February 2002 FurEauction Newsletter
http://www.fureauction.com

Hello again, another month and another news letter.

Already a con has past since the last newsletter and talking to users
of the site reminded me of something. Each user described and talked
how they used the site in ways I never even dreamed of. They took a
site designed by a few fans and changed it to be there site. Making it
work their way. From changing the front page to working on integrating
it with their own site. Each user seem to have a special way of using
the site preferences to make it their site.

In the future FurEauction is still committed to continue to expand and
change to help users fulfill their needs. And we will continue to
expand and grow to meet those needs.

The kakapo is the cute, dopey, ground dwelling giant parrot of New Zealand. The biggest. The heaviest. And perhaps the most endangered of the parrot species, with only 67 birds. After most of the animals were killed for food or feathers, or eaten by dogs and cats, the remaining population of the species were brought to predator free islands off the NZ coast.
Repopulation has been slow, but the odds have just gotten better! A BOOM of egg laying, sometimes four eggs at a time for a bird that usually lays one or two has produced 47 eggs in the last few days. And it's not over yet. The boom is linked to mass fruiting of the rihu tree. Kakapo tend to eat the rich fruit to build up strength for laying and tending young.

Read the article here.

Ten resolutely celibate sharks at the National
Sea Life Center are getting a blast of Barry
White in hopes they'll get in the mood for
love.

This article from CNN documents the birth of the first cloned cat, adding that species to the list of animals that have previously been cloned successfully, which includes sheep, mice, and cattle.

It mentions the possibility of pet owners someday being able to clone beloved pets. If you found the pet with the perfect personality, would you want to produce a younger genetic twin of it every few years?

Scotland has taken a bold step in banning foxhunting, the popular, 'traditional' bloodsport. The first part of the UK to pass such a ban, it is nothing if not controversial, pitting animal lovers with supporters of rural sport.
The law bans hunting with dogs, but allows for the shooting of foxes for pest control, and in an odd loophole, the killing of foxes by birds of prey, like trained falcons. It also bans hare coursing, where a hare is chased down by a dog who is theoretically supposed to NOT catch it.

A cartooning contest in Cancun, Mexico has themes of "cloning" and "free theme" (whatever the cartoonist wants) which artists could use to Furry advantage. Deadline: September 30, 2002. Grand prize: $US1,000. Four additional prizes of $US250 each. Humorous photo prize: $US500.

Mike Curtis posted to A.F.F. a link to this CNN story about the world's oldest Koala dying at the San Francisco Zoo. Clarry the koala lived to the ripe old age of 19, as opposed to koalas in the wild who seldom live past 12.

Ichthyosaurs aren't dinos, but the headlines are "Dino vomit!" at the BBC News homepage.
Discovered in a quarry in Peterborough, the fossilized 'puddle' of shells is believed to be an example of prehistoric puke, much like sperm whales throw up squid beaks. This new evidence leads some scientist to believe that ichthyosaurs expelled the shells from their prey before digesting to avoid internal damage.

From the NY Post:

The movie version of "SpongeBob," Nick's top-rated kid's show, will likely hit theaters in late 2003 or early 2004 and will be produced by Paramount, sources say.

Details are sketchy at this point, but there's a chance that SpongeBob and his pals could even leave the safe environs of their underwater home, Bikini Bottom - and venture elsewhere during the course of the movie.

For the full story: http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/41124.htm

Here is a excuse to come to Florida and enjoy a convention at the same time. Pawpet Megaplex is hosting a con March 8-10th in Orlando, Florida at the Ramada Resort and Conference Center at 7400 International Drive.

Look for many events including mascot costume building, performance, Puppetry, Photography panel, a Variety show and Gaming.

Especially Gaming! I am looking for folks that want to run games or play. Miniatures, Role-playing, card games, Board games or CCG's. If you want to run something just go to the URL and follow the links. A nice bonus for pre-registered games is, RUN just ten hours of gaming and the con admission ($25.00) is free!

There's a new crossover trailer for Lilo & Stitch featuring yet another Disney movie:

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/liloandstitch/interstitchals/aladdinmovies.html?movie=QT1500k

If you missed the first Lilo & Stitch crossover trailer, it's at:

http://www.encodethis.net/BVIM/bvim_lilo_stitch_1500.mov

And lastly, the new Ice Age trailer #3 is out. Fetch it and #1 and #2 if you haven't seen 'em at:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/ice_age/

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/australia020208_kangaroo.html

"In a copyright claim currently ruffling feathers - and furs - across Australia, Kevin Buzzacott,
an Aboriginal elder, has claimed that Qantas cannot use the flying kangaroo as a mascot
without the permission of the marsupial's indigenous 'owners.'"

Submitters comment: This is total BS!

The world Poitou population just went up by one. And where there's less than 200 of you, that's a big deal.
The very rare and prehistoric looking variety of donkey was born to a mother mare, using a new technique which helps trick the surrogate mother into thinking the implanted embryo is her own pregnancy, vasty reducing complications and miscarrage.
The embryo had to be 'relocated' when the mother donkey's knee problems put it into doubt whether she could sustain a baby to term.
Scientists say the technique, used first here to help a similar species become a surrogate for a rare cousin, will be a boon to endangered species reproduction, as well as rare breeds. Like the Poitou.

Corey May, Michael "Dooma" Wendschuh and Baruch Inbar had the luck many closet scriptwriters only dream of. Disney saw thier idea for a new Wind in the Willows film, and bought the look and treatment, as well as the kids as "Executive producers", for a six figure sum.
Based on a colaboation of May and Wendschuh, two film graduates, and the artistic vision of Inbar, an art school sculputor, the new vision gives the old story a "Jules Verne-influenced sensibility" and will be live action with either computer animated characters or CGI-enhanced costumed actors.

U.S. runner Tom Johnson went all the way to the United Arab Emirates to prove that when it comes to man versus horse in a test of desert endurance, man can win...barely.
Johnson beat al-Buraq, an Arabian rode by fellow American Jennifer Nice, by just 10 seconds in a 50 mile desert endurance challange.
Bothered by the heat and sand, as well as stray camels, Johnson kept his pace slow until the last few meters of the race, finishing in a sprint to pull in just before the stallion.
Al-Buraq was allowed rest periods and water as par endurance race rules. No one was on hand to make sure of the humane treatment of the human runner.