across a term she wasn't familiar with, slowing down awkwardly and eventually pausing to ask, "Did I get that wrong?"

"What's a furry?" co-host Joe Scarborough echoed in apparent bafflement.

Willie Geist ultimately had to take over as Brzezinski and Scarborough broke out into laughter -- realizing what exactly the convention had been for -- and the segment ended with Brzezinski running hastily for the door.

[GeneChing]

Shanghai Disneyland showcases Chinese influence throughout park (http://www.cctv-america.com/2016/05/16/shanghai-disneyland-showcases-chinese-influence-throughout-park)

http://i1.wp.com/www.cctv-america.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Shanghai-Disneyland-showcases-Chinese-influence-throughout-park-2.jpg?resize=800%2C500

May 16, 2016
Disney’s newest theme park will be opening in Shanghai in one month and visitors can expect to see Chinese elements in its newest park.

CCTV’s Ding Siyue reports on how The Walt Disney Co. is incorporating more Chinese elements into the park.

While Donald Duck is known around the world, few people know he’s a practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi.

“We were thinking we could let Disney characters tell Chinese stories. I think ‘Donald Duck practicing Tai Chi’ is a wonderful combination,” Xu Chang, assistant producer for Shanghai Disney Resort said.

“I hope we could create a feeling of familiarity to the tourists through interaction between characters and tourists.”

There’s even the Garden of 12 Friends with Disney characters representing the Chinese Zodiac signs.

Chinese elements are not just in some of the storytelling or the characters, but also in a lot of the design.

The Walt Disney Grand Theater, located in a shopping and dining area and modeled after local architectural styles, will host the Chinese version of the Broadway show “The Lion King”.

I've been saying "Grasp the bird's tail" in a Donald Duck voice under my breath.

It's a good thing that there is no Year of the Duck.

[GeneChing]

Do you know the way to San Jose? I went to college there. Nothing like this ever happened back then.


San Jose: ‘Furries’ pulled assaulter out of vehicle, sat on him (https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/01/20/san-jose-furries-pulled-assaulter-out-of-vehicle-sat-on-him/?fbclid=IwAR0lwcUNBiJ1jC-iPRaURVnt0Z6x7iyhjxGn7LduAB9IyYH5YM7Sa8I-jvs)
A group of furry bystanders stepped in when they saw man ‘whaling on’ female driver
By FIONA KELLIHER | fkelliher@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: January 20, 2020 at 3:32 pm | UPDATED: January 21, 2020 at 5:40 am


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaFJh0f8kuI

SAN JOSE — First came the man to the rescue. And then came the dinosaur, the tiger and the cowboy.

It was just before midnight Friday in San Jose, and the downtown streets were thick with “furries” — anthropomorphism aficionados dressed in fur costumes — who had poured into the city for San Jose’s annual furry get-together known as FurCon.

Conversations were relaxed as people drank in the night air and cooled off from “suiting” inside fur costumes all day, said Steven Rodriguez, 26, who was taking a smoke break outside the San Jose Marriott hotel.

But suddenly a car screeched to a halt in the middle of South Market Street. And from inside came a woman’s horrified scream — “Get out, get out, get out, get out,” Rodriguez recalled.

“It was pretty intense,” said Rodriguez, a self-described “silent observer” of furry culture who traveled from Azusa in Southern California to attend the convention’s after-hours hotel parties. “We saw the passenger just whaling on her. Just a full-on punch.”

Rodriguez and his friend yanked open the unlocked passenger’s door and began dragging the man out, he said. The driver had been visibly beaten, and as they grabbed hold of her assaulter, he quickly tried to turn his ire onto Rodriguez.

At that moment, a group of about five people — still in their furry suits from the day’s festivities — sprinted over and restrained the man as he attempted to hit Rodriguez.

Among the first on scene was the pink dinosaur, who wrested the suspect by the head and shoulders while a massive tail bobbed in his wake, according to a brief video Rodriguez captured of the encounter. Then a tiger knelt to restrain the man from the torso as a platform-heeled cowboy watched on.


The video ends quickly — blocked by a man in a cat-emblazoned jacket — as the driver took off in another screech of metal, Rodriguez said.

Within a few minutes, San Jose police arrived and took over for the six people restraining the man, confirmed Sgt. Enrique Garcia, who added that the report did not detail the attire of the rescuers.

San Jose resident Demetri Hardnett, 22, was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of domestic violence; a preliminary investigation showed that the driver was his girlfriend, Garcia said.

The furries slowly dispersed after giving police statements, Rodriguez said, both disgusted by what they had seen but pleased with the way things played out.

Over the weekend, posts about the incident accrued thousands of views from both furry supporters and those unfamiliar with the subculture — many of whom were tickled to see a group of befurred rescuers tackling an assaulter on city streets.

“It happened very, very fast and it was just a horrible thing to see,” Rodriguez said. “But overall, everyone was very happy that we stepped in.”



Fiona Kelliher Fiona Kelliher is a breaking news reporter at The Mercury News. She previously covered housing and real estate for the San Francisco Business Times. Originally from Minneapolis, she is a fan of almost any food that is fried and eaten on a stick.

[GeneChing]

I just can't resist ttt-ing this thread, even though this is somewhat off-topic, mostly because I have some Kung Furry shidi. :o


Furry Kung Fu fable is mutated, but certainly not evolved (https://www.smh.com.au/technology/video-games/furry-kung-fu-fable-is-mutated-but-certainly-not-evolved-20210525-p57uvb.html)
By Tim Biggs
May 28, 2021 — 2.44pm


With a promising premise but an unfortunate lack of identity, Biomutant is a much-anticipated game that introduces too many features and systems while not fully realising any of them.

Since 2017 the furry Kung Fu fable has consistently attracted praise for its bizarrely different characters, promises of open-ended systems, beautiful world and apparent focus on player choice and customisation. But while all of that is present and accounted for in the final game, the connective tissue that brings it together is either missing, insufficient or feels unfinished.

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.552%2C$multiply_1.5109%2C$ratio_1.776846%2 C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/2438b60d06f4548ceb1acb5f129ced86201889a4
Dressing your rodent-like avatar in cute little people clothes is just one of the many forms of customisation in Biomutant.

Set in a post-apocalypse where humans made a world hostile to their own existence, but gave rise to new mutated animal species, the setup here is part Horizon Zero Dawn, part Zelda: Breath of the Wild, part Borderlands and with a healthy blend of Kung Fu and environmental flavours on top. The mangy character and creature designs give Biomutant something all of its own, with the bipedal protagonist presenting as anything you can come up with in the versatile character creator; from a lanky battle-scarred raccoon to a chonky Cheshire Cat.

Customisation is a big focus of the entire experience here, with layers of upgrade points, crafting, scavenging and building giving you control over what traits your character develops, its fighting style, its clothing and of course its melee and ranged weapons. But a lack of coherent tutorials or introductions to these systems, as well as painful nested menu designs, makes it all tough to access.

The first several hours are particularly tough to grapple with, because the run-of-the-mill open world quest system begins dumping objectives on you with a similar lack of clarity or context, the story struggles out the gate with vague backstory and endless unearned philosophising, and the overall presentation vacillates between beautifully polished and work-in-progress.

Even once I’d brute-forced my way to an understanding of how the world and systems worked, my overall impression was of elements that all individually had a lot of promise, but none of which really worked.

Developing the ability to spawn bouncy mushrooms, or leave a trail of fire after you when you dodge, are cool ideas. But a lack of finesse and emphasis in the combat system means nothing else in the world really reacts to those elements or sells the drama, and I ended up just mashing the attack button.

Most guns and melee weapons are fully modular, so you can rebuild them with junk and resources you scavenge or create them from scratch. But there’s no good way to see an overview of all the stuff you’ve collected, or to tell which upgrades will actually make a difference in combat.

Meanwhile repetitive and arbitrary tasks water down any interesting parts of the narrative, and it’s undercut by the constantly talking narrator — who even delivers the dialogue of all characters you meet, bizarrely in the second person — with his patronising and contextless faux-deep aphorisms about memory and forgiveness. The script’s inconsistent use of juvenile noun replacements (“find Moog the Munsterhonter to locate sqvips for Gizmo’s Mekton, then use the ping dish to find the Oxygen Suit and fight the Jumbo Puff”) make the whole thing sound like Teletubbies for the chemically intoxicated.

Building weapons and paragliding around the varied landscape makes for some magical moments, but there were many more instances where a confusing playable flashback or interminable quest line had me scratching my head. From the story about life forces and feuding tribes to the Kung Fu fighting combat, almost everything in Biomutant left me wishing things were a little more evolved.

Biomutant is out now for Xbox One (reviewed), PC and PlayStation 4.

[GeneChing]

But too weird not to post here... :rolleyes:


Man who spent $14K to transform himself into collie steps out for first-ever walk in public (https://nypost.com/2023/07/28/toco-the-human-border-collie-steps-out-for-first-ever-walk-in-public/)
By Brooke Kato
July 28, 2023 8:43pm Updated

The dog days are just beginning for this man.

A Japanese native has transformed himself into a canine after forking out more than $14,000 for a custom-made collie costume.

The private citizen, who goes only by Toco online, says the unusual garment has helped actualize his dream of “becoming an animal.”

Footage shared to Toco’s YouTube channel, where he boasts more than 32,000 subscribers, shows him clad in the costume as he frolics on a lawn, rolls on a floor, and plays fetch.

Toco has even uploaded a video of himself venturing out in public as a dog for the very first time.

Bystanders appeared to be in awe of the man’s doggy debut as he paraded down a busy street in the viral clip, which has racked up 1.7 million views.

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000015337250.jpg?quality=75&strip=all
His hyperrealistic dog costume cost $14,000.
YouTube
https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000015337249.jpg?resize=1024,577&quality=75&strip=all
The $12,000 costume was created by Zeppet and took 40 days to create.
YouTube

Toco completed the costume with a harness strapped around his furry abdomen, but admitted he was “nervous” and “scared” of venturing out in public.

“Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard,” he wrote in the clip, describing his life-dog dog dream as seemingly “unrealistic.”

“I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside.”

As an introduction to his unusual hobby, Toco answered a series of questions in a video posted last year, admitting he always “had a vague dream of becoming an animal” ever since he was a child.

“When I fulfilled that dream, this is how it turned out,” he wrote in the clip, adding that he chose to become a collie due to the negligible size difference between the breed and humans.

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000015337247.jpg?resize=1024,576&quality=75&strip=all
He recently embarked on his first public walk.
YouTube
https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000015337245.jpg?resize=1024,576&quality=75&strip=all
Toco performs tricks in exchange for treats.
YouTube

Zeppet, the company that manufactured Toco’s collie costume, says it took 40 days to create the furry fashion item, which cost a cool $2 million Yen (USD $14,161).

“Modeled after a collie dog, it reproduces the appearance of a real dog walking on four legs,” the company’s spokesperson told news.com.au.

Despite garnering online fame with his puppy pursuit, Toco conceals his unusual proclivities from most of his friends and family.

“I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird,’ he said in a separate interview with the Mirror. “My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.”

Meanwhile, the Japanese man said last year that most of his colleagues are also unaware that he dresses as a dog outside of work.

“I don’t want my hobbies to be known, especially by the people I work with,” he told the Daily Mail.

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/NYPICHPDPICT000015337248.jpg?quality=75&strip=all
Toco sits with a sign that reads “I’m human.”
YouTube

“They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.”