Way Cuter than that Cupcake Song Kid

OTTERS HOLDING HANDS!

Commence with the "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" in 3...2...1...

Did you know that Otters are my favorite non-domesticated animal? In 3rd grade we were assigned to write our very first reports on endangered animals, and I got Sea Otters. After extensive academic research in the St. Clare Elementary School library, I decided I would love them forever. And I have.

Here are some more Otter pics, just in case you're having a bad day and need a pick-me-up in the form of a cuddle monster who smells like abalone

You Want to Show Me Your Fox-Tail?

...Oh, you mean your LITERAL fox-tail.

I've heard snippets about Furries for the past few years, and I've even seen a few at the Video Game Arcade Conference thing in Seattle this summer, but never before has it been so well-explained and layed-out for me as in this article.

"Who Are the Furries"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8355287.stm

Choice quotes:

I consider myself "fursona" to be a mixture of a Lion and a Bunny, these are traits of my personality and emotional states that I identify with... I was introduced to the wider fandom though Second Life, and have progressively developed my "fursona", I have found true warm accepting friendship within the furrie community unbound by normal constraints

"Fursuiters", as they are called, bemoan society's inhibitions and look admiring at the animal kingdom where creatures have more freedom to be expressive. Touching, petting, hugging and "skritching" (lightly scratching and grooming) is common at social gatherings.

Very disturbing. I am generally tolerant of people's sexual inclinations and desires, but it just freaks me out that people want to TAP THIS ASS:

Northwest Film & Video Fest

Here is the promo for the NW Film & Video Fest taking place in P-town:

Those animals take such great direction.

Happy as a Clam

I was at the fam's beach house all last week. All of my mom's extended family lives down there, and has for generations, so when we're there, we get lots of visitors and lots of weird offers, such as you can only get on the coast. "Do you want some of our left-over Salmon?" (obvi) or "Have you ever wanted to tour the canning factory?" (no) or "Would you like some of our live bait?" (ew). However, from time to time, in months not containing an "R", I am asked if I want to go butter clamming. My great-uncle is one of the only non-commercial owners of Willapa Bay property, meaning that we get to harvest all types of world-famous, top-price clams for free. Now who says "no" to that?!

How does one hunt the wily clam?

You put on rubber boots and a rain slicker, trudge out 1000 feet into the bay at low tide, brave the muck of the bay floor, and bend down for 15 minutes. You dig into the muck with a trowel, hit something hard, dig it out with your fingers and wash off the dirt in the water, and see if it's a clam or a piece of gravel. Usually it's a clam. Then you toss it into a bucket. Repeat 75 times. And that's how you clam hunt. They are the Deadliest Catch, for certain. Then you get to double-boil them and eat them with lemon-butter. NOM NOM NOM.