All I Want This Holiday Season is a Little More Freedom

I have the best ferrets - always have. Putting them back in their cage this morning I thought "wouldn't it be wonderful to take them outside? - that's what I'd really like to do this Christmas."

I'm one of those people who has problems with Christmas - brings out the worst in me. And my birthday is two days later. This year I'll turn 50. It will also mark one year since I've had a job. There's not Christmas at our house this year - I want it that way.

I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to money, but for years I promised myself I'd go all out when I turned 50. I've never had a wedding, graduation or bar mitzvah. My parents told me I was born on March 17th (St Patrick's Day - what a coincidence) - it wasn't until I was 10 that my great aunt Eda let it slip I was born on Dec 27th.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to spend my glorious 50th in the Chile/Argentina wine country and then visit Easter Island. Ain't gonna happen this year - and I'm ok with that. A lot of people are losing their homes, misery is all around us - I'll just have to wait a little longer to celebrate the big 5 - 0.

But the truely clever mind always have a plan B. I want to do something truly outrageous on the big day - TAKE THE FERRET OUT IN PUBLIC.

Problem is, who pays for such foolishness/audacity/whatever? The ferret. I can't let that happen and that has been one of the biggest obstacles to getting ferrets legalized. I did it before, it was a complete disaster featuring ferret euthanasia and jail time.

As Janice Joplin sang "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose." And I can't afford to lose a ferret.

So perhaps I'm not so clever. My current plan is to find out if Denny's still offers a free lunch on your birthday and break out a special box of macaroni and cheese that evening.

Eight is my unluckly number. 2009 has to be better.

And the Winner is Former Assemblyman Richard Floyd

I had to assign member number 666 of the 3000 Club this morning. It turned out to be an easy decision.

I've been working on ferret legalization many years. I have a long memory and room for many grudges, but the most outrageous comments from someone who should be intelligent came from Former Assemblyman Richard E Floyd.

Even more incredible, after ten years what is on the top of my stack but an old thermal paper fax that this assemblyman sent to the California Animal Control Directors Association. I had to rekey it in, but this is what our honorary member wrote:

January 13, 1998

Dear CACDA Member:

As a member of the State Legislature, I want to speak directly to you about the issue of ferrets. No doubt you know that possession of this creature is a misdemeanor in California, and that the state authorizes seizure of these animals to be removed or, if deemed necessary to be eradicated.

I oppose legalization of this vicious predator. From my perspective, legalization will only guarantee that uncounted numbers of babies will be carried bleeding in to emergency rooms.

As evidence of the brutal aspect of ferrets, I turn your attention to three recent attacks by this animal against children. The enclosed news article describes an attack from December, where a “pet” ferret so viciously attacked twin infants in Anaheim that they needed hospitalization.

Dr Riley, of the Veterinary Public Health Section of the State Department of Health
Services, has also informed that two attacks occurred within just this past week, one in San Diego and another in Marysville, both of which also resulted in the hospitalization of small children.

In light of these attacks and knowing the predatory nature of this animal, I call upon each of the members of the California Animal Control Directors Association to seize any ferret brought into your facility or which otherwise comes into your possession. Seized animals should be removed from the state or eradicated. Under no
circumstances should ferrets be handed over to a private individual claiming
possession, as this remains a proscribed creature.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in the front line enforcement of state
law.

Sincerely,

Hon. Richard E Floyd
Member, California State Assembly
55th District

Cc: Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith

Who Will Be Member 666?

I'm not a religious person but I don't like to tempt fate.

My first job out of college was the graveyard computer operator at the Elgar Corporation, right behind the El Camino Cemetary. I was the only night worker...

Waiting for the computer to finish jobs, I had time to read books, and one book I read was The Demonologist.

And according to the demon-hunters, Mr and Mrs Warren, evil spirits are indeed attracted to the number 666.

I wouldn't want to assign that membership number to anyone good enough to support ferret legalization.

What should we do with member number 666? I'm tempted to donate a membership to DFG spokesman Ron J, but we're turning over a new leaf and trying to avoid negativity.

Hmmm.

IContact Reject CLIFFNotes over "Ebay" and "Craigslist"

Trying to send out last night's version of CLIFFNotes on IContact I received this error:

Your message has been rejected for the following reason:

This message does not meet our criteria for content. Unless and until this message meets criteria for prohibited content (http://www.icontact.com/terms/prohibited.php), you will be unable to send it via iContact.

Thank you for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Regards, iContact Customer Support
2635 Meridian Parkway Suite 100
Durham, NC 27713
(877) 968-3996
support@icontact.com

The prohibited words were "EBay" and "Craigslist" neither of which is listed in the terms. I also embedded a YouTube video, which is not listed as a violation on their terms.

I asked for a 25% credit for the month which they declined, offering 10%. But since this was 25% of our monthly usage, 25% seemed fair.

We are no longer using IContact - I think they suck.

To read the CLIFFNotes in question, http://www.ferretsanon.com/CLIFFNotes/Vol3No47.html If you can recommend another company, I would appreciate it.

Pat Wright
http://www.legalizeferrets.org/
www.ferretsanon.com

Responses to my No on Proposition 8 Appeal

This week I sent to the CLIFFNotes subscribers an appeal to vote No on California Proposition 8 - The email went out to 3,777 people. If you didn't see it, here is a copy of the letter at http://www.ferretsanon.com/CLIFFNotes/NoonProp8Letter.pdf

About 100 responses came back, 90 positive, 10 somewhat negative and only one out right hostile. I received a lot of congratulations for being married - something I didn't expect. Thank you every who sent in their good wishes, it made me feel great.

I was a little apprehensive sending out a political appeal to a ferret list. I don't wish anyone to feel I'm pushing my political views on them. But our California ferret list is about upholding and protecting rights - most people were supportive.

I don't want anyone to feel unwelcome to the ferret legalization efforts if they support Proposition 8. CLIFFNotes is about ferret legalization, nothing more. The view was presented as my own and sent out on my private email. Legalized same-sex marriage came as a shock to me - I kind of felt like the bird sitting in the bird cage and the door is left open - what do you do?

That being said, I appreciate all the messages of people sharing their feelings with me. There are a lot of gay people on our mailing list. And we all know how it feels to see our neighbors put up "Yes on 8" signs. Its hurtful - an obvious sign of rejection and hostility.

A few people asked what happened regarding Rocky. Rocky was a ferret I bought in Colorado Springs back in 1996. Rocky had personality. Since I'm already going to hell, I'll tell you that Rocky's full name was "Rocky God-damn-it!" because Rocky was always getting in trouble. And my spouse could often be heard "Rocky God Damn It, Get off the ... "

He had a successful adrenal surgery late 1997. On January 1st 1998 we were having a ferret walk in Balboa Park. Tom Tokar, a camera man for Channel 39 came to my house to get some photos of us getting ready. Rocky bit him on the thumb. As expected a quarantine order came down and Animal Control showed up at my door. They did not have a warrant so I wouldn't give them Rocky. We made arrangements to have Rocky quarantined at the vet and then sent out of state. (where I'd retrieve him) A few days later I asked Animal Control if they were familiar with the National Public Health Veterinarians study on rabies in ferrets which recommended a ten day quarantine. They called the Department of Health Services in Sacramento. DHS, knowing they had my ferret, replied with a fax "euthanize the ferret in custody immediately." Later they asked for Rocky's vaccination records. I spent about $13000 in court costs but we were denied "with prejudice" and not allowed in court.

And a few people asked about my experience at the Department of Real Estate. I passed the California Real Estate License exam in 2002 and applied for a real estate license. They sent me a letter saying my license application was being challenged on the grounds of moral turpitude. I had to go through 18 months of bureaucratic red tape. On one of the applications I had to check a box; married, single or divorced. I didn't and don't consider myself any of those things. I wrote in "Domestic Partner." My license application was denied for "failed family relationships" amongst other things.

So there's my story. I hate this election and the bad feelings being generated. I like to get along with people but when I hear my marriage has to be annulled because Jesus doesn't like it - I get a little upset.

Vote No on Proposition 8

One of the most interesting movies I've ever seen was "Liar, Liar" with Jim Carrey. How much easier life would be if people had to tell the truth. And how many lies we have to get past in our day to day lives.

"Ferrets are wild animals." "Ferrets are a threat to wildlife and public health." "The California Fish and Game Commission has not determined ferrets to be normally domesticated in this state."

Wouldn't it be fun if the people who made those statements were forced to tell the truth, just like Jim Carrey's character in that movie, in front of everyone? What would we hear?



Lies take on a life of their own and another one is causing me a little grief. I normally don't like to go off the ferret legalization topic, but this is my blog. So here goes.



The People Behind Proposition 8 Are Lying



Proposition 8, if passed, would deny the right of same sex couples to marry. It isn't about protecting marriage - the motive behind it is to fight the public acceptance of homosexuality.



"Time to fight homosexuality - My fellow Christians: Hold fast to your beliefs. Homosexuality is a sin. We are in a spiritual warfare. It is good against evil. Traditional marriage is good; homosexuality is evil." wrote one letter writer to the Ventura County Star.



That's just one letter writer, all it does is show their motivation.



A more blatant and dangerous lie can be found on the "iprotectmarriage.com" website:



Q: Isn't banning gay marriage just like banning interracial marriage?
A: It's completely unrelated. Blacks who endured prejudice can't wake up in the morning and not be black. None of us can be counseled out of our race or ethnicity. But homosexual behavior is a choice, and countless gays and lesbians have left the alternative lifestyle.




Homosexuality is not a choice. Isn't that obvious? Who chose their sexual orientation, can one person say they chose to be straight or gay? No, it is the way we came out of the womb or something we picked up very early in life. No one knows for sure.

The point is, lies hurt us. People not minding their own business hurt us. We aren't all straight. We aren't all dog and cat owners. A society advances and people achieve greater happiness given the freedom to be who they are.

Of course my freedom ends where yours begin. I have no right how to tell you to live your life either.

Please vote no on Proposition 8. If we let them take away this freedom, who's freedom will be next?

Update on Clifford, aka Mr X

It is with some relief that I can report that Clifford, formerly known as Mr. X is indeed doing better. (reported on in previous blog)

It is safe to say Clifford is being spoiled by his new owner, Rebecca. It's nice to have some happy news to report. There seems to be a dark cloud underneath a lot of people these days.

We still owe about $300 on his vet bill, expect an appeal in the upcoming issue of CLIFFNotes. Go to http://www.ferretsanon.com/signup.html if you don't get our newsletter.