Crap. Makes you pretty wary about ordering chicken, doesn't it? (We had our first avian flu-related human fatality a few weeks ago.)

Well, I'll certainly be cutting down on my consumption of swans, that's for sure.

LOS ANGELES - A man was sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading no contest to illegally possessing an alligator that was dumped into an urban lake where it has eluded capture for months.

Anthony Brewer, 36, of Los Angeles, also was ordered Wednesday to complete 45 days of work for the California Department of Transportation, according to City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. It is illegal under California law to keep alligators as private pets.

A Superior Court commissioner set a restitution hearing in May to determine how much Brewer should repay of the $155,000 the city has spent on increased security around Harbor Regional Park’s Machado Lake since the gator was discovered in August.

...

Authorities say Brewer and Natow, 42, released the 7-foot reptile known as “Reggie” into the lake when it became too big to keep as a pet. They were arrested in August and charged with unlawful possession of restricted animals, releasing an alligator into the lake, causing a public nuisance and marijuana possession, according to the city attorney’s office.

[link]

I've played Laser Tag a couple times and royally sucked at it. Never wanted to do paint ball. Not only would l suck (I've never had much luck with any form of gun, real or fake, barring the original Time Crisis video game) but I'm not big on getting welts all over either.

Fake swords are more my speed anyway.

I heard about Reggie on the radio a bit ago. He is quite elusive.

I guess if the rovers have blogs, a gator can too.... [link]

I would like one of those new inflatable airline pillows for my desk right now.

I have to give a seminar in a couple of hours and I hate public speaking. I am simultaneously exhausted and nervous. I want to nap while pacing.

Authorities say Brewer and Natow, 42, released the 7-foot reptile known as “Reggie” into the lake when it became too big to keep as a pet.

Heh, guy must have been a RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK fan.

I'm not big on getting welts all over either.

Fake swords are more my speed anyway.

Don't you risk welts with those too? My co-workers used to paintball quite regularly, and kept inviting me. I explained that it would not be a good thing, because of all the time I've spent developing strange reflexive responses to people attacking me with guns. They bought it. Anyway, they didn't come back welted.

Don't you risk welts with those too?

I've gotten bruises, but no welts. (I also got a split eyebrow, but that was a freak accident, rather than par for the course.) I've always done it with padded weapons and/or protective gear, whereas all the paintballers I've met seem to have a stigma against anyone who wears anything more than a mask and love showing off their "battlescars".

Plus, the whole being a really crappy shot thing.

I played paintball once when I was in college. It was actually really fun, although I did get cut when I ball hit just between my helmet and my eyebrow. The worst part was that I was really sore when I was all over from throwing myself on the ground (while dodging balls).