Comments on: Butt-call to Siri saves teenager’s life

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 17:02:32 +0000

charles:

Yes, I’m lucky. Actually, a neighbor called to give warning. She had seen the snapper under the car. I would have gone out there and not noticed it; it was sort of in shadow, as you can see from the photo.

By: MikeII

MikeII — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:13:13 +0000

While I’m glad the driver is OK, it reminded me of a series of humorous posters from the 1990’s.

It was of a sunken ship with the following caption:
MISTAKES-It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others

If you need a tongue in cheek smile for the day, here is the link with different “demotivational” posters
🙂
http://despair.com/collections/posters

By: charles

charles — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 13:08:26 +0000

Well, Neo, maybe you are a “wimp.” But, at least you’re a wimp that has all your fingers and toes.

Or are you holding up that apple to cover up a snapping turtle bitten off nose?

Seriously, as others have said here – snapping turtles are not to be treated lightly. They do have a rather nasty attitude toward anyone that comes near them. They will feel threatened and “snap” thereby latching onto you (your fingers or toes, or whatever part of your arm or leg is too near) and NOT let go.

You are quite lucky that you found that snapper before you stepped too near your car with open-toed shoes.

By: Mrs Whatsit

Mrs Whatsit — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:32:25 +0000

Mizpants, thank you, thank you. I thought I was the only one.

By: jon baker

jon baker — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 02:37:03 +0000

The other thing to keep in mind is what is the jack and jack stands sitting on? If its just dirt they can sink or shift. I drive a 1994 S10 pickup with over 330,000 miles on it. I do a lot of the work myself. Recently changed the bushings on the drivers side upper control arm. I have never heard of a new vehicle having to have those replaced. But at my mileage I guess its understandable. I also changed the upper ball joint on the drivers side at the same time. It was the original! Had to drill out the factory rivets. the new one came with bolts and nuts….

By: jon baker

jon baker — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 02:31:50 +0000

There have been three deaths in my area in recent months due to a vehicle falling on someone.

By: neo-neocon

neo-neocon — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 01:57:11 +0000

mizpants:

That actually was a careless error. I’ll fix it, thanks.

By: Kae Arby

Kae Arby — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 01:17:17 +0000

About fifteen years ago I came across a young (about 6″ diameter) snapping turtle crossing a street near my home (not uncommon since I live behind a state park and high land swamps.) A young woman, in her twenties, stopped and started to nudge the turtle across the road with a…, wait for it, romance novel. I stopped and told her, “Ma’am, you shouldn’t do that. That turtle can reach around and bite one of your fingers off!”

The woman thanked me for my advice and kept nudging the turtle along with her paperback. Nothing happened and I left, but that was a disaster waiting to happen.

On another time, I passed by a approx. 12″ snapper walking down my road. Its top shell was covered in algae and the thing looked like a miniature dinosaur.

I guess what I’m trying to say is the best thing that you can give a snapping turtle is distance.

KRB

By: Wooly Bully

Wooly Bully — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 00:53:33 +0000

At least it wasn’t a teenage mutant ninja snapping turtle. Don’t mess with those!

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 00:52:21 +0000

Even jack stands aren’t always safe. A friend was working under his car and had a cheap jack stand collapse. He noticed that the car was moving and got out from under the car before it completely gave way. After that he bought some heavy duty jack stands.