I have two; a male common corn snake and a male hognose. They are definitely not cuddly animals, as you stated. However, they absolutely can and do get to know their handlers, and learn how to be relaxed when handled - and they obviously enjoy it, since they often seek out being handled of their own free will (I usually open the enclosure when they’re “surfing” up against the glass and let them decide whether they want to slide into my hands). I’ve had them for a few years now and I have been bitten, but never out of “malice”. All biting incidents were my own fault due to inexperience, and the snakes mistaking my hands for their meal. A snakebite from a non-venomous or very mildly venomous snake is no worse than a bee sting. If you have cats, you’ve probably been through worse than whatever a snake can do to you.

All in all, could recommend!

Snake tax:

Cat mongler? Sign me up!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult

Nato for sure can stand its ground even without the US. But Russia doesn’t need to blitzkrieg and win huge swathes of territory in order to accomplish their goals of destabilizing the EU. Everyone saying “they’re already losing in Ukraine, they wouldn’t dream of opening another front” obviously hasn’t studied Russian history.

I think the biggest deciding factor in whether this happens or not is actually China. Ostensibly, they wouldn’t risk losing a huge market like the EU but afaik things aren’t going well over there either, so if Xi wants to be the strongman Putin is desperately trying to be just in order to hold on to power, I can absolutely see them choosing Russia’s side in a global conflict.

He’s preparing to attack the Baltics.

It doesn’t matter. He said it, that makes it “true” for his followers. That’s the perks of living in a post-truth society.

I know that term was heavily ridiculed when it first started appearing during his first term, but the implications are profound and generation-spanning.

Honestly, I’m in the EU and I fully expect the same thing to happen here, just more gradually than in the US. I will never be able to get out of social security what I’ve been forced to put in my entire life. And that would be okay if it meant it went to people who actually needed it…

Getting those orders is one thing.

Acting on them is another.

Can’t we like, globally cut off any and all ties with the US and leave them to fester in their own hellhole? Hell, we’ll build the walls AND pay for them!

“What are they going to do? Sue us from beyond the grave?”

People who own cats know that they are very sensitive to your emotional state and will absolutely come comfort you when you’re distressed or very down. I’ve had three cats on me at once sometimes, which is not something they “regularly” do.

Little furry angels, every last one of them. I owe them so much.

Yes, which is why it’s important for them to realize what they’re getting themselves into. Did Warmbier deserve what happened to him? Absolutely not, but knowing what happened and still going over there to play tourist means you’ve understood, accepted and internalized the possible risk. I will reserve my tears for the many thousands of people who get into trouble through no fault of their own.

Anyone who goes there of their own free will should know that they could end up like Otto Warmbier at any time. No tears will be shed for them.

We need extra judicial powers, not extra chromosomes in leadership…

I think it’s fairly obvious how he’s buttering up Trump in order to get something done. Honestly, Trump himself may be the only person who doesn’t see it.

When your “pet” turns out to be your handler all along.

Broken clock, twice a day, yada yada.

All of them, it seems like. Not all at the same speed, but still.

Was she punished?