Wow, I for one am GLAD you brought up this topic. I really enjoy talking about hearing - and the lack thereof. I NEVER saw it get ugly, but I did see a lot of conversation and it was the type of thing we SHOULD be discussing. I am doing my dissertation on hearing and vocalizations in ferrets. As I watch them and consider all there is they do inexplicably, I am convinced that we have not only deaf ferrets out there, but hearing impaired ferrets. Although we know that they hear us, their hearing is not limited to the same range we hear. Have you ever noticed that your ferrets will seem to do stuff that requires communication and you KNOW they never made a sound? They were all just suddenly doing different things and it had ONE goal. And, they all worked together as a TEAM to get it done! Several excellent discussions have evolved from this. And, you opened up the door for me to talk about Rocky again. Wolfy does have some of the sleeping pics on her sites. And, she was just WAITING patiently (surprise, surprise) to post that picture that she and Nancy Propper created again! What she didn't tell you as she was discussing mental retardation (so politically incorrect now - oh, well), is that I have been known to fall asleep mid-sentence. And, I pull off the road for 15 minute power naps. And, that I do all this frequently enough to know that my sleep cycle is 46-48 minutes. AND, that we are good friends and good friends know that we can talk about things and even disagree and we will STILL be friends. So, please, do not think too hard about posting (like BIG said). You started something good. -- renee :) Catch me at the Breeders' Forum! Nov. 10 in Pittsburgh, PA [Posted in FML 5724]