So Barack Obama was in Pittsburgh this weekend probably to talk about economic stimulation, while I was in Pittsburgh to DO some stimulation... of the economy of course... sheesh furries sheesh...

So first stop in our series, we stop at the desk of the satirist and artist  eryshefalafel for the first item of necessity to make it easier for people to read my name and kind of put a face with it. Because, hey first con ever, don't have a badge, get a badge. Achievement Unlocked!

Of which great congratulation goes to  bucktowntiger who, without having prior knowledge of my IRL appearance and WITHOUT this badge was able to read the tiny print of my name tag, while talking with three following fans all while moving in opposing direction, and all while I didn't recognize him before he did me (perception of epic fail especially since I have seen images of him IRL). Of which our conversation eventually went to politics and of course Obama's visit, some of that conversation somehow ended up into Bucktown's monolouge prior to his piano show that day, (About the submission of a youtube question in a debate on what his fursona was or some such). First time con attendee affecting program content? My ego certainly didn't need no more inflating that day.

So anyways back on the topic, I bought both of Joe's comics "Furreh Nuuz TeeVee" which the best way I can describe is as a slapstick news program of furry events over the past few years. Of course like most slapstick of events, having prior knowledge of the events are helpful and he does do a great thing and puts a bit of background to the strips on the bottom so that you can get the context for the events. I always have loved these and hope to see more... wait... now that I think of it, the only way to get more would be for more goofy drama... so maybe not something to wish for, but of course if it happens anyway why not?

In sharp contrast, the other graphic collection of his I had purchased, has things which are not available on his page free which is titled "...in the meantime" Unlike FurryNews this isn't a comedy as per say what seems to be personal mullings, while at first glance one might observe, "This is all about him" and it certainly is. However, considering the story and mullings also have mysterious connections with probably the story of many people who call themselves furries.

The first using images to protrey the conflicting lives of the characters of the creator living their dreams to the fullest, and the bustling and seeminlgy progressless lives they truely live, and how in the end the two merge together with those playing their characters. The next one illustrating struggles of the heart of principle in a world where people around seem to have none.

Certainly, not going to be the kind of thing everyone digs, I myself as I skimmed through it the first time didn't fully understand it, but reading the images a little slower helped.

So my first badge is imaged above in all orange and redness. Isn't it excitin'?

P.S. And yes, as you can see at the bottom I did take the survey... my god SOOOOO MANNYY QUESSSTIOOONNSSS... but I think everyone I talked to agreed about the "animal feeling emotions" one was way too broad, and thus the only questions I had skipped (I'm a completionist what can I say?). Emotions in "animals" I do believe exist, but it can't be simply a scale of 1 to 7 for the entire animal kingdom as emotions capable of being expressed will vary from species to species. Like a "dolphin" or "ape" would probably be more emotionally driven then a worm or a fly.