Ouch! Yes, yesterday's post was long! I really goofed up; I originally
meant to mail a section a day for 3 days. But somehow, I sent them all at
once thinking I hitting the save to disk control key. Just plain stupidity
and I should have been more careful. So, I apologize to Bill and the rest
of you for shipping off such a long post. I *AM* really sorry. Really.
Q: "Why did ferrets have web feet?"
A: So they can internet better.
Good question. There are two very general possiblities; swimming or
burrowing. Webbing really has only one function; to make the hand or foot
"larger" without increasing its physical size. This is usually for
swimming, and indeed, is probably the function behind the ferret webbing.
But the webbing can also be useful in burrowing, because it helps move
more dirt in a shorter length of time. Considering ferrets tend to live
in burrows, this could also be a good possibility. There is one other
possibility, which I personally favor, and that is the webbing was
originally used for swimming, and later was used for scooping dirt while
digging. Sort of like buying a screwdriver to turn screws, but then
discovering it does a really good job at punching holes. Wild European
polecats live close to water; either in marshy areas or near small creeks.
Their diet includes a large amount of amphibians. Polecats are *very*
closely related to the European mink, and can reportedly interbreed with
it, and the European mink is semi-aquatic. So, I think the webbing
originally evolved to help in swimming, but I think it sticks around to
help in burrowing.
Q: "You have seen lots of shelters....do you think Ed is right about women
shlter workers?"
A: Honestly? Not a chance.
Legally and morally, I have always considered men and women to be equals.
As biological organisms, they are different in many ways, most of which I
really like a lot. But males and females are not always equal. There are
many ways in which women are quite superior, like in language, pain
tolerance, surviving starvation and wearing anything in red. Men are
stronger, are taller, and are stronger. Oh, did I mention taller?
Actually, I doubt if Edward would last a week taking care of Troy Lynn
Eckart's bunch out in Kansas. That is one tough little lady, and little is
correct. If she stepped into my boot, she would need a ladder to look out.
But she totes and lifts and cleans and cuddles and works harder in one
night than Edward works in a bad week. Kim, up in Chicago, wrestles
alligators and cougars and just about anything that breathes, and she could
hardly fill my other boot. Plus, I think she could kick the crap out of
just about anybody with her right hand while cleaning crap with the left.
My friends Jean, Linda and Beverly, not unlike the three stooges (or at
least to me after a few beers), somewhere north of me and luckly far away
after the stooges remark, are all short ladies who could benchpress a car
while clipping ferret toenails. I think I remember seeing Erika (in Texas)
lift a horse while looking for a ferret, but I could be wrong. It might
have been a cow; it was dark when I got a chance to visit. And Erika is
one of those lightweight, bookish professors. The truth is, Edward is
speaking from ignorance. I have yet to meet the woman shelter operator who
couldn't outwork me AND kick my butt and look great while doing it. Well,
maybe I could kick Kim's butt, but only with the help of the cougar and
alligator and a lot of luck.
I'll tell you one thing. I have yet to meet the woman shelter operator
that doesn't work to earn a living, then come home to care for their
family, THEN spend hours caring for their shelter animals. I might think
there are problems which plague our shelters, but they don't extend to the
ladies doing the work. They work harder and longer than anyone I know, AND
they have to put up with family members who want exclusive rights to their
time. They are phenomenal and I want to be just like them. Well, without
the dresses thing; I look silly in a slit skirt.
Bob C and 16 Mo' Skirtless Sofa Sharks
[Posted in FML issue 2746]
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