I had to actually look it up, but it appears to be the [URL="http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.ruber.html"]Crotalus ruber[/URL]
or [URL="http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.o.helleri.html"]Crotalus oreganus helleri[/URL]

[QUOTE=Batalov;467234]I had to actually look it up, but it appears to be the [URL="http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.ruber.html"]Crotalus ruber[/URL]
or [URL="http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.o.helleri.html"]Crotalus oreganus helleri[/URL][/QUOTE]
I thought the shape of the head was suggestive of rattlers. What did you do about it?

Very nice exemplar!
What you need, is [URL="http://www.vmsherp.com/4SaleKingsnakes.htm"]this one[/URL].
They like to eat your snake, they are not venomous, and they are actually quite good as pets :razz:

[QUOTE=LaurV;467325]Very nice exemplar!
What you need, is [URL="http://www.vmsherp.com/4SaleKingsnakes.htm"]this one[/URL].
They like to eat your snake, they are not venomous, and they are actually quite good as pets :razz:[/QUOTE]
That would do the trick. Set a snake to catch a snake. :smile:

[QUOTE=chalsall;467068]Please stay vigilant. Mother nature is a harsh mistress, and owes you nothing.[/QUOTE]

Just as a follow up...

Although Barbados is ~400 km south of Hurricane Jose, this morning we experienced 2.1" (5.3 cm) of rain in an hour. Downward sloping roads became rivers; flat roads became lakes.

As someone who has directly experienced Hurricane Ivan in 2004 (it, unusually, slipped beneath Barbados) and Tropical Storm Tomas in 2010 (it became a hurricane just after passing, and killed many in St. Lucia), IMO people who have not experienced this kind of thing just don't appreciate how dangerous these typhoons can be!

Please, please, please!

If you are in Florida, and can, LEAVE NOW!

P.S. I was watching CNN last night, and there was an interview with a guy who, along with 7 other men, were going to ride out the storm in their boats. Their fall-back shelter? A wooden boat shed at sea level. RIP.

One of my friends went to the San Diego Zoo safari and said that the Cheetah Run was awesome. You get to watch a cheetah sprint a ~6 second 100m. So I went to their website and found an intriguing "ultimate safari" for $690/person. Here's the description:

[quote]
Our team of professionals will customize your visit to suit your needs and interests. Are you a thrill seeker looking for an exciting adventure? Or perhaps you're looking for a journey to some of the most exclusive areas of the Park? Maybe you want to get up close and personal with animal ambassadors? The Ultimate Safari is your key to off-exhibit areas, animal interaction, and the very best in personalized service.
[/quote]You can probably guess what happened next - I asked them whether I could race a cheetah (with a head start, obviously), as part of my ultimate safari experience. I mean, if Kobayashi can go against a bear in an eating competition (see: [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgqbCq_sxmo[/URL]) ,shouldn't I get a chance at a man vs. beast contest?

I told them that I was a former track sprinter who was excited about this opportunity, and I received this response:
[quote]Thank you for your email and interest in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and
the Ultimate Safari.

All of our animals are maintained in a way to ensure their safety and the
safety of our guests. Though some of the animals in our collection may
appear docile or even tame, we treat the majority of our collection as wild
populations and limit contact with even our most experienced keepers. [B]We
are not aware of any accredited organization within the United States that
would permit such an encounter as you have described.[/B]
[/quote]No bueno :sad: Oh well, I guess this will have to do for now:
[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIcPsPFWcns[/URL]
(Bryan Habana's sprint speed is about 10% faster than mine)

[QUOTE=fivemack;446635]While I was buying a metro ticket at Universitat station in Barcelona this evening, some miscreant engaged me in conversation then reached round and stole the phone from my jacket pocket. I've remote-erased the phone, which was fingerprint-locked anyway, and suspect the miscreant's fence lives on Carrer de Cordova near the C-31 road by the docks.[/QUOTE]
Brian and I are now back from Barcelona, where we were also targeted by a pickpocket on the metro.
He didn't get anything this time, but came uncomfortably close.
What we learned:
[LIST=1][*]Someone standing in the middle of a crowded train, being tossed about by it, may be having trouble finding a handrail to hold on to. Alternatively, they may be doing this deliberately so that people get used to being brushed against, and less likely to notice when their pockets are picked.[*]If you are standing between a pickpocket and the door as the crowded train approaches a station, they can apply pressure (as if anxious to reach the door in time to get out). In order to keep your balance, you may be forced to carry on holding the handrail until the train has juddered to a complete standstill, and in the last few seconds you are especially vulnerable to having your pocket picked on the side of the hand you are using.[/LIST]Written like this, it sounds obvious, but at the time I didn't realize immediately what was happening.

[QUOTE=Nick;468250][...]He didn't get anything this time, but came uncomfortably close.[...]
[/QUOTE]
Nick's telephone was removed from his pocket but turned up on the floor of the train, so unlike fivemack he didn't suffer any more than being shaken up. While it's possible that the thief clumsily dropped it, I think it's more likely that the person had thought it was a wallet and abandoned it when they realised that it was an old-style bulky phone which would be worthless to them.

We just put our older cat down. She has been very sick and was clearly in pain. We only had her for nine months, but we were all very attached to her. This never gets easy.

It is sad even to hear of it. I was present at the death of a friend's old and beloved dog. Both of us howled for Spotty.

this what happened to me, following my trip to the US

[url]http://health.ccm.net/faq/28-diabetic-acidosis[/url]

Got a few day of artificial coma and I'm back home now. Leg are still a bit weak/shaky, but had no other
consequences