I'm a lucky guy, blessed by good friends. This weekend has been a prime example of it!

After work yesterday I hooked up with Dustan, Lupie, Wolven and Anon prior to the Blue Moon Festival's Saturday night event, the music/fashion combo that whilst poorly rigged for sound was filled with exciting people and creative movements. From trippy bohemians to austere and beautiful Victoriana-era goths it was a feast for the eyes, the kind of event that strikes me with my creative naivete.

Was great seeing people like Clay Bear again, and catching Dustan (a contributor to the fashion on show, a good one at that) up there with others from the Newtown crew modelling and making it an even better night. Props to Smacky and crew for their gothy fabulosity, as well as Angel Kitty for being his usual straddling-the-line-between-fiendish-and-elegant self.

Fast forward to today and the culmination of a group bday present (thanks to everyone who contributed) in which Aussie Husky, Temba and myself went to the Capitol Theatre to see Wicked (after being so kind as to shout me to lunch at a lovely Japanese place nearby by the name of Yumei)! A review might come later, but to put it simply the main cast sung beautifully, comedy was balanced with an intelligent plot, the costumes were detailed and rich, the set was constructed well and suited for the tale being told...

And it somehow made me appreciate Bert Newton (who plays the Wizard of Oz). Craziness I know! Now I'm back at home, happy to see Zwabbe back and seemingly content with his reprieve from voyages to sea, and hearing a great bit of trance from Weasely.

I'm surrounded by creative and generous people, without whom I'd be a very unhappy person, so in this glow of warm and girly glee I'd like to say thanks to you all!

 

A Wild Ram has appeared!

Do you: FIGHT, USE ITEM, RUN or READ JOURNAL?

You have chosen... FIGHT! You hit him with a stick! He likes it! Attack was ineffective!

You have chosen... USE ITEM! You used STRANGE CHEMICAL on him. He's dancing and rubbing furniture! Attack was ineffective!

You have chosen... RUN! You ran right towards him! What a tard!

You must now READ JOURNAL!

So, liontemba celebrated his birthday this weekend, he's now in the twenty zone! Aside from losing teenage privileges like crashing into fruit stands and slitting his wrists, he's really not missing or gaining much from it, but he's one year closer to getting drunk in the USA! Legally anyway!

His lovely sister and her partner treated him and a few of us lucky enough to know him to a limo ride and excessive nomz and booze, much fun was had and I can safely say it was the first time I've ever really enjoyed Mexican food. Thanks again to them for springing for it all, and to Temba for aging! Oh and that whole being a good friend thing, yeah. He's had a tough time of it lately, so give him stuff!

Otherwise I caught up with atpaw and we darkened Menya's door once more, we learnt the valuable lesson of only ordering what you can eat, after eating takoyaki and garlic ramen I was pretty sure I might die from a painful albeit delicious stomach explosion. We must find the first Australian fur capable of eating their infamous Godzilla bowl (2kg+ of ramen, 29.90 unless you finish it in 30 minutes or less!).

Also got the Nintendo DS game Professor Layton and the Curious Village, a call back to the good ole' point and click adventure genre with a heavy dose of those brain-testing games that are all the rage, supplemented with nicely drawn storybook settings, accomplished voice acting and video, as well as enough unlockables and challenges to satisy an OCD sufferer.

You have READ JOURNAL. You have gained a level! Peace out!

POST ACTIVATED. Ready, set, go!

Right then, first up, this week was punctuated with stressing over education. It's looking like either another stint in TAFE (awaiting news on course viability and funding from the woman in charge) or waiting til June to do a bridging course for the Bachelors of Journalism at Wollongong Uni. Fingers crossed either way!

Next, dinner with aussiehusky and liontemba at the Jar Restaurant on Wednesday, a queer and quirky French restaurant located on Stanley Lane, near Crown Street and not far off Oxford Street. This knowledge of location didn't serve us at the time, the three of us co-conspirators in getting lost for a short while before hunting the place down. I had baked brie, walnut and apple salad, followed by parmesan/tomato spaghetti, followed by a lovely chocolate brick. Yeah, a brick, a cool, thick solid mass of chocolate. All were good and suitably frogtastic. Highlights were (obviously) time with friends, food I don't usually have and fair prices. Lowlights were poor Aus suffering from stomach woe and random crap floating in the water we got.

Last night was a barbecue/pool/booze event at Aussie's place, lots of meat and salads were served, amusing TV was shown and except for Temba blinding himself with pool grit, everyone seemed to be happy. Props to dustandfox and his wolf for showing up, despite their aversion to anything north of the harbour bridge! Cheers to Temba for being the driver despite not having eyes, and Aussie for hosting a nice night as usual.

Otherwise, I await a new ATM card, study info and a million dollars. Here's hoping! Take care and good wishes to all! 

This has been the week of food! Last night was Japanese in the city at Daruma with Aussiehusky, Temba, Taubu, Wolven, Moddy and Insinc. I quite enjoyed my chicken katsu ramen (the batter was sinful) as was my takoyaki (creamy octopus tentacle balls for those of you who haven't had the pleasure), and gorging on gelato afterwards was the cherry on a good evening.

Highlights following that  included the unfortunate demise of a rat and the disturbing revelation that Vietnamese families are incapable of seperating, needing to leave their car blocking the parking lot exit so they can all cluster around the payment machine. What odd physiology...

The night prior to that saw Dustan, Lupie, Temba and myself go to a favourite old haunt of us Balmainiacs, the Bald Rock Hotel. The steak was late, undercooked and not what I asked for, but the company and the memories more than made up for it. More of that nostalgia I referred to a while back seems to be bubbling up, demanding outlets such as that.

Currently, I've no plans for the next few days, which means that something crazy will happen. Always does. And I get a later start every second Saturday now which gives me more sleep on Friday nights, always useful.

Oh yes, before I forget, I got my paws on Spore, a game for the PC by Maxis/Electronic Arts. Anyone who hasn't heard of this will be glad/horrified to hear it is essentially the Sims on a global scale. One creates and guides a single-celled creature through evolutionary and society phases until (hopefully) the space age. Ranging from a simple point-and-click adventure to a simplified RTS, it's cute and intriguing seeing how many creatures one can create and how they interact with each other/their environment.

Simplifcation is Spore's weak point, in that the gameplay can feel so forgiving that it's easy to shoot through, either missing the nuances or creating a sense of repetition as one quickly upgrades body parts instead of enjoying the aesthetics and mechanics of what they currently have. In a game about customisation, I wish there were more detailed skin texture/colour options, as well as more freedom to alter creatures' meshes.

Still there's more in it to recommend than there is to dissuade people from, so if you're already interested, go get it by all means, it's about $10 off at JB Hi Fi right now if you're like me and want to justify an impulse buy by not paying full retail.

I think that's all there is to say for now, wishing you all well, take care and be sure to--

WE NOW INTERRUPT YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SIGNOFF WITH...

IEMMA RESIGNED AFTER FIRING COSTA! FUCK YEAH!

Ahem...

Yeah, anyway, take care and see you all later!

Yo, wassup furs and murrs? Jay here, bringin' you the 411 on what the haps have been over the past few days.

Thursday night saw me fight the late night shoppers to hang out with aussiehusky and a fur from Florida, Kevlar, for dinner at a preferred restaurant of mine, by the name of Daruma in Chinatown.  It was a nice night, the food was good and the gelato afterwards broke the laws of how much generic but good chocolate one can cram into such a dessert. Meeting kevlar23 was good too, he was amusing to talk to, and its nice to meet furs who are capable of operating in normal social situations.

On Friday night I hung out with dustandfox , Lupie, and a certain rubberised fox. Along with him were some intriguing friends, including a lovely lion from North Carolina by the name of Eldric. A night of bad/toilet humour, DVDs and silliness ensued, and it was only when my "pre-Saturday work alarm" went off that I realised I'd be going into work 'under the influence' and with no sleep. It went surprisingly well, as the only person who could spot I was out of it was more out of it than I was.

And on this fine Sunday morning, upon filling a bowl with Nutrigrain and realising I had no milk left (Woolworths doesn't open til 9 on Sundays) I used a chocolate Up and Go in place of milk. The result? I think I need to go to a confessional, anything that good HAS to be a sin.

So yeah, that's what the past few days have comprised, odd and good little discoveries. I hope you're all well, take care, and look out for bees (spring is coming, it's not just a non-seqitur!)

Hey there, I had an idea in which one lists the five links they need to 'live' online.

1. Penny Arcade - Two guys, a website and a deviant sense of humour that spans from video games to absurd Victoriana tales of demons and casts.
2. Snopes - Wanna know if that story that your dad heard from a friend of a friend is true? The team at Snopes have probably researched (and debunked) it.
3. Overclocked Remixes - Geekery, nostalgia and musical experimentation collide as aspiring musical arrangers and composers tackle songs from video games.
4. Giant in the Playground Games - Another webcomic artist whose work both pays tribute to and makes fun of Dungeons and Dragons. Only geeks need apply.
5. Yiffstar - Because I'm a fur. And a pervert.

In other news, I was glad to see Tzup, a fellow from Melbourne/Iowa (depends when you're talking to him) is visting Sydney. Hung out with him, Wolven, Dustan, Lupie and Harley last night for vast quantities of fat and booze. I apologise for nothing!

I hope all is well with everyone, see you on the flipside.

Hey there friends and foes alike, it's your favourite urvulpine here with a quick note about what he's been upto as of late.

This weekend, aside from a lovely shift at work on Saturday and a quick inspection of the new place (big and friendly, though possessed of that suburban eccentricity you find in the European influenced suburbs), was comprised of my going down to Wollongong to catch up with friends. Namely, Atpaw and Weasely!

With the formidable 'Gongians I set out to Hog's Breath cafe, home to the species Boganis Generica, for the first time. It was an experience, welfare mothers howling at misbehaved children, loud and overdressed women who couldn't decide if they wanted to be sow's ears or silk purses and no shortage of men who I imagined leaving the establishment in one-ton utes.

My normal urge to review places of mass consumption was squashed by the realisation it was a chain and that I had somehow missed this piece of commonly held knowledge. The service was fine, the venue was loud (which may have lead to Atpaw's order being incorrectly heard, as they gave him a standard cut of meat when he asked for the large one, though they did compensate him for the difference in price) and the food was simple but alright. Far be it from me to argue with giant steaks.

Later that night I watched a delightful B-grade movie with Atpaw by the name of Death Race 2000, a fantastic bit of dystopian vehicular campness. Starring David Carradine it imagines a future in which the US principles of free enterprise and self reliance have evolved into a country wide car race in which contestants compete to hit as many pedestrians as possible while racing from the east coast to the west. It may be where the "100 points if you hit an old lady" joke came from! DR2000 casts a gleeful but disparaging eye over the soullessness of modern entertainment, the free market's generation of a "survival of the fittest" society and of course has both David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone which equals instant cool.

Otherwise my weekend was mostly geekery, pizza and expensive/high quality alcohol, much fun was had and many calories were consumed. Now, I think I've got the flu and the week ahead will be busy.

Anyway, take care, see you on the other side of the veil, and peace out!

We come to you live this morning from Balmain, where something shocking and IMPOSSIBLE has occurred!

wolven84, dustandfox and his wolf held the first official housewarming party for their new domicile, and against all odds it was respectable! Jay Fear reports live from the scene!

"Thanks Jay, I'm here at the aftermath of the party, which has been described as a " furry cheese and wine do' by those who attended. There don't seem to be any broken windows, no orgies have been reported and no police activity was noted, though there are reports that numerous livers plan to lay assault charges on their owners.

There we also excessive calories consumed on the premises, with a variety of cheese and 'nibbles' available, most notable among them the tarts made by aussiehusky, and a reportedly delicious selection of finger foods brought by a notable member of the weasel community, known in some circles as Weasely or Woozl, or more simply as the Dookmeister.

Notable socialites there included the fine feline atpaw, taubu_lion, liontemba, master_flea, techie_fox and Yummei, Coe, Alex, Auri Zwabbe, Enigma, Janus, Ray, BCWolf and his partner Spence, who were a smash hit with their canines as well as BC's fursuit. In fact, several fursuits were present there, so expect to see scathing videos and shocking exposes on less refined news networks than our own.

There are reports of 'Wii' playing having taken place, as of yet unconfirmed, though it is believed that atpaw repeatedly 'threw it down old school' in Mario Kart Wii. Games involving multi-sided die and cards also supposedly took place, but those believed to have participated have refused to comment for fear of recrimination.

Your reporter attended the event undercover and despite having to consume a large amount of fine wine in order to maintain his cover he is not suffering any ill effects. The team and I at FurNews Australia would like to thank the party's hosts and all attending for making it an event to remember. Back to you Jay!"

Thanks Jay, and that's all from us at FnA today, we hope to see you again next time!

We interrupt my sporadic rambling with an idea suggested by a friend dustandfox, who after noting my propensity for hunting down cheap and interesting restaurants said that I should write about them.

So without further ado...

MENYA!

Ramen. A dish hailing from Japan comprised of soup with noodles and chunks of biological material floating in it. Hardly a flattering description, but the most informative. Ramen is the raison d'etre for the staff of Menya, a Japanese restaurant in Chinatown that has mastered the art of making the best noodles with the tastiest biological matter to accompany them.

Menya is found much like an oasis to a lost desert traveller - the desert in this case is the vast expanse of Chinese fare that surrounds it in its Thomas Street location - by complete surprise and a degree of relief. Upon walking in the traditional Japanese call of 'irrashaimase!' issues from the staff, a good sign of the venue's cultural authenticity, and in true ramen vendor fashion orders and payment are made in advance at the front counter. Staff are pleasant and capable enough with English to mean anyone who can't wrap their tongue around Japanese won't feel alienated, so even complicated orders are relatively painless.

At this point, a distinctive point about Menya must be mentioned, specifically its communal seating arrangement. With two long central tables and benches running alongside, it is the not place for a quite canoodle in the corner. Even if you manage to sneak in on a quieter night, the slightly cramped quarters, open kitchen and rather post-modern wire-surfaced wall don't make for the most romantic of spaces.

Once you've squeezed in though, you'll find that almost any dish you can order will be in front of you before ten minutes have passed, and while you may have to leave your seat to fetch water (getting your meal is the extent of the table service), Menya comes off as casual, quick and friendly. Oh yes... and CHEAP! A point that must be noted is that despite the generally high level of quality and service available, there are no dishes that cost more then $20 there, with the majority being less then $15.

As for the fare available, I've already stated that the staple of Menya is their ramen. They have 16 basic varieties on offer, ranging from the non-threatening (Teriyaki Chicken Ramen) to the daring (Hot and Spicy Kimchee Ramen), all of which feature delicious noodles made on-site and some rather interesting soup stocks (the best of which is their standard tonkotsu stock). The appeal of ramen, especially Menya's, is that its a mix of quality ingredients in all the food groups (pickled bamboo and various leafy vegetables make appearances in most dishes) with the noodles serving as the filler, so one can finish the meal without feeling like they need more, but also not feeling like they need a jog to burn it off afterwards. My recommendation in this field is the Karaage Ramen, which uses slightly spiced deep fried chicken to great effect.

Dishes that use soba (buckwheat) and udon (fat and chewy) noodles, such as Tempura Soba with deep fried prawns and vegetables, are also available though in less abudance then their egg-noodle cousins. For those trying to keep the carbs out of their diet, there are some curry and teriyaki dishes, as well as some simple entrees (try the takoyaki, hot and creamy octopus, served in fried balls with a tasty cream sauce). Vegans and vegetarians will find that there is little on offer, though there is the corn and butter ramen and various salads to tide them over if they dig their heels in.

As for drinks the debauchery will have to wait as Menya has no on-site alcohol or BYO, so its all the usual soft drinks and juices as well as some Asian import juices and mineral waters. All dishes except for ramen and box set meals are available in take-away form.

SUMMARY - Menya is a cheap and easy ramen-focused restaurant, better for quick meals with friends then prolonged fine dining. If such a tacky thing as a score must be given then I'd give them a 7, with points lost for cramped space, lack of variety and poor alternative dining options.

RECOMMENDED DISHES - Karaage Ramen ($8.90) or the Eel Lovers' Set (a whole eel with salad rice and ramen for $18.50).

Menya is located at Shop TG8 - 8 Quay St in Haymarket, with its entrance lying on Thomas Street just around the corner. Give them a call on 9212 1020 or visit http://www.yakiniku.com.au/menya.html for their menu. They're open everyday for lunch and dinner except for Tuesday.