You know it, I know it, cats love to exploit gulible humans. Now researchers are theorizing that our modern moggies are the best sounding decendents of miaowing wild cats.
Humans respond most to pleasant miaows as opposed to horrible yowls and reward nice sounding felines with food and preferential treatment. Some scientists think this has lead to supercats, vocally best prepared to mooch food and shelter. Others think cats are just damn good at learning what to do to get free chow from us and learn their miaows independantly.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/05/22/dead.greyhounds.ap/index.html

2000+ dead.

State officials obtained a search warrant Tuesday to search the 18 acres owned by Robert Rhodes after receiving a tip from Florida investigators. Satellite images showed animal bones strewn about the property and investigators used the photographs to convince a judge to issue the warrant.

I dare you to tell me that you're not looking forward to this little PS2 gem from SuckerPunch.

A new species of parrot, known only by one bird viewed at the edge of the forest, seems to have a fully bald head, like a vulture. Scientists are trying to find the species again to study and protect. It was spotted in a piece of Brazillian rainforest slated for development.

CNN reports in a promotional article about the upcoming Dreamworks SKG animated feature "Spirit", Jeffrey Katzenberg is one of the major motivational pushers of the movie, based on his love for horses.

Rather curious.... Try going to www.yiff.net, the web home of the long standing IRC network.... you'll find instead of being sent to their website, a lone mp3 file of some type of farewell-sounding song will begin to Open and play on your machine.

What does this mean?

Considering the popularity at Furry conventions of video compilations of TV commercials featuring cartoon or CGI talking animals, fans may want to check out the website of the FilmTechnarna animation studio in Stockholm: http://www.filmtecknarna.se/ It showcases several of the studio's European TV commercials with funny animals, including two Boddington's Beer commercials with Graham Heffer, Boddington's "suave yet udder-toting spokescow".

Not everyone can see it, but on June 10, just before sunset, a solar eclipse will occur. Go to the map at this link to see if you fall in the region where it will be visible.

FOX has recently announced a plan to do an "enhancement" of its fall schedule. It looks as if the loss of two of the network's big names (X-files and Ally) have given them pause to consider their current line-up.

One of the shows to close up shop is the comedy that caught some attention from the furry community, Greg The Bunny. Even though it seemed from earlier news that it would see another season and a number of early reviews seemed positive, the show just didn't make the cut.

A children's book giveaway, featuring toll-free numbers for kids to call to talk to members of the Scooby gang, was recalled too late to prevent families and businesses from reaching the phone sex line one of the numbers really went to.

http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2002/05/17/SouthPinellas/1_800_ruh_roh.shtml

It was reported in this article on the website of The Washington Times that a debate has arisen in California about what exactly stranded several hundred baby fish. Water service to farmers from a local river has been blamed in the strandings of the endangered fish by one faction of environmentalists, while others (as well as officials) claim it was a natural phenomenon. Water service was recently restored after having been cut off due to similar environmental concerns last summer.

According to this article at CNN, a popular Hawaiian snorkeling location has been posted with signs to warn swimmers of potential danger from sharks. It seems the locals have long been aware of it, but tourists aren't.

Ten years after Nickelodeon pulled the plug, TNN has signed John Krisfaluci to produce nine new episodes and a tv movie of Ren & Stimpy.

http://www.cartoonresearch.com/news.html

From Richard de Wylfin on alt.fan.furry: "Some time ago, you may have seen the official web site of my comic book Foxes and Grapes and wondered: so where is this comic book? You might have even bought a copy of the sixteen-page #0 issue (the prototype) from me at Anthrocon 1998 (artist's alley) and 1999 (dealer's room). So where is #1? It's ready right now! On April 20, it made its official debut at SPACE 2002 in Columbus, Ohio. Starting today, it's now available to you, and you can order it through Paypal on the front page of the site."

Well, this isn't a new mailing list, but it's not really been advertised. It covers the South US area - anything having to do with furs and/or the South. The URL is : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/southern_furs/ . If you live in the South and are a fur, come check it out. Thanks a bunch!

-Floyd Mephit