On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Dennis Paulson wrote:
> Ray, you must not have been around for the "dreaded cat thread," or you
> wouldn't have written the above. A lot of hackles raised, I suspect, when
> people read about subsidizing "the neighborhood's outdoor cats," and even
> more probably felt incensed at the thought of subsidizing both cats *and*
> starlings! Prepare for a flame (or maybe my few comments will make such an
> event unnecessary).

Dennis,
I have been around for such cat threads and appreciate your effort hear
to keep one from happening again. I do not want that either. I realize
that people have very strong feelings about cats and starlings, and also
realize the implications and interpretations which might be read into
such statements (especially when my note was composed in the middle of
the recent "hunting falcon" thread).
I meant the note to be an interesting and amusing anecdote about
how I finally attracted the evil-and-dreaded starling to my yard.
They've ignored my feeders all winter, and to have them come into cat
food is funny to me, and I thought people, even those who don't like
starlings, might enjoy this irony given how people complain about them.
On the cat thread issue, I DO NOT want another cat thread as you
obviously don't (and most of the viewing audience I would suspect). I
thank you for your kind message and your diplomacy here.
If anyone wants to take this up with me further, respect the
effort made by Dennis to prevent another dreaded thread and e-mail me
directly.

BTW--9:45 pm, Sauvie Island, Coon Point, full moon, snow reflecting the
light, Canada Geese and Tundra Swans talking in the clear and windless
night--a great experience last night.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "Life is a smorgasbord--
Hm: Portland, OR you have to decide how sick you'll get"
Wk: Clark College --k.d. lang
Vancouver, WA
rkorpi at clark.edu