#bobcat south carolina

[gatewaydealer]

Ways on How Rental Bobcat Excavators Help in Demolition Projects

When it comes to demolition projects, having the right equipment can make all the difference. The bobcat excavator rental is the untold hero of these demanding tasks. Their versatility and precise control help transform even the most challenging demolition projects into manageable and efficient endeavours.

In this article, you will explore how rental Bobcat excavators play a pivotal role in demolition work.

1- Precision in dismantling and site clearance

Demolition is the process of taking down structures safely and effectively. Bobcat excavators come with cutting-edge equipment and technologies that facilitate accurate and controlled demolition. Whether you're dealing with a small structure or a larger building, with Bobcat excavator rental, you can remove sections or clear debris accurately.

2- Versatility for various demolition tasks

Demolition projects come in all forms and sizes, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. The versatility of bobcat excavator rental offers unmatched value, making them the ideal choice for tackling a wide range of demolition tasks. You can handle a wide range of demolition tasks with a single machine, reducing downtime and the need for multiple pieces of equipment.

3- Safety and control during demolition

In the high-stakes world of demolition, safety, and control are non-negotiable factors. When you opt for rental Bobcat excavators, you're not only choosing powerful machinery but also a commitment to ensuring safety and precision at every step of your demolition project. The advanced control systems and responsive hydraulic mechanisms provide precise control over every movement, ensuring demolition without unintended damage or accidents. 

To sum up

Rental Bobcat excavators are valuable assets for any demolition project. They help you transform complex and demanding tasks into manageable and streamlined operations. Looking for Bobcat excavator rental options? Check out Gateway Dealer Network, your trusted partner for construction and excavation equipment. They offer a wide range of Bobcat excavators for rent, ensuring you have access to the right machinery for your specific project needs. So, the next time you plan a demolition project, consider using a rental Bobcat excavator to build up your project's potential.

[kimberly40]

🐾 Early settlers were fascinated with the bobcat (sometimes called wildcat) and especially with its elusive, solitary and wily habits. Settlers called the bobcat “ol’ spitfire,” “lightning” and “woods ghost,” among other names. “Woods ghost” was a common nickname for the bobcat due to its secretive nature. Even when much of North America contained vast uninhabited tracts, the bobcat was rarely seen.

Some people believed various parts of the bobcat’s body possessed special healing powers and it would remedy many diseases. It was once said that bobcat fur worn around the body would relieve “a weak and cold stomach.”

A Cherokee animal myth describes a deal between a bobcat and a rabbit whereby the wildcat agrees to free the rabbit, and in exchange the rabbit tricks a flock of turkeys into coming close enough for the bobcat to snare. An Uncle Remus tale involving Brer Rabbit and a wildcat has a very similar story line.

These and other superstitions circulated by the early settlers in America were born out of inspiration, fear and awe of the bobcat.

Even today, the “wood’s ghost”, who prowls just beyond view retains an element of danger and an air of mystery.

🐈 Photo by Joshua Moore near the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

[serpentinesheldonserpentine]

“She’s homeless now”.

Friend David called earlier to express his thanks for those who helped the South Toe Volunteer Fire Company and to give me an update on conditions in Burnsville, North Carolina ( near Asheville).

We’re decimated down here. People lost everything. I’m well, I flew home from a work assignment to help and spent the past days lending a hand to our Fire Department.

We got on Bobcats and tractors and carved out new roads so emergency vehicles could get through. Laid two layers of stone so the State can come in and finish it off with a top layer.

XXXX, you’d made clear to me that you prefer donating directly to people in need rather than organizations and I have a friend who really needs help - she’s homeless now. I promise this money will go directly to Tammy.

Tumblrs, I have known David for decades. His pledge is now my pledge. I promise your donations will go directly to a woman in desperate need of your help.

If you can skip Starbucks today and send along $5.00 you will help someone with NOTHING.

Should you have any questions your messages are welcome.

Thank you.

D.

[jointhearumanati]

Dear Pokemon Artists

I need help in redesigning my Pokemon Pupbud The Dogwood Pokemon and is the grass starter in a Fake Pokemon Region based on Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina The Fire starter hasn't been made yet but I want it based on a Bobcat and a Water Snake based on Water moccasins Help would be appreciated

P.S I unfortunately do not have the right program to redesign him myself that's why I'm turning to all of you

[sfarticles]

On the trail for the perfect burger

Wine, beer, cheese, chocolate, bourbon, pizza, dessert, ice cream, BBQ and hamburgers. What do they all have in common?

Foodies enjoy culinary exploration, and these category trails provide unique experiences, enabling us to adventure out, sampling and tasting the best of the best of their favorite food and drink.

While the above trails are more common and available in more places, here are some specific trails to check out:

• West Virginia’s pepperoni roll (It’s the official state food) https://bit.ly/4d92mp6

• Pennsylvania’s Fermented Food (It’s called “pickled”) https://bit.ly/3zRCyzv

• South Carolina’s Pimento Cheese (download the “passport”) https://bit.ly/3LAYscZ

•  Northern California Taco (40+ stops!) https://bit.ly/3YcpkaV

•  North Carolina Surry Sonker …(so what’s a surry sonker? A cross between a cobbler and a deep dish pie) https://bit.ly/3WAZHPU. And, the state also has an oyster trail https://bit.ly/3LCR4xS

• Ohio Donut Trail (visit all the shops on the trail and win a prize) https://bit.ly/4bVECE0

• Buffalo, NY Buffalo Wing (Of course, The Anchor Bar, birthplace of the Buffalo chicken wing is one of the stops) https://bit.ly/3Wht4VR

I’d be remiss to not include a couple of hamburger trails.

• Mystic (CT) Burger Trail https://bit.ly/4fdrDR5

• Lawrence County (PA) Burger Trail https://bit.ly/46gLzyi

Hamburgers, aka burgers, are so popular this time of the year. Many consider it the quintessential American food, along with its “cousin,” the hot dog. Yes, there is also a trail for the latter as well, including Connecticut, where I live. In Mark Kotlinski’a film, “A Connecticut Hot Dog Tour,” he takes you on a road trip to the Nutmeg State’s best hot dog stands.

But for now, let’s get back to burgers. FYI, New Haven Connecticut’s Louis’ Lunch puts claim to the origin of the hamburger.

The Lassen family has operated the eatery since 1895. People visiting Connecticut put this burger joint on their “must eat at” list. But remember at Louis’ Lunch, “No ketchup allowed!”

Now, talking about lists or should I say book, burger connoisseurs will enjoy “Hamburger America: A State-By-State Guide to 200 Great Burger Joints,” by George Motz” (2018, Running Press, $20.00) The cover of the 400-plus page book quotes the late Anthony Bourdain, “A fine overview of the best practitioners of the burger sciences.”

The book spotlights America’s best roadside drive-ups, stands, diners and college-town favorites. Whether you are an armchair traveler or going out on a burger adventure, Motz’s photos, and in-depth information about the mom-and-pop establishments, take readers to some new places from east to west and north to south to find the perfect burger.

He writes, “as you enjoy your heavenly handful of greasy goodness, take a moment to ponder the history of the place you are eating in. It’s the reason that burger tastes so damn good.”

Recipes aren’t the focus of the book, though there are a few peppered throughout the title. Two are shared below from the book, with commentary from the author.

Did you know:

• There is a Hamburger Hall of Fame located in Seymour, Wisconsin.

• White Castle is the oldest burger chain in America, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas.

• The Big Mac was introduced in 1958 and sold for 49 cents.

• A “Luther Burger” is a burger where the bun is a glazed donut.

•  At Burger & Lobster, they serve the “Beast Burger,” a beef patty topped with lobster meat, Swiss cheese, lettuce, truffle tarragon mayo. Another take on surf & turf. It is quite good.

• Check this out, the world’s most expensive burger….$6,000! https://bit.ly/3SkRMU3.

BOBCAT BITE COLESLAW

(Served at Santa Fe Bite, previously called Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Bobcat Bite Coleslaw is served at Santa Fe Bite in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo: courtesy of George Motz)

Makes a lot of coleslaw (this is a day’s worth for the Bobcat)

1 head cabbage, shredded

1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup distilled white vinegar

¼ cup canola oil

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon celery seed

1 tablespoon ground mustard

Place the shredded cabbage and chopped pepper in a large bowl. Pour the sugar over the cabbage and pepper. In a small saucepan bring the vinegar, oil, salt, black pepper, celery seed, and mustard to a boil.

According to Bonnie, the smell of the boiling vinegar concoction will drive you out of the kitchen. Boil for 5 minutes and then pour the hot brew over the cabbage and peppers. Don’t stir it yet! Allow it to cool before stirring. It will appear as if there isn’t enough liquid to transform all that cabbage into the saucy coleslaw of your dreams, but trust me, it’ll work.

When the bowl of slaw and dressing has cooled, mix the contents, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Bonnie suggests allowing the slaw to marinate overnight for optimum flavor.

GOOP SAUCE

(Served at Eastside Big Tom, Olympia, Washington)

Chuck Fritch of Eastside Big Tom in Olympia, Washington, trademarked the name “Goop” sauce. It has been a Pacific Northwest mainstay for burgers.(Photo: courtesy of Kristoffer Brearton)

The headnote says, “Goop is a sauce that has made its way onto many burgers in the Pacific Northwest, especially the older-style classic burgers. All the Goop I’ve had tastes pretty much the same, and all are protected by their respective burger institutions, and contain highly secret ingredients.

But to legitimately call your sauce Goop, you need to be Chuck Fritsch at Eastside Big Tom in Olympia, Washington. That’s because Chuck has trademarked the name and arguably makes some of the best Goop in the area. I can see why he keeps his recipe underwraps — Goop is addictive. It adorns not only the burgers at Big Tom, but the fries and tater tots as well (tots ’n’ Goop = heaven). I once asked Chuck for the recipe, and he said, “What’s the saying? If I told you I’d have to kill you?” So, he didn’t give me the recipe. But I’ve done some testing and I think I’ve come pretty close. When I wrote this up years ago, I read it back to myself and imagined Chuck laughing.”

Makes enough for 12 quarter-pound burgers

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup Miracle Whip

2 tablespoons sweet relish

3 tablespoons yellow mustard

Whisk mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, relish, and mustard in a bowl and serve on your favorite burgers. The color should resemble a 1971 Curious Yellow Plymouth Barracuda. Tell your friends it’s not the real thing but pretty damn close.

Recipes courtesy of:

Stephen Fries, is Professor Emeritus and former coordinator of the Hospitality Management Programs at Gateway Community College, in New Haven, CT. He has been a food and culinary travel columnist for the past 17 years and is co-founder of and host of “Worth Tasting,” a culinary walking tour of downtown New Haven, CT, and three-day culinary adventures around the U.S. He is a board member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Email him at Stephen@stephenfries.com. For more, go to stephenfries.com

[ahopkins1965]

Describe your most memorable vacation.   I remember on Friday November 4, 1994, I drove a van 670 miles east from Toledo, Ohio to Brooklyn, NY.   It took me 19 hours to drive all the way to Interstate 80 going eastbound to Interstate 95 to Philadelphia, PA.  I went to the Gallery Mall in Downtown Philadelphia to a Self Served McDonald's Restaurant to get something to eat.  I stayed in Brooklyn, NY for 5 days.  It took me 13 hours to drive back to Toledo, Ohio.   I went to Newark, NJ to eat dinner at a Soul Food Restaurant near Interstate 95.  I then had driven home in 13 hours.   My next most memorable vacation was on Wednesday August 23, 1995 from Toledo, Ohio to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a funeral.   I spent 2 days down there and toured the city and attend the funeral of a God-Fearing Woman.  I then went to Dayton,  Ohio on August 17, 1994 for my Great Grandmother Funeral.   I stayed home for a total of 5 days in Dayton, Ohio.  Toledo OH to Dayton, Ohio is 150 miles South of Toledo,  Ohio.   I caught the Greyhound Bus to Dayton for my Grandmother Funeral.   My brother and I got into a fist fight before her funeral.   My brother and I really love each other.   My sister stated that I have made a mockery out of myself.   The 3rd most memorable vacation was on June 14, 1997 to Charlotte, NC from Dayton, Ohio.   I ended up living in Charlotte NC for 12 and a half years.  I had to work three jobs just to pay bills in Charlotte NC because the Cost of Living in Charlotte NC is 500% higher than Dayton, Ohio.   I remember working at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Campus.   I also worked at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena and The Bank of America Stadium.   I also worked at Winter field School in Charlotte NC as well.   I had to relocate back to Dayton, Ohio because the Common Pleas Courts in North Carolina sent me home because I was evicted out of three apartments during an 18 month period.   Therefore,  I have been here in Dayton, Ohio for 14 years now.   I have been clean and sober for 34 years now.   I have been living inside of Wentworth HI Rise Apartments in Dayton, Ohio for 13 years now.   I went to Charlotte, NC for 2 weeks on December 26, 2022.  I had a lot of fun down there in Charlotte NC.   I went gambling at the Casino in Kings Mountain, NC.   I really love Charlotte NC and Toledo, Ohio.   I love to travel to the Library and AA Meetings.  I love all of the people whom I have been in contact with during the past 28 years now.   I have made a lot of mistakes in Charlotte NC and Dayton, Ohio.  God Loves You and So Do I.   God Bless All of You.   God is doing for Me more than I am doing for myself.   Please keep me and my family members in your prayers and thoughts.  I suffer from Diabetes,  Glaucoma,  Cataracts,  and a Hietal Hernia.  I suffer from Schizoid Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia.  I also suffer from Stomach Ulcers and Acid Reflux Disease.

[lboogie1906]

Wardell Stephen Curry Sr. (born June 25, 1964) is a former basketball player. He played in the NBA (1986-2002) and retired as the Charlotte Hornets’ all-time leader in points (9,839) and three-point field goals made (929). He works as a color commentator on Charlotte Hornets television broadcasts. He is the father of NBA players Stephen Curry and Seth Curry.

Born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Curry was raised in Grottoes and played high school basketball at Fort Defiance. He finished as the all-time leading scorer in school history and was named a McDonald’s All-American. He played baseball, and won state championships in both sports; he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.

He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

He was named an assistant coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, but he stepped down before the season began so that he could attend his son’s basketball games. He started working as a commentator, alongside longtime play-by-play announcer Steve Martin, for the Charlotte Bobcats.

He was the recipient of the Bobby Jones Award at the Athletes in Action All-Star Breakfast, which is held each year at the NBA All-Star Weekend.

He appeared in a Minor League Baseball game for the Gastonia Rangers of the South Atlantic League.

He and his wife, Sonya (née Adams), founded the Christian Montessori School of Lake Norman, a preschool in Huntersville, North Carolina.

He established a charitable foundation, the Dell Curry Foundation, which is a youth-oriented program in Charlotte, North Carolina. The foundation runs five learning centers in Charlotte to provide educational training and drug abuse counseling.

He married his college sweetheart Sonya (1988). They have three children, Stephen, Seth, and Sydel. Stephen is the starting point guard for the Golden State Warriors. Seth plays for the Brooklyn Nets. Sydel played volleyball at Elon University. She was featured on Say Yes to the Dress. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[chlostertalks]

A Visit from St. Nicholas, as told by College Athletics

[thecollegefootballguy]

2020 Top Games of the Week: Week 2

Football is trickling back. Week 1 wasn’t very interesting in a national sense but players representing American colleges were playing football so hey, it’s an improvement on August right?

Any way, the Power conferences are slowly starting to play their first games. The schedule still isn’t very exciting but it’s getting there. Grab a beer and relax this Saturday.

Top 6 Games of the Week

6. Tulane 0-0 at South Alabama 1-0

South Alabama of all teams already has a scalp. The Jaguars shocked everybody by beating Southern Miss last week, USM head coach Jay Hopson even resigned after the defeat. The Jaguars now host Tulane, who’ve been slowly improving over the last few seasons. The Green Wave aren’t exactly expected to compete for the AAC title, but they can scare teams with that run game. Let’s see how these teams match up.

5. UTSA at Texas State 0-1

I’m just glad these two are playing. UTSA and Texas State both joined the FBS at the same time and were paired up in the WAC in that conference’s dying days. However the Roadrunners and Bobcats went their separate ways. It’s good to see a potential rivalry develop naturally in out of conference play.

4. Coastal Carolina at Kansas

3. UAB 1-0 at Miami FL

You know why these games are here. The upset potential is delicious. I had considered putting Arkansas State at Kansas State and ULL at #23 Iowa State as well but I think those upsets are less likely.

2. Georgia Tech at Florida State

The ACC is giving us a few interesting matchups early on. Georgia Tech and Florida State both struggled mightily last year and are looking for some good news.

1. Syracuse at #18 North Carolina

Yeah it’s a bit of a dud as far as #1 games go, but 2020 isn’t providing us with a lot to get excited about. What I’m interested in this game is which, if any, of these teams are any good. Syracuse had a breakout season in 2018 but then crashed back down to earth last year. I’m curious if the Orange can rebound. Dino Babers is a good coach and I expect it to happen at some point. North Carolina is somehow a preseason top 25 team, and to be fair they showed a lot of promise and heart last season. However, I’m very skeptical that the Tar Heels are *actually* that good. Time to find out who’s who in the ACC. Behind Clemson of course.

[abraxos-is-toothless]

Home for Christmas

This is my fic for the @aftgexchange winter round for @andreil-minyasten

I had so much fun writing this and I really hope this lives up to what you wanted! I actually had an idea for a part 2 to this from another bit of your prompts. If you want me to write that for you, feel free to message and ask, I’ll be quite happy to do so:)

Enjoy!!<3

--------

December 22nd

“What the hell do you mean that you aren’t going to be here for christmas, Andrew?”

Neil was beyond, angry. He was pissed. Their holiday plans had been decided back in November. Andrew would come to Neil in Boston from New York and they’d host Aaron, Katelyn from the twenty fourth before they’d meet Nicky, Erik- who were spending Christmas with Eric’s family in Germany -and the rest of the foxes down in South Carolina to spend New Years with Wymack and Abby.

But apparently, that was all going to shit, now.

“I’ve tried Neil, but flights are delayed and there’s a storm coming in. I don’t know if I’ll make it, the Mas definitely won’t.” Now he was beyond consoling.

“If you had come two days ago like you said you would, this wouldn’t be a problem. We haven’t seen each other since September.” He missed his partner, missed soft touches when they’d reach for one another in the night, he missed laying his head in Andrew’s lap while the other man read one of his newest books. Overall, he just missed Andrew.

“How many times do I have to tell you that it was Kevin’s fault I couldn’t come out when I had planned?” Neil scoffed.

“What Kevin wants has never stopped you before. Whatever, Andrew, I’m going to bed.” He ignored Andrew’s reply, hanging up and flinging his phone onto his bedside table. He was so tired of everything. Neil carried out his nighttime routine quite aggressively, flinging back the duvet with force, ignoring the constant buzzing of his phone. Tonight, the bed felt uncomfortable, lumpy and cold, so awfully cold. It had been three years of this, of the long distance, scheduling time to see each other, of having to be without one another for the majority of the year after spending four years attached at the hip while they were at PSU. The two of them, being how stubborn they both were, had sworn that the distance wouldn’t be an issue. Neil had to play with the Bobcats for two years minimum, considering it was the best contract he could get straight out of college and the closest to Andrew’s team.

Everything was great at first, wonderful even, they saw each other on as many weekends as they could, called and texted every day, and Skyped at least twice a week. But then shit went down hill. Practice built up and up if the team’s performance declined, promotions and photo shoots and team signings started taking up their free time. It was shit, they knew it was shit but, what could they do? He hated this, he hated everything about it.

His sleep that night was fitful and restless, and he was wide awake when the sun rose the next morning, yellow and orange rays of light hitting the empty spot beside him.

December 24th

Neil hadn’t spoken to Andrew since he abruptly ended their phone call two nights ago. There were several missed calls from the blonde on his phone, and many unread texts. He saw them as they came through, sometimes just his name, sometimes they asked if he was alright and ‘why won’t you pick up the fucking phone, Abram?’

Every part of him wanted to, fucking god, did he want to, but he had no idea what his brain would spout from his lips. He was terrified that the anger, the hurt of the separation, would come back full force and he’d say something awful that he’d most likely regret. That was his personal default when he was mad, finding exactly what to say that would hurt and hurt hard. So, no, he didn’t pick up the phone, he just left it alone and listened to the odd buzz as it vibrated against the kitchen counter. It was almost 8:30pm and Neil was making, or hoped to be making, cinnamon sugar cookies that would with any luck, still be warm and not burnt by the time Aaron and Katelyn arrived. They were apparently Kate’s latest pregnancy craving and he wanted for her to have them on hand so Aaron wouldn’t have to leave at some ungodly hour to get store bought ones.

There was flour everywhere and he was pretty sure there was some cinnamon on his forehead somehow, on top of that, he’d used more bowls than were actually needed for the ingredients the recipe called for but he wasn’t exactly surprised. Anything to do with cooking or baking was Andrew’s area of expertise: Neil just liked to watch, a giddy smile on his face whenever his partner whispered ‘staring’ without even looking at him. Shaking his head before he started to wallow in his own self pity, the timer to the first batch went off just as the buzzer to the apartment did. Quickly pulling out the baking tray, he placed it on the side, barely taking note of how the shapes he cut out now resembled blobs as he rushed to the door and pressed the button for the speaker. “Hello?”

“Neil! It’s Kate, Aaron is just sorting the bags and told me to come up first.” He smiled despite his somber mood for the past week.

“Come on up, I’ll buzz you in. Do you want me to wait outside the elevator for you?”

“No, no, I’ll be fine!” He agreed and let her in, wiping his hands before propping his front door open and waiting for her anyway. Before long, he was greeted with an eye rolling Katelyn, but there was a grin on her lips nonetheless. “You’re nearly as bad as my husband, I’m surprised he even let me come up on my own, but thank you.” She said, as he held out his elbow for her to take. She had begun to waddle a little now with how big she had gotten. Neil supposed that having twins made the whole process a little different.

He helped her settle into the armchair in the living room and asked, “can I get you a drink?”

“Water would be great, thanks. Also, is that cinnamon I smell?” He felt his cheeks go hot and knew he was blushing.

“You mentioned at one point on the phone that cinnamon cookies are your newest craving and so I made some for you. They’re still warm if you’d like a few?” Katelyn nodded excitedly, murmuring how grateful she was at the thoughtful gesture and he hurried off, placing a few questionable looking snowmen and coming back into the other room just as the buzzer went off again. He left the pregnant woman to devour her food and admire his sparkly Christmas tree and went to let Aaron in. When the elevator opened up on his floor once again, he was met with a ruffled Minyard twin who was surrounded by bags.

“What the hell do you bring with you?”

“Shut your mouth and help me carry this shit, would you?” Neil kept his mouth shut and hefted a couple of bags into his arms. Most went into the spare room where the couple would be sleeping and then Aaron unloaded a big bag of presents to sit underneath the tree while he went back to put more cookies in the oven, and to load a few more onto Katelyn’s now empty plate. When he came back and sat himself on the couch, Aaron seemed out of breath, hugging as he lay on the wood floor.

“I’ll ask again, how much did you bring?” The woman stuffing her face giggled as her husband giggled and replied;

“We have your presents and Andrew’s presents from us, mine and Aaron’s that we’ve gotten each other, and we brought all the gifts for when we see the others next week. Also our clothes and my hospital bag even though I have about two and a half months left.” He nodded, though he was confused on the amount of clothes. They only lived an hour away from him and could go back for more clothes before they headed to South Carolina. Neil was about to mention just that when Aaron interrupted.

“Where is my brother anyway?” Ah yes, he’d forgotten to mention that. He let his face go blank as he told them what had happened. That Andrew kept pushing it back until he couldn’t come, that they’d argued and that they weren’t currently speaking. Katelyn had something akin to pity on her face and Aaron looked as though he was angry on behalf of Neil. “What the fuck? He’s seriously going to miss Christmas with his family, with you?”

“Looks like it.”

“But since when has what Kevin wanted ever mattered to him? Unless it benefitted his own needs of course.” It was weird slowly becoming friends with Aaron and seeing that occasionally, they could be on the same wavelength and agree with each other. It was a little bit dangerous, in his opinion.

“That’s what I said.”

“Is he still going to come to Palmetto next week.” He didn’t know what to say, because Andrew could still turn up at Abby’s despite not being here now. He also hadn’t spoken to him, so he hadn’t got the chance to ask. Neil stayed quiet. Aaron looked like he was about to press for more when Kate suggested that they watch a movie together and started setting up the tv without waiting for either of them to reply. Twenty minutes into the movie, Katelyn had picked A Christmas Carol because it was a classic, Neil got the final batch of cookies from the oven and cleared down the kitchen for tomorrow. Another ten minutes after that, Katelyn disappeared to put on pyjamas and Aaron grabbed him and Neil a beer from the fridge. By ten o’clock they were debating on watching one more film or going to bed when the apartment door opened and closed loudly.

The three of them half jumped out of their seats, turning violently to see Andrew Minyard standing in the doorway, and Neil’s breath caught in his throat. He was bundled up in a thick black coat, the collar pulled up around his neck, and his black knitted bobble hat Neil had brought him last year was pulled down over his ears that he just knew would still be adorably pink at the tips. One of his hands was tucked into his pocket and the other held a large duffel bag.

“Well well, look at what the cat finally dragged in.” Both Neil and Andrew glared at Aaron, who only rolled his eyes in response to their annoyance. Turning back to Andrew he gave him one last once over before standing slowly.

“Why don’t you go and sort yourself out,” he pointed to the bedroom where their en-suite was, “I’ll be in there in a minute.” Andrew gave a curt nod in confirmation and disappeared down the hall, bedroom door shutting softly. Katelyn was speaking to him, saying that she and Aaron were going to head to bed, kissing him on the cheek and pulling her husband along. Neil’s first instinct was to run to the bedroom, wrap his partner up in his arms, kiss him until they were breathless and then never let him go again but he was still mad at him. So, he cleared the few empty cans from the coffee table, and took Kate’s dirty glass and plate to the kitchen and dumped them in the sink. He locked the door and the windows out of habit and switched off all of the lights and slowly walked to his bedroom where he knew Andrew was waiting.

When he reached the door, he froze with his hand on the handle, closing his eyes and breathing deeply several times before he forced himself to step inside. As he suspected. Andrew was now in a pair of grey sweats and, he noticed with some satisfaction, one of Neil’s long sleeve cotton shirts. This one was a navy blue and Andrew had never looked more beautiful than he didn’t now, in soft clothes, hair ruffled and his nose and cheeks still a little pink from the cold air outside. He tugged on his withering self control and stopped himself from climbing over the other man and just holding him. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Taking that as a cue to start first, Andrew spoke, though Neil never expected for those words to ever come out of his partner’s mouth. “I lied to you.”

“What?” The blonde looked down at his hands, sighed, and then stood, walking and walking until he was a mere few steps away from Neil. Before, before there would be no need for that distance, because they’d healed and grown together and barely used ’yes or no’ unless it was a bad day or they were trying new things. Fuck long distance relationships.

“I lied. Kevin was never the one to keep me back in New York the first time, and there was no storm coming in to stop me from coming this time.” He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t fucking breathe.

“What the fuck? How could you lie, you swore you’d never lie to me. Why didn't you want to come, and why turn up at the last minute?” Andrew did step into his space then, on hand gripping his hip and the other linking their pinkie fingers together.

“Because there was something I was trying to sort out but those god damn stickball coaches are a pain in my ass.” Neil blinked, and then blinked a couple more times, before he was led to the bed where Andrew let go of him to dig out a stack of papers from his duffel bag and handed them into his scarred hands. “Merry Christmas, Junkie.” Okay, now he really was confused as he stared at the item in his hands with a furrowed brow. His anger was still there, but dying out slowly. He flicked through page after page eyes widening and mouth dropping open before he looked back at Andrew whose lips were quirking at his dumbfounded expression.

“You’re serious? You join the Bobcats when the new season starts?” His lover nodded.

“I’m tired. I’m tired of being away from you, of all the fighting. I’ve been working with your coach and mine to trade me with your goalkeeper, Angie. They hated it at first but I got there in the end. That’s why I’m so late, they were still hesitant about signing the damn forms.”

“So you started yet another fight with me?” In one swift movement there were hands on his cheeks and words were being breathed against his lips, sending pleasant, incredibly missed shivers down his spine as he wrapped his arms around Andrew’s waist.

“Not my finest moment, but I was trying to surprise you. Clearly, I’m not very good at it.” Neil chuckled wetly, and pressed their foreheads together.

“This is really happening?” He whispered gently.

“Yeah. I’ve still got to move all my stuff out here and things like that, but it’s real, Abram.”

“Then kiss me, you asshole, and make me forget your very bad surprise.” Andrew laughed then too, walking him backwards and pushing him down onto the bed, straddling his waist. They kissed for what seemed like hours, wrapped up and lost in one another. When they finally pulled apart, his lips felt tingly and his breathing came in pants.

That night, he fell asleep to warm sheets, a soft body behind him and cradled in a strong pair of arms. Despite the rocky start, Neil thought this might have been his best Christmas yet.

-------

I really hoped you liked it and if you do want that part two, I’ll be more than willing. I’m actually quite happy with the idea:)

[ciaranshade]

Carolina Lowcountry Gothic

- They say Charleston is the most haunted city in South Carolina. What they don't tell you is that they're all haunted.

- Everyone knows and talks about the gray ghosts - the Gray Man who shows up on Pawley's Island whenever a hurricane is coming, the Gray Lady who wanders Debordieu and Brookgreen Gardens morning the loss of her son. But nobody talks about the Gray Creatures on the beach. You ask the old man - the one who's lived here as long as anyone can remember - and he tells you they're just Sand Cats. "Yes, they looked like cats," you tell him, "But they didn't really move like cats, and they were awfully big -" The old man cuts you off with a waving motion and shakes his head. "Sand Cats!" he insists, his voice almost angry. "They're nothin' but Sand Cats, and I won't hear no more about it!"

- The wind whispers through all the trees, but when it passes through the fronds of the palmetto, it laughs - a dry, raspy laugh, its tones even more ancient than the distant thunder of cannon fire from across the harbor. You ask your friend if he heard it, too. He laughs - a nervous echo of the wind - and says your ears are playing tricks on you.

- The tour guide tells stories of all the hauntings in Charleston - the souls of prisoners who died at the Provost Dungeon, Lavinia Fisher at the Old City Jail, the Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnet and his crew at Whitepoint Gardens, the girl with consumption buried alive in the graveyard, the baby that cries in the yard of St. Philip's Church. The stories always vary a bit, and the ghosts don't mind. They're just happy to be remembered. You ask the tour guide about the old Market, the hub of Charleston's slave trade - surely such a place, steeped in cruelty and disregard for human life, is bound to be haunted as well. The tour guide's face grows stiff. They don't talk about the Market. The last guide to speak of them nearly choked to death in the middle of his tour. The tour guide can still see his face - cheeks turning purple, eyes shot through with blood and terror. The Market ghosts are off limits. They are done being exploited.

- There's something about the ladies who sell sweetgrass baskets on street corners that entrances you - bright smiles and bright clothing, dark eyes dancing, skin gleaming with sweat. If you can't afford their wares, at least smile or nod and say "Good morning." "Boy, 'e sure how outchea!" one says, waving a hand in front of her face. You can reply in one of three ways: "Sure is!", "Innit though?", or "Boy howdy!" Variations of these are acceptable, but you must reply.  Never ignore the basket ladies.

- Everyone knows about the Lizard Man. The only part of the story anyone can get straight is that he's a giant lizard who comes out at night and leaps on people's cars. It sounds ridiculous. You laugh. The locals stare at you with wide eyes. "You won't be laughin' when he busts through your windshield," they say.

- There's an island somewhere off the coast where they used to send victims of malaria and yellow fever. You wonder if the faint cries carried to you by the wind off the sea belong to them. 

- They tell you that Charleston is called "the Holy City," because there are so many churches. What they don't tell you is why there are so many churches. You always thought it was because Charleston was home to so many denominations of Christianity. The truth is, Charleston is home to something else, something you can only escape by entering a sacred place. Convenient, then, to have a consecrated building on every street.

- There's this woman you see frequently at the CARTA bus stop. Her clothing always seems to swallow her up. Even in ninety-eight-degree weather with eighty-percent humidity, she wears a long beige trench coat that obscures her face and reaches down to her ankles. You can barely make out her eyes peering from beneath her wide-brimmed hat. You've never seen her get on a bus nor step off of one. You've never seen her arrive at the bus stop nor walk away from it. She is simply there. And then she's not.

- Driving home at night on a dark country road with barely any street lights, you might think you catch a glimpse of something shadowy running alongside the car, darting in and out between the trees. Don't stop. Don't look at it. Keep driving.

- There's voodoo here. It doesn't permeate the air and seep into your bones like it does in Louisiana. No, here, it lurks unseen in the shadows, following you and whispering to you - superstitions and old wives' tales, you think. Still, you hold your breath or whistle as you walk by the cemetery, and you never brush your hair outside.

- You're thinking about purchasing a house in the area and ask the old man for advice. "If they ain't blue already," he says, "paint the door an' window sills blue. Or any part of the house. Just make sure it's got some blue on it." You raise an eyebrow. "Why?" you ask. He speaks seriously yet casually, in the same tone as someone suggesting citronella to stave off mosquitoes. "Keeps out the hags an' skincrawlers."

- Everyone you know has lost something or someone to the pluff mud.

- You always feel eyes on you, staring out at you from the tall marsh grass - unblinking, calculating. It's just a bobcat or an alligator, you tell yourself. Just a bobcat or an alligator.

- It is not just a bobcat or an alligator.

- Everyone's grandmother has told them that you must say, "God bless you" whenever someone sneezes. It is required. If you don't, their soul might fly out and get replaced with a demon. You don't consider yourself superstitious, but, somehow, you've never been able to avoid saying it.

- Your friend often complains about "damn bloodsuckers" and "no-see-ems." You think he's talking about insects. He's probably talking about insects. Right?

- The horseshoe crabs slide up onto the beach dragging behind them the endless sands of time. They are Eldritch beings from before the dawn of time, prehistoric beasts with blank eyes and hidden, skittering appendages. Their blood is full of ancient magic. Leave them be and respect their space. They are there for a reason.

- When you leave the seashore, the sand clings to you with insistent fingers. It doesn't want you to leave. Even after you wash it away at the beach showers, you can still feel it burrowed deep into your skin. The sand will never leave you. The sand will never stop calling you back to the ocean. And, in your heart, you know that you will return. You will always return.

- Time doesn't seem to pass the way it ought to in summer. The hours that trickle by like raindrops on a window in spring slow to the speed and consistency of tree sap. Moments stick in your memory like insects caught in amber. Did that happen yesterday or ten summers ago. You can't be sure. Time passes differently here in summer. And it's always summer.

[eheatleyarts245-03]

CH5 Making Logos & Marks

During this week I was out of class on a opportunity that will give me real world experience in my field. I was assisting the lead photographer on a commercial shoot for the South Carolina education lottery. I learned more from this experience in four days than I have in months of school. The amount of work behind the scenes for a 30 second commercial is breathtaking and fascinating. I got to talk and network with a lot of people including the Charlotte Hornets old creative director Josh Whiteside who is now a marketer for the SC Lottery. I got to talk to Josh during this entire experience and got answers to questions that people don’t get for years about the industry. One of the biggest things he taught me about was a mindset dealing with a professional sports team and what goes into not only making creative content, but business decisions. He talked a lot about how Charlotte went through a complete rebrand from the bobcats to the hornets. He said that this was a huge project where he had to think about every possible outcome of every single thing he did. Rebrands are expensive and any mistake he made could cost the company thousands or billions of dollars. The experience was great and I would do it again!

[racingtoaredlight]

College Football 2020 Season Week 12 TV Watch Em Ups:

Low effort is back, baby! It never really went anywhere. But I'm only planning to watch one game and I'm a little nervous that things will go horribly wrong.

Saturday, December 5 Memphis Tigers Memphis Tulane Green Wave Tulane 12:00pm ET ESPN+ Buy Tickets Toledo Rockets Toledo NIU Huskies NIU 12:00pm ET ESPN3 Buy Tickets Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas Missouri Tigers Missouri 12:00pm ET SECN Buy Tickets Western Carolina Catamounts Western Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels 17North Carolina 12:00pm ET ACCN Buy Tickets Rice Owls Rice Marshall Thundering Herd 21Marshall 12:00pm ET ESPN+ Buy Tickets Kansas Jayhawks Kansas Texas Tech Red Raiders Texas Tech 12:00pm ET FS2 Buy Tickets Oklahoma State Cowboys 15Oklahoma State TCU Horned Frogs TCU 12:00pm ET ESPN2 Buy Tickets Texas Longhorns Texas Kansas State Wildcats Kansas State 12:00pm ET FOX Buy Tickets Texas A&M Aggies 5Texas A&M Auburn Tigers Auburn 12:00pm ET ESPN Buy Tickets Nebraska Cornhuskers Nebraska Purdue Boilermakers Purdue 12:00pm ET BTN Buy Tickets Ohio State Buckeyes 4Ohio State Michigan State Spartans Michigan State 12:00pm ET ABC Buy Tickets Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers 12:00pm ET FS1 Buy Tickets Eastern Michigan Eagles Eastern Michigan Western Michigan Broncos Western Michigan 2:00pm ET ESPN+ Buy Tickets Bowling Green Falcons Bowling Green Akron Zips Akron 2:00pm ET ESPN3 Buy Tickets Ball State Cardinals Ball State Central Michigan Chippewas Central Michigan 2:00pm ET ESPNU Buy Tickets Troy Trojans Troy South Alabama Jaguars South Alabama 2:00pm ET ESPN3 Buy Tickets Syracuse Orange Syracuse Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2Notre Dame 2:30pm ET NBC Buy Tickets ULM Warhawks ULM Arkansas State Red Wolves Arkansas State 3:00pm ET ESPN3 Buy Tickets Boston College Eagles Boston College Virginia Cavaliers Virginia 3:30pm ET RSN/ESPN3 Buy Tickets Florida Gators 6Florida Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee 3:30pm ET CBS Buy Tickets Tulsa Golden Hurricane 24Tulsa Navy Midshipmen Navy 3:30pm ET ESPN2 Buy Tickets Iowa Hawkeyes 19Iowa Illinois Fighting Illini Illinois 3:30pm ET FS1 Buy Tickets Indiana Hoosiers 12Indiana Wisconsin Badgers 16Wisconsin 3:30pm ET ABC Buy Tickets West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia Iowa State Cyclones 9Iowa State 3:30pm ET ESPN Buy Tickets Stanford Cardinal Stanford Washington Huskies 22Washington 4:00pm ET FOX Buy Tickets Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Georgia Tech NC State Wolfpack NC State 4:00pm ET ACCN Buy Tickets BYU Cougars 13BYU Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 18Coastal Carolina 5:30pm ET ESPNU Buy Tickets Florida Atlantic Owls Florida Atlantic Georgia Southern Eagles Georgia Southern 6:00pm ET ESPN+ Buy Tickets San Jose State Spartans San Jose State Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Hawaii 6:00pm ET Spectrum/Team1 Buy Tickets Colorado State Rams Colorado State San Diego State Aztecs San Diego State 7:00pm ET CBSSN Buy Tickets Colorado Buffaloes Colorado Arizona Wildcats Arizona 7:00pm ET FS1 Buy Tickets Oregon Ducks 23Oregon California Golden Bears California 7:00pm ET ESPN Buy Tickets Clemson Tigers 3Clemson Virginia Tech Hokies Virginia Tech 7:30pm ET ABC Buy Tickets South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky 7:30pm ET SECN Buy Tickets Miami Hurricanes 10Miami (FL) Duke Blue Devils Duke

8:00pm ET ACCN Buy Tickets Alabama Crimson Tide 1Alabama LSU Tigers LSU 8:00pm ET CBS Buy Tickets Baylor Bears Baylor Oklahoma Sooners 11Oklahoma 8:00pm ET FOX Buy Tickets Fresno State Bulldogs Fresno State Nevada Wolf Pack Nevada 9:00pm ET FS2 Buy Tickets UCLA Bruins UCLA Arizona State Sun Devils Arizona State 10:30pm ET FS1 Buy Tickets Oregon State Beavers Oregon State Utah Utes Utah 10:30pm ET ESPN Buy Tickets Wyoming Cowboys Wyoming New Mexico Lobos New Mexico 10:30pm ET CBSSN Buy Tickets Houston Cougars Houston SMU Mustangs SMU Canceled Kent State Golden Flashes Kent State Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Miami (Ohio) Canceled Buffalo Bulls Buffalo Ohio Bobcats Ohio Canceled Northwestern Wildcats 14Northwestern Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota

[projectnoah]

Burmese Pythons in the Everglades: How an Invasive Species is Hurting Native Wildlife

As of February 2013, scientists estimate anywhere between 30,000 and 150,000 Burmese Pythons exist in South Florida. As you may have suspected, Burmese Pythons are not native to Florida. They are native to Southeast Asia and south China.

The problem? The pythons are completely decimating populations of native wildlife. A study conducted by Michael Dorcas, a herpetologist at Davidson College in North Carolina in 2011 documented “severe declines” in mammal sightings. The 2003 to 2011 surveys compare mammal sightings to data from surveys conducted in 1996 and 1997 – before the python was breeding in the wild.

As the population of pythons has spiraled upwards in the last decade, mammal observations have declined by the following percentages:

87.5% bobcat decline

94.1% white-tailed deer decline

98.9% opossum decline

99.3% raccoon decline

100% rabbit decline

100% fox decline

Not a single rabbit or fox sighting was found. Furthermore, the impact of the invasive species on rare animals is unknown. It’s unclear whether or not the python is consuming the Florida panther. It’s quite possible, as these snakes eat leopards in their native habitat of Southeast Asia.

As per above, the pythons aren’t picky eaters. They will often eat any animal they can find. Even large numbers of birds are being consumed. Over 25% of the pythons found in the Everglades contain bird remains.

The above-listed mammals simply have no instinctive defense or fear from a large carnivorous snake. As a result, they fall easy prey. Before the Burmese Python in early 2000, the last large snake to live in this region was 16 million years ago, when a boa-like snake became extinct.

The study does report that certain animals, like turtles, may thrive as a result of this ecological distortion. Raccoons routinely prey upon turtle eggs. With severe declines in raccoon population, turtles have the potential to grow at a higher rate. Of course, this argument assumes the python doesn’t eventually turn on the turtle as food sources dwindle.

In addition to the above report, the National Academy of Sciences published a separate report suggesting bird and coyote populations are also threatened due to the invasive species.

“Survival of the Fittest” Argument Rebuffed

Some counter that survival-of-the-fittest dictates the pythons should spread, as they are simply more powerful predators than their prey. They argue there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this scenario as it simply represents natural selection playing course. But this argument makes little sense as it runs counter to how ecosystems function.

Burmese pythons in their native habitat in Southeast Asia do not cause a 90+% decline in the population of their prey. And neither do large carnivorous snakes like anacondas in the Amazon. Populations of predator and prey evolve together over time and live in balance. Prey develop natural instinctive defenses from these predators. The animals of the Everglades have no natural instinctive defense from these large snakes.

It’s worth noting a further element of tragic irony in this story. While the pythons are spreading like rabbits throughout south Florida, they are endangered in their native habitat of Southeast Asia. Back home, they are hunted for their skins and captured alive for sale abroad as pets.

How did they get here?

Between 1996 and 2006, roughly 99,000 pythons were imported into the United States as pets.

It’s believed the pythons began breeding in the wild as a result of two primary causes: irresponsible pet owners releasing them and the animals escaping their loosely-kept cages as a result of hurricane or stormy weather.

As for the former, these snakes grow to an average of 12 feet. Pet owners likely grew uncomfortable with the health risk and financial burden of securing and feeding a 12-foot snake in their home. After not wanting to deal with these challenges, many released them into the wild.

As for the latter, in 1992, Florida’s Hurricane Andrew was responsible for destroying a python breeding facility. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, other less severe storms likely enabled snakes in loosely secured cages to escape during stormy weather.

Here’s a brief timeline of how the population began to spiral out of control:

2000: A breeding population was confirmed in the Everglades.

2001-2005: 201 pythons observed or killed in the Everglades.

2006-2007: 418 pythons seen or killed in the Everglades.

2009: 5,000 – 180,000 estimated by South Florida Water Management District

It’s difficult to know exact population numbers over the last decade as these animals are difficult to spot. The above numbers are based on sightings and killings of pythons. The bottom line is that from early 2000 to the present, the population of breeding pythons in the Everglades spiraled to well over 30,000.

More on the Python’s Biology

The severity of this proliferation is better understood after learning about certain aspects of this snake’s biology.

For starters, the Burmese python routinely lives 25 years or more. Astonishingly, the record life span for a python in captivity is 47 years!

Females typically lay one clutch of eggs per year, usually in the spring. Each clutch contains somewhere between 12 and 36 eggs. But much larger numbers have been recorded. This August 15 report from the New York Times included finding a 17-foot python with 87 eggs.

These key aspects of the python’s reproductive behavior, combined with the prey’s lack of natural defenses, have led to a perfect storm of ecological collapse for the land-dwelling mammals.

Some Good News: Pythons Can’t Survive the Winter

I was thrilled to learn some apparent good news in this otherwise awful story. The consensus among herpetologists appears that the python cannot survive through a winter beyond south Florida.

An initial USGS study by Reed Rodda in 2008 claimed the pythons could expand as far north as the southern third of the United States. But that study appears to be an outlier.

Consensus among snake biologists is that Burmese pythons are unable to withstand a winter beyond south Florida.  An experimental closure in South Carolina kept a number of pythons over winter. All of the animals died, as they could not properly acclimate to the change in climate. When it gets cold, these pythons simply die. The study did note, however, that the pythons could survive extended periods of temperatures lower than southern Florida.

Python's inability to survive winter, however, may very well be the only good news with regards to their ability to spread throughout the region.

Research in an early 2012 issue of the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology report concluded that pythons are able to tolerate salt water and can therefore travel through marine and estuarine environments like bays or inlets. The open seas are also a possibility. Prior to the report, it was hoped that the pythons would die in saltwater and would therefore be primarily limited to the freshwater of the Everglades.

The snakes can therefore travel along the southeastern coastline and would only be limited by climate restrictions. Worse still, many climate biologists and snake herpetologists claim this climatic range is quite suitable habitat and very similar to that of Southeast Asia.

Burmese Pythons and the American Alligator

One animal in the Everglades appears able to pose a threat to an adult python. In a battle between the Burmese Python and an American Alligator, who wins? The answer: it depends. Both animals have been found to prey on one another. A large alligator can kill and eat a medium-sized python. And the opposite holds true for a large python.

To be fair, newly hatched juvenile pythons are vulnerable to predation by birds and other animals; but that doesn’t say much as the young of any species are always vulnerable.

Back to the alligator-python battle. How is it decided? The battle is often decided by two main factors: the respective size of each animal and the caliber of the first strike. If the alligator secures a swift bite at the python’s head, the snake’s neck will snap and it dies instantly. The python, on the other hand, aims to wrap itself around the alligator, as it would any other prey. After securing a full wrap, it suffocates the animal and then eats it whole. For a successful alligator hunt, size is key for the snake. The larger the python, the greater it’s chance of successfully wrapping itself around the alligator. Pythons are not venomous and must wrap around their prey to secure a kill. Naturally, small and medium-sized alligators are more vulnerable.  

Some sensational pictures have showed up online of battles between the python and the alligator.

There’s even a grotesque story of a python’s stomach exploding after attempting to consume an alligator too large to digest. Its body rejected the meal outright and the snake died a gruesome death. For any remaining survival-of-the-fittest arguers out there - no, ecosystems are not supposed to function in which a predator’s remaining food source causes its stomach to explode.

If there’s any silver lining here, however small, some predation of the python is good and healthy.

Size becomes a key-determining factor of survival between what will inevitably be the two significant remaining animals. Over time, as evolution runs its course, natural selection would favor increasingly large alligators and pythons.

Yes, what was previously a balanced and varied ecosystem of rabbits, foxes, bobcats, deer and opossums in the Everglades is now becoming a battle between larger-and-larger pythons and alligators.

Public Hunts to Raise Awareness

In February of 2012, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission initiated a 30-day hunt to raise public awareness on this issue. Around 1,600 people from 38 states participated in the hunt. 68 pythons were killed. 68. Assuming 30,000 are in the wild, the low end of figures, 68 represents .2% of the python population. The primary reason for this low number is that the snakes are notoriously difficult to locate.

A more recent hunt, as part of Florida's 2016 Python Challenge, took place this past January. 106 pythons were captured this past year. This represents an improvement from 2013 but hardly puts a dent in the total number in the wild. Cooler temperatures have forced snakes into open spaces and assists hunters in finding them. In addition, hunters are improving their hunting skills.

Florida's approach appears to be containing the snakes as the solution. This hunt represents one of the first steps in the process. And the hunt also was meant as a way of doing some introductory research on where the snakes are located.

The Nature Conservancy also launched a Python Patrol Program in 2008 where citizens are trained to alert authorities of snake sightings. As part of the program, wildlife officials then move forward with capturing the snakes. The program was effective in the Florida Keys and then was expanded mainland to the Everglades with support from the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In total, 200 python capture responders are trained.

This python patrol program is unquestionably a step in the right direction.

Preventing the spread of these animals is an enormously challenging undertaking. I have no idea how it can be done. These animals are excellent swimmers and travel extensively through marsh, swamps and river valleys. They also travel by land and are great climbers with prehensile tails.

Worse still, a challenge exists with Florida’s proposed attempt at containment. Reducing the population of pythons decreases the competition for remaining food resources. As a result, the pythons that do remain become healthier, stronger and more fertile. And in the end, the population continues to grow at high rates. Yep, decreasing the population in the short-term might actually cause it to spike in the long-term. The brutal reality is that preventing the spread of these animals appears nearly impossible.

In Conclusion

It's a tragic situation for all the native wildlife defenseless from these invasive animals - bobcat, deer, opossum, raccoon, rabbit and fox. When these animals run out, it seems any remaining animals would be vulnerable as the pythons basically eat anything.

My point isn't a sentimental one in favor of one specific animal over another; I have nothing against the pythons. It's simply an appreciation for ecological balance, sustainability and life. The situation now is completely imbalanced and unsustainable. It's truly tragic to see the devastating consequences humanity can have on an ecosystem because of some people's misguided desire to own as a "pet" a 12-foot wild snake.

In January of 2012, the federal government announced a ban on the import of the Burmese pythons, South African python, North African python, and yellow anaconda. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar acknowledges the severity of the crisis when he uses the word "forever" to describe how long the ban would last.

Apparently, the law was held up in bureaucracy for nearly two years by the reptile industry. Furthermore, environmentalists were pushing for 9 species of non-native snakes to be included in the legislation but only 4 were listed.

Thank you to the federal government for finally getting this right. Naturally, this ban represents progress and is a good thing.  

At the same time, the ban seems monumentally overdue, at least 7 years too late.  With populations of many native mammals down 90+% and the most conservative estimate pinning 30,000 pythons breeding in the wild, the damage is done and irreversible. While good and necessary, this ban is a bit like administering a vaccine to a patient that died years ago. Perhaps, we will learn faster next time.

[rollinsgrant]

The Newest Bobcat in the Goal: A Spotlight on Grant Rollins Born and raised in Illinois, it’s hardly surprising that his return is drawing attention even before the season officially  begins. Published 08/31/2019, Chicago Tribune—Sports    By: Ian Rowe

It’s a sunny August day in Chicago, only a few short weeks from the opening of the Exy season, and Grant Rollins has obviously just come from practice. His jersey is emblazoned with Rollins on the back, but he still spells it out conscientiously for the women behind the counter as he orders his drink—a large black coffee with two extra espresso shots.

That extra caffeinated kick makes sense. These past few years, Rollins has surprised everyone by becoming one to watch on the court. He’s stoic and steady as he sits at the table, but in the goal, Rollins is a powerhouse with seemingly endless energy. Blessed with fast reflexes any goalie should envy and the knowledge of Exy to match, it isn’t any surprise the Bobcats were vying for Rollins in June. 

But Rollins’ career didn’t begin here. In recent memory, Rollins led his former team—the Palmetto State Foxes, based in South Carolina—to qualify for back-to-back Class I Championships. Before that, he singlehandedly reinstated and captained the high school Exy team in Freeport, IL, only a few short hours from where he sits now. You can trace his highlights back over a decade, and yet it seems the best is still to come.

Rollins gracefully refuses the flattery though. “I’ve still got a lot to prove,” he says. “I’m only 24. This will be my first season as a pro player. I’ve got a long way to go and plenty to learn from the Bobcats.”

Maybe Rollins has been humbled by his former team. To hear some people tell it, Rollins barely made recruitment during his Class I run, and he made waves for all the wrong reasons his freshman year of college. As for the Foxes themselves? Despite their recent successes, they don’t carry the same illustrious reputation that Rollins himself does now. The numbers tell that story all on their own. Prior to Rollins’ tenure as captain, the Foxes hadn’t seen the Championships since Dan Wilds was captain. 

That seems like it should be ancient history for Rollins now, especially when faced with his bright future, but to this day Rollins still refuses to speak ill of his old teammates. “The Foxes are a great team,” Rollins says, with what seems to be genuine loyalty. “I’ll always owe Coach Wymack for giving me a chance. I may not wear orange anymore, but I’ll be cheering them on from Chicago.”

The Bobcats’ red and white seems to suit him just fine too though. Rollins grew up near here, after all, and it seems like a kind of symmetry that he’s back now. That hometown connection has certainly earned him more buzz than some of the other new recruits for the Bobcats this year. Whether it was a strategic move or a nostalgic one, it’s done wonders for his burgeoning pro career. 

“Of course, I used to watch every Bobcats game,” he admits, with perfectly timed chagrin. It’s clear Rollins’ has given his fair share of interviews, but it’s impossible to hold that against him. “I even had a Bobcats jersey as a kid. I wish I’d kept it.”

When asked to elaborate on his childhood, Rollins politely declines. He’s been spotted with his mother in nearby Freeport though, graciously signing autographs despite the somewhat complicated story of Exy there. Perhaps, like much of Rollins’ public history prior to adulthood, it’s better left unsaid. 

It’s clear that Rollins is a local hero now, and it seems likely that his reputation will soon spread beyond his home state. After all, it’s only his first year with the Bobcats, and multiple sources have confirmed that Rollins can plan on plenty of time in the goal. 

“We were lucky to find Rollins,” Bobcats’ Coach Clarissa Fowler said earlier this month, when Exy Digest asked her to provide insights on her new recruits for the 2019-2020 season. “He’s professional, eager to learn, and he puts the hours in. We’re going to have a great season.”

Time will tell if that’s true, but the Bobcats are set play their opening match against the  Milwaukee Rams on September 4th. The Bobcats’ last few seasons have ended in disappointment, but if there’s one thing Rollins clearly knows after his time with the Foxes, it’s keeping a dream alive. 

Rollins, for his part, echoes the same optimism as his new coach regardless. “The Bobcats are extremely talented and I’m fortunate to be here. I’m excited to see how far we go.”

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this Washington Post story:

The Trump administration plans to open 2.3 million acres of land for hunting and fishing at more than 100 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries under a proposal unveiled Wednesday that is aimed at giving Americans more recreational access on public lands.

The plan earned applause from several hunting and fishing groups, but criticism from one conservation organization that called it “tone deaf” to focus on this during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proposal would allow fishing for the first time at several national wildlife refuges, including San Diego Bay in California, Alamosa in Colorado, Bombay Hook in Delaware and Umbagog in Maine and New Hampshire and Everglades Headwaters in Florida, according to a list posted online.

It would also allow alligator hunting at three national wildlife refuges: Banks Lake in Georgia, Laguna Atascosa in Texas and Savannah in Georgia and South Carolina.

In Arizona, hunters would be able to go after mountain lions and mule deer at Cabeza Prieta and bobcats, fox, and mountain lions at Buenos Aires, both national wildlife refuges. In Oregon, migratory bird hunting will be allowed for the first time at Wapato Lake and Hart Mountain national wildlife refuges.

“America’s hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities across more acreage nationwide than the entire state of Delaware,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said in a statement.

The plan was announced as part of the Interior Department’s annual review ahead of the upcoming hunting season, department spokesman Conner Swanson said.

Western Values Project director Jayson O’Neill criticized the timing of the announcement and other decisions the Trump administration has made that he contends damages public lands.