Just stopping by to warn Weeks et. al. of the giant pythons heading for the bay area…
The real reason I mention this, of course, is the following bit in the linked article:
The snake’s cross-country crawl would be made easier by the large population of beavers along the way, Rodda said.
“Beavers would be a very tasty treat for them,” Rodda said. “No beaver would be safe from a python.”
No beaver would be safe from a python? Did I really just read that?
P.S. Hi, Bloomfield!
What? I’m busy.
Oviously, the writers at the SFC aren’t very busy, if they have time to worry about giant pythons being the next danger to life in the bay.
I protest vehemently. What about the poor ignored Anaconda? Everybody gives the pythons all the press, and except for one or two b-grade science? fiction movies, the poor damned Anacondas just get ignored. For shame. 
I think snakes are cute. Yes, of course they eat alligators, but I mean come on, it’s not like alligators are everybody’s favorite animal (they’re not panda bears).
USGS researchers say pet owners must be responsible about snakes, especially when they no longer want them. There is nothing bad about snakes, the misunderstanding in a certain garden notwithstanding. Snakes are just being snakes. It’s up to people to exercise their free will about snakes, which is the oldest lesson in the book.
That guy is a really good writer, IMO.
I may have to finally get that firearm after all.
I love this article, but one thing disturbs me –
In California, the only safe places to avoid the migrating pythons would be the colder areas - the Sierra, the Cascades or the North Coast. Such remote areas, however, could not support every panicked Californian seeking to avoid the giant snakes.
I’m more concerned about the influx of panicked Californians into the midwest than I am about the pythons. Do not move here!! We have tornados every day. We don’t want you; we’d rather have the pythons.
(Weeks, you can come if you want. I know some people, and I’ll get you a visa.)
the rest of 'em will just move north…you’ll be fine 
Just a second here…the article said the snakes are headed toward the Dodger’s spring training facility. How is that a bad thing? So long as they stay away from Scottsdale…
Redwolf
Sometimes you hit one right out of the park, gonzo.
Hmm. That writer is really frightening me. Say they start in Florida, move at a rate of 20 miles per month, and they have to go 3000 miles. That comes to, OH DAMN! THEY WILL BE HERE IN 2021. That is if they move in a straight line, and don’t detour to some place like, say, El Paso, or something. Or die in the desert. Just as long as they have lots of beavers (or alligators) in the desert. Of course, they will have to hitch over the mountains, and nobody will want to give them a ride.
Does one of your legs feel longer than the other?
It’s up to people to exercise their free will about snakes, which is the oldest lesson in the book.
A recurring theme, no doubt.
I prefer to African Mambas. Nobody cares about them anymore.
Except the Africans.
It could be worse. When I saw the title of this thread I thought that Bloomfield was announcing a visit to the SF Bay Area.
I heard that.
The pythons must be on the move http://news.smh.com.au/giant-python-swallows-family-dog/20080227-1v80.html
This was in the Sydney Morning Hearld (Australia) today.
Either that, or the reporter is a C&F lurker 
Oh, come on. It’s not like it was a real dog. It was a terrier chihuahua mix. Not much more than an appetizer.