Thought I’d be fresh out of pudus this week, given where I am. I’ve got plenty of pretty cool pics of geckos and iguanas and even sisserou parrots, but no fresh pudus.
But then Phil sends me this satellite surveillance photo of a pudu plotting something nefarious in south Florida.
Coiled and ready to strike. Good thing the Pentagon is keeping an eye on the little guys.
Or rather, gives you something of a kit about how to get on game shows, mentioning the book itself just in passing. Fun story if anyone wants to win a bunch of money for having a head full of crap.
This is the view from on high in Antigua’s new cricket stadium:
Between gloomy weather, surly security people, an ill-conceived park-&-ride system that is far more park than ride, and a deeply disappointing West Indies team to cheer for, by the afternoon of only the second game here, sometimes it looked like there were more sheep and goats wandering about than cricket fans.
Most depressing couple of hours I’ve spent around a sporting ground of any kind in years.
I know exactly zero about local politics, but even with massive Chinese investment (something you see everywhere in the Caribbean), I can’t imagine how Antigua can afford this mistake. They just moved one of their downtown’s main attractions to the hard-to-reach middle of nowhere. How that helps the economy here I have no idea. I may be completely wrong, but it sure looks like somebody in power here should be facing serious consequences.
Just sad.
If you missed this post, two weeks ago, let me get you caught up. This is Mello, official mascot of the 2007 Cricket World Cup:
The woman with him is his handler, who is highly-trained in the dangerous art of handling big cats armed with large wooden bats.
Yes, yes, Mello looks laid-back, yes. And on his good days, Mello is a treat for young and old alike. As I’ve said, nobody does a hokey-pokey with the kids like Mello. Nobody, man. That’s why he’s getting this one last chance.
After, y’know, that ugly business in Jamaica. And the manslaughter charges and the plea bargains and the community service and the apology on Letterman. The guy’s just too good.
But just in case, his handler is packing a utility-belt taser and communicating with rooftop snipers armed with tranquilizer guns. Just to be sure.
Unfortunately, on my last day in St. Kitts, I caught this terrifying scene. Just before shit went bad.
Just seconds after this photo was taken, Mello was swarmed by ten security guards, saving his handler’s life. Two of them are still hospitalized with giant-shoe bruises and synthetic fur burns.
It has been a difficult World Cup, no question.
I just hope Mello doesn’t have to be put down.