Just had something to say about Ground Fault Interupters. Rudy is right in that they save lives; I am walking proof. I once had a short in a color enlarger, which was located near the wall supporting (external) water pipes. I was stupidly leaning against those pipes when, with damp hands, I grabbed the metal part of the enlarger. I distinctly remember a popping sound as the lights went off. We had this problem before, so I wasn't too concerned, reset the circuits, and went back in to see what caused it. This time, I used both (now dry) hands to pick up the power box. I distinctly remember a popping sound as my lights went out. I suffered small third degree burns to both hands, and the ability to light cigarettes with my fingernail for more than a month (besides inventing a really cool dance). When the newspaper electrician came up, I complained that the interupters did not work, and the truth was explained to me that, in fact, they had or I might be dead. Seems they stop circuits from grounding, not from circuit completion. Without leaning against the pipes, my body completed the circuit across the short, rather than acting like a conduit to the ground. The same thing might happen when a ferret (or any biological organism) chews an electrical cord. The current will pass from one part of the mouth to the other, which normally is just a shocking experience, but can cause serious burns, cause teeth to crack or explode, or cause the ferret to go into shock or cardiac arrest. Still, this is better than no Ground Fault Interupter at all, which would allow the current can travel through the body of the ferret and cause much more damage or death (assuming the ferret is grounded at the time of the accident). It might be considered overkill, but I put Ground Fault Interupters on my computers, home entertainment system, main kitchen and bathroom power supplies, garage/basement, and the main house power supply. They are cheap, they protect equipment, and they save lives, even if they don't always stop the occasional burn or shock. (No, I don't do the wiring--My brother David has 20 years experience as an electrical contractor in Calif--he does. As you can imagine, the wiring in my home is top-notch, with all the little extras, including a small emergency electrical generator anmd emergency boxes with recharging battery-powered lights that come on when the power goes off). The best prevention is preventing the chewing of power cords in the first place, but ferrets are intelligent and individuals, so sometimes nothing seems to work. My best friend (he lives in Calif) has two illegal ferrets, one of which loved to chew power cords. NOTHING worked, not even the occasional powercord-shock, so my friend bought one of those shock-collars used to train doggies. He blocked the doors, threw a bunch of power cords on the floor, and each time the ferret did more than just sniff, it would recieve a light punishment. At the same time, rawhide chewing materials were provided, and the ferret got some ferretone each time it chewed on them instead. According to my friend, it took three lessons to prevent the ferret from chewing power cords at any time, and the lessons have never been repeated. As a pacifist, I do not advocate such a program, only report it because I realize it might be the only choice for some, and a trained ferret is better than a dead or seriously burned ferret. I would strongly recommend all other efforts be exhausted prior to this type of behavioral modification, and only attempt it as a last resort to save your fuzzie from injury or death. In the meantime, take Rudy's advice, and get a Ground Fault Interupter. On another note, It has been reported that some of you did not get a certificate. I know they were mailed, because I did it, and the post office is investigating the loss (some of you might get a letter from them, or so they said). Still, I have no idea who got them or who did not, so if you didn't, write and I will send you another, because, quite frankly, I think the PO lost them, or possibly stolen as part of a CIA/CALIF F&G sting operation. Maybe you will get both at some time or another, but who cares? I would rather you have two than not get the one. Please e-mail me and let me know. In the same note, I will be sending BIG a new and improved nickname list sometime this weekend (to be posted in ferret-request; but not on the FML because it's way to BIG <hehheheh>). If you want new nicknames added to the list, e-mail them to me. If you sent any to the FML, send them to me also, and they will be added. I have had to start Fetching my mail lately, because for the next couple of weeks they will be revamping our mail and modem system to prevent the type of crap that happened to me before, as well as to increase the amount of people that can connect via modem. Already, people have reported mail has bounced, so just resend it, and I should get it sometime. Bob C and the Wild One Three [Posted in FML issue 1486]