(Edward Lipinski's Challenge Here!)

As we know the ferret's animalism is well known for its insatiable
curiosity. Its name is used in many situations and two come to mind.
One is the name given to a person who conducts a surprise inspection of
" private" places, for example, in a prisoner of war camp such as the
German POW camp called StalagLuft #3. You may recall the memorable
movie starring Steve McQueen , in which he escaped from the POW camp.
More about that following.

The second time use of the word ferret comes to mind is in the name of
a British vehicle that is the type of vehicle whose job it is to stick
its nose into the business of others, just like our nosy friendly
ferret. Who ever heard of a vehicle whose action is primarily nosy?
Well, this particular vehicle is called the ferret and justly so,
because it is an armored scout car that reconnoiters an enemy's
infrastructure in order to ferret out information not otherwise easily
obtained. This armored scout car carries a machine gun and a powerful
radio. If you should want to see it, go to the link I've given here.

The *Ferret* armoured *car* , also commonly called the *Ferret* Scout
*car*, is a *British* armoured fighting vehicle designed and built for
reconnaissance purposes. The *Ferret* was produced between 1952 and
1... 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret_armoured_car

And about Steve McQueen, it's like this in relating to ferrets.

Here is the story about the ferret in the German POW camp. Steve
McQueen didn't think much of him and neither did his fellow "Kriegies"
(the nickname used by the prisoners which they gave themselves and
which came from the German word, "Kriegsgefangener", a real mouthful
and one devil of a tongue twister to pronounce.) Should you care to
learn about the "ferret" and his activities in the POW camp, then
follow this link. www.b24.net/pow/greatescape.htm.

Here is a brief excerpt.

The German guards specialising in escape detection were known as
*'Ferrets'* and could enter the compound at any time and search any
hut without warning. Equipped with metal probes, they searched for the
bright yellow sand indicating that a tunnel was in progress, or an
English-speaking ferret would lie concealed under a hut listening for
careless talk. Their most active, unpredictable and generally dangerous
member, Gefreiter (Corporal) *Greise*, was known as* 'Rubberneck'*

Unfortunately I can't show you his picture, because of the limitations
of this list; however, his photograph is in the website referenced.
Remarkably his neck is seemingly very long, sort of like the ferret
itself.

I would hope to get a discussion started to learn how many different
uses of the ferret we know and where its name is used.

Edward Lipinski at Ferrets North West Foundation, Mercer Island,
Washington State. Learning is to life as salt is to pork chops ...
so enjoy.
(My apology to any Semite offended)

[Posted in FML 6484]