Only in . . . . !

[SeaAndSky]

Well, I was going to do this as "Only in Florida" which is something of a meme among some folks in the U.S. as it seems like lots of crazy headlines come from things that happen in Florida. Gators in the living room--no sweat! Crazy people doing crazy things--ho hum! Filthy rich people doing filthy rich things--yawn! College kids on Spring break doing unmentionable things--ordinary! Half-witted criminals doing half-witted criminal things--yup, that too!

Anyhow, I was going to do that, but decided it would be more fun to open it up. I'm sure that everyone here has some crazy things to report from their home turf, whether they consider that a city, county, province, country, etc. But I'm going to get things started with some of the usual subject matter for Florida--Alligators and what they're up to--and follow up with one of our least favorite pests--Pythons. (As you can tell we're big on reptiles--but don't forget the insects and spiders!)

Anyhow, here is a lead off about an alligator climbing a fence near where I live. (I didn't know they could do that!): https://people.com/pets/florida-alligator-climbing-fence/

Two other interesting gator tales cited in the same article. The one I found most humorous involves a gator getting into the good wine! https://people.com/pets/florida-alligator-breaks-into-home/ This is no surprise to me, as gators are generally considered to be boorish and uncouth guests!

Then, there is the gator that turned up far-far from home in Chilllllyyy Chicago--poor thing. https://people.com/pets/alligator-caught-chicago-humboldt-park/

However, on a more serious notes, one of our big problems is invasive species--especially PYTHONS! These get along very well in the state, and are wiping out our native wildlife--which we consider to be bad manners for guests! On a side note, there is some discussion of a group using the hunt for pythons in treating the PTSD of veterans, which is also cool.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/22/florida-python-action-team-snake-epidemic

Cordially,
S&S

 

[Eva1942]

You think Florida is bad? Hahaha.. you want to try being up in the Northern Territory of Aus

NT News, the newspaper of the Northern Territory put out a book of all these hilarious memes headlines... I tried hard to find a ‘clean’ one to add but I couldn’t, so you can see them all here: (some are a little crude but just skip those...)

https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/nort...mage-gallery/14c34390b2dd6b44f3998a7ccd289f03

Eva x

Ps. If you need any explanations for Australian slang, I’ll be happy to explain

 

[SeaAndSky]

Hi Eva,

No contest!! Australia is known to be king in the reptilian world! Gators can be mean, but Aussie Crocs are the biggest and baddest! Likewise, we've got plenty of snakes here including some well-known venomous varieties, but once again, as Steve Austin amply demonstrated, Australia is definitely the pre-eminent land of the poisonous snake! I don't know how Oz rates for insects overall, but I do know there are some venomous ones. So, maybe a tie on that one--I'd have to check. Plus, the link you sent shows Aussies--at least in the Northern Territory--can be just as crazy as Floridians. The headlines are classic--but I'll leave them for others to read. My favorite: "Our Dog Ate my __-String!" or maybe "Sexy Granny Drought!" But truly, it is hard to choose among such classic examples of journalistic (as well as human and animal) excess.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--However, as much as I admire Crocs as the biggest and baddest, I still think we score some points for gators that climb fences and get into the best wine!

 

[KenJ]

Here are a couple of visuals of "gators" doing the unexpected in Florida (Space-center) and North Carolina.

Ohio is unusual in that it is the only state with NO natural lakes within its boarders, Lake Erie is our Northern part, but we have but a part of it.

An uncle was once in charge of the canal systems in Southern Florida and in his book he spoke of losing his dog to a gator.

 

[SeaAndSky]

RE: Projected Hit by Hurricane Dorian at Category 3--

Well, its not only in Florida, but we do get a bit more than our fair share. Actually, with a peninsula that extends down into some of the warmest and most volatile waters in the world, Florida is kind of like the poor kid with the "Kick Me" sign taped to his back by the school bullies. Anyhow, fun and games probable for next week--possibly. The storm track projections keep shifting all over the place, but you don't have to have an exact hit if it becomes a Category 3 as projected. Who said "close" only counts in horse shoes?

Anyhow, wish me luck.

Cordially,
S&S

PS--I'm up close to the NE corner of the state, so not in the exact center of the projected track at the moment, but . . . .