I was being facetious, not pedantic. This is pedantry:

While it's true that ferrets were domesticated from polecats, polecats are not wild ferrets. That's like saying wolves are wild spaniels.

And they're not in the canine family, they're mustelids like weasels and stoats and otters. Fairly close relatives are things like raccoon and bears.

I also have a stand of books blocking my view. Plus it's an elevator not normal stairs which probably skews the results somewhat, and there ain't no old buildings around here I could use for the second part of the experiment.

And besides, you're the one that doesn't know which feet people use.

Growl!

Well if you want accuracy, xen's example is also an approximation. Over a very long period of time the approximation improves. Just like for rivers.

 

I thought it was fecking interesting anyway :-(

I did too!

Ken: :'D

"I was being facetious..."

Is that what the :Y ("pipe" emoticon) is supposed to indicate?  As an aside, before enlarging it enough to see the smoking, I thought "pipe" referred to being bashed upside the head with one. :P

"And they're not in the canine family..."

Fair enough.  I had always thought they belonged because of the canine incisors.  But a quick check indicates otherwise.

Hah.

For me :Y indicates arrogance or smugness. Whether real or feigned. Usually feigned/ironic. Sometimes not.

And yeah, there's actually a lot of debate, I believe, about whether mustelids and bears and stuff are more closely related to cats or to dogs. Like it matters. Stupid bloody biologists.

Thanks xen, knew I could count on you

I could not imagine meeting up with that in the woods. I'd die of a heart attack.

I use it for experience/wisdom. No further comment necessary.

Am I a canine?! :?

"Am I a canine?!"

 

I don't know.  Are you a ferret?

I don't think so.

"I don't think so".

 

Well then, unless you're a dog, probably not.

 

Then again, it's said that on the internet you could be talking to a dog and not know it.

 

Woof!

Here you go, then.

The thing is this. Built sometime around 1500 to give the stallholders from the surrounding market square somewhere to shelter when it rained.

Obviously, some bits have been replaced in the last six centuries, but there's enough bits left that look fairly original:

One
Two

:D

That's really cool. Thank you.

:O

I've been there!

And you didn't even knock on my door. How rude.

I didn't know you were there! :(

 

Had I done I would have gladly knocked and ran away.