Well, if memory serves (still have this virus and was up all night with that ant Chiclet who is doing badly), the mustelids (the group ferrets arein) were descended from the dog superfamily over 20 million years ago while the viverrids (the group the mongoose types are in) was descended from the cat superfamily 30million years ago. There is foot stomping play invitation which is seem in many members of the Order Carnivora, though, so one or both of you may be thining of that. Chiclet is on my lap right now and i am typing with one hand; we still hope thr last tests may turn up something useful. disclaimers: I can see whre a disclaimer at the end such as "This satirical post cleared first with Kim who liked it". might have reduced the flames in response, BUT even AFTER Kim wrote saying herself that she had seen Alexandria's post FIRST and that she (Kim) urged Alexandra to post it there STILL are people who are ignoring that and sticking to their alternative assumptions. Disclaimers can help, but if people decide to take offence or to stir things up the reality is that even there will always be a few who will ignore what is said and who won't say, "Ah, okay, I didn't get the joke and I didn't know the the person who was being roasted was fine with it and wanted it shared." I think that there are two lessons here: 1. no matter what you do or say (or with whom you clear it beforehand) once you have a large community someone is going to take offence to almost anything, and 2. we can all take a lesson from Kim and Alex who DO get along well and can laugh with each other and at themselves -- both marvelous, marvelous gifts. Pax on list. [Posted in FML issue 4196]