Please forgive me for this, but I couldn't resist....
 
    In reference to PETA's position against the use of ferrets in
automibile crash tests, of course I agree.  Consequently, my wife and
I have put together several "ferret crash-test dummies" for use by
the automotive industry...also, our little girl Wuzzy has a perfect
driving record, and we feel that she is at little risk of ever being
involved in an auto accident.  No, she's involved in refrigerator
accidents, couch accidents, wall accidents, wife's make-up bag
accidents, coffee mug accidents, etc. etc. (gee, we must be the
only ones...).
 
        On a (slightly) more serious note.  I work in the computer
consulting biz (read: dweeb), and I have stockpiled all of the
ferret forums.  Anyone who has subscribed to this mailing list
is aware of what a tremendous resource it really is, with hats off
to Chris Lewis, our two veterinary Godsends, Dr. Willams and Dr. Brown,
and everyone who has ever contributed anything.  While I have plenty
of tools at my disposal for searching these forums, I realize that
many do not.  My intention is to take all of the existing forums
and put the information into some type of database format with
search capability (probably with keywords), expandability, and
the like.  My target is the so-called IBM PC clone MS-DOS-based
computer, since that is the most widespread machine (with  apologies
to the Mac owners).  While I realize that not everyone has a PC
immediately available, there sure are a lot of them around ("say,
my friend would let me use his/hers!").
        At any rate, I would like to hear from anyone who has
an interest in having/using such a search tool, as well as any and
all comments, suggestions, lists of keywords, capabilities, and anything
else that anyone wants to add.  There are only two things that
people need to be aware of:
 
        1.  This is going to take a while.  I'll let you know
                about progress.
 
        2.  I'll only be charging $100.00 apiece for these.  I'm
                sorry, what I meant to say was, it will be yours
                for the asking (if this is OK with Chris?), and
                if the request numbers are reasonable, I may not
                ask for diskette/postage money (I have a few
                hundred diskettes lying around, and I have an
                old Pitney-Bowes postal meter which I rigged to...
                no I'm just kidding, all you ferret-loving postal
                inspectors).  Consider it a (potential) contribution
                to the ferret "war-effort" (and boy, can they
                collect rubber!).
 
        Sorry for running on.  All feedback greatly appreciated.
 
                        Stu, Carla and Wuzzy ("Where's my Barcalounger?")
 
[Posted in FML issue 0791]