Pox on nastiness.  Pax on List.  Good will to posters.  We were very sorry
to hear that someone had harrassed Bill for simply stating an opinion.
Come on, folks; you know better!  There is no good reason to not tolerate
other's writings, or for others to not behave politely toward your's.  We
all have the opportunity to learn through civil disagreement; hell, that's
mostly what science is, and I'm hard pressed to think of any field with
participants more eager to learn.  This sort of foolish thing happens every
few years, but we can tell you, as folks who have been here since the FML
inception, that it is not in the list's tradition, either moderator's taste
(Yes, we have high opinions of Bill and (ex) Chris.), or most of the
members' characters.  When it does rarely happen it is an embarrassing
insult to most of us here.  Hopefully, the offender or offenders simply had
a horrid bout of constipation, or a fever, or some recent shock which
caused a TEMPORARY lack of common sense and manners, but is now feeling
much better.
 
[Moderator's note: In defense of FMLers, I should point out that Mr. Killian
also posts in forums other than the FML.  I think, and I hope, that he was
stating that the hostile comments resulted from his posts in these other
forums.  I make no judgements about his posts other places - I probably
didn't even see most of them - I'm merely hoping we're more "adult" here!
 
As far as the entire Marshall Farms thread goes: it's always a "dangerous"
topic and discussions typically degrade into virtual shouting matches.  I
think we've done pretty well actually, but perhaps it's time to quit while
we're ahead.
 
Certainly much of this discussion boils down to individual beliefs and
ethics.  If this discussion has convinced some people to, say, boycott
MF, well, fine.  And if it hasn't, well, fine.  Reminds me a little of
the vegetarian vs meat-eater debate: if one decides to stop eating meat,
that's not going to put the beef industry out of business, but at least
you do what is right for *yourself*.  And on that note, I hope the MF
debate has educated some of us to do what we feel in our own hearts to
be proper.  The goal here is to distribute information which I hope each
of us can use as we see fit. BIG]
 
Thanks, Rick for pointing out that we don't use physical punishment in our
training of ferrets.  I can think of 3 possible reasons for the confusion:
1.  Someone confused posters, 2.  Someone thought that knuckling, as in
offering treats to rehab abuse victims on knuckles rather than on sensitive
finger-tips, meant shoving a finger down a gullet, or 3.  (probably most
likely) the person has sadly suffered greatly from my poor hiaku, awful
hiaku, and that-aint-hiaku -- having then to place a finger down his or her
own throat to recover.  Apologies and wishes for speedy recovery.
 
Speaking of which, there have for some totally unknown reason been
requests for more, and a re-post request, so...
 
Ogre moved mousies
Ferrets so aggavated
Have to stash again
 
Furry troll plotting
under covers.  Prey comes soon.
Laugh, hidden, rump out.
 
The CA Lament (apologies to the Barrymores and their wonderful song):
 
Don't say the F word!
F word this, F word that!
Ferret! Ferret! Fer...
 
Raisin dash, feet flash
Wiggle weasel can't stop now;
On to secret stash.
 
We are curious if the National HSUS has cleaned up its act at all.  Do NOT
confuse this with local, associated chapters.  Our N.J.  ones DO save
ferrets as do places like Princeton area's Itsy, Bitty Critters.  From
what we recently read the national is more of a loose umbrella than
anything else.
 
Dick, How is the little FML rehab girl?  I think her rescuer was surprised
to find so many of us willing to take and train her, and that all of us
who have done so avoid violent approaches with ferrets.  Heck, folks like
you and Troy-Lynn are high-priests and priestesses of non-violence.  It
works best.
 
Meg, thanks for the sweet descriptions.  We also use slings (or an ass
pack in a pinch).  Meltdown is a ferret nurse, as well.  Have you tried a
sniff sack (paper bag of spices and herbs you change daily to stimulate a
sick one)?It is kind of like us having a tv or radio when ill.
 
The oldest ferrets I've ever heard of were three which made it to 14.
That's such an unusually old age that I doubt the 21 year figure strongly.
(BTW, one was whole, one neutered, and the other I don't know about.  Some
individuals just have the right genes; like my grandpa's three centenarian
cousins who made great, crisp edged, buttery, fridge sugar cookies.)
 
Lars, Sweden is one of the rabies free nations which probably
simplified import.
 
Janice, If they are closer consider the Animal Medical Center in NYC,
or Hanan Caine in Basking Ridge, N.J.  Both are recommended.
 
Sukie, Steve, Meltdown, Ruffle, 'Chopper the organic helicopter, Spot,
Meeteetse, and (of course) Warp
[Posted in FML issue 1308]