Category: commentary

I mean no disrespect to anyone who knew Mark Merlino or knew of him. Like a lot of people I see the name and you feel a bit sad. But then you go on with your life.

In fact the only things I know about Mr Merlino was what I read online. Yes I know he was one of the founders of the furry fandom. I am also sure there are others who are writing something more flowery. But I have always been honest with my readers. To me it’s just a name. You don’t have to be sad unless you want. If you want to send flowers or something. I really don’t know as there is nothing on their X account or their YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/@PrancingSkiltaire/videos

That allows you to send a message

Not too uncommon and understand able. It’s just the way the fandom is.

Say what you got to say on your social media and like always life goes on.

I know there has been a lot of talk about Sexual Orientation both in the news and on social media. To a lot of us Greymuzzles we for the most part believe this subject is over done, making more of a what should be a simple answer.

I really wish it was that simple for me. It seems everyone in my entire family said I was straight and that was it. In fact I could not even talk about it to even my brother. He just said I was straight as he looked through gay porn. Really that is not even a joke. I believe my late brother was a closet gay. By the way he spoke and remarked about certain things. Like some guy having a fine ass, and what was said after would make anyone think he was gay. But yet he said he was straight, while refusing to look at photos of naked women.

Me I call myself Asexual because I am in limbo as I really don’t know. If I am straight, gay or bi, or one of more than a few dozens things I have seen online. I really just don’t know. I have dated a few times and frankly they all ended in disaster. For the record they were all women. But also I am not usually that clumsy.

Anyway it’s been 10 years since my brother died and I am living alone. It also allowed me to thank, about what I tend to be attracted to and that itself is not a simple answer. In fact it is both sexes, I tend to think what a certain body part feel in a certain place or what it be like to hold it.

I will be if you are gay and screaming that I am one. I have no doubt.

Maybe if time and circumstances allow it I might try a gay relationship. But meanwhile it has to wait as the whole thing makes me 100% uncertain about it all.

Other sites please repost

Give Them 90, came about both by @conhistory on X and what a friend recently experienced in hosting a panel at BLFC. As in they only found out they were actually hosting a panel with barely 2 weeks to put something together. To be honest I don’t know how Artists, Dealers and Performers do it when some cons barely give a week’s notice. That is what happened at IFC, thankfully it’s small enough to get a room nearby. But if it was any larger, I don’t know how they would do it.

The alternative is crazy for example at least 3 MFFs that I know about some actually slept in the Dealer’s / Artist area. Because they were unable to get a room anywhere.

All I am asking for is that conventions give Performers, Dealers as well as Artists 90 days from when they are chosen to when the convention actually starts. This way they can not only find a room somewhere but also advertise that they are going to be there.

If you think they should please contact your favorite convention and let them know how you feel.

I literally found this out less than 20 minutes ago as of this posting. So I am a bit stunned by this. Here I was working out a script for the next furry news recap I use to do for All Fur Media. Trying to wrap up all the loose ends before MFF which takes places in just a few weeks. When this happens.

I totally understand that having an idea and it not being a popular one can happen. It happened with a close friend, and others. So they cut back, I still wish them well.

In the meantime I already contacted the new owner, and see if anything I can contribute. Even if they don’t want me. Totally understandable, and we will see what happens.

By now winners and losers of MFF’s Room Lottery are being notified. As you might have already known there are more losers than actual winners, meanwhile the losers are scrambling to find any space in an available room… SOMEWHERE?!!!

This is the problem with major cons, they have there room lotteries so close to the actual date of the convention it’s either hard or nearly impossible to find a room anywhere.

This is why I say “Keep Your Opinions Open”.

To tell you the truth I made my reservation back in May, and got a room for a friend and I and it’s all set. But I know this doesn’t help anyone looking.

The way I see it, you have 2 Options. Look for a hotel anywhere in the area and commute to MFF, or check out AirBNB as of this post there are rooms available for as little as $106 a night. Of course commuting will happen, but with all the options including a pretty good local bus system. If you want to come, you may not have a choice.

With the over 6,000 views my videos having received on YouTube. It has proved what I have been saying for years. Everyone loves fur con videos. Although mine are simple, like I usually do is document the facts. I saw things as they are, I do not do any fancy tricks with the videos and I use easy to use cameras. But you got to get it up ASAP.

It also proves despite what I heard many say. There is an interest in Indy Fur Con and why because it is small fur con. You honestly get to do things that you can’t do at a larger events. That March of the Inflatables video proves that. Can you even imagine that taking place at MFF or similar larger cons. I say impossible. There are just too many there.

It’s the simple things I have seen vanish from MFF. Gatherings to take group or funny photos, or even hang out and talk with friends.

Frankly I am curious to see if my videos effects the number who will go to Indy Fur Con next year. But I won’t be there sadly, not that it wasn’t a great con. It truly was, it’s just that I want to cover more cons. The reality is that I can only do 2 a year. I am thinking about going to another con next year. Yet another convention that has few videos. If I told you how many you wouldn’t believe it, one year this convention had none.

Indy Fur Con has taught me so much both about myself and the cameras I use. As in which one takes a better video, and I need a few more battery packs. Along with other things that I hope will both increase the number of videos I make, and the quality.

Recently I have been betting a bunch of these basically it begins when someone says via a DM that they are an artist and eager to take your commission. Before you even decide what piece you want to have done, they tell you it will be $150.

Let me tell you there is not a single legit artist that will quote a price upfront. They want to know stuff like the background, how many characters and etc. So they know what price to quote you.

Another clue that they are scammers is that they have little to no art posted on their social media. I do I advise checking on that art via a Google Image search. My guess is most won’t be by them.

Also it is NEVER a contract even a Verbal One unless both parties agree.

One more thing, I asked one of these scammers to send me examples of their work. It was so obvious it was created by AI. So please be warned.

If you go to fur cons they are actually the best place to get a commission. As the con has a guarantee of sorts that the work will be completed. Meaning if they scam you they can get banned from every con.

I have been going to the Furry Variety Show at MFF almost as long as I have been going to MFF. I have seen very talented artists preform, even ones who set up shop outside the hotel or in the Lobby or Skywalk. But sadly I could not tell tell you any of their names except for a few. The reason why the difference, Publicity. Those artists have made it a point to get their name NOTICED. Cassidy Civet in fact did a great job, and they are so talented.

I know I struggle with numbers and my audience isn’t as large as other sites. I hope by word of mouth or text that somehow a artist hears this.

If you want to get noticed you should get recognized by an established site, and I don’t mean me. I am talking about Furry Internet Radio no matter how large or small. Radio Rabbit Hole is just 1 example of many. A lot of artists I find are usually by accident which heads to some favs such as Shadyvox. Even though they do get great numbers on YouTube. I would make a guess some of you NEVER heard of before. That is the problem most artists face, getting their name out.

These days making a MP3 at home is easy, if I can do it anyone can. But getting your name out there is extremely hard. So do yourself a favor SHOUT IT OUT link a posted song to every source you can think of but don’t forget Radio Rabbit Hole who activity looks for new artists. Because they can use the most help. You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr in fact anywhere I can be found as I promise to share what is tagged to me.

I know a lot have been made about Quantum TV and The Act Man, and those who support them on You Tube are getting restrictions put on their videos for supporting them.

That is the BIG story, there are 100s of little stories you just don’t hear about.

Take my own 2nd Blog PSP Hardcore you see despite the same it is a PSP fansite. I am a fan of that handheld and own almost 300 physical UMDs. For various reasons for the last few years I really hadn’t updated the blog… a lot of personal reasons. But will be getting back to it hopefully soon. But despite this I have gotten over 75,000 views. This is according to the Google Counter Widget, that itself Google provides.

So you think, “Why don’t I just monetize my site?” I have, about 5 times so far. All requests rejected, they claim I am violating the rules for monetization. HOW?!!! I may talk about the adult material that was available but I don’t show anything. I know all this stuff is minor compared to what really is going right now. But in a way it does, it exposes a bigger problem Google and Facebook both have. They are always dealing with the public and not having a single one you can actually talk, text or email. What you get are Bots. That have rejected US Govt Official ID Cards, that’s another matter.

But it is 100% true.

Nothing short of suing them I doubt would bring any response.

I have known Scar the fur ever since we started talking on Twitter, after some issues they had in a recent layover I made an offer, and the way it turned out is almost unbelievable. when their train was just over 8 hours late. In fact it was the very last Amtrak train to pull into Union Station Chicago for the night.

Scar I found is so nice and friendly, oh sure it meant me staying up the whole night to make sure they catch a 7AM bus. We really had a lot to talk about, and frankly I was sad to see them go.

Of course when your a Greymuzzle and a morning person the lack of sleep really caught up to me. Frankly even I am amazed I was able to do so much. Before totally collapsing at 8PM.

But it was great meeting Scar and I hope to do it again.