--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1Z00001 Date: 01/29/98 From: ROSS SAUER Time: 07:40am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: [1/2] CAT version (?) >>> Part 1 of 2... I found this at a web site, if you don't get the jokes, ask your computer nerd friends to explain them. The CAT User's Manual User Installation and Maintenance Documentation CAT v. 7.0: Completely Autonomous Tester Manufactured by MOMCAT System Design Specification User Friendly Mouse Driven Self Cleaning Energy Saving Standby Mode When Not In Use Self Portable Operation Dual Video and Audio Input Audio Output Autosearch Routines for Input Data Autosearch for Output Bin Instant Transition ( 2 nanoseconds) Between Standby and Full Power Mode Production Details : After basic KIT construction, the unit undergoes six weeks of onsite ROM programming and burn-in testing. Listed features are installed during this period. Since MOMCAT uses local suppliers, there may be variations between units. MOMCAT's quality assurance may reject inferior units. Users may sometimes salvage rejected units. Beware of Far East clones. These may violate import restrictions. Transportation : A suitable transportation case should be used for transportation to the operating site. Failure to properly ship a CAT unit may result in loss or damage to the unit and serious injury to the user. Installation Procedures : Upon receiving the CAT unit, the user should examine the unit to verify that all I/O channels are operational. Look for minor bugs in or on the system. Bugs are indicative of the MOMCAT production enviroment. The user may manually remove any bugs. Bring the CAT to operation in an environment temperature at 20C (plus or minus 3 degrees tolerance). Use a quiet room with the primary user(s) present. Open the transporation case and let the CAT unit autoexit. Initialize the self learning program catfind() by displaying the input bins. These should contain H2O (liquid state, room temperature, 99% purity) and dry energy pellets. Immediately afterwards, display the output bin. If the user already has a CAT unit successfully installed, it may be possible to download BASIC routines to the new CAT. For the first day or two, the CAT will stay in self learning mode. When the learn buffer overflows, the CAT will autoswitch to sleep() mode. This is normal. The MMU system will store the new information to permanent memory. Afer 72 hours, the CAT will be interacting with the operating environment. The unit may be placed in direct sunlight. CAT units are operational in all axis: standing, sitting, or laying down. If all basic environment requirements are satisfied, the CAT system will produce a slight hum. This is normal. A new CAT should not exit the primary site facility. Full portability comes after extensive burn in. Some users never let the CAT unit autoexit the site. The advantages are longer unit life and fewer bugs. Contact with pirate CAT units may lead to unplanned BATCH iteration. Contact with untested CATs may lead to virus infection. If allowed to exit, some CAT units may try to port across a street. Fatal errors may happen. If you decide to let your CAT out, it should have a READ_ME.TXT file with a system address and URL which identifies the host site. Your CAT should have a system name. The name may need to be reinitialized repeatedly until the system can read it correctly. This lets you issue voice commands to bring the unit to an online state. Many owners give their CATs a secret password as well. You can also get the CAT's attention by booting the system. While this is effective, it is discouraged. Too much booting will abuse the system. Such units will sit across the room with its back to you. Applications : At present, there are few productivity applications for CAT. MOUSE is a killer app. This is pre-installed. Many owners use their system for game playing. CATs play best when they are young. Older units suffer a system timing decay which leads to reduced response and flexibility. Some CAT games are: CACHE The CAT will CACHE a data string. Similar to the K9 unit game, but the object must be smaller. JUMP Move the data string through the air. The CAT unit will reach new heights of operation. MIRROR Place the unit in front of a mirror and watch it attempt to parse itself. Some units may ESCape. Reboot the system by calling its name. CHASE Played between two CAT units or a CAT and a K9 unit. Units take turns as one is the data and the other attempts to parse it. DANCE and SING Offer fishy data code to elicit a range of audio output. Maintenance : CATs will self-recharge. This takes 20 hours in a 24 hour cycle. CATs are self cleaning and require little user maintenance. Do not clean the unit with alcohol or benzine-based solvents. This may lead to a violent explosion. A CAT unit should be taken once a year to a VET (Very Expensive Technician) for a system checkup. Do not attempt to open a CAT. There are no user serviceable parts inside. If a unit emits strange smells or sounds, it should be serviced immediately by a VET. You may examine the rear of the CAT unit to determine if it has a male or female scuzzy port. CATs with a male port may emit a non-toxic aerosol. The >>> Continued to next message... ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 [NR] --- TriToss (tm) 1.03 - (Unregistered) * Origin: Ivy's WALL BBS - Sheboygan, WI 920-457-9255 (1:154/170) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1Z00002 Date: 01/29/98 From: ROSS SAUER Time: 07:40am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: [2/2] CAT version (?) >>> Part 2 of 2... VET can remove this component. CATs with female ports are plagued by periodic heating problems. The VET can fix this permanently by removing an internal part. Such systems run unix. Warning Notices : CAT systems are user-friendly. However, in certain documented situations, a CAT may pose a danger to the user. Repeated jamming or obstruction of I/O ports may lead to deployment of auto-defense systems. Never attempt a first strike on a CAT system. Its CPU clock rate made to milspecs and thus classified, but JANE'S FIGHTING FELINES notes that a unit was seen by ham radio operators to be apparently moving at 500 mHz. Twin D-shaped five-pin connectors have an average seek rate of 3 nanoseconds. The manufacturer is not responsible for injuries to the ser. Do not poke anything into the CAT's I/O ports. CAT may BYTE. In dry, cold weather, a surface electrostatic charge may build up. To avoid electric shock, stand on an insulated surface. Do not operate the CAT above water. This may lead to end-user damage. Carry a CAT firmly. Do not swing it by its "tail". Service Life : As CATs become older, the learn program will recognize every situation. The CAT may become too smart for its own good. CATs like to have their own toys. They often have hobbies, such as bird watching or studying tropical fish. If you properly care for your CAT, it will give you years of loyal service. Many users get a second unit. Most users don't need the extra capacity, but they enjoy the ability to run complex simulation games. User Groups : CAT users can find other users and the faq on the Usenet newsgroup rec.pets.cats Lifetime Warranty : The CAT unit is guaranteed against catastrophic failure. Nine coupons are included. Documented Problems : The Ctrl key on most CAT units is defective. This may lead to serious performance problems. Do not install a BIRD unit at a site which has an operational CAT unit. These systems are not compatible. The BIRD unit may be erased permanently. System Features : Models = Main frame, desktop and laptop models (smallest footprint in the industry). Available in 15 inch, 17 inch, and 19 inch sizes. Interface = Touch sensitive interface for maximum user friendliness. Memory = Not much. Upgrades available real soon now. Expected Lifetime = 15 years with plus or minus 72 months (although 20 years are common). Weight = 3-6 kilograms without optional cables. Speed = 3 nanoseconds search/find with self-uprighting supertwist echnology. Color Graphics = Either paper white, monochrome (black/white), 64 grey shades, or maximum of 16 million colors with 40 terrabits of high resolution floating point pixels. Sound Chip =16 octaves, digital MIDI output (MI/OU). Power Consumpution = 250 grams protein daily (2 micrograms per second.) Operating Range = -30 to +45C Vibration = 5-500 Hz, one octave/min, dwell at all resonance points. Ross Sauer patch@bbs.sts.net ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 [NR] --- TriToss (tm) 1.03 - (Unregistered) * Origin: Ivy's WALL BBS - Sheboygan, WI 920-457-9255 (1:154/170) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1Z00003 Date: 01/30/98 From: IVY IVERSON Time: 12:01am \/To: DENISE MORRIS (Read 0 times) Subj: Clumping litter -=> I hacked a hairball when, Denise Morris said,<=- -=>Hey, Carol Shenkenberger, "Clumping litter...,"<=- Hi, Denise; [Snip] DM> I just lift the pan, dump, scrape, and DM> refill. The cats invariably stand there with legs crossed like they DM> have had to stand in the restroom line all day, and dirty the fresh DM> litter immediately. ... DM> (I'm joking about the crossed legs, but you understand what they're DM> trying to get across, its impatience) Mine do the same thing! When I'm cleaning the litter box, I can barely get them to wait until I'm done beofre there's a mad dash to get in and "initialize" the new litter. Si O sit there, waiting, and when they have finished, I quickly scoop out the new additions, as if to say, "So there!" Everyone seems happy at that point. ^--^ Catch you later... Purrrrrrrs. Ivy ... Cats are gods. BUT, we still have to clean their litter boxes. ... Not what your cat thinks while watching you change its litter box! -- ,-----> Ivy's WALL BBS Home of Lakeshore Net <-----, |--------------> Ivy Iverson, KB9QPM/AE <------------| `-> Netmail me a request for info on Lakeshore Net <-' ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 [NR] --- TriToss (tm) 1.03 - (Unregistered) * Origin: Ivy's WALL BBS - Sheboygan, WI 920-457-9255 (1:154/170) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1Z00004 Date: 01/29/98 From: JO PESHEK Time: 07:38am \/To: JOAN KELLY (Read 0 times) Subj: Gross Alert! Squeamish JK> Well, it's difficult to know what to do. ... I JK> watched a cat...go from 8 pounds down to 2-1/2 JK> while the veterinarian tried to figure out what JK> was wrong with him. We finally had him put down JK> just when the diagnosis finally came through. Ollie's kidney's began failing while we were on a 10- day vacation (20 years ago) and since she was such a scaredy cat, my mother-in-law, who was feeding her, never saw her. We came home to a very sick kitty. Our vet at the time* just couldn't diagnose whatever was killing her. He had her 2 weeks in the office as she got thinner and scragglier and broke a canine tooth, her eyeballs started falling apart, before he figured it out. We brought her home for one night, cuddled her, cried together, and made the decision. It was horrible. All she seemed to want to do was be in physical contact with us and curl up and die. When we got Jenny (at 2-weeks of age) we had her tested for FeLV as soon as possible...neither one of us wanted her or us to go through any of that and would have had her put down immediately were she to test positive. I'm so glad she was negative because she's turned into such a great little personality. JK> As a result, when Stanley contracted FeLv, I JK> him him put down when he began to exhibit the JK> symptoms...It was the hardest thing I ever had JK> to do, because he was not at the point where JK> he was actually ill yet, but after watching JK> Buster die, I couldn't put him through that pain. It's like arbitrarily having a healthy cat killed...I know. When we made the decision to have Sebastion put down: When we left the house he was having terrible breathing problems and we were certain of our decision. By the time we arrived at the vet he'd perked up to normal. He never *looked* sick, he kept himself clean and fluffy throughout his illness, he still purred and cuddled, he wasn't withdrawn. It was heartbreaking. We saw him through the injection and had to really work to remember that he was terminally ill; pills he hated 4 times a day, force feeding he hated, an oxygen bottle for the bad breathing spells every hour or so. He just *looked* so healthy...like he could live forever. * Does anybody else have difficulty returning to the care-giving vet after a pet has died? I do. It's not that I blame the vet, I don't think I do that...I still like and trust these people. Maybe it's just all the pain associated with the location? The vet who attended the last three is still with us (we're with her, rather). When they died, Terry cried with us, and that really helped although *I* haven't been back to her office... Lonnie takes all the cats in for their periodicals and kitten treatments. I'm confident that I can go back there when I have to. I hope. ... . 0-m ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- Maximus/2 2.02 * Origin: The Funny Papers * Lodi, NJ * (973)478-8476 (1:2604/104) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1Z00005 Date: 01/29/98 From: JO PESHEK Time: 11:30pm \/To: JEFF WEINER (Read 0 times) Subj: Pinny JW> Jean is trying to get the last ounce of dinner JW> into Stormdoor, so's she can segue into the tabby- JW> stabbing routine. The little fink had no trouble JW> eating her breakfast this morning. Ooh, a diabetic who's not hungry? Alarm bells!! ... . 0-m ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20 --- Maximus/2 2.02 * Origin: The Funny Papers * Lodi, NJ * (973)478-8476 (1:2604/104) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1^00000 Date: 01/29/98 From: TONY CAMPBELL Time: 11:16pm \/To: JOAN KELLY (Read 0 times) Subj: kitty stuff! < -> The rather sketchy evidence is held by the State Police at Troop D in -> Danielson. You can give them a call. Basically, it consists of copies of -> checks from labs known to use animals in research, to a local individual who -> has been caught with large numbers of stolen animals in his backyard pens. It -> all appeared in the local press at the time. -> * Origin: TNC - (860) 963-1187 - 2.4kbps-33.6kbps! (1:320/2112) Ok, between the phone number to give me the area, that should give me enough to start with. Thanks. Pate. --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: TheLitterBox(r) BBS. TheLitterBox.org. AOP, ASP, NAP (1:109/263) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F1^00001 Date: 01/29/98 From: TONY CAMPBELL Time: 11:22pm \/To: JOAN KELLY (Read 0 times) Subj: Legendary Cats.... -> slender Tazmanian Devil tornado type. Boris's relation, eh? JK> Oh, my my! Cats with their own web page, imagine! They do have their JK> humans well trained. :-) TC> Not very origional, admittedly. But we 'date' them all. JK> Just as long as you read the mail to them, I'm sure they will be happy to let JK> you keep up their web page. :-) . Ton --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: TheLitterBox(r) BBS. TheLitterBox.org. AOP, ASP, NAP (1:109/263) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F2100000 Date: 01/30/98 From: CAROL SHENKENBERGER Time: 01:10pm \/To: ANNE MCREARY (Read 0 times) Subj: ADA laws *** Quoting Anne McReary from a message to Carol Shenkenberger *** AM>> even al by our apartment complex to have a wheelchair ramp! :( CS> Anne, thats a violation of ADA (American Disability Act). They dont CS> have to install it under some circumstances, but they cant disallow CS> you from having one installed. CS> FREQ FEDREGS.* or ADAACT.* from me for a copy of the pertinant CS> information (FEDREGS has more info than the other file). AM> Is there a way that I can get it from you by way of internet??? You k AM> how long distance can build up and I'm hubbing 9 networks internationa AM> right now. You ought to see my phone bill < hehehehe Smile, I'll send them to you. I'm sure they are on the internet someplace, but couldnt say where to find them. xxcarol --- Telegard v3.09.g1 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS Norfolk VA 757-486-3057 28.8 Dual (1:275/100) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F2100001 Date: 01/30/98 From: CAROL SHENKENBERGER Time: 02:54pm \/To: DENISE MORRIS (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Clumping litter *** Quoting Denise Morris from a message to Carol Shenkenberger *** CS> Oh fast change method. Take cheap garbage bag, place clean CS> litter pan in garbage bag. Fill with litter. When time to CS> change, remove entire bag into another bag, then re-bag the CS> pan and refill with litter. I estimate I spend 4$ a month in CS> litter and plastic bags for the 4 cats combined. DM> I find this a little hard to follow. The net results at change time is DM> bagged portion of used cat litter?? I had got hold of "cat pan liners Yup. The second bag is because they partly shred the 'liner' bag. DM> store, but over a week's time my cats shred that trashbag-quality plas DM> and its just a mess to change the litter. I just lift the pan, dump, s DM> refill. The cats invariably stand there with legs crossed like they ha DM> to stand in the restroom line all day, and dirty the fresh litter imme Grin, I understand your confusion. Look at it this way, with 4 cats, how often do you think I can keep a pan going before changing? Answer: 2 days for the favorite pan, the other one is used as soon as the 'favorite one' no longer suits them, and is changed every 3-4 days. (Second pan will have as much use as primary pan by changing time). Hence, I change a litter pan every other day. Little mess at all with the liner, and less expense with the cheapest liners I can find. (I will never pay 50cents or more for the 'special liners' once I figured out that the cheapos at a few cents each work just as well with double bagging). xxcarol --- Telegard v3.09.g1 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS Norfolk VA 757-486-3057 28.8 Dual (1:275/100) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 277 CATS Ref: F2100002 Date: 01/30/98 From: CAROL SHENKENBERGER Time: 03:08pm \/To: LORA FRANKLIN (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Loss *** Quoting LORA FRANKLIN from a message to CAROL SHENKENBERGER *** -> Forgive me Lora, but perchance do you live near the west coast? I'm -> not sure as the only thing I can see here is net123 and I am not sure -> of the location of that net. If so, you may be having a problem with -> coyotes. LF> I live out in the country in northeastern Mississippi, and I think you LF> may be correct about the problem. Coyotes have been seen by my LF> neighbors and I saw some several years ago crossing the road about 2 LF> miles from here. The cats that just disappeared may have been eaten, LF> none of the dogs. Only 1 of my dogs was dead when I found him, the LF> others were badly mangled,but alive and died later. This is true of m LF> neighbors' dogs. I'll try to snip a bit to save bandwidth here. Coyotes *seem* now to not be the problem, because as far as I know, they are a nocternal problem mostly and you are experiencing a daytime problem. This changes things considerably. I think now you are right when you fear a group of neighbor dogs. In this case, it may be a few feral dogs (ones gone wild, happens especially with areas where folks dump unwanted half grown puppies and if not mistaken, *quite* a problem now in Australia). 'Dog eat dog' isnt a joke, but they prefer to eat cats or other things given a choice. Yes, a pack of them can take down a 100lb dog easy enough, and most will avoid hurting humans out of fear. (Toddlers are not safe, older kids are not 100% safe and neither are adults, but generally they will avoid all human 'smelling people' but pets and yards are not fearsome and lights dont bother them at all. Time to call the humane society nearest you and see what can be done. Please, this CAN be very dangerous to more than pets. If you havent reported it to any authorities, you need to NOW before someone loses a human child, left to play quietly in the backyard. For a conversion that makes sense, that 100lb dog, is FAR harder to kill, than a 200 lb weightlifting human athlete. Places to call: Humane society, local police (Yes, when you lose 2 BIG dogs in DAYLIGHT they WILL want to know and can refer you if needed to further services), Local city authorities (such as the mayor in a small town area), County seat police. Some of those will refer you to local agencies, but whast they need to know is daylight killings of animal attack type, on LARGE dogs recent in your area. This signals a serious hazard. Please tell me you will make some calls? xxcarol --- Telegard v3.09.g1 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS Norfolk VA 757-486-3057 28.8 Dual (1:275/100)