I just found the report on a PA station. D.C. left out all sorts of stuff-- like that the triggering force for wanting to better protect music copyrights is because a number of us know quite a few small folks musicians since we live in one of the nation's folk music hotbeds here in North Central N.J. (NOT to protect the large recording companies -- though those certainly will be helped), or that the project is working toward being more and more able to carry full concerts over the internet with amazing sound quality (The triggering force for that was when they provided that service for a benefit concert to help Utah Phillips get heart surgery, and the ears and expertise for quality have been provided by Oberlin.), or that they are working on better-than-CD-level sound with Oberlin and 8th Blackbird. The good things about the report are that the top office and stock brokers will probably LOVE it which any researcher will tell you often doesn't happen with cutting edge stuff, Daniel Charles is a very smart and kind soul so he was fun for them to get to know, Steve actually did succeed in avoiding the microphone as he hoped to do -- he's mic-shy, and they put on some music from some excellent small musicians who still have to work at other jobs in order to support their musical loves (Yes, members even of groups like 8th Blackbird, despite all the international excitement over their music, still have to work as things like coffee-shop waiter to make ends meet.) (Didn't hear music of any of our friends used, though...) Anyway, that's the end of the home news on this topic -- just thought I'd tell you since Steve and I have so many friends here on the FML that I know you'd try hard to get back with reports on what you recalled if I didn't let you know that I found it. Guess what the ferrets gave me for my birthday? Ashling and Glueball FINALLY STOPPED FIGHTING! They are all sharing the large cage now!!!!!!!!! When things slow down a bit more I'll have to finish the extension to the cage. In a few days I'll be able to take the second cage to the basement again so we'll be able to reach that bookcase once again! It will feel like a luxury! Steve gave me an easy camera, a Nikon Pronea S. I have trouble focusing fast, partly due to the blind eye sections I have, but I LOVE taking ferret photos. This should get me past my frustration and back to taking fun ferret picies!!!!! Yipee!!!!!!!!!!! I was glad to read that people are going to stop fighting about shelters and go on to some constructive tips. One suggestion: shelter operators know a lot more about some of the problems so they'll be able to list difficulties other than those Bob will bring up from animal behavior aspects. ALL should be discussed. We all realize that shelter operators have limited funds, limited space, limited volunteer help, and limited time, and that even the formal animal shelters with far better resources run into many of the problems that will be mentioned (i.e. we know folks can't create miracles and we do appreciate how hard so many try), but maybe doing it this way will allow folks to learn a few tricks that might prevent having to re-invent the wheel, and that's a very constructive thing. Shortly before this conversation began I heard in less than two weeks from three (3!) shelter operators who either knew of shelters near them which worried them due to conditions or had heard of reports of one which was upsetting, and certainly most know about (last year's?) rescue of a New England place which called itself a "ferret shelter" but had abuse after abuse to a point where the law was broken badly -- and the palce formally shut down with charges brought -- and many ferrets had diseases or soon died. There are good and bad of everything. The good shelter operators, and (as far as I am concerned) the average shelter operators are angels who do more than most will ever do for ferrets; that doesn't mean that there are not some bad apples who endanger the entire barrel and who hurt many ferrets; it also doesn't mean that even the best sometimes don't wind up in over their heads. It's constructive to try to improve conditions for all and to teach each other. But, hey, I'm not a shelter operator -- just the friend of many who are who talk with me... Sukie [Posted in FML issue 2527]