Key West Lou / PYTHON AND IGUANA UPDATE

It has been a while since I discussed pythons and iguanas. Two of Florida’s most disliked reptiles.

This past week, two workers at the Florida Python Elimination Program were working in the Everglades. They caught a record breaking female Burmese python. Just under 20 feet.

Besides its length, there is one additional factor involved. They caught the python with their bare hands!

Two crazy guys!

Iguanas are a total absolute pain in the ass! The only way to describe how they affect humans. They eat our flower beds, defecate in our pools, etc.

Florida was late in deciding to deal with the python problem. By the time Florida got to them, there were too many pythons to deal with. Like in excess of 1 million.

Florida is aware of its delay and the result thereof. Florida acknowledges pythons will never be eliminated. The hope is to control/manage the population.

Florida has equally been late in dealing with the iguana population. They’re all over the place!

When I first started visiting Key West 30 years ago, there were no iguanas. Then they began to appear on the golf course. In trees and on the ground. All sizes. Looked like tiny dinosaurs.

They are prolific. Enjoy sex. They frequently engage in the practice. Iguanas today without any doubt exceed the 1 million pythons.

For the past 2 years, Florida has been trying to deal with the problem. Good luck! Will not do any good. The State is too late again.

Florida now permits “private hunters.” Their game iguanas. They are hired by property owners, not the State.

One such hunter is Quentin Garcia. He has been in the business 2 years. In that time, he estimates he has killed 3,000.

The law permits snares, trapping, and BB or pellet guns. Garcia prefers the guns.

Iguanas are not an endangered species. Never the less, Florida law requires they be killed with one shot. The first one. Recommend a bullet to the brain. Garcia aims for an ear.

A problem arises if the iguana is not dead. Not supposed to shoot it again. In pain. However, I do not know what is done next.

The Villages in mid Florida is the largest retired persons community in the U.S. Most residents black hearted Republicans. Trump their hero.

My few Democratic friends who live there try to keep their politics secret. It’s that bad.

Some are coming into the new light of day.

Residents get around on golf carts. Signs have been seen on them in increasing numbers. The signs saying Go Biden. Note the increasing numbers no way compares with the number still supporting Trump.

J. Ronald Johns died. He was 84. His friends referred to him as Johnnie.

Johnnie had 2 homes. One in Utica, the other in Key West. Summers in Utica, winters in Key West.

We became friends. The Utica connection made it possible. We were not close friends, but knew each other. We both belonged to the Key West Yacht Club which brought us together with some frequency.

Johnnie was a mild mannered man. Everyone liked him.

He was a bean farmer. The farm just outside Utica. His grandfather established it. The family has run it since and continue operating it to this day.

I would run into him occasionally on the Key West golf course. He was an excellent golfer. Not scratch, but close enough.

My golf club in Utica was the Yahnandasis. Every summer a Member-Guest Tournament. I asked Johnnie to be my guest.

Understand, I am the world’s worst golfer. My handicap 35. Horrible!

I could be helpful in a tournament, however. A par or two, an occasional birdie, and I made my contribution. Especially where I got 2 strokes on a hole.

Three days. The tournament serious business.

We were in the sixth or seventh flight. My poor playing caused us to be that low.

We played wonderful for 3 days. Johnnie played a bit over his head, as I did. I smiled every time we won a hole. I would look at the guys we were playing, point to Johnie, and say, “My horse!”

Not only did we win our flight, we won the whole tournament. The result being based on overall score for the 3 days.

I felt terrific. I’m not supposed to win. I never win. We split $700 and each received a Gorham crystal bowl.

As I indicated before, Johnnie was my “horse.” We won because of his playing, not mine.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo continues to do an outstanding job with his handling of the coronavirus crisis. He continues to stay on top of the problem.

New York was in great shape till recently. Suddenly clusters began appearing in various parts of the City. One part those where Orthodox Jewish communities are located.

Cuomo limited all religious services to 25 percent. The Orthodox community went crazy. Argued a violation of their religious beliefs prohibited by the Constitution.

The Jews took Cuomo to federal court. The first hearing was friday. The Jewish religious wanted a temporary injunction prohibiting Cuomo from limiting their services in synagogues.

The federal judge ruled in favor of Cuomo. A telling portion of the Judge’s decision: “How can we ignore the compelling state interest in protecting the health and life of all New Yorkers?”

If Cuomo had been running the coronavirus pandemic for the whole U.S, we would not still be in the position we have been for several months.

A study recently concluded 59 Americans have more wealth than 50 percent of the population. The study further revealed the “59” increased their wealth substantially in the several months Covid-19 has been a problem in the U.S.

Syracuse/Duke today. Duke a 2.5 point favorite.

Hope I can get the game on TV. Getting Syracuse games on TV an absolute pain in the ass in Key West! And, I have a special sports package. The problem arises because of a war between the ACC and Comcast.

Enjoy your day!

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