The Desert Tortoise will get the shaft in the Republican controlled Utah legislature

The current, disturbing trend toward environmental deregulation is rampant, and in Utah they are talking about amending (read:castrating) the Endangered Species Act.
This is a precursor to the return of the London Fog.
Anybody remember what that is?
Didn't think so, that is why, in our short sighted ignorance this country is going backwards on environmental policy
You're all fucking morons.
Is war really just humans euthanizing each other anyway?

Is Steve Kates a good husband?

I guess the fundamental question is, were the animals at the Long Island Reptiles Museum in danger?
I would like character witnesses (good or bad) to come forward and enlighten me on this one. Was Steve taking care of those animals in a responsible way, when the SPCA seized them without a warrant?
If not, then he got screwed, severely.
Mr. Kates is filing suit against the SPCA.
Again if you have any information that would denigrate or exonerate Mr. Kates of these claims of animals mis-management, I would love to hear them.

Indian State Legislature of Orisssa Threatened by Snake Charmers

Snake Charmers in BHUBANESHWAR Orissa, India feel that their livelihood is being threatened by recent legislation that would make it illegal for them to maintain their roadside attractions.
The government counters that the charmers are thretening the snakes ability to conduct THEIR business of living in the wild, eating what snakes eat, and doing what snakes do. That's right, the Indian government is all about snake conservation, and vows that the shakedown on Snake Charmers will persist.
In related news, ignorant Scots believe that pythons are venomous. (5th story down.)

Corn Snakes, like many things, apparently originated in Mesopotamia!

Angelina Jolie, who is oh-so hot, in the opinion of snakepimp, is holding a CORN SNAKE, whilst portraying Alexander the Great's Mother. Chalk up another shining triumph for Hollywood producers!
"Get me a snake, Billy."
"What kind of snake, sir?"
"A Creepy red one about yea big, what the hell do I care boy? Now run along..."

Random Stories from around the web

Indonesian Snake busters Bag 2 Pythons
Bru Direct - Brunei Darussalam
By Rosli Ahidin Yahya. Bandar Seri Begawan - Indonesians based in Menglait once again demonstrated their prowess in hauling pythons ...

Hideo Kojima to make rare stateside appearance
GameSpot - USA
Fresh from the release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater for the PlayStation 2 last week, Kojima and Metal Gear Solid character designer Yoji Shinkawa will be ...

13-foot snake attacks owner, resulting in 17 stitches, officials ...
Corpus Christi Caller Times - Corpus Christi,TX,USA
By Sara Lee Fernandez Caller-Times. A 20-year-old woman had to have more than a dozen stitches early Tuesday after her 13-foot pet snake attacked her. ...

British celebrity thinks snakes aren't nice, when they bite.

Brilliant!
I mean really, Janet Street-Porter, do you think that dogs are nicer when they bite? Guess what, she only got bit three times, and probably by nothing larger than a corn snake. Sounds like feeding day at my place...
Actually, that's not true, I am smarter than my snakes and get bitten only very rarely.

San Francisco Garter conservation is taken seriously

The nation could learn a lesson in responsible conservation management from the California Department of Fish and Game, they even take herpetofauna conservation seriously. While I tend to feel that California's extremely restrictive laws tend to place too much of a bind on private hobbyists, I am heartened to know that they are very serious about enforcing their conservation statutes, even in the face of urban development. Click the title of this post, for the full story.