The Snakepimp Times

snakepimp is changing for the whatever

2007-12-26T00:06:00.000-08:00

snakepimp dot c0m is changing, it has really become my personal web playground, where I write about whatever I feel like writing about.
I will be posting here on blogger from time to time, just to keep it fresh. Be warned that if you go to my site you might see boobs, which is OK, as long as you are of legal age to do so. I haven't written much about reptiles lately, it has really gone on the back-burner for me after a long string of bad luck with my animals.
I will continue to rant and rave, and you'll be able to read it all here, when I bother to update this site. Be advised, snakepimp dot com is changing for the whatever.

I almost forgot that I have a blog. But that is fine.

2005-06-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Nothing to say today, particularly. Just remembered that I have a blog...
Today in the news, we have a fabulous herpetological vacation opportunity; a Hostel in Lucknow is infested with snakes. Get you reservation now, they won't be there long.
Anther foolish individual got bit feeding his cobra, big surprise.
I guess that's it for today, I will try to post more often in the future...

Mr. Cope, please excuse my journalistic and literary ineptitude.

2005-03-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

It's truly unfortunate, Mr Cope, that you rely solely on the, "handful of other socially inept obsessives who are aware of your every thought." to survive in your chosen career path. If your career's very existence did not rely completely on them, then I suppose the opening statement of your article of March 9th 2005 entitled, "If I Had My Drathers: Unclogging the blog fog." would have carried some weight. Surely, you must agree, Mr. Cope, that readers of opinion pieces are simply searching for a way to, "piss away ...hours," and it is your duty to help them, by, "throwing more useless crap into the...(metaphor removed)...landfill." Landfill is used, in the preceding case, in the literal sense. You don't like my punctuation style, Bill? BYTE ME. "No offense,..."
How low must you stoop for journalistic sizzle without substance? "No, offense.." may be the most unquestionably juvenile way to make oblique the insult of judgmental diatribe. I am disappointed that you, a professional journalist, so gloriously lofted before us as the avatar of literacy, could dredge up such bilge. I am not, myself, unlikely or unknown to use such a technique, but I am not a "professional journalist." I am a 30 year old high school dropout with a blog. It seems to me ironic that a pleasantly left-leaning individual such as yourself should not see the hidden inconsistency in your request to, "please excuse my reliance on old-fashioned paper and ink," in two small ways. First; anything "old-fashioned" is clearly in the domain of the conservatives, and is never to be sullied by the lip service of a liberal. Second; the trees, Bill, think about the trees.
Keep in mind, Bill, that I am not the force intent on revoking your license to refer to the "old-fashioned," nor to appear in newsprint. No more so than it was bloggers who flayed Dan Rather. Rather, Dan's cacophonous flogging from blogging was mere accompaniment to the media blitzkrieg symphony, and the conductor before the orchestra was most assuredly not a vast internet blogger cabal. Dan's lashing was by backlash of political whips, not blogs. It was the rocks other side of the aisle they were throwing, they just used blogs as slings. The use of the blogs is/was/will-be reported by many "real news" sources as if these blogs hold some weight in the overall journalistic scheme, so perhaps they do. Blaming the blogs for Dan's resignation is very nearsighted, though they have proven a popular scapegoat. I believe Dan Rather was dead-on with the assertions he made that lead to "BlogGate", and his departure is an unfortunate travesty. However, the blog, like any powerful tool (such as a newspaper), can be used for good or evil, honestly, or dishonestly. It is not the blog that is dishonest; it is the person writing it. Blogs don't ruin careers, political machinations ruin careers. Do you get what I'm driving at here yet, Bill?
If, Mr. Cope, you were to peruse my blog, The Snakepimp Times (www.snakepimp.blogspot.com) you would find nary a, "lol" nor would you find "IMHO." In fact, I don't believe that you would even find "OBO," which, of course, is an ubiquitous mutation of language used in the newspaper. Yes, most of my articles are short, but that is what is required to hold the attention of an internet audience. The graphics on my blog are extremely simple, and could not carry the overall message of the blog itself. My language is crass and confrontational, much like yours at times, mine is perhaps a bit more radical because of the given the restrictions of your media. Blogging specifically, and the internet generally, is the last and most vastly available outlet for truly free media. Blogging allows us (humankind) a broader perspective on the possible truths of a given situation, like a quantum probability field. There is no better medium than the internet for worldwide peer review of any subject. The tiniest exercise in discernment can separate the truly illiterate vanity bloggers from a blogger with an ability to use language somewhat, and those who have something legitimate to convey. I am saddened that you think all blogs are to blame for the linguistic ills of our culture. Many of those now engaged in frantic blogging are hard-working students who will grow up to be the next Dan Rather, or Hunter S. Thompson or...okay, Matt Drudge.
I respect, in general, your writing, and have enjoyed the great majority of your articles because I am the misanthrope you describe in your "If I Had My Drathers," article's opening paragraph. I respect, and mostly agree, with your politics, but you are too conservative. I lean so far to the left that I am unpublishable, even by my own standards. Was your use of the non-word "opinionizing" an intentional ruse to catch unwary bloggers-who-happen-to-read-print-too, or was it an "Easter Egg" like computer-programmers hide to entertain their astute-enough-to-get-it audience? Perhaps it was an honest-to-goodness mistake not to use the word "opining?" I am leaning towards the Easter Egg theory, because you go on to use "whole nother" (of which I am guilty, in verbal use) and "teevee." Perhaps it is just an attention check. Well, some of us are paying attention, Bill, and we all have blogs. One misstep on your part, and I will release the internet blog-people-hyenas.
lol,
Jeremy Anderson

Not quite as bad as drowning your own baby

2005-02-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is just sad. This is a story about a pathetic, lazy, sadistic whacko, I guess.
Maybe the Boa had IBD, and had to be put down. But, if that is the case, then the whole river just got contaminated! Just like in Cabin Fever
Every time I update my blog, I end up feeling sick. Thanks a lot, humanity.

I assume no responsibility for this

2005-02-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy pictures of inebriated fools, then this is the site for you.

T.V. Perpetuates the fiction

2005-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

I think I'm going to puke.
I haven't watched T.V. in so long, I had almost forgotten how repugnantly stupid it can be.

Nothing but an Advertisement

2005-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

The VenomDoc Forums

2005-02-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

Doctors Brian Grieg, and Alexia Fry: the worlds foremost venom researchers are hosting a fabulous set of forums. Go check it out, you might learn something. Oh, and they are really nice humans, in fact.

More idiots with Hots make it hard for me to keep Boas

2005-02-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Look, I know that there are people out there who keeps "hot" herps that aren't idiots, but the vast majority I have met in my life are one sandwich short of a picnic basket.
I know that responsible, sane, sober people can get bit by their cobra too, and I applaud those trained, well-equipped keepers of venomous snakes who are doing it for a reason, such as venom research, or running reptile-house at a zoo or something. The problem I have with irresponsible lay-people who keep hots is that they make all of the rest of look like crazed maniacs who are a menace to the public health. In fact, irresponsibility with gas Bar-B-Q's causes many more deaths and injuries than irresponsibility with venomous snakes does, but the number of humans interactiing with gas Bar-B-Q's is much larger than with Rhinocerous vipers.

For all of you "Hot" heads our there Here's a clue: Keep hots that your local hospital has antivenom for!
I bet that there is not generally a lot of call for Bitis antivenom in Ohio, so the hospital is not going to have it.
If your local hospital doens't have the antivenom you want, find out who does, and have the information at the ready for your health care provider, so that they don't spend hours wondering where they are going to get Dendroaspis antivenom. In fact, it might be a good idea to contact your hospital, tell them what you're doing, and provide them with information on how to save your ass, such as, "Do not perform a fasciotomy, you morons."
The snake in this story, a Rhinoceros Viper (Bitis nasicornis) is boldly proclaimed to be one of the world's deadliest, without a shred of evidence to support such a claim. By "one of" the world's deadliest, maybe they mean: "Top 50" species, I don't know.

One Lonely Geek

2005-02-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

I hope this link doesn't expire, this is a story of a very lonely man, who had spent his life playing too much D&D and too many video games, and eating Cheetos.
This is perhaps, the alternate ending to the productive period of my own life, if I had chosen a different path.
He kidnapped a woman (his ex-girlfriend) at sword point? I have not the words for the loneliness tht would possess a man to do this. Maybe bladed weapons make her hot, but she wasn't in the mood, so she pressed charges, which makes her even hotter. He did not intend, it seems, to harm her, he just couldn't get a date by other means. (at least that's what I get out of it.)

(puff puff pass, fool.)
The woman was unharmed. Police found also a 6-foot Boa constrictor, and that is significant to this story in what way, exactly?

The Humane society updates

2005-01-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it, the HSUS has finally published something good about the horror of rattlesnake roundups.
They still don't want us to keep reptiles as pets, to protect us, apparently, from salmonella.
Odd, then that they don't want to eliminate cats and dogs as pets, since the carry up to 14 diseases that are dangerous and communicable to humans, and reptiles only carry one.

Further Proof that dumb men get bit on the hand by venomous snakes

2004-12-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

It was a small victory against statistical tyranny that he wasn't drunk, too.
B.O. "Buddy" Jones of Red River Parrish near Coushetta LA, died Tuesday December 21st. It was less than 12 hours since he had been bitten on the hand by his beloved canebrake rattlesnake. He had maintained a pair of these darling pets for over 9 years, and they were considered a novelty in the pawn shop where he maintained them. Apparently Buddy's family is from the wading end of the gene pool, as evidenced by the obvious mental handicap of any person who would attempt the feeding of a 9 year rattlesnake using his BARE HANDS.
I would like to officially nominate this genius for a Darwin Award, and thank him for removing himself from the Game of Life.
In all seriousness, this guy gives responsible herping a bad name.
I honestly think that guys who keep "hots" (that is, venomous reptiles) as a hobby are really stupid in the first place, and asking for trouble. (Notice that this post is sexist. That is because women are not testosterone-driven thrill seeking monkeys, on the whole, and I am unaware of any significant number of women who keep venomous animals for fun.)
The real trouble is this; These rednecks with cognitive deficiencies are giving ammunition to groups (see HSUS stance on reptile ownership) who want to ban reptile ownership, partially or completely using laws based on emotional reactions to the actions of idiots who deserved to die any way.
If you keep hots, and you think I am a terrible person for suggesting that you are less than intelligent, perhaps I should amend.
Intelligence is learning from your own mistakes.
Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others.
It is unwise to keep venomous snakes for fun, particularly if you are not going to take the simple precautions of using protective equipment and procedures. I have no empathy for fools like Buddy Jones.
Here is an inspirational picture of a "minor" bite from a Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis lutosis)
Aren't rattesnakes cool pets?
Just great, I am so impressed.

New York reptile owners are about to get screwed

2004-12-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

If you live in New York, and you own a Boa Constrictor, you are about to become a criminal. A sweeping, and doubtlessly overreaching bill has passed in the Stat of New York which bans a number of admittedly dangerous animals from being kept as pets.
However, alongside Black Mambas, Polar bears, and Lions, are the entirety of FAMILY Boidae! Now you can't have a 14 inch Rubber Boa.
By the way, Bob Krantz education director of the Western New York Herpetological Society is not on your side. He said, "Not everybody should have a 15-foot boa constrictor." How many Boa constrictors have you seen that were 15 feet? Maybe one, if you were lucky. What about Children's Pythons? They don't get very big. BANNED! What about 4-5 foot Hog Island Boas? BANNED! Rosy Boas? BANNED! Spotted Pythons? BANNED Womas? BANNED! Blood Pythons, Ball Pythons? BANNED!

Not everybody should have sharp object, but we don't go banning them because a very small number of people are irresponsible.
Ban Motor vehicles, they're a grave threat to our populace!
I personally support regulation (not banning) of dangerously venomous animals, but banning FAMILY BOIDAE is absolutely draconian, ignorant, and possibly unconstitutional.
I am so pissed right now, I can hardly breathe, and I live in Idaho...

Rattlesnakes bite young drunk men.

2004-12-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent article on the ecological importance of predation, from bears , to wolves, to rattlesnakes.
And statistically, it's true, 80% of all people bitten by rattlesnakes are intoxicated, and the majority are young men, who have been bitten on the hand.

Free Corn Snake!

2004-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

Click link in the title of this post to win a free heterozygous for Lavender (and who knows what else) Corn Snake!
Put the words "Free CornSnake" in the Subject field.
Don't forget to include your name and email address.
you must regsiter for the www.gemstatereptiles.com forums
to qualify.
There is an amel het for lavender, and an anery het for lavender available to choose from. Both are 2004 females.
Drawing will take place on December 25th.

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

2004-11-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

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?

2004-11-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2004-11-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-25T08:06:00.000-08:00

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.

2004-11-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

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

2004-11-25T07:54:00.000-08:00

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.

JOHN STEWART FOR PRESIDENT!

2004-10-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

I am serious, this guy is pure gold. Exposing hypocrisy is a virue, and he takes no prisoners on that battlefield. Non-partisan to the extreme, and with a higher IQ than our current commander-in-chief, how can you go wrong?

Dr Brady Barr makes Herpetological History

2004-10-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

Click on the link in the title for history in the making! You heard it here first. Brady Barr is the first man in history to capture every crocodile species. My wife (girlfriend actually,) is the massage therapist of Dr. Barr's mother, and Mrs. Barr occasionally brings news snippets regarding her remarkable son to Becky, for me, because she knows I am nuts for reptiles. Dr. Barr works for National Geographic. This is what she brought TODAY! (I have blotted out her name, out of respect for her anonymity.) I just couldn't wait to tell you all!

http://www.gemstatereptiles.com/Images/Misc/BradyBarr.JPG

Brady Barr

Rap, Snakes and Murder

2004-10-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

This story is like bad fiction. I can't even believe it's real. What in the hell does the snake have to do with any of it? And, since it somehow does bear being mentioned in the story, why isn't there any notice of who is caring for this snake? If anybody has information about the welfare of the snake in this story, please contact me.

Details of Recent Fatality Witheld

2004-10-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

The details of a reptilian fatality in SanDiego were witheld, pending an investigation. It is clear that fould play must have been a factor in the death of the unidentified serpent.

Yeah, but where can I get a kosher Croc Monitor?

2004-10-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

Tom Bingol of St. Mark By the Sea Lutheran Church in Palm Coast Will bless your pet, be it furry feathered or scaly. How non-demoninational of him. I am pleased to see this kind of openness to reptiles, even if no one else cares.

Ali Hasnain Abid Faiz is a man of peace, but I bet he can't make it to Chicago without a body cavity search

2004-09-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

There is an Indian man promoting knowledge and understanding about snakes and other oft-maligned critters, such as scorpions. Good for him, good for you, good for Lucknow.

More fabulous reviews from Kentucky and beyond

2004-09-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Review

Other Review

The average IQ in KY is 92, which is better than my own home state of Idaho which boasts a dismal average of 87.

Apparently we're not even smart enough to write our own review of Anacondas: Hunt For The Blood Orchid.

Author, Author, there's a lynch mob at your door.

Yet another

More

Positively glowing, no?

2004-09-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Someone finally gets it

2004-09-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Winnipeg Sun finally pointed out the glaring scientific errors of my favorite target - Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid. Thanks to Bruce Kirkland for making Manitoba, and the world, aware of this inexcuseable bullshit He's too damn nice about it though...*sigh*

The Lodi News-Sentinel ---->Wants your money.

2004-09-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Whatever.

A Copperhead bite probably won't kill a human

2004-09-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Lucky for her.

Go to snakepimp.com, we don't have venomous snakes!

F*(K THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES IN IT'S STUPID @$$!!!

2004-09-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

There's a long way to go, especially in the East and South where Rattlesnake Roundups are still taking place, and being marketed as family events. The ever-dubious-where-reptiles-are-concerned Humane Society of the United States all but condones these awful spectacles of slaughter. Consider this quote "The sacking contests involve non-venomous snakes as well as wild-caught western diamondback rattlesnakes imported from Texas and Oklahoma. Pennsylvania events not organized by the Keystone Reptile Club involve snake catch and release only. None of the Pennsylvania events involve activities that are common at roundups held in other states. The Pennsylvania events will not include public snake slaughter, daredevil acts, the use of snakes with their mouths sewn shut as photo props, or the sale of snake meat or other snake parts and products."

THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE SLAUGHTER OF SNAKES MENTIONED ON THE HSUS WEB PAGE OTHER THAN THIS QUOTE! THEY APPARENTLY DON'T HAVE A VERY HUMANE POSITION ON ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT CUTE AND FUZZY. THEY ARE GUILTY BY OMISSION. If "activities that are common at roundups held in other states"
SUCH AS:
...public snake slaughter, daredevil acts, the use of snakes with their mouths sewn shut as photo props"
are not openly condemned by the "Humane Society" then they must be silently advocating these activities. Paramount hypocrisy has been realized.

New Sony Film: Attack of The Zimbabwean Polar Bears!

2004-09-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

Chalk up another rave review Newsday coughed up 2-Stars for the brilliance of the Sony Pictures Film: Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid after being paid-off by a brown shoed square in the dead of night. The reviews are virtually unanimous that the monkey is the smartest character in the film, other than the snakes, whos' wisdom is evidenced by their uncontrollable urge to kill all of the Idiots-On-The-Boat.

BALL PYTHON FOUND IN HAWAII

2004-09-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

The infamous snake recently reported in Hawaii may have been a Ball Python (Python regius)
According to the AP, 2 men driving by Waipahu Elementary School captured the four foot serpent, and turned it in to local authorities. Snakes turned-in in this manner are sent to a Reptile Park in Florida to die in a hurricane...(kidding). I think that is a good policy, pest snakes are often euthanized, or beaten to death by "local authorities." It seems the United States is beginning to achieve enlightenment where snakes are concerned.

Anacondas: Hunt for The Blood Orchid Still Sucks

2004-09-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

Jason Anderson (no relation) of the Toronto Eye Weekly generously gave 2 stars to the rancid vomit of cinema; Anaconda: Hunt for a new Screenplay Writer. I just can't get over this one, snakes get a bad enough rap as it is, and it is silly sick and sad that Sony Pictures feels they can capitalize on un-scientific fearmongering, but then again so does our current US government.

The Beacon Journal Agrees

2004-08-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

Anacondas: The Hunt for The Blood Orchid SUCKS! I didn't have to endure this turd to figure that one out. The reviewer is not exactly a superior intellect, nor does he wield mastery of the English language, but he does get the point: This movie blows goats. Please see my earlier post called:

This may be the stupidest movie of all time

for a more substantive critique of this cinematic travesty's obvious flaws.
I will post more published reviews of this gem later.

Rescued Burmese Pythons Breed in the UK

2004-08-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

Oh great, more "pets" for unprepared teenagers to neglect, but they really are cute when they are babies. Oh Paradox, curse you, my fickle mistress.

Firefighter without prejudice

2004-08-30T00:52:00.000-07:00

In Auburn, ME a firefighter rescued a 6-foot Boa constrictor from a blazing building, because some pansy-bitch was afraid to touch it. She could have saved us a lot of trouble by just saving in the first place, good lord. how far will people's irrational fear go? Well, at least the Fireman wasn't acting like a "Sally" about it. Firefighters are cool, but not as cool as ninjas

NERD rescues crocodilian

2004-08-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

New England Reptile Distributors has agreed to take a caiman, or an alligator, or something, the article is contradictory....
Anyway, this crocodilian was found wandering around on the road in Hudson, New Hampshire. NERD has decided to keep it for educational purposes, as in, "are you sure you want one of these in your house"-type education. I wish that more journalists knew what the hell they were writing about, is it a croc, or a gator?

What about the Renoir?

2004-08-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

It's hard to fence a two-headed albino Black-Ratsnake. Some Teenagers in St. Louis MO underestimated how hard it would be to sell such a unique animal after they stole it from the city museum.

Another abandoned Snake

2004-08-30T00:23:00.000-07:00

This one was evidently an anaconda which was found in a bag out in the alley near Hayes Avenue in Racine Wisconsin. I think anacondas are scary, personally, I don't think that snakes as big as Burmese Pythons and Anacondas should be promoted as pets for the general public. By the same token, if on the other side of it, people who want them should be allowed to have them. The problem arises when people buy on impulse, a "cute little" python at the pet store without the high-school-age employee explaining that it will possibly outweigh a large man, feed on rabbits and require a small bedroom for an enlosure within 3 years. The people in pet stores need to be more well informed, and well paid to avoid the propagation of such irresponsible (both to the animals and human society) marketing. Unfortunately, we have bigger problems in the world, so this will probably not change any time soon.

Reptiles as public entertainment?

2004-08-30T00:18:00.000-07:00

I don't quite grasp what they are doing for entertainment here, is it educational lectures, or pornographic dancing, or what? "reptile entertainer" is not a term I have heard before. Maybe I should read the whole article, but I am too tired right now.

Australia ...

2004-08-30T00:12:00.000-07:00

...is supporting reptile pet education and understanding, but they still think the average U.S. citizen is a whack-job. Bearded dragons are the most popular pet in the U.S. which surprises me as much as it surprises the Aussies.

What the...? Beaten with a black snake? Was it an indigo? Or .....whatever...sigh

2004-08-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

Truth = Stranger than Fiction

check it out ~ Snakepimp.com

Some whore (or madam) abandoned an Albino Burmese Python

2004-08-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

An Albino Burmese Python was rescued from a vacated escort service in South Africa. The former owner of the establishment will face criminal prosecution. This is another example ignorant jerks and their pets. Hey, it happens to dogs too, and they have eyelids.

Idaho Falls has it's own Exotic Pet Store?

2004-08-29T23:44:00.000-07:00

The not-so booming mecca of Idaho Falls, Idaho has an exotic pet store called Predator's Paradise. The owners name is Jeff Southwick, and I guess I am surprised I don't know him because there are only 12 reptile enthusiasts in this state....
He is trying to get the public schools to bring reptiles into the classroom for educational purposes, which is a great idea (if not terribly original) I am very much a proponent of this sort of thing, it engages kids to participate, and enthusiasm does wonders for the ability to learn, and therefore to teach. I intend to promote similar projects here in the Boise Public School District.

Home Owners insurance will screw you...

2004-08-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

If you own a pet snake
No doubt about it
Check me out @ snakepimp.com ~ We have fly girls

Snakes are not evil, in case you were wondering

2004-08-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

This is a nice article about somebody who is fascinated by a snake the lives in their yard. It is very cool to see people who are fairly ignorant of reptiles enjoying their local herpetofauna without harrrassing or murdering it.

The search for the HAWAIIAN SNAKE continues

2004-08-29T23:23:00.000-07:00

There has been very little progress in the search for the snake spotted in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago, although it is sounding like it was spotted in a tree, so it may be arboreal, and that is bad news. Is it the dreaded Brown Tree Snake, which gained grand infamy in Guam, due to it's devastating effect on the indigenous bird populations (among other things) there?

Ohio Reptile Shows are abundant

2004-08-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of reptile shows in Ohio. This seems so fantastic to me, as I live in Idaho where there are NO reptile exhibitions, and hte nearest are 100's of miles away, infrequent and small compared to the Eastern U.S. shows. I guess that just means there is room for growth out here in the West.

Snake Charmers are going out of business in India

2004-08-29T23:05:00.000-07:00

I have read about this a couple of times now. India passed a wildlife protection law in 1972, and they are just recently getting around to enforcing it. Poverty is a huge problem in India, as it is, and many of the "Snake Charmers" are among the poorest. With the likelihood of going to jail for practicing their craft, snake charmers are demanding that the government give them jobs so that they can survive. I have mixed feelings about this, many (80,000 per annum) are killed during this kind of performance, but I agree that humans deserve to survive. What about jobs doing conservation field-work, or research on wilderness conservation. If the snake-charmers aren't literate or skilled in some way, well then I guess they are screwed...

Snakepimp <------ SLACKER

2004-08-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

I have fallen a bit behind, so we will start with general reptiles stuff first.

The Philadelphia Zoo has an impressive collection of spitting cobras, apparently. Good for them, better they than I! Those things scare me. They also have the first US captive bred Giant River Otter, aptly named Primero.
As reported by the Scotsman, The University of Exeter has an excellent program for conservation of Sea Turtles in West Africa, good on them!
The death of fine art is precipitated by a Gulf Coast Box Turtle. Good thing Classical Music is already in a state of living death, or I might be upset by this news. I care very little for visual art by comparison to music. The story is cute, but you won't catch me buying a $480 painting form a turtle...an excellent comment on the state of the arts in the United States.
In Essex CT they captured an escaped pet alligator, just a little one. It probably would not have made it through the winter up there anyway. People who buy an animal like an alligator, and release it because it got too big, are a pox on the pet trade. If you keep reptiles, be responsible, and promote the same responsibility in others. Another gator was pulled from Lee's Summit Lake in Missouri. People suck.
DREAM JOB ALERT!!!
If I didn't have a family who, I would sell everything I own to take advantage of this offer. Volunteers are neeed to study endangered reptiles in South Africa. Accomodations and meals are included, the volunteer must pay for his/her own travel. If you love the snakes of Africa, this is the job for you! We just bought a house, or I still might consider leaving for a year to do this ...
An escaped monitor lizard is eating small livestock, and trying to eat a yorkshire terrier, in Vidalia Mississippi. (sweet) In all seriousness, this is another example of irresponsible herp ownership.
That's it for general news, the next post will be really long, and will concern snakes more directly.

Thanks, Jeremy Anderson

Visit : SNAKEPIMP.com

The Week in Snakes

2004-08-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lincolnshire England, UK has a Creepy Zoo, with a CREEPY Corn Snake...ewww
Pune, India has fiberglass and wooden snake idols. I feel that this is a good alternative to murder by mouth-sewing of 80,000 snakes per annum.
Certain components of snake venom will be used to treat heart disease , or does it just act like snake venom?
File under: Occupational Hazard
A snake in Maui, Hawaii eludes it's fervent seekers.
The South side of Twin Falls has Arsenic in the water , which has nothing to do with snakes, but it is near the Snake River....and I live downstream.
Remember, especially in the case of flooding, that no one ever gets bitten by leaving a snake alone. Whatever, how much fun is that?
Vineland NJ is changing development plans for a bunch of birds and snakes.
Kristen Stanford Phd. is a dedicated herpetologist in the Great Lakes area, whom I would like to acquaint myself with.
A man got bit by a copperhead in Russelville, AL. He's okay.
California Schools are going to hell. They can't even afford a pet snake any more!
That's about it.
Look for more on snakepimp.com ~ word

The last few days.

2004-08-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

8/11/04
Here are the last few days worth of snake-related news. A "large grey snake" scared the holy crap out of the entire municipality of Slimbridge Gloucestershire, enough that all of Scotland took notice.The species, and possible danger to man are unknown.
People in Northeast Philadelphia were also terrified of a "four foot black snake." Nobody took enough High School Biology to figure out that it wasn't (likely to be) venomous. Does it have a triangle shaped head? NO? Well then, it ain't venomous. In Northeast Philadelphia, there are no coral snakes! It is either crotalinae, or non-venomous. The likelihood of an ((a) venomous) escapee pet is infinitesimally small.
By contrast, some people in Centre Drive, Epping UK saved a little grass snake, so sayeth The Epping Forest Guardian. I find these people very compassionate and sensible in their lawmaking, not to meniton their enforcement of it.
A guy named Victor has some snakes.
There is a snake babysitter in Hersheypark Penn. Actually, I bet he doesn't know much about snakes, but he might watch it for a day or two at The Barking Lot.
8/12/04
In Madh, they found a terrifying Rat-snake whilst shooting a soap-opera, or something.
Playing with small unwilling captives in Scranton.
Life as a zookeeper sounds good to me, aside from possible dismemberment.
8/13/04
This guy is owned by the HSUS, and is furthering their anti-reptile agenda. By the way, the HSUS doesn't want you to kill and eat rattlesnakes and other serpents, but it's okay to displace and harrass them, they're promoting a rattlesnake roundup! That's humane? snakepimp<------- not impressed.
Here's a moment where I was less than impressive. I was just being verbose, and I realized the real problem with hybridizing, and I felt the cry of the conservationist inside me, and now I want to make salmontines badly. By the way, when did conservatives seperate themselves from the word conservation, even though it has the same root word as their organizations supposed ethic?
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is gearing up for Hurricane Charlie, and putting some of the other animals in the reptile room.
SNAKE SPOTTED IN HAWAII! This is a big deal.
They don't have snakes in Hawaii, unlike in New Delhi, where you might get a snake in your rice. This is a grand illustration of the diversity of life experiences the Homo sapiens endures.
A Bad Businessman, Brook Berntson in Denver CO. who dealt in illegal wildlife has been sentenced for being a complete moron. Irresponsible jerks like this make all reptile enthusiasts look bad, don't support them.
That's about it. Come visit, or contact me at snakepimp.com
~ Jeremy

This may be the stupidest movie of all time

2004-08-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Chalk up another stroke of genius for the people at Sony Pictures . Why don't you write them an email to tell them how bloody brilliant it was to set a movie called: Anacondas: The hunt for the Blood Orchid in Borneo, where no Anacondas live? Pure genius folks, I am stunned. The sheer mass of ignorance involved to make this possible must create it's own significant gravitational force. Maybe it is because amazon.com is out of this book. Or maybe they didn't "google" Anaconda before approving production of this little gem. I am sure it will sweep the Oscars this year.

Video games with snakes in them are cool.

2004-08-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

A SNAKE GAME for your Palm-based handheld computer is now available. Not terribly scientific, but cute.

South Africa has Corn Snakes too!

2004-08-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

Best in Show has not been announced, but proceedings have begun at a South African Snake Beauty Pageant
Similar things happen at Reptile Expos here in the US, but why not have a stand-alone reptile show with judges and everything? It's a great idea. If this is inspiring to you, email me
I would be willing to try to organize something like this locally.

Ventura County Fair has a "BLACK" Boa constrictor

2004-08-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe this link will work, maybe not. The Ventura County Star wants you to register on their site to read a cute little story about how some people at the Ventura County Fair are afraid of snakes, and others are not. It also goes further to illustrate that people who are educated at a young age are not afraid of them generally, and people who have no understanding of them are scared of them. This is analogous to many things in our lives, don't you think? Interestingly, there was a booth at the fair named "Amazon Wonders" which contained a kingsnake (what kind? who knows? I bet it wasn't from the amazon basin though...) and an albino burmese python. Doesn't it ever occur to people to do research on the subject they are writing about anymore. I'm referring of course to journalists which, come to think of it, really are something other than people (or writers) after all...nevermind.
Try bug me not, if you don't want to register just to read this link.
Email me directly @ snakepimp.com

Romulus Whitaker promotes understanding/education in India

2004-08-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Romulus Whitaker the dashing jungle delver of India's Chennai, wants you to know that only 4 of India's 270 snake species are venomous. I love this guy! Did you see his National Geographic special King Cobra yet?
If you know where I can get a copy of Snakes of India : The Field Guide in the United States, get a hold of me at snakepimp.com

Dog dies of Venomous Snake Bite in Westchester NY

2004-08-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

Is it a conspiracy to "prove" that "wildlife" pets are dangerous? "Levesque doesn't know what kind of snake bit Libby — whether it was a wild snake or a household pet turned loose in the woods — but she wants to warn her neighbors and hikers at the nearby Silver Lake Preserve that snakes may strike, even in Westchester."
The likelihood of this being a "released" "pet" is much much much much smaller than the likelihood of it having been a wild snake, regardless of their rarity in that area. Sad about Libby though...

What about the 800,00 annual Dog Bite victims in the US?

2004-08-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this is a concerned article that implies there is another kind of animal aside from the wild kind. I agree that dogs and cats, as we know them, are very well domesticated, but that hasn't stopped "domesticated" dogs from hospitilizing 800,000 people a year in the US alone. Approximately 17 people per year die from dog attack. I love dogs, and exotics too, and I agree that per capita certain exotics (Lions, venomous snakes like cobras and mambas etc.) would have a much higher incidence of fatality, but that's why State's like Florida have permits for keeping them. Now, if the permit were more than just a fee and required a qualification/training process it would be more effective.

In Kota Kinabulu

2004-08-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

A crocodile was found in a monsoon drain. It is much more likely that this was a wild croc-gone-astray, than a one-time household pet set loose. It was somewhat underweight for lack of prey in the drain, I would presume. Officials are attempting to catch another one in the same area, possibly the mate to this first wayward crocodilian. Read the complete story here

Python SWALLOWS Heat Pad!

2004-08-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen, but it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Alice Cooper's albino python (a Burmese (Python molurus bivittatus), presumably) Swallowed its heating device, apparently 12"x14", along with it's meal. Read the full story at the UK's "Daily Record"
From Mr. Furnier's comments, it sounded as though he truly cared about the animal, which was a relief. I often wondered if they were quite disposable, and perhaps just considered another touring expense. The python underwent a surgical heatpad-ectomy, and will apparently survive. Anybody have details about Alice Cooper's love for snakes?

Heads or tails anyone? MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGENY OF OLD AND NEW WORLD RATSNAKES, Elaphe AUCT., AND RELATED GENERA

2004-08-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

This post is directly from The Russian Journal of Herpetology and is no way my material, I just thought I would share the information in it's official summary. Many of the pseudonyms are archaic, or unknown to me. This is the infamous study which changed the corn snake from Elaphe guttata to Pantherophis guttatus. It also re-classifies a number of other "Elaphe". What's a couple of mitochondrial rNA between friends?

MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGENY OF OLD AND NEW WORLD RATSNAKES, Elaphe AUCT., AND RELATED GENERA (REPTILIA, SQUAMATA, COLUBRIDAE)

Urs Utiger, Notker Helfenberger, Beat Schдtti, Catherine Schmidt, Markus Ruf, and Vincent Ziswiler

The phylogenetic relationships of the Holarctic ratsnakes (Elaphe auct.) are inferred from portions of two mitochondrial genes, 12S rRNA and COI. Elaphe Fitzinger is made up of ten Palaearctic species. Natrix longissima Laurenti (type species) and four western Palaearctic species (hohenackeri, lineatus, persicus, and situla) are assigned to Zamenis Wagler. Its phylogenetic affinities with closely related genera, Coronella and Oocatochus, remain unclear. The East Asian Coluber porphyraceus Cantor is referred to a new genus. This taxon and the western European Rhinechis scalaris have an isolated position among Old World ratsnakes. Another new genus is described for four Oriental species (cantoris, hodgsonii, moellendorffi, and taeniurus). New World ratsnakes and allied genera are monophyletic. Coluber flavirufus Cope is referred to Pseudelaphe Mertens and Rosenberg. Pantherophis Fitzinger is revalidated for Coluber guttatus L. (type species) and further Nearctic species (bairdi, obsoletus, and vulpinus). Senticolis triaspis is the sister taxon of New World ratsnakes including the genera Arizona, Bogertophis, Lampropeltis, Pituophis, and Rhinocheilus. The East Asian Coluber conspicillatus Boie and Coluber mandarinus Cantor form a monophyletic outgroup with respect to other Holarctic ratsnake genera and are referred to Euprepiophis Fitzinger. Three Old World species, viz. Elaphe (sensu lato) bella, E. (s.l.) frenata, and E. (s.l.) prasina remain unassigned. The various groups of ratsnakes (tribe Lampropeltini) show characteristic hemipenis features.

Key words: Lampropeltini, new genera, Arizona, Bogertophis, Coronella, Elaphe, Euprepiophis, Lampropeltis, Oocatochus, Pantherophis, Pituophis, Pseudelaphe, Rhinechis, Rhinocheilus, Senticolis, Zamenis, mtDNA, COI, 12S rDNA, phylogeny, Nearctic, Oriental, Palaearctic.

Snake Man Romulus Whitaker Gets the Limelight

2004-08-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

Romulus Whitaker, the "Snake Man" has recently published Snakes of India - The Field Guide and has made quite a hit with the local community.
To comment directly go to snakepimp.com

Welcome to The Snakepimp Times

2004-08-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

This is a news blog for anything herp related. I will be posting stories as I find them, and as they emerge. If you would like to contact me, please go to www.snakepimp.com

The Snakepimp Times

snakepimp is changing for the whatever

I almost forgot that I have a blog. But that is fine.

Mr. Cope, please excuse my journalistic and literary ineptitude.

Not quite as bad as drowning your own baby

I assume no responsibility for this

T.V. Perpetuates the fiction

Nothing but an Advertisement

The VenomDoc Forums

More idiots with Hots make it hard for me to keep Boas

One Lonely Geek

The Humane society updates

Further Proof that dumb men get bit on the hand by venomous snakes

New York reptile owners are about to get screwed

Rattlesnakes bite young drunk men.

Free Corn Snake!

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

Is Steve Kates a good husband?

Indian State Legislature of Orisssa Threatened by Snake Charmers

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

Random Stories from around the web

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

San Francisco Garter conservation is taken seriously

JOHN STEWART FOR PRESIDENT!

Dr Brady Barr makes Herpetological History

Rap, Snakes and Murder

Details of Recent Fatality Witheld

Yeah, but where can I get a kosher Croc Monitor?

Ali Hasnain Abid Faiz is a man of peace, but I bet he can't make it to Chicago without a body cavity search

More fabulous reviews from Kentucky and beyond

Someone finally gets it

The Lodi News-Sentinel ---->Wants your money.

A Copperhead bite probably won't kill a human

F*(K THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES IN IT'S STUPID @$$!!!

New Sony Film: Attack of The Zimbabwean Polar Bears!

BALL PYTHON FOUND IN HAWAII

Anacondas: Hunt for The Blood Orchid Still Sucks

The Beacon Journal Agrees

This may be the stupidest movie of all time

Rescued Burmese Pythons Breed in the UK

Firefighter without prejudice

NERD rescues crocodilian

What about the Renoir?

Another abandoned Snake

Reptiles as public entertainment?

Australia ...

What the...? Beaten with a black snake? Was it an indigo? Or .....whatever...*sigh*

Some whore (or madam) abandoned an Albino Burmese Python

Idaho Falls has it's own Exotic Pet Store?

Home Owners insurance will screw you...

Snakes are not evil, in case you were wondering

The search for the HAWAIIAN SNAKE continues

Ohio Reptile Shows are abundant

Snake Charmers are going out of business in India

Snakepimp <------ SLACKER

The Week in Snakes

The last few days.

This may be the stupidest movie of all time

Video games with snakes in them are cool.

South Africa has Corn Snakes too!

Ventura County Fair has a "BLACK" Boa constrictor

Romulus Whitaker promotes understanding/education in India

Dog dies of Venomous Snake Bite in Westchester NY

What about the 800,00 annual Dog Bite victims in the US?

In Kota Kinabulu

Python SWALLOWS Heat Pad!

Heads or tails anyone? MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGENY OF OLD AND NEW WORLD RATSNAKES, Elaphe AUCT., AND RELATED GENERA

Snake Man Romulus Whitaker Gets the Limelight

Welcome to The Snakepimp Times

What the...? Beaten with a black snake? Was it an indigo? Or .....whatever...sigh