Starting today the Independent Voice, which has provided high-quality journalistic coverage of the ferret scene since 1993, will be made available online, as an electronic news magazine: the Independent Ferret News Service. ACME Ferret Co., which publishes the Voice, is offering the IFNS free of charge delivered to the electronic doorstep (emailbox) of anyone who wishes to subscribe. We will bring out a new issue every 4 to 6 weeks on average, but spot bulletins will also be sent whenever circumstances dictate. As in the past, we will be offering only original articles - and will continue to cover the same wide range of subjects as before, including health tips, medical concerns, sheltering and other humane issues, and of course legal developments. Some of you may have received an advance copy of the first issue, and we welcome comments and additional story ideas from subscribers. Featured among other items in the debut issue are articles on how to build your own ferret first aid kit; a field test of microchipping shelter ferrets;some thrilling true rescue stories; an update on the distemper vaccine issue; an interview with CFL's Jeanne Carley on the state of play in California; and suggestions on how to "ferret out" "asymptomatic" adrenal problems. Plus a dash or two of humor. To subscribe, send email to [log in to unmask] with the message: "subscribe ferretnewserv". Or subscribe direct from the Web, at http://www.acmeferret.com/subscrbe.htm. On behalf of the staff of Independent Ferret News Service, we wish you good reading and happy ferreting! Howard Davis Editor [Posted in FML issue 1918]