Death Adder Left in Box in Cop's Yard

South coast, NSW:

A deadly snake has been left left in a box on the driveway of a police officer's house on the far south coast of New South Wales.

The off-duty officer found the death adder on his back lawn, and a box with derogatory words written on it was discovered on the driveway soon afterwards.
A forensic examination confirmed the snake had been in the box.

That cop had kids - so very wrong. Death adders are really, really dangerous. (Although I'm guessing maybe the name gave that away.)

Lizard

Took this photo in 2006. East of Canberra got out of the car for some reason or other, saw this little guy not far from the road digging a little hole. I don't know what type of lizard he is. I'll try and find out.

Look at the back legs on that sucker.

Australia Reptile Park

I hate and love zoos. Some I just hate, I guess. But many are very good at what zoos are supposed to be good at: fascinating humans while educating them about animals while being exceptionally mindful of the care of those animals. On that note, Christine and I went for a drive up north yesterday and came across the Australia Reptile Park. We were tired of driving and said What the hell and paid the $24 (!) to get in.

We will be going back. Possibly to work as volunteers.

First, a sign we saw in the park, helpfully illustrating the life cycle of the tasmanian devil (click to enlarge):

In case you didn't get that, kids:

Kur-ring-gai Chase

I spent several hours yesterday walking in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park just north of Sydney. (The name is actually redundant: a chase is "a tract of unenclosed land used as a game preserve." The founders of the chase didn't want to call it a park, as that, in their 1890s view of things, suggested a fenced in area.)

The Office, Australia, with Dragon

Set up my computer on a picnic bench next to the bike path on Pittwater Road, the main road nearest the beach that runs the length of the Northern Beaches, in Narrabeen, across from the Thai Lanna Restaurant. Three sulphur crested cockatoos are digging in the grass about thirty yards away. Numerous noisy miners fluttering around. It's about 65 degrees, breezy. Feels like it could rain. I have a latte and a pack of Camel straights, third from a carton I got in duty free. When they run out, will I put up $17-20 a pack that smokes cost in Australia? Of course I will. Or maybe I’ll go back to Drum rollies. (Nigel says, “Maybe you should just quit smoking. Or are you gonna need those teats for the rest of your life?” Nigel is such as asshole.)

I took this photo yesterday, next to a creek across the street from Tin's sister's house:

It's an Easter Water Dragon, about two feet long, with tail.