A Florida Man...

[O Really]

I'm just guessing, but I would think a gator on land would not be quite as dangerous as one in the water. Because, you know, they live mostly in the water, know how to use it to their advantage.

You might be mistaken on that. Gators can run (for short distances) up to about 35mph. True, in water they have the additional advantage of being able to drown the prey, but they're still dangerous on land. Fortunately, they're very food-centric and don't usually attack casually unless protecting a nest. But they've taken out a lot of dogs, deer, small horses from land.

[Vrede too]

Opps! I am in error in that a marine drive system does NOT have to be perpendicular to the surface of the water. I was initially thinking of how a boat motor is in that position, but the actual drive system, a screw, is actually parallel to the water. Displacement of water is what makes marine shit go.

Yeah, I wondered about that.

Surprised our OCD in Chief didn't castigate you for it.

First, I was not clear on neoplacebo's original point. Because of this and since I'm aware of his expertise with watercraft, I did not opine. This sets me apart from a poster here that frequently pontificates on topics that he is utterly ignorant about, like bears.

Secondly, I knew that neoplacebo's integrity and intellect are so great that if he were wrong he would return to correct himself, as he did. This sets him apart from a poster here that is too sackless to ever admit error, like about a CDC website.

Thanks for your interest and for giving me the opportunity to elaborate on my choice!

[Ulysses]

I'm just guessing, but I would think a gator on land would not be quite as dangerous as one in the water. Because, you know, they live mostly in the water, know how to use it to their advantage.

You might be mistaken on that. Gators can run (for short distances) up to about 35mph. True, in water they have the additional advantage of being able to drown the prey, but they're still dangerous on land. Fortunately, they're very food-centric and don't usually attack casually unless protecting a nest. But they've taken out a lot of dogs, deer, small horses from land.

Thanks for the characteristically polite correction. Too bad everyone here doesn't follow your example.

We don't get wild gators here in California, nor did we in the Connecticut of my early existence. I have seen them walking about in central Florida when I visited Daytona back in the 80's. Everyone kept their distance.

[O Really]

Keeping your distance is a good idea, particularly if they're walking around. But if they're just lying around in the water along a bank beside a walking trail, you can walk past them safely. At the CREW Bird Rookery swamp outside Naples, about 12 miles of trail, you usually see your first gator about 150 yards in. That would be One-Eye Betty. After that, there are likely to be gators within a few feet/yards of wherever you are. And the deeper you get along the trail, the bigger an more numerous they get. As long as they're lying there quietly, you're ok. If they get distressed and start hissing and snapping, you're probably better off to turn back. But as far as I know, no humans have been attacked.

[Ulysses]

Keeping your distance is a good idea, particularly if they're walking around. But if they're just lying around in the water along a bank beside a walking trail, you can walk past them safely. At the CREW Bird Rookery swamp outside Naples, about 12 miles of trail, you usually see your first gator about 150 yards in. That would be One-Eye Betty. After that, there are likely to be gators within a few feet/yards of wherever you are. And the deeper you get along the trail, the bigger an more numerous they get. As long as they're lying there quietly, you're ok. If they get distressed and start hissing and snapping, you're probably better off to turn back. But as far as I know, no humans have been attacked.

I might want to bring a walking stick with a big dose of sedative hidden in a retractable needle in the tip, just in case. LOL.

The place I stayed was a home at the edge of an ancient sinkhole with a big pond at the bottom. It had at least one gator. I remember exploring one afternoon around the pond; the gator showed itself in the water at some point. As well as a big turtle. But out here the biggest danger is from humans. Hmm. A walking stick with a retractable sedative charged needle might be a good idea after all.

[Vrede too]

Yeah, I wondered about that.

Surprised our OCD in Chief didn't castigate you for it.

Dig entirely unrelated to the topic. 1/2 hour later:

Thanks for the characteristically polite correction. Too bad everyone here doesn't follow your example....

Useless has no clue what a hypocritical crybaby he is.

[billy.pilgrim]

I'm just guessing, but I would think a gator on land would not be quite as dangerous as one in the water. Because, you know, they live mostly in the water, know how to use it to their advantage.

You might be mistaken on that. Gators can run (for short distances) up to about 35mph. True, in water they have the additional advantage of being able to drown the prey, but they're still dangerous on land. Fortunately, they're very food-centric and don't usually attack casually unless protecting a nest. But they've taken out a lot of dogs, deer, small horses from land.

One took Short Louis while I watched.

[GoCubsGo]

One took Short Louis while I watched.

Ok, I'll bite.

What's a Short Louis?

[Ulysses]

One took Short Louis while I watched.

Ok, I'll bite.

What's a Short Louis?

I have the same question. The closest Google came up with was St. Louis slang, but not.

?

[billy.pilgrim]

One took Short Louis while I watched.

Ok, I'll bite.

What's a Short Louis?

A beagle. I had just finished mowing the yard when I heard them coming through the Sawgrass out of the swamp. Yes they can go 35 or 40 mph for short distances. He grabbed Short Louis and rolled off into the canal.

[Ulysses]

Short Louis == small dog?

[Ulysses]

OK, next question. Why are beagles called "Short Louis"?

Or is that obvious?

[billy.pilgrim]

OK, next question. Why are beagles called "Short Louis"?

Or is that obvious?

Had to name him something. Looking back, all my beagles have had double names.

[Ulysses]

OK, next question. Why are beagles called "Short Louis"?

Or is that obvious?

Had to name him something. Looking back, all my beagles have had double names.

OMG, you had a beagle named Short Louis, and you had to watch as a gator snatched him?

My deep condolences.

Swamps kinda suck.

[GoCubsGo]

One took Short Louis while I watched.

Ok, I'll bite.

What's a Short Louis?

A beagle. I had just finished mowing the yard when I heard them coming through the Sawgrass out of the swamp. Yes they can go 35 or 40 mph for short distances. He grabbed Short Louis and rolled off into the canal.

Oh shit.

So sorry.

[GoCubsGo]

[Ulysses]

He's probably lucky they didn't lock him into an overhead compartment.

[Vrede too]

Director of Vaccine Education Center: 'The governor of Florida has served as a friend of SARS-CoV-2 virus'

Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center and attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, joins Yahoo Finance to discuss the latest in COVID-19 and the spread of the Delta variant....

PAUL OFFIT: It's inexplicable. I mean, you have basically the governor of Florida has served as a friend of Sars-CoV-2 virus. I mean, for children less than 12 years of age, the only chance they have of avoiding this virus is to mask. That's it. Vaccines aren't available for them. And yet, the governor has put children in a position where they may not go into a classroom where there's masking. I was actually just on this NPR 1A program earlier today. And a nine-year-old called in from Florida and said she was scared. She knew that she couldn't be vaccinated, she knew that she could only mask, and she was hoping that all her friends would also mask.

I mean, you're listening to her talk, you would like to see her run for the governor of Florida. Because she seems to understand the concept of masking much better than he does. It just doesn't make sense. It's sort of like civil liberties uber alles, including above public health. It just puts children in a dangerous position unnecessarily....

Even governors need friends.

[GoCubsGo]

Director of Vaccine Education Center: 'The governor of Florida has served as a friend of SARS-CoV-2 virus'



I was actually just on this NPR 1A program earlier today. And a nine-year-old called in from Florida and said she was scared. She knew that she couldn't be vaccinated, she knew that she could only mask, and she was hoping that all her friends would also mask.

Even governors need friends.

Which actually brings up a valid point that hasn't been talked about. All the Karen Covidiots are screaming about the psychological damage by making kids wear masks.
What about possible traumatized kids who are actually aware of the world around them being made to possibly go into a covid factory on a daily basis?

[O Really]

Yo billy.p - other than maybe in your Panhandle, where do these people live that think it's a good idea to actively oppose efforts to fight a pandemic virus? So I'm guessing...counties southwest of Jackonville, Baker, etc.? West side down south of Tallahassee from Perry, Cedar Key, Crystal River? South Central between Sarasota and Ft. Pierce? And how is it that there are enough people out there to offset the votes from Tampa Bay area, South Florida, Orlando, the whole East coast, etc? Florida's got 20 million people. Most moved there from somewhere else. Has it truly become a repository for the insane? It's definitely not the Florida I used to know and love.