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Post by Pixie on Jun 3, 2019 7:59:43 GMT -5
What you say may be true,* but it is a short sighted approach to a serious problem. There may be these creatures in other states, especially southern Louisiana, but the concentration and the breadth of species is found only in Florida. By the time the myth of global warming hits Cape Cod, I will be well beyond the population of those who care. _______ * I have seen a few Woverines in my day, and I doubt any rat could approach the size of an adult Wolverine. Not even the Norwegian Brown, which is so fond of your City. If you go to GITMO you will get to see Banana Rats - who are the real life counterparts of the ROUSs (Rodents Of Unusual Size) depicted in the Princess Bride! They especially like to come out and eat the scraps during the Mongolian BBQ at the Club. They did not appear to be aggressive, but then again they were being fed. This lady has Banana Rats. They aren't just in Cuba anymore.
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Post by nylawyer on Jun 3, 2019 10:46:44 GMT -5
You do know those critters don't exactly recognize borders? In fact, I'd have to look this up, but a few years ago wasnt there a truly monstrous alligator on a gold course in South Carolina? Plus, with global warming they will soon be swimming around Cape Cod (also, lots of sharks there as well). The world is a truly dangerous place. I saw a rat the size of a wolverine in the garage of my office this morning, so there is just no hiding from it. What you say may be true,* but it is a short sighted approach to a serious problem. There may be these creatures in other states, especially southern Louisiana, but the concentration and the breadth of species is found only in Florida. By the time the myth of global warming hits Cape Cod, I will be well beyond the population of those who care. _______ * I have seen a few Woverines in my day, and I doubt any rat could approach the size of an adult Wolverine. Not even the Norwegian Brown, which is so fond of your City. There's a rodent from South America called the Capybara (which roughly translates to "Big Friggin' Rat- not really friggin, but I'm keeping it cleanish) which can weigh up to 150lbs. Perhaps what I saw was an invasive species, released after initially being bought as a pet, much like the alligators living in the sewers of the City; I chose not to linger (on a similar note, I was a little over a week ago snorkeling in Tahiti and may have well been in the vicinity of a not so small Blacktip Reef Shark; I again chose not to be curious, other than to quickly return to my bungalo to look it up on my phone). Having said that, the only adult Wolverine I have ever seen was Hugh Jackman, so my perspective is somewhat flawed.
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Post by JudgeKnot on Jun 3, 2019 11:00:16 GMT -5
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Post by nylawyer on Jun 3, 2019 11:21:23 GMT -5
There's a rodent from South America called the Capybara (which roughly translates to "Big Friggin' Rat- not really friggin, but I'm keeping it cleanish) which can weigh up to 150lbs. Perhaps what I saw was an invasive species, released after initially being bought as a pet, much like the alligators living in the sewers of the City; I chose not to linger (on a similar note, I was a little over a week ago snorkeling in Tahiti and may have well been in the vicinity of a not so small Blacktip Reef Shark; I again chose not to be curious, other than to quickly return to my bungalo to look it up on my phone). Having said that, the only adult Wolverine I have ever seen was Hugh Jackman, so my perspective is somewhat flawed. Black tip reef sharks are generally harmless (to humans), and regardless, since you are an attorney, would have treated you with professional courtesy. I generally don't eat veal, but I might well on a given day decide to give it a try. I figure the sharks work the same way, instead of eating the other fish on the reef, they might decide to go up the food chain. After all, fish are friends. Not food.
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Post by foghorn on Jun 3, 2019 11:25:35 GMT -5
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Post by Pixie on Jun 3, 2019 12:30:58 GMT -5
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Post by foghorn on Jun 3, 2019 13:31:51 GMT -5
you don't have to go to Florida for snakes either: wreg.com/2019/05/31/tennessee-deputy-saves-pair-from-rattlesnake/(I love the chivalry is dead image of the guy high tailing it out of there while the damsel in distress is left to fend for herself. Which makes me wonder--was the garden of Eden like that--Adam leaves, does a quick rewrite making Eve look like a snake lovin' hussy?
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Jun 4, 2019 8:20:23 GMT -5
Is that pronounced "huSSy" or "huZZy"?
J
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Post by foghorn on Jun 4, 2019 11:22:27 GMT -5
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Post by Pixie on Jun 4, 2019 12:25:16 GMT -5
Why is it that the woman gets the bad rap and picks up the brand? Pixie
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Post by foghorn on Jun 4, 2019 12:41:53 GMT -5
Because so far men have been afraid of women's sexuality or wished to control it (or both)? How else to explain why there's no male equivalent to skank....or hussy. In fact men are proud of being the male variant, for the most part.
Why did Hester Prynne get the scarlet A and not the guy who did the deed of darkness? We're not that far from those parts where women are attacked for violating the family "honor"* but the dude that did the dishonoring (sic) is ....well, still a duuuuuuuuude. *(I can never understand how attacking a woman somehow adds any lustre to a family''s honor--seems to me attacking a woman would be dishonor personified)
As to the the brand name, that particular brand was, I believe, conceived of by women, run by women.
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Post by acttwo on Jun 6, 2019 11:23:26 GMT -5
I reached out to my friend in Florida and here's his take on critters in that deadly, deadly state: ---- You really don't need the critters to make you crazy in Florida, but it DOES help! The gators do get restless in the spring during mating season, but the homes that get 'em in their back yards are generally on the freshwater canals than lead into the lakes and estuaries around here. Those critters are lazy - they don't want to crawl six blocks to get back into the water. Now, the snakes are a different story - pygmy rattlesnakes ARE land critters, so I'm happy to see the family of black snakes who live in our grass; they eat baby rattlers, and the rule is that if you have black snakes, you DON'T have rattlers. (Another good reason to have St. Augustine grass - you only mow it back to 4" or so high, and that's plenty of room for friendly snakes to live peaceably with humanity.) The Boas and big pythons are a BIG problem down in the 'glades - those critters aren't native and they have no predators. Idiots who thought it was cute buying one at Petco turn it loose after it grows to be three or four feet long. That swamp is like and all-you-can-eat buffet for those things, and they grow to ten or fifteen feet long, breed and multiply. The state has a bounty on 'em. --- Me again: I guess I'm glad he's happy, but no, no, no for ME. Pixie 's right, I would be the one to end up as a boa's brunch!
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Post by acttwo on Jun 6, 2019 11:30:20 GMT -5
Oh, yeah, forgot. Brazen Hussies is the name adopted by a crew of the first women lawyers to be ASAs and PDs in the county seat where I was a clerk for the trial court, way back in the early 1980's. They took it as a badge of honor when they realized the old guard of male attorneys were shocked to see these young women in "their" lawyers' watering hole. I was allowed to be an honorary member b/c I started a bit after they had formed. Of course, now I suspect they have all moved on to being rich lawyers, or even better, the judges in front of whom the haters have to appear!
Smile!
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Post by khalessi on Jun 6, 2019 11:37:55 GMT -5
I grew up and still live in central Florida. Gators don't scare me (I was taught to run zig zag if ever chased by one when I was a kid....I've never been chased...I just don't hang out near water's edge during mating season or dawn/dusk). Not a fan of snakes but I pay someone to mow my yard. The real thing you have to worry about are the people. Just joking. Well, not really. Every time a wild story breaks on the national news, I hold my breath and cross my fingers that it doesn't involve Florida. Spoiler alert: it generally involves Florida. Here's a fun one from yesterday www.wesh.com/article/brevard-county-deputy-shot-near-indialantic/27735440
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Post by Pixie on Jun 6, 2019 11:49:32 GMT -5
I grew up and still live in central Florida. Gators don't scare me ( I was taught to run zig zag if ever chased by one when I was a kid....I've never been chased...I just don't hang out near water's edge during mating season or dawn/dusk). Not a fan of snakes but I pay someone to mow my yard. The real thing you have to worry about are the people. Just joking. Well, not really. Every time a wild story breaks on the national news, I hold my breath and cross my fingers that it doesn't involve Florida. Spoiler alert: it generally involves Florida. Here's a fun one from yesterday www.wesh.com/article/brevard-county-deputy-shot-near-indialantic/27735440Interesting. I imagine the zigs and the zags would be of equal length? How long would each be; maybe 15 feet? Has anyone actually tried this tactic to see if it works, or is it just a hypothetical solution. Not that I ever intend on going to Florida again, but I might come across them somewhere else. Would be nice to be prepared. Pixie
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Post by khalessi on Jun 6, 2019 11:59:49 GMT -5
I grew up and still live in central Florida. Gators don't scare me ( I was taught to run zig zag if ever chased by one when I was a kid....I've never been chased...I just don't hang out near water's edge during mating season or dawn/dusk). Not a fan of snakes but I pay someone to mow my yard. The real thing you have to worry about are the people. Just joking. Well, not really. Every time a wild story breaks on the national news, I hold my breath and cross my fingers that it doesn't involve Florida. Spoiler alert: it generally involves Florida. Here's a fun one from yesterday www.wesh.com/article/brevard-county-deputy-shot-near-indialantic/27735440Interesting. I imagine the zigs and the zags would be of equal length? How long would each be; maybe 15 feet? Has anyone actually tried this tactic to see if it works, or is it just a hypothetical solution. Not that I ever intend on going to Florida again, but I might come across them somewhere else. Would be nice to be prepared. Pixie Apparently running zig zag is a myth! (I just googled it). Maybe the older kids told me that so the gators would get me and they would escape?? Well, I guess this lends further support to my argument that you have to be concerned about the people rather than the wildlife :-)
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Post by khalessi on Jun 6, 2019 12:03:13 GMT -5
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Post by stevil on Jun 6, 2019 12:52:43 GMT -5
Gators can launch themselves for short distances b/c of powerful tail. Don't ever get closer than 15 feet is my motto - and never take your eyes off them. They tend to try and sneak to within range of striking. Would concur with khalessi that they are unpredictable during mating season, otherwise they aren't looking to mess with you - much. On the upside, they make for terrific boots!
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Post by Pixie on Jun 6, 2019 13:13:49 GMT -5
Yeah, I wonder what the family of the woman killed in June of last year thinks of that? Hope she didn't try to run in zig zags. The time, distance and geometry of that just didn't add up for me. I imagine the gator just lay in wait and got her as she came by.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jun 6, 2019 21:46:09 GMT -5
During World War II surface ships zigzagged to make it harder for submarines to get a targeting solution.
With modern acoustic torpedoes, it probably does not help much.
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