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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: JimH on January 06, 2004, 10:37:04 am

Title: OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 06, 2004, 10:37:04 am
(http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/everglades/Thumb_Medium_DSC01920.JPG)

I had a nice break from winter over the holidays.  One of the places I went was Everglades National Park at the south tip of Florida.  They had alligators, crocodiles, birds, bird watchers, and a lot of great scenery.

There are a couple pictures near the bottom of a Great Blue Heron who had speared a fish about 6 inches long and we watched him swallow the fish whole.  It left a big lump in his throat.  Here's the bird pre-fish-dinner-whole:
http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/everglades/DSC01926.JPG

More pictures are here:
http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/everglades/

Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Robert Taylor on January 06, 2004, 04:07:34 pm
Speaking of big reptiles with lotsa teeth...

Anyone seen coverage of "The Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin playing with his baby inside the croc enclosure at his zoo? (His zoo is just over the other side of town from me).

What do you Americans think of this? I know he's been getting some bad press in your media.

As far as I'm concerned, he was, and always will be a complete wally. This situation hopefully has made it more obvious to the general population...
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: zevele10 on January 06, 2004, 04:17:29 pm
thanks for such nice pictures
Scaring for some of them
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Robert Taylor on January 06, 2004, 04:31:27 pm
Say Jim, nice pix!

Do you do any fishing in the everglades?

If so, what sorts of fish do you get in there? I know there's big tarpon down there somewhere, what else do you catch?
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 06, 2004, 04:40:28 pm
I saw a lot of people fishing, but that's as close as I got.  They do have Tarpin.
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Griff on January 06, 2004, 05:34:02 pm
Thanks for sharing.

I enjoy your pics.

Really like the Ice boats, way back.
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Drowbe on January 06, 2004, 05:59:41 pm
What do you Americans think of this? I know he's been getting some bad press in your media.

As far as I'm concerned, he was, and always will be a complete wally. This situation hopefully has made it more obvious to the general population...
Yeah...it has been on the news here in Los Angeles several times the past day or so.  He is taking some heat off of Micheal Jackson (who dangled his kid over a balcony railing).  I think the hubbub will likely get buried by Britney Spears' one day marriage.  So much fluff in the news, so many channels to cover it... ;)
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 07, 2004, 04:15:54 pm
Here's another installment of the trip to Florida:

http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/

The pictures at the top are mostly the first day in the Everglades.  Those in the bottom half are of KeyWest.  They include some pictures from Hemingway's house there.  I got scratched by a cat that was lying on a bed when I tried to count his toes.

(http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/Thumb_Medium_DSC01670.JPG)
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 07, 2004, 04:30:24 pm
And the last part -- four days on a small key in the Bahamas:

http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/bahamas/
(http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/bahamas/Thumb_Medium_DSC01832.JPG)
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Griff on January 08, 2004, 01:13:49 pm
What kind of tree are you sitting under?
1714.jpg

Griff
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 08, 2004, 01:25:27 pm
I think it's a Banyan tree.  Maybe someone else knows.

http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/2004/florida/DSC01714.JPG
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: lee269 on January 08, 2004, 02:21:57 pm
Ive been hinting/nagging at another USA road trip for vacation 2004 (assuming I can get a visa :)).

I got the rough guide to Florida for Xmas from my wife, so I reckon Im halfway there.

The pics look good - thanks for posting them. Ammunition...
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: robertc65 on January 08, 2004, 03:39:52 pm
I'm an American I have always thought that Steve Irwin was a bit extreme. I think he used pretty poor judgement by taking his one year kid in the Crock pen. As far as I'm concerned the worst thing was his attempt to justify it. If he had just said that he thought it was a mistake and that he would never try it in the future I think the press would have died down faster.
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: JimH on January 08, 2004, 03:44:15 pm
Here's more on Steve:
http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20040105/crochunter.html
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: robertc65 on January 10, 2004, 01:01:03 am
A "Wally" you say. In America we refer to people like Steve Irwin as wackos.
Title: Re:OT -- Alligators
Post by: Griff on January 10, 2004, 08:53:00 pm
Ya, I agree but

Diff. Cultures, diff. norms.