Marcia, Please help me find out what kind of snake I came across today. While I was at the local dog park (near Orlando) I came across a yellow with black stripes snake. It looked to be between 3.5-4 feet long and did not appear at first glance (that was all I gave it out of fear) to be shiny. I was about 3 feet from it and didn't know it until my dog almost stepped on it. She obviously didn't see it either. The snake seemed a pit peeved about the whole thing but it decided not to attack and to slowly slither towards ME to get away from my dog. Needless to say, I took off in a different direction real quick and hollered for my dog to follow. I am not like you or others on this site. I am not a fan of snakes and am extremely afraid of them. Although, I don't mind the black racers that seem to have taken up permanent residence in MY back yard and they love to procreate often (or so it seems). I have seen a lot less field rats since the racers moved in and that makes me very happy. Anyway, can you help me figure out what this snake was? I have spent hours and hours online tonight trying to find it and just can't seem to find anything that looks like it. I am guessing that it is not dangerous to me or my dogs??? I am scared to take my dogs back through those woods that they so dearly love. As soon as I told them, "No more woods until the snakes are gone again," they "told" me to find it if it was dangerous or not and if it isn't that they want to go back again. So that is mostly why I am asking you for your help. We all love the walks but I am afraid of the snakes. Please help me feel safer about going back. Thanks in advance for your help.

I grew up in NoKy - been in OR for 30 years. Yep, it is a "Bristlecone" but I think it is a "Foxtail" - Balfouriana - truly gorgeous. Pretty sure, like I've seen at Bryce Cyn. Surprised I don't see more of them. Seems to me the distinctions among the 3 "Bristlecones" just keep getting more & more confused. We have some I am certain are ARISTATA & LONGAEVA. Then there is this beauty, the one sans tag...

This is my new baby. I bought it at Walmart. The only thing I've found is maybe Echeveria Green Pearl?

The discussion would be completely different if the machine wasn't still running except for an intermittent 'cut out' problem. It's life beyond this year is in question as well as every year beyond the next year after that. If anything this is an example of just how hard my job can be 'sometimes' and yet you guys come in here and fight me for it every day. Everything is a joke to you Ray? I just find it funny what people like to fight over. I view it as getting a customer by actually fixing something. That leads to it breaking again. The same thing can and does happen to new equipment all the time. Being able to fix things is a skill. I mentioned the 8 track tape. Who here has a record collection. Who here knows what a record is? The record went away because of long rewind times? ha, ha, ha.