@SiberHamster and @NaqRyba weighing in on the current situation... #MWFF #gascon 2014: image via MW Deep-Dish DogFest @skyandog, 7 December 2014
Frederic Cesbron, right and Maxim Durand, walk on the street outside the Hyatt Regency O'Hare hotel on Sunday in Rosemont, Illinois: photo by Nam Y. Huh / AP, 7 December 2014
Furries convention interrupted by chlorine gas that sickens 19 people:
Annual ‘Anthrocon’, where many attendees dress in costume to
celebrate anthropomorphic animals, is evacuated as police suspect foul
play: Associated Press, Rosemont Illinois, 7 December 2014
Chlorine gas sickened several people and forced the evacuation of
thousands of guests from a suburban Chicago hotel early Sunday,
including many dressed in cartoonish animal costumes for an annual
furries convention who were ushered across the street to a convention
center that was hosting a dog show.
Nineteen people who became nauseous or dizzy were treated at local hospitals, and at least 18 were released shortly thereafter.
The source of the gas was apparently chlorine powder left in a
ninth-floor stairwell at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, according to the
Rosemont public safety department. Investigators believe the gas was
created intentionally and are treating it as a criminal matter.
The hotel is hosting the 2014 Midwest FurFest convention, also called
“Anthrocon”, where attendees celebrate animals that are anthropomorphic
–- meaning they’ve been given human characteristics -– through art,
literature and performance. Many of the attendees, who refer to
themselves as “furries”, wore cartoonish animal outfits.
They said they come for fun, but also for the spiritual and artistic
aspects of the convention, during which they celebrate animal characters
from movies, TV shows, comic books, video games and characters they
create themselves. Anthrocon conventions typically draw thousands of
participants from around the world, many dressed in costumes that they
say can cost as much as $3,000.
Guests were allowed to return a few hours later after the hotel had
been decontaminated, and by mid-morning the furries were pouring back
into the hotel for more activities, chatting with each other and making
their way to an outdoor courtyard where they took part in a group
exercise session, with foxes, dragons and other characters getting an
aerobic workout.
“We ask you to continue to be patient, and remember that the
volunteers who make Midwest FurFest happen intend to give 110 percent to
make sure that the fun, friendship, and good times ... overshadow last
night’s unfortunate incident,” organizers said in a statement posted on
the group’s website. Organizers declined to discuss the matter in
person.
Pieter
Van Hiel, a 40-year-old technical writer from Hamilton, Canada, said
the conventions are about having fun with people who enjoy the same
hobby.
“This is an intense weekend of socialization. It’s kind of weird, but
it’s not weird here,” said Van Hiel, who said he writes role-playing
games for animals. He laughed as he described being herded out of the
hotel and across the street to the Donald E Stephens Convention Center:
“There was a dog-grooming trade show going on and in walk all these
people dressed like dogs and foxes.”
The conventions includes displays and vendors, an artists’ show,
cartoon and character-related presentations, dances and live
performances, and draw artists, puppeteers, costume makers, writers and
just plain fans.
“Everyone is from a different background,” said Michael Lynch, a
25-year-old computer technician from Madison, Wisconsin. “Nobody judges
anybody. It’s nice to come to a place like that.”
Dressed head-to-toe in a fox outfit, 35-year-old forklift operator
Frederic Cesbron, of France, wanted to make one thing clear: “Nobody
uses real fur.”
All the cuties #MWFF2014: image via PCD Puppy :( @Subastian_Puppy, 7 December 2014
#GasCon 2014 was an inside job: image via Gundorito @gundir7, 7 December 2014
3AM and #gascon2014 is still hopping. We're going until dawn because the police won't let us go to bed: image via Ebdain Ahriman @Ebdain, 7 December 2014
#MWF chemical leak made National news: image via santa's lil Helper @Flash_Adalwolf, 7 December 2014
Blocks and blocks of emergency vehicles. Thank you EMS/etc guys too for being this at the ready at 3am. #MWFF2014: image via MidwestMommaburrFest @Kingdomcub, 7 December 2014
The Old Crow Distilling Company advertisement for The Old Crow Whiskey: Time, 11 March 1966 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Petri Wine Company advertisement for Petri Wine: Life, 27 December 1948 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Calvert Distilling Company advertisement for Calvert Whiskey: Life, 22 June 1942 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Schenley advertisement for Schenley Reserve Whiskey: Life, 27 October 1947 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Pink foxes were rocking it at the dance last night @MekoFox #MWFF2014: image via MFF Pink Fox @pjfoxes, 7 December 2014
Day 3: Selfies with @Artie ~ #MWFF2014 #BeforeChaos: image via NikonFoxFest #MFF @SinghaTheLion, 7 December 2014
Me and @NekoHaiku #MWFF2014: image via Trance Husky @trancehusky, 7 December 2014
I can't handle all this cute! @midwestfurfest #MWFF2014: image via Fabi @MrSchnozzle, 7 December 2014
#MFF2014 #MWFF2014 I had to get his pic! From close to 30 furs Nuzzled up to one suiter to keep warm! To this! <3 i="">: image via MFF!!MartinFatFest @EikoTehMouse, 7 December 2014
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company advertisement for A & P Coffee: Woman's Day, 1 JAuguust 1940 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company advertisement for A & P Coffee: Woman's Day, 1 July 1940 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Wesson Oil advertisement for Wesson Oil: Better Homes and Gardens, 1 May 1936 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Cluett, Peabody and Company advertisement for Arrow Shirts: Life, 24 May 1943 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
#MWFF2014 is now #Anthrocon according to the Associated Press: image via Bliznado @blizzard_wuffy, 7 December 2014 Rosemont, Illinois
#MWFF2014 is now #Anthrocon according to the Associated Press: image via Bliznado @blizzard_wuffy, 7 December 2014 Rosemont, Illinois
A voice on the phone says: "It's #FursuitFriday!": image via Anthrocon, Inc. @anthrocon, 5 December 2014
Smile! It's #FursuitFriday!: image via Anthrocon, Inc. @anthrocon, 14 November 2014
I swear, i didnt do this.. >.>: image via Shyanne @ShyanneSky, 5 December 2014
A little @FlacierFox head creeping on everyone! #MWFF2014: image via Midwest :3fest @KevShepherd, 7 December 2014 Schiller Park, Illinois
Gots my paws!! I might not be at #MWFF2014 but have a suit picture anyway! #fursuit: image via Matt @MattPanther, 7 December 2014
These two were beyond awesome x3 @midwestfurfest #MWFF2014: image via Fabi @MrSchnozzle, 7 December 2014
Hmm.... How DOES it feel?: image via Fruit Cake Fox @Willow_Fox, 5 December 2014
Hmm.... How DOES it feel?: image via Fruit Cake Fox @Willow_Fox, 5 December 2014
...and someone getting shrink wrapped. Typical con stuff. #MWFF2014: image via MW Deep-Dish DogFest @skyandog, 7 December 2014
Ethyl Corporation advertisement for Ethyl Anti-Knock Gasoline: Eric Gurney, Saturday Evening Post, 4 June 1955 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Ethyl Corporation advertisement for Ethyl Gasoline: Eric Gurney, Saturday Evening Post, 14 February 1954 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Ethyl Corporation advertisement for Ethyl Anti-Knock Gasoline: Eric Gurney, Saturday Evening Post, 4 June 1955 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
Ethyl Corporation advertisement for Ethyl Gasoline: Eric Gurney, Saturday Evening Post, 14 February 1954 (Gallery of Graphic Design)
I don't know about you, but I'd say it's back to business as usual #MWFF2014: image via Midwest CrocFest @Crocosaur, 7 December 2014
MFF 2014 -- The Entire Bloody Parade
ReplyDeleteFowl play? What a gas!
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is a post-con depression kit?Sugar?
"It’s kind of weird, but it’s not weird here". It is definitely weird here, now.
And the terrible thing is, when you stop and think about it a bit, one of these very same adorable furries may well have brought that chlorine powder into the joint, possibly hidden in a big furry tail, and... but why??
ReplyDeleteKin dread?
Dunno, the great American Midwest is another planet, but still. Hard to disagree with Manik's conclusion.
("Research" for this post, by the way, brought the investigator up against some surprising -- but not really all that surprising when you think about it a bit -- er, implications, as to what the furries do at the con when the lights go out..)