I just sent the following to the BBC, with my views about Clarkson's comments about those who went on strike recently concerning public sector pensions. I thought I'd share it with you too.

Hello,

I would like to complain about the complaints received by the BBC concerning comments Jeremy Clarkson made on the One Show. I read that over 21,000 people complained concerning his comments about those striking should be shot. I would like to support Clarkson - not with what he said, but because he is well known for stating something a lot of the population is thinking, but in a more extreme manner. It is evident that he does not mean to suggest people should actually find those striking and round them up, and shoot them. Apart from being illegal, it is something that nobody would want. Therefore, his comments are blatantly meant in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

I would like to recommend the BBC take no further action against Clarkson, and to politely ignore the complaints from other members of the public who were offended by Clarkson. By taking offence at an obviously tongue-in-cheek comment like Clarkson's, perhaps they should be the ones rounded up and shot.

For the record, the previous sentence is tongue-in-cheek.

Today... *eyes clock* YESTERDAY... was awesome :D The first two days of ConFuzzled were absolutely manic and were spent working from waking up to going back to sleep (and then not til 4am). But today it was more relaxing, with me not being needed til about 4pm. So I managed to do something that I've wanted to do for the last seven years - fursuit! And it was excellent!

Deezlberries has a meerkat suit called Sly whom I had modelled a few weeks prior to CF whilst he was still working on it. I got given the opportunity to try suiting for real early this afternoon and oh my god does it give you a buzz!

So yes, on my first outing in fursuit, I got to: scare lots of friends (who had no idea who it was), impress some more veteran suiters, get photos taken with some children (yes, first time fursuiting and I end up nearly panicking on what to do to children and worrying I'd end up being sued or something for doing something wrong!), find out just how hot it gets, find out just how easy it is to get over that heat barrier and just continue... I took a break but not because I was too hot (well, I was, but was coping fine) - more a quick recharge in energy. Thank you so much Deezl for giving me that opportunity!

My wallet doesn't like me though. Not only will I now HAVE to get a fursuit myself, but I also snagged a Tani piece for Washu's birthday. All worth it though!

Speaking of which, I can't believe that a tablecloth, drawn on by Tani, sold for £2000! Yes, two thousand pounds, that is not a typo! Everyone cheered like mad when it hit £1k and stood on chairs. And then it went even higher until it hit £2k! Really mad. And then Twitter exploded!

I missed out on one piece I really wanted. But Tani heard about it and called me back to the room where the auction took place. She had an A4 print for me ^_^ Really wonderful! Thanks so much! ^_^

And now I think it's time to log out. Get a few hours of sleep, then start the madness that is stage teardown. At least I don't have to checkout until Tuesday :D

Hi!

Disappointed that there are no ConFuzzled 2010 residential tickets available? Or perhaps bored and not sure what to do on the 7th to the 10th of May? Need another dose of Furry?

Well, we have good news! ConFuzzled is still selling Attending Only tickets for this year's convention in Manchester!

ConFuzzled enters its third year, embracing the theme of Science! The long weekend will be packed to the brim with events, and opportunities to socialise. The new hotel venue offers several bars, and the large event rooms can accommodate many furries without you being stacked up on top of each other. This year's ConFuzzled will be an absolute blast! Best to keep Brok the Badger away from the Bunsen Burners!

Wish to attend but unsure how to? Just head on over to https://reg.confuzzled.org.uk/ to register for this amazing convention! Or want to just find out a bit more first? Then head to http://www.confuzzled.org.uk/ and have a browse.

So you're excited, and donning your labcoats already! But wait! How much does it cost? Just £60 gets you the Attending Only ticket - valid across all of the convention days. Attending Only registration allows you access to all of our events (except the sponsor only event) and access to the hotel's many facilities. In fact, everything a standard attendee ticket holder will have access to! It does not include a hotel room however - but there's nothing stopping you contacting the hotel directly and enquiring if there are rooms available separately! And nothing stopping you finding other places to stay nearby!

The hotel's site is here: http://www.britanniahotels.com/hotels/manchester-country-house

The only catch? Make sure you register in the next few days to get one of the tickets!

What are you waiting for? The convention is only two weeks away, and it's going to be amazing!

Cheers,

The ConFuzzled Staff

Thought I'd share it with you by translating a popular Dutch song played at Christmas! It's called "Flappie" and is sung by Youp van 't Hek, a Dutch comedian. Apologies if some sentences don't quite read correctly, but I've translated things from the Dutch lyrics and even in there sometimes they aren't quite right.




It was Christmas morning 1961
I remember it so well, my rabbit hutch was empty.
And mother said that I was not allowed to go into the shed
And if I played nicely, that I would get something tasty.
She also did not know where Flappie could be
She said she'd ask dad, but because he was busy
In that bicycle shed I would have to search well for an hour for Flappie.
He'd probably be walking around on the grass.

Chorus:
But I thought I had closed the hutch properly
Like I do every evening
I even went back last night
I don't know why I did that
I had stood in front of the hutch for a very long time as if I knew what I knew now

It was Christmas morning 1961
We searched for Flappie, dad searched with us too
Near the trees and the water, but not in that bicycle shed
"Because he couldn't be there could he?" and I shook no.
We searched together, together until coffee.
The family had coffee, but I didn't want it.
I thought of Flappie, that it could freeze so cold at night.
My head still down, thick tears of sorrow.

Chorus

It was Christmas Day 1961
Copious amounts of food was eaten, but that didn't do it for me.
I thought about Flappie, my own little Flappie
Where would he be walking? No bite went down my throat.
Til after the soup the main course would arrive
My dad said jovially: Look Youp, there's Flappie!
I still see the silver platter and there he was in three pieces
For the first time I saw my dad as a terrible man.

And I screamed and stomped off to bed.
First I cried for an hour on the duvet
And once stood at the top of the stairs hurling abuse
And shouted, "Flappie was mine!"
I stood at the window for a very long time
But the hutch looked lonely.

It was Boxing Day 1961
Mother remembers so well, father's bed was empty.
And I said that she was not allowed to go into the shed
And if she played nicely, that she would get something tasty.

I won't be participating in the wallpaper meme currently. My personal laptop is the only one I can capture atm, and it's the default Fedora 11 KDE background, so not exciting at all. My work one is more exciting and I'll post that as soon as I can. But my desktop wallpaper is the one I want to post for your enjoyment... And I won't be able to do that til this weekend at the very earliest, and likely not til next weekend... sorry!

Right, they're now accepting my dad as guarantor without doing the references. At long last, we've got the place! Now my dad just needs to sign the contract, send it to the office, and Washu and I sign it on Saturday. Then the keys will be handed over and then we've got it ^_^

At long bloody last! :D

Looks like we won't get the house after all. My dad, the guarantor on the property, objects to some of the things they need him to fill in on the form. If the referencing agency can't explain it to him and they come to an agreement, he won't sign and we won't get the house. I'll have lost £400 for the whole process, and we have to start from square one. We can't then use this letting agency because we know their referencing agency will say no unless we have a guarantor, and the only person we know could be the guarantor is my dad and he won't fill in that form. Chances are all other letting agencies will also have similar demands - Washu and I will not get the place outright because I'm still in my initial probationary period, and my dad won't fill in forms that ask too many details.

So yay, it's looking REALLY crap at the moment :( It's been a rollercoaster ride as it is - I just want the house and have it done with!

I know, everyone's doing them, so I thought I'd also join in.

I've been to:

EuroFurence 12, 13, 14, 15
ConFuzzled 2008, 2009

I will be attending:

EuroFurence 16
ConFuzzled 2010

I'd like to attend:
Mephit Mini Con
-or-
New Year's Party at the Ringberg

Bold = staff or volunteer

Washu and I have been looking to move in together for some time. We have been going out for nearly three years now, after all! Today, we put a deposit down on a nice little house, so we've set the wheels in motion now and just need to wait for the references to come back and us to cough up even more money.

Yaaay :D

Dear Customer,

Booking reference: ******

It’s less than a day before you start flying.

We are looking forward to welcoming you onboard flight BA6036 from Heathrow (London) Terminal 3 on 10 August 2009 at 07:30.

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		Online Check-in Get the best choice of seats, and speed through the airport by checking in online from 24 hours before departure.

AARRRGHHH!!! Why give me the option to check in online, to then say "Sorry, online check-in is not possible". Why? X.x
If it's because it's Heathrow T3, then don't give me the option. If it's a temporary error, then say so so I know to try later. If it's permanent, then don't offer me the option!

*grumble* bloody BA ¬_¬ Doesn't anyone know how to create decent IT systems these days...

EDIT: So I thought I'd try and check in using FinnAir, who are codesharing. Oh look, absolutely no problem. I am now fully checked in. Why couldn't BA do it yet FinnAir can? O.o