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From the CF Mailbox

From Steve Addlesee carcajou@fia.net:

Greetings good furries. My name is Tam Man. You could be my assistant. Would you like that? Would you like to assist Tam Man? Well, it was funny when the quarterback in the Snickers commercial said the same thing to the hulking linebacker. Of course, the quarterback thought he was Batman.

I'm taking a moment from inking SHANDA THE PANDA #19 and the "Werelocks" WebMovie to update you on the furry portion of my comics career. SHANDA THE PANDA #18 has just been released, which I've inked and lettered. I'm doing the same for SHANDA THE PANDA #19, written by Mike Curtis; the lead story is pencilled by Michele Light, the back feature pencilled by Carla Speed McNeil. NEW HORIZONS #2 will include the first episode of my "Fawn" series, written by Michael Wolff and pencilled by Dann Phillips, which I inked and lettered. I've inked an 8-page episode of SCOTMAN & ICELAD, written by Scott Malcomson and pencilled and lettered by Kjartan Arnorsson. I drew an illustration for Matt McCullar's "Grasslands' Tale," which should be available at Albany Anthro Con. I'm inking "cels" for the "Werelocks" WebMovie that will be released on the Web in a couple of months. My other assignments and credits are non-furry. If you're interested in knowing about them, you can contact me via email.

I've been invited as Artist Guest of Honor for ZonieCon. It'll be held May 1-3, 1998 at the Francisco Grande Hotel and Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona. With all this going for me, I hope to eventually get more notice and respect than Rodney Dangerfield. That covers it for now. 'Til then.

Steven R. Addlesee AKA Tam Man carcajou@fia.net 7919 Thornton Circle Sandy, UT 84093 (801) 942-9266

Advertising in In-Fur-Nation: As before, ads in In-Fur-Nation come in two sizes: 1/8-page "business card" size for $5.00 per issue, and 1/4-page size (4 1/2" tall by 3 1/4" wide) for $10.00 per issue. Check should be made out to ConFurence. Send camera-ready art and text to P.O. Box 1958, Garden Grove, CA 92642-1958. Write to us for information about full-page ads and inclusions. Getting just a mention in In-Fur-Nation is easy: Send us information, and we'll reprint it in our blurbs section verbatim, with minor corrections for spelling and grammar.

(Thanks again to Previews magazine, and to all the folks on Internet, who contributed some of the information used in this issue!)

.. would name their team 'The Ducks'? (Bugs Bunny, in Space Jam)

ConFurence has stuff available! That's right, The General Store is open for mail-order business! (And, maybe, coming to an SF con near you! ) We have copies of our Convention Souvenir Books (featuring black & white furry artwork, plus articles of furry interest) from ConFurence One ("Coming Out of the Burrow") or Three ("Furries Around the World") available for $3.00 each; and from ConFurence Six ("Magic and Transformation"), Seven ("Furries in Force"), and Eight (Music & Mirth/Scalies) available for $5.00 each. Please include $1.00 for shipping with each book ordered. Also, we still have copies of the following full-color prints from ConFurence: The magical "Discovery" print by Terrie Smith for only $2.00 (11 x 17", tube-shipped); the Five Fur color prints by Michele Light (along with the "TV show's" background) for $5.00 a set; Daphne Lage's two full-color prints from CF6 for $5.00 a set; plus the "Sydney Wants YOU" poster by David Bliss from CF7 and the "Dragon Song" print by Brian Harp from CF8, both available for $3.00 each. And, don't forget the Furry Japan guide, first issue in a planned series of guides to furry-oriented manga -- yours for only $5.00 plus $2.00 shipping. Such deals! Order yours today! T-SHIRTS AND STUFF! ConFurence has our t-shirt designs from CF7 (by Eric Schwartz) and from CF8 (by Michele Light) available in sizes M - XXXL for $15.00 each. Include $3.00 per shirt for domestic North American orders, or $5.00 U.S. for overseas post.

And Now -- The ConFurence Seven Highlights Video!

Yes, it's done! Thanks to the skills of David Bliss and the rest of our highly skilled video crew, we're proud to bring you our newest video, Highlights from ConFurence Seven, 1996 (Furries in Force). See the Opening Ceremonies, christening Check Point Furry! See interviews with our Guests of Honor S. Andrew Swann and Eric Schwartz! See Jymn Magon receive the very first Golden Sydney Award! See Jim Groat eat a Smurf! See highlights from the Costume Presentation, the Pet Auction, Club Tekno-Fur, and the Cabaret Fur le Dance (tasteful, but tasty)! See Gumbies invade ConFurence! And much more! All yours for only $12.00, plus $3.00 shipping and handling ($5.00 U.S. outside of North America). Available in VHS Hi-Fi NTSC -- write to us for information about other available formats. Get yours today!

Department of Corrections Department:

Due to pure over-sight on the part of our editor, several important facts were left out of the April issue of In-Fur-Nation with regards to ConFurence Eight. 1) In discussing the Costume Presentation winners, we neglected to note that there were TWO runners-up: 'Yippy the Coyote', made and worn by Jimmy Chin, and 'Sir Karl', made and worn by Kevin Kelm. (Both received certificates in honor of their status.) 2) Among the guest of the convention, we neglected to mention Architects of Sleep author Steven R. Boyett, who stopped in briefly on Saturday. 3) ConFurence staff member Gary Renaud was somehow left off the list of Super Sponsors, even though he was one. So was Super Sponsor Pete Glaskowsky. Our sincerest apologies to all the folk we neglected to mention - we'll try harder next time!

(Many thanks to the people who helped provide information for this issue, both by mail and via Internet!)

Here We Go With The Other Winning Words!

As described in our last issue, the ConFurence Eight Furry Filk Song contest had so many entries, the folk who listened just couldn't decide on a single winner! So, this issue we proudly present the second of two first-place songs, this one brought to you by none other than multi-time winner Michael Payne. [By the way, this song presents aspects of a story series that Michael has had published in Furversion, and will soon have published again in other science fiction magazines on line!]

Cotillion

Words and music c. 1996 by Michael Payne

I never thought I'd see the day that I'd be standing next to you The music's starting 'cross the way, you turn to me, your fur so gray, Your eyes so blue, you ask me to dance with you. I know that I should be prepared - we've practiced all these steps before - But I had never hoped or dared to dream you'd think of me or care To tread the floor. I stare, and you ask once more. Then I bow, you curtsy, your smile so warm and bright, all the ice in my stomach gets thawed Then my arms 'round your waist, the music swings and sways, out we step, my heart light as air 'Till I stomp on your paw. It's one and two and three and four, this dance was never meant for rats The snickers I try to ignore from other couples on the floor Those mousy brats in their silk scarves and bowler hats. Just 'cause I'm a foundling here, adopted what, ten years ago? I grew up with them, still they jeer - except for you, you're always near When I feel low, showing me what I need to know. Then you squeeze my shoulder and tell me to relax: It's a dance, not a march off to jail Your laugh's contagious, I can't help joining in; and we glide, two leaves on the breeze Till I stomp my own tail. Why do I pretend? I'm a rat, pure and simple, the other mice don't want me here I'm a freak, the butt of jokes for everyone in town. But the music swells, and your paws gently guide me Your whispers all encouragement; your dark eyes, full of smiles Just won't let me frown. The music slows and softens now; I draw you close, or you draw me. I breathe a silent, solemn vow to see this through: I won't allow Their hate to be a wedge between you and me. And if they ever push me out with all their little snaps and sneers No matter what I say or shout, it's not at you, and have no doubt I'll still be near if you need me at all, my dear. Then the music's ending, the band stands up and bows, as the chaperones all start to applaud My eyes meet yours and I stumble after words, till you smile, put a paw to my lips You give a sigh and a nod. I just blink and stare; do you feel what I'm feeling? Has the spark inside my heart Struck a matching spark in yours, or do I just pretend? But you hold my gaze as applause rolls around us, then quick and light you kiss my cheek Saying that, no matter what, you'll always be my friend. Then the dance floor's clearing, folks move to their seats. I bow to you and offer my arm You smile and take it, we step down from the floor, and when we pass him bye I don't even crack Pol All that hard on the head when he calls me an oaf; I just say that some folks I could name Have a lot more to learn about charm 'Cause I danced with you.

...you don't have to be good, but you had better be... [Darla Dimple, cute villain, from Cats Don't Dance]

And here's a look at Coming Attractions...

Other Conventions

And finally, you gotta get right back where you started from...

ConFurence Nine -- Furries in Love

Our main theme for ConFurence Nine: Furry romance, furry couples, love songs, and all that pretty stuff we remember some of our favorite stories and movies for. Plus this year's secondary theme: Furries Down Under! Not just the 'roos, but the wombats, the platypi, and all the rest of the unusual ones from Australia!

The Guests

At last, ConFurence Nine has a literary Guest of Honor! What's more, she's our first Guest from a whole other continent! ConFurence Nine is pleased and proud to welcome Lisanne Norman to our shores. Ms. Norman already has a trio of well-received (not to mention rather large!) science fiction novels from Daw Books, The Sholan Series: Turning Point, Fortune's Wheel, and the recent Fire Margins. The story follows two telepaths, she a human and he from the Sholan (a cat-like alien race) who fall in love, suffer through numerous political intrigues and adventures, and eventually help to sire a new hybrid species. What's more, Lisanne informs us that she has even more furry stories in the works, some coming out very soon!

At the request and advice of some of our Guests themselves, we've expanded the group of FurryMUCK wizards we'll be inviting as Guests of Honor. (Hey, we knew it was a group effort getting that thing started and - even more important - keeping it going!) All of them are important programmers in this (still) new virtual furry role-playing system. Come and hear their story of the how's, the why's, and the what-next.

And who else is joining us at Nine? Folks like Larry Adams, Steve Addlesee, Mitchell Biero, E.T. Bryan, John and Rachel Cawley, Jimmy Chin, Steve Gallacci, Roz Gibson, Jim Groat, James Hardiman, Daphne Lage, Monika Livingstone, Michael-Scot McMurry, Chuck Melville, Lex Nakashima, John Nunnemacher, Joe and Trish Ny, Fred Patten, Dusty Rhodes, Ted Sheppard, Terrie Smith, Taral Wayne, Mel. White, Elin Winkler, Tommy Yune, Ed Zolna, and numerous well-known artists and writers from YARF!, MU Press, Vision, and Radio Comix! And many more! But remember, the face we always most want to see there most is yours! So drop on in and make us happy!

Our New Old Hotel

ConFurence returns once again to the Buena Park Hotel, right in the parking lot of Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California - after some tweaking, painting, and re-tooling on their part. Word from them is that they're even working on a new room-key system! The really great news is that we've made a deal for you: Once again, rooms are only $64.00 a night for single, double, triple, or quad! Suites are also available; call the hotel for more details. For reservations, call (800) 422-4444, or the local number (714) 995-1111 in Orange County. Always Important: Make sure to call during business hours (M-F 9 am - 5 pm, pacific time only), and make sure to mention ConFurence! Reservations tend to fill up months before the con, so think about getting yours in soon!

Other Accommodations

For those fans of less means, there are also a trio of cheaper motels right across the street from our host hotel. They include:

The Colony Inn The Covered Wagon Motel The Crescent Inn

These will be serving as our 'overflow' hotels, and might even have some activities take place in them. We'll tell you more about them next issue!

Other Things About O.C.

Besides the seemingly endless stream of folks making trips to Disneyland before and after a ConFurence, other local fun-places-to-go near our host hotel include Knott's Berry Farm, Medieval Times, Movieland Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, and Wild Bill's Western Show. Please write us and let us know if any of these interest you, and we might be able to see about discount group tickets! At the con itself, just stop by the Hotel's Concierge and feel free to ask what you need to know about local fun spots.


Getting TO The Hotel

The Buena Park Hotel is located at the south end of Knotts Berry Farm, on Crescent Avenue, just west of Beach Boulevard. From either the 405 or 22 Freeways (from the south) or the 5 or 91 Freeways (from the north), proceed to Knotts Berry Farm on Beach Boulevard. Turn west on Crescent -- that's right if heading south or left if heading north. From the north you can also cut right through the Knott's parking lot and shopping area. The hotel is right there on your right. The Colony Inn, Covered Wagon Motel, and Crescent Motel are all across Crescent, on the south side, just east of our main Hotel. What, still confused?? Why, just use the handy-dandy maps included in this issue!

A Word Or Two About Parking...

Parking in the Hotel lot at the Buena Park Hotel is primarily reserved for folks actually staying in rooms at the hotel. If you're coming to ConFurence from a local town and not staying overnight, please consider parking in one of the adjacent Knott's Berry Farm lots -- they're not expensive; in fact one of them is free for up to 4 hours!

Let's Den Up!

If you're coming to ConFurence on a tight budget, why not split the room costs? (And meet some nice people in the bargain!) If you are interested in sharing a room, or if you have a room and could use some extra bodies, please give us a call at the ConFurence phone number. (Or, if you can, e-mail vinson@netcom.com) We'll ask you some pertinent questions, and pass along the information to other interested furries. Also look for the Room Sharing info on the Scent Post bulletin boards at the convention.

A Furry's Gotta Eat!

The Buena Park Hotel comes equipped with its own deluxe coffee shop, a fancy steak house, and a 50's-themed bar! But there are plenty of other places to feed your muzzle or beak in the environs of ConFurence! Immediately to the north of the main hotel are several eateries just outside of Knott's Berry Farm, and Goodie's Coffee Shop is located at Beach and Crescent. Plus, numerous eating places of all sorts are found up and down along Beach Boulevard in the area. Maps and lists (with hours) will be available at ConFurence Information, or else, look to any hotel staff person with that hungry look in your eyes!

 

The Den of Dealers:

As of this June, we sold the very last tables in the Den of Dealers for ConFurence 9. That's more than 80 tables worth of stuff for the discerning furry collector! Want your last chance to get involved? Please write us and let us know if you want to be placed on the Waiting List for the Den of Dealers 1998. Otherwise, just show up, and be prepared to be blown away by the variety of comics, books, music tapes, portfolios, fanzines, prints, puppets, t-shirts, and other just-plain-neat-stuff you'll find at our furry trade show! If a table opens up at the last minute, and you're on the Waiting List -- we'll let you know first!

The Artists' Alley:

The Artists' Alley is always one of the most popular and populated areas of any ConFurence, and ConFurence Eight is going to carry on that tradition for sure! These tables in our hotel's pre-convene area (right above the Main Lobby) are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the con itself, and need to be signed up for each morning. And remember, tables in Artists' Alley are for selling original art, prints, and print portfolios only. Write to Steve Gattuso at the ConFurence address for any information on table space and Den of Dealers issues. (Steve can also be e-mailed via doodles@primenet.com .)

The Art Show:

Once again, we're taking up a huge space for next year's Art Show. But once again, experience tells us that the ConFurence Nine Art Show will fill up -- again! Trust us, if you do art of funny animals, furries, monsters, aliens, toons, or even real animals, you do want to be in this art show! Your first art show space (4 ft. by 4 ft., horizontal or vertical) is still available free with your paid supporting or attending membership -- all you have to do is claim it, in writing. Additional art show spaces are available for a low $5.00 each. We also have an extensive Print Shop available for selling copies of your work. So get your reservations in today! What, you can't make it to ConFurence? No problem! Reserve your space, and mail us your art before the con -- we'll set it up, send you back what may not sell, and get you off a check for your sold items! We have an extensive registration 'instruction sheet' available that explains all the ins and outs of displaying and selling art, sculpture, prints, or whatever at ConFurence, so write to Jazmyn Concolor at the ConFurence address (or e-mail her at Jazmyn@netcom.com ) and we'll send it off to you right away! Don't delay! Trust us...

In 1998, Things Will Happen...

The Video Program

The ConFurence Video Program once again will run for 24 hours, day and night, all through CF9. Once again we're accepting submissions of both ideas and video tapes of furry things to show. With four days and 24 hours, that's a lot of room for ideas! If you have something we should know about in furry video, write to the P.O. Box or e-mail address, and be sure to put Attn: Video on your letter!

Get Ahead in the Game!

ConFurence Nine will feature not one, but two rooms dedicated to Gaming: Card Games ('Magic Spoken Here'), and more traditional Role-Playing Games ('Magic Free Zone'). Interested in setting up a specific game or tournament? Write to us ASAP, at the ConFurence address (put Attn: Games on the envelope or subject line). We'll help you find people interested in playing!



The Cabaret Fur le Dance

Once again, we can promise you another magical evening of furry entertainment at our famous charity stage show. What kind of entertainment will there be this year? More of the same, and hopefully lots of new stuff! We'd love to expand on the variety angle of our famous show, and of course see more acts with furries in mind. Perhaps you have an idea for an act yourself? Dance, singing, music, comedy? Why not try it out on the ConFurence staff -- you just might find yourself on stage! Write to Mark Merlino at the ConFurence address for all the de-tails! Or, you can e-mail him at sylys@netcom.com. (Just remember, once again all performers in the Cabaret must be able to first attend a special pre-planning meeting on Friday night, January 16, at ConFurence!)

Fur Goes Dancing!

Once again, ConFurence is happy to bring you not one, but three high-energy dances for your enjoyment! Whether it's the high-tech buzz of Club Tekno-Fur, the dark gothic charms of Nevermore, or the exotic and sexy sounds of The Purple Nurple Live, you're sure to find something to get your feet, tail, and booty moving! And remember, all three of them are included free with your membership!

The Food

We continue with our great feeding traditions, the Friday night Ice Cream Social, our annual frozen-food munchie-fest; and the Saturday Night Furry Feed, where for a small price, you can indulge in some finely crafted lasagna -- at venue which we like to call Garfield's. And remember, the Buena Park Hotel features a full-service coffee shop, a fancy bar with a 50's theme, and (newly renovated) a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar -- all under one roof! (Don't worry, once again we'll have our Restaurant Guides printed up if you want to check out what else is in the neighborhood!)

All The Stuff Goin' On... At The Local Furry Con!

Con-Fur-ence Number Nine! What's happening? Still more of what we're famous for, of course: Meetings, discussions, rap sessions and round-tables on dozens of furry topics, from art and writing to animation, computers, games, and even meeting other fans of your favorite animal species -- plus some special new gatherings you're bound to enjoy! Presentations, lectures, and how-to sessions on writing, art, costume design and construction, publishing, and other aspects of the creative furry. And yes, more life-drawing workshops. Autographs from your favorite well-known lit and media furries. The Saturday afternoon Costume Presentation returns, with voting for the best costume - and yet more helpful how-to sessions with costume makers and designers. Plenty of room for all this time! Computer networking, art, animation, and technical innovations. Filking through the night, including our popular Furry Filksong Contest on Friday again. Sketching by literally dozens of artists of every size, shape, and style, anyplace they can find unoccupied horizontal space. Plus a whole lot more, including (we hope) the return of the popular Fur-Suit Dance Party! No problem keeping track of it all: Once again ConFurence will have its own daily newsletter, The Scent Post, keeping you on top of all the newest developments, twice daily. All the rest, as always, is what you bring to the con!

A Few Important Policy Notes for ConFurence

-- Weapons

For the length of ConFurence Eight, all real, realistic, or simulated weapons must be peace-bonded with ribbon. This includes any sort of gun, knife (above 4" total), sword, whip, or other such item which could cause damage. ConFurence security will be enforcing this.

-- Some Words on Dress and Behavior

We've said it before, but it's time to ask it again: Hey folks, all sorts of people from all over the world, from many walks of life, come to a ConFurence. And we really want to make a good impression on as many of them as we can. Since not everyone who shows up is going to be into or not into the same things, please try to be discreet with things like leather shock-gear, okay? At very least in the Lobby and main Convention Area, try to think about how you're dressed, and try to make sure that you are dressed! Secondly, be careful about getting over-energetic with horseplay! If a bit of fooling around damages hotel property, it's gone way too far. Okay? Thank you from all of us.

The Price

Registration to ConFurence Nine is on a sliding scale -- All memberships are $25.00 for a full three-days Attending, from now until December 1st, 1997. From December 2nd, 1997 until January 8th, 1998, three-day Attending memberships are available for $30.00, and after that, at-the-door for $30.00 also. Plus, a full year of In-Fur-Nation, and our special annual ConFurence Souvenir Collection Book, are all included in the price of your membership! A single art show display space is also included free with your membership -- if you write us and claim it!

And remember, we'd love to have you join us, but if you cannot make it out to our environs, feel free to join ConFurence as a Supporting member! Supporting members get a full year's subscription to In-Fur-Nation, the Souvenir Collection Book, and one free art show display space for the taking, all for the low price of just $15.00! And, if your fortunes change, you can convert your supporting to a full attending membership at the door for only $15.00 more. Such a deal, me lads and lassies!

We heartily recommend that you get your memberships now. That provides us with the best means to keep you in touch with ConFurence over the whole year -- and if past history holds true, we'll have a lot of exciting stuff to tell you between now and the con itself!

We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends...

.... And Now A Word About Our Sponsors

Our Sponsors

Sponsors are the excellent people who help keep ConFurence going by giving just a little extra bit (or a lot extra bit!) of financial help. This is money for transporting, lodging, and feeding our special guests, as well as off-setting complimentary memberships. To become a sponsor, contribute a minimum of $50.00 (up to $99.00), which includes your initial membership fee. Remember: Indicate which of our special guests this money is to help toward, or just mark it "general fund" -- we'll split it among all of them. And what do you get for being a sponsor? Sponsors are the only folks (besides staff and guests) allowed in the Guest Lounge, a special place set aside where folks can relax away from the hubbub of the con. And dine on some complimentary gourmet snacks, too. Plus, sponsors get some special prices on materials from the ConFurence store. And, sponsors get -- our unending gratitude! (And, recognition by name in the souvenir book!)

Super Sponsors!

Super Sponsors are the awesomely excellent furry folk who really want to help out ConFurence -- and who think they deserve something special in return. Super Sponsors are nuts, er, wonderful people willing to contribute $100.00 or more (which includes their initial memberships) toward a special guest of their choice, or just toward the guests in general. Super Sponsors get all the same neat stuff as other Sponsors, plus an added bonus of a chance to obtain some special art prints made just for Super's. Super Sponsors and Guests have their very own V.I.P. only Lounge -- and wait until you see it! What? Don't have $100.00 sitting around handy? Make installments! That's right, we'll take two payments of $50.00, or four payments of $25.00 -- it still counts you as a Super Sponsor, as long as it totals $100.00 by the time of the con itself. And remember - it's okay to ear-mark your sponsorship for the general fund, but it's really great when people tag it for specific guests - it helps us keep tabs on who furries would like to see at ConFurence!

Once again at ConFurence Nine for Sponsors and Supers: We're setting up a special 'Express Registration' just for our pre-registered sponsors and super-sponsors (New and Improved this time!). You can bi-pass the line-up at Con Reg, get your badges and other con stuff right away, and get out there first to get those sketches in your books started!


The ConFurence Souvenir Book

One of the coolest parts of any ConFurence is the annual Souvenir Book, a collection of black & white furry sketches and interesting articles on each year's convention theme. How do we put this together? YOU folks help out! With your art, your writing, your mini-sketches, and other furry tidbits. Here's a note from the editor of the ConFurence Nine souvenir book, John Cawley:

There is still some space available in the ConFurence 9 souvenir book. We are looking for black and white illustrations, black and white photos (fur-suits, 3D art, etc), and text. Preference will be given to those items that follow one, or both, of the themes - Furries in Love, or Furries Down Under. Send materials [camera-ready black & white copies; not originals] to THE CAWLEYS, PO BOX 5432, BLUE JAY, CA 92317. E-mail can be sent to topfox@ix.netcom.com. Deadline for submissions is October 1st, 1997.

ConFurence Needs YOU...

... to join our staff and help put on one of the fastest growing fannish conventions on the West Coast! Join our team! We need volunteers to help out with all areas of the convention, from registration to art show to helping keep the fans well-fed! No experience necessary -- we will train! For as little as 16 hours of work over the length of CF9 (though we won't stop you from helping more!), you can get access to our exclusive Staff Lounge, as well as use of our available crash space -- plus, some other special goodies, and the knowledge that you've helped us pull this thing off for another year! Write to Volunteers care of the ConFurence address, or send e-mail to Rod O'Riley at mink@firstlight.net and we'll send you our staff sign-up sheet and information right away!

Fly! Be Free!

For those who haven't heard yet, ConFurence has its own official travel agency, Ladera Travel of Southern California. They've specialized for years in getting good rates for travel to and from SF cons all over the world, including ours! Contact Rick Foss at (800) 624-6679 from outside California, or (310) 640-0527 inside California.

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Don't be left with the herd! Keep in touch with the world of Anthropomorphics! Join ConFurence Today! See Ya in the Movies!