I was assured that Python was a "safe" programming language! How could it possibly cause harm in the Everglades?

I can understand the motivation, but the law of unintended consequences tells me that the effect of banning the interstate travel or sales of already imported snakes will just result in even more of them being dumped into the nearest vacant lot or handy waterway.

Tcl ftw

Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

I'm surprised you like them. I'd have thought they'd compete with you for real estate under various bridges.

BurnShrike: I was assured that Python was a "safe" programming language! How could it possibly cause harm in the Everglades?

well it's not type safe so I assume it's been eating all kinds of different types.
You can to look inside it to see what its eaten though

taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

If you like snakes, it should upset you that an invasive species are pushing out the natives.

StoneColdAtheist: I can understand the motivation, but the law of unintended consequences tells me that the effect of banning the interstate travel or sales of already imported snakes will just result in even more of them being dumped into the nearest vacant lot or handy waterway.

Which is OK outside of Southern Florida. The snakes would die in the winter.

Also, if Florida were serious about getting rid of their Burmese Python problem, they'd slap a bounty on them. Instead, they are treating them like a game species, which is the exact *OPPOSITE* of how you want to handle this.

ha-ha-guy: taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

I'm surprised you like them. I'd have thought they'd compete with you for real estate under various bridges.

I think I might be missing a reference or something needed for that joke to make sense. I get the whole "you're implying I'm homeless" part. But what lead to that? Was it a play on my screen name? A reference to other posts? If it's that, which one so I have a better frame of reference?

While snake owners are allowed to keep their reptiles under the ban, they can't take, send or sell them across state lines.

Sounds like peple will be entitled to some financial relief under the 5th Amendment.

Benjimin_Dover: While snake owners are allowed to keep their reptiles under the ban, they can't take, send or sell them across state lines.

Sounds like peple will be entitled to some financial relief under the 5th Amendment.

And by peple I mean people.

/peepul

HotWingConspiracy: taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

If you like snakes, it should upset you that an invasive species are pushing out the natives.

That's part of what I was asking. Are they pushing out native species? What is meant by harm? Are other things actually being destroyed? Or, again, is it just "not the way things used to be=harm"?

dittybopper: StoneColdAtheist: I can understand the motivation, but the law of unintended consequences tells me that the effect of banning the interstate travel or sales of already imported snakes will just result in even more of them being dumped into the nearest vacant lot or handy waterway.

Which is OK outside of Southern Florida. The snakes would die in the winter.

Also, if Florida were serious about getting rid of their Burmese Python problem, they'd slap a bounty on them. Instead, they are treating them like a game species, which is the exact *OPPOSITE* of how you want to handle this.

I don't know how cold tolerant these large snakes are, but I suspect they're tougher than many think. That said, I'm shocked that Florida is taking a game species management approach. That's dumber than rocks.

It's a little late.

StoneColdAtheist: I'm shocked that Florida is taking a game species management approach. That's dumber than rocks.

Sarcasm font?

taurusowner: ha-ha-guy: taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

I'm surprised you like them. I'd have thought they'd compete with you for real estate under various bridges.

I think I might be missing a reference or something needed for that joke to make sense. I get the whole "you're implying I'm homeless" part. But what lead to that? Was it a play on my screen name? A reference to other posts? If it's that, which one so I have a better frame of reference?

He's calling you a troll.

meanmutton: taurusowner: ha-ha-guy: taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

I'm surprised you like them. I'd have thought they'd compete with you for real estate under various bridges.

I think I might be missing a reference or something needed for that joke to make sense. I get the whole "you're implying I'm homeless" part. But what lead to that? Was it a play on my screen name? A reference to other posts? If it's that, which one so I have a better frame of reference?

He's calling you a troll.

Ohhhhhhh. Well, disregard then.

As a professional Python programmer I'm getting a kick out of some of these replies. Some of you farkers are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about. But trust me... you don't.

Crap, now I'll get arrested if I wear tighty whities.

BurnShrike: StoneColdAtheist: I'm shocked that Florida is taking a game species management approach. That's dumber than rocks.

Sarcasm font?

I thought about adding "oh...wait", but that was too much of a giveaway. ;)

ain't the problem the fact that there are already loose snakes on the plains?

taurusowner: HotWingConspiracy: taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

If you like snakes, it should upset you that an invasive species are pushing out the natives.

That's part of what I was asking. Are they pushing out native species? What is meant by harm? Are other things actually being destroyed? Or, again, is it just "not the way things used to be=harm"?

Well yeah, they compete better for food and breeding grounds, plus they're farking up the predator/prey balance.

Who's gonna laugh at my l33t RuBY skillz now!!

bidness: As a professional Python programmer I'm getting a kick out of some of these replies. Some of you farkers are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about. But trust me... you don't.

Your claim to be a Python programmer checks out. After all, you've got the condescension part down.

The Everglades invasive snake problem is important but.... the mostly fresh water system is being inundated with more and more whale sperm caused salt water.

Control the whales....

StoneColdAtheist: dittybopper: StoneColdAtheist: I can understand the motivation, but the law of unintended consequences tells me that the effect of banning the interstate travel or sales of already imported snakes will just result in even more of them being dumped into the nearest vacant lot or handy waterway.

Which is OK outside of Southern Florida. The snakes would die in the winter.

Also, if Florida were serious about getting rid of their Burmese Python problem, they'd slap a bounty on them. Instead, they are treating them like a game species, which is the exact *OPPOSITE* of how you want to handle this.

I don't know how cold tolerant these large snakes are, but I suspect they're tougher than many think. That said, I'm shocked that Florida is taking a game species management approach. That's dumber than rocks.

Apparently they aren't that cold tolerant: They've found cold killed pythons in Florida.

You have to apply for a permit, and you can only hunt them during established seasons. You can sell the meat and/or hide, but they point out that Everglades pythons have unacceptably high mercury levels, so they don't recommend humans eat the meat, and really there is no market for the skins.

What they should do is put a $25 bounty on each Burmese Python brought in, alive or dead. Keep the reporting requirements the same, but don't require people to get a permit. Maybe make them show proof of a hunter safety course (an expired hunting license will do) in order to collect the bounty.

ShawnDoc: I'm surprised it has taken this long. But you'd think they could just limit the ban to states where the animals can live in the wild. No reason to ban them in Minnesota or Washington.

Unless you can ban them from crossing state borders (I'm murky on the legalities of this, though I think the Federal government can do this under the Constitution) that's just a back door to smuggling them across state lines; we have an international airport in Minneapolis/St Paul.

ShawnDoc: I'm surprised it has taken this long. But you'd think they could just limit the ban to states where the animals can live in the wild. No reason to ban them in Minnesota or Washington.

This is the US Government we are talking about. You are trying to apply a well thought out idea. it's like crossing the streams

Slam1263: Who's gonna laugh at my l33t RuBY skillz now!!

I'm waiting for the 17kbyte "Hello Thread!" java responses.

netcentric: The Everglades invasive snake problem is important but.... the mostly fresh water system is being inundated with more and more whale sperm caused salt water.

Control the whales....

The primary whale in the Everglades is critically endangered as well. The Everglades Pygmy Narwhal is so threatened that it has reached cryptozooid statue. Historically, they were the most abundant cetacean in the Everglades, but they were hunted down during the Seminole wars for their tusks.

What makes it even worse is the pygmy narwhal is a favored prey of Burmese pythons.

dittybopper: Also, if Florida were serious about getting rid of their Burmese Python problem, they'd slap a bounty on them. Instead, they are treating them like a game species, which is the exact *OPPOSITE* of how you want to handle this.

That's sort of what I was thinking. Ban the import because we have an invasive population to harvest from. Nothing wrong with allowing sales, but only from present stocks and invasive wild caught pythons.

taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

The damn pythons are swallowing frickin' alligators. How ya like that?

Obviously they should "import antigravity". Ever see a python in zero gee? Easy catch!

meanmutton: Your claim to be a Python programmer checks out. After all, you've got the condescension part down.

I LOL'ed.

taurusowner: Meh, I think it's kind of neat there are big snakes like that in the US now. But I've always liked snakes.

\Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

They're constrictors. They're choking the chickens and nobody wants to see that out in public.

Python? Bah, Perl has had a module for farking up the everglades since before Python existed.

meanmutton: bidness: As a professional Python programmer I'm getting a kick out of some of these replies. Some of you farkers are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about. But trust me... you don't.

Your claim to be a Python programmer checks out. After all, you've got the condescension part down.

too bad he doesn't know his wife is banging two of her co-workers. program that open source.

I think they are about 10 years too late.

KrispyKritter: meanmutton: bidness: As a professional Python programmer I'm getting a kick out of some of these replies. Some of you farkers are very good at making it sound like you know what you are talking about. But trust me... you don't.

Your claim to be a Python programmer checks out. After all, you've got the condescension part down.

too bad he doesn't know his wife is banging two of her co-workers. program that open source.

And too bad he didn't get a chance to brace himself before you spilled that little tidbit. Oh wait...

Sucks that people wanting to keep these guys in areas where they can't survive in the wild (e.g. Michigan) are impacted by this law. I know lots of great reptile hobbyists who enjoy importing and swapping animals to diversify the genetics in their breeding programs.

It just sucks that people are so irresponsible. I mean, they're irresponsible everywhere, but allowing a snake to escape (or worse, deliberately releasing it) in a place like Florida is just asinine. You hurt the environment and you ruin the hobby for everyone. Responsible hobbyists condemn the release of animals into the wild, but the government seems incapable of passing laws that punish the wrong-doers while leaving the responsible folks alone.

dittybopper: Apparently they aren't that cold tolerant: They've found cold killed pythons in Florida.

I couldn't find a date, but I'm going to assume that was from last December/January, which was well outside of the normal range for Florida (everywhere else as well). Some of the more northern reaches of the Glades experienced a number of hard freezes, a rather rare occurrence in south Florida.taurusowner: \Are they really causing harm?
\\Or is harm just code for "disrupting the way things were"?

A bit of both. There have really never been any large snakes or constrictors in the Everglades, which has always had a strong protective movement around it. Since the big snakes are so new (really only the past 20-30 years), no one really knows how the ecosystem will respond to them, just that there are an absolute ton of them and they can and will fark up the foodchain:



/dead python with a dead gator sticking out of it

Ruby on rails FTW

/i have no idea what I'm talking about.