Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

I invariably see it written as "petty", but then I live in NC. ;) I could imagine that "petit" might still be used in Louisiana, but do you recall where else you might have seen the French spelling used?

I did wonder if petit might have come from Law French, but I can't immediately find a mention of petit larcency other than as an apparent error, even though "petit jury" is mentioned in the wikipedia article.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

Thievery that happens during Mardi Gras?

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

Louisiana sprang to mind with me as well but the article linked was from Florida, Orlando specifically which I wouldn't have associated with French influence. The spelling variation could be more of a local thing than a state one. The French tended to settle pockets here and there rather than states,think Louisville Kentucky as an example, Louisiana territory being the exception and if I recall correctly the territory covered a fair old swathe of the mid US and settlements were spread out.

I should imagine the error has arrived when a French speaker scribing local law heard the term petty, which is phonetically very similar to the French pronunciation of petit. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, unlike the toerag who coined the term burglarized...

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

Certainly in New York, it seems to be “petit.”

https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.co...alties-defense

Article 155 | Larceny | New York State Penal Law | NYS Laws

Maybe it’s mainly NY and FL.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

I would love to own a Mustang Cobra, however this Mustang has a python. :eek:

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

He's beautiful.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

He is, and he looks big enough to make a couple of pairs of boots, or perhaps some belts and hat bands, :)

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

May just very well turn into a product such as that.

Being an invasive species and all, they generally kill them when caught.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

Yup, I think that euthanization for invasive species is mandatory in Florida, unless perhaps they are taken for research - but I would guess that the vast majority end up being immediately euthanized. I would hope that most remains are then put to some useful purpose, not just destroyed.

I am glad that the only invasive species in my neck of the woods are plants like English Ivy, and periwinkle - they are a PITA to deal with but at least they're not a threat to me or local wildlife.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

I don't think we have any danger to humans but we do have some that are a threat to native species, but mostly plants on the list, and a few small animals.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

I'm not sure that pythons are 'repurposed' here, I believe they go to approved handlers for research and training purposes. I do know that a local chef, Ed Chiles, uses some invasive species in his cooking, feral hogs (which are thought to be from Spanish Iberian stock) and lionfish spring to mind but I seem to recall a tv program where he mentioned using more than just those two.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...dropping-cigar

OK, he didn’t drop his cigar. Even after wrestling the alligator under water. If it was me, I’d have sacrificed the cigar.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

I must have seen that video 20 times and didn't notice the cigar.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

Thanks, I didn’t notice this was a video till you pointed it out. That poor dog is squealing pathetically.

Re: Meanwhile in Florida
 

A slightly nice story out of Florida, apparently a man was out with his puppy, and a gator nabbed it, man went into water got gator and freed the puppy who had minor injuries.

It was a small gator though, which was lucky for the dog.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-man-rescues-puppy-from-gator-11c3145ba6cc168a119e63440f816161


Video isn't graphic, and the dog is safe.