• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skulduggery

I was captivated by it, I got my copy last friday and had a hard time putting it down.
 
I liked the Lizard King. I've ordered this. I understand it is pretty different from the LK.

Looking forward to it.
 
$19.95 on sale at Borders. I was looking at it, and almost bought it, but decided to check out reviews first. Thanks, you guys have me convinced now, so I suppose I'll be grabbing one in the next few days. I'll let you know my own oppinion once
 
From what i understand, This book is full of lies and slander. The books is meant to make the reptile industy look bad. Its more of an animal rights activist side of the industy, but with a lot of extra BS inside.
 
cobraman1 said:
From what i understand, This book is full of lies and slander. The books is meant to make the reptile industy look bad. Its more of an animal rights activist side of the industy, but with a lot of extra BS inside.
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From what you understand? You've read it and then researched the claims made in the book and determined that on your own?
 
I just finished the book and enjoyed the read. Knowing most of the people in it certainly helped.

She certainly nailed down the personalities of all involved from my perspective.

I knew about most of the scenarios portrayed in the book so I didn't notice anything that was fabricated.

One of our members here...Randall Berry is involved and has a role in the book.

Maybe he can comment.
 
jimoo said:
From what you understand? You've read it and then researched the claims made in the book and determined that on your own?
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No, I have heard what Tom Crutchfield has said about it. Appearently he gave jennie smith a lot of his own personal info and she twisted it all around to make people and the hobby look bad.
 
Well, I'm sure Tom Crutchfield is being objective :rolleyes:

I don't understand people not taking the time to come to their own conclusions and to think for themselves. I also do not understand people that there are bad people in this and most every hobby and profession and hiding that helps no one; certainly not the hobby in question.
 
jimoo said:
Well, I'm sure Tom Crutchfield is being objective :rolleyes:

I don't understand people not taking the time to come to their own conclusions and to think for themselves. I also do not understand people that there are bad people in this and most every hobby and profession and hiding that helps no one; certainly not the hobby in question.
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And if I do buy and read the book just to find out that what others have said is true, then all I did is support the author by buying the book. I have read several reviews from other reptile sites and herpers to believe what they say.
 
cobraman1 said:
And if I do buy and read the book just to find out that what others have said is true, then all I did is support the author by buying the book. I have read several reviews from other reptile sites and herpers to believe what they say.
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There is always the library. I've read several reviews on several reptiles sites as well, almost all appear to be by people that haven't read the book, or even when they have they only cry "this person is an animal rights activist" and she "is attacking the hobby". I would hope people would be a little more intelligent than to give credence to that type of review. That type of mindset is truly destructive.
 
I just bought "the lizard king" & I'm about half way through. I'm not a big reader & found it a little tough keeping up with what characters/persons were involved with what due to how the author Bryan Christy wrote the book but it clear he put some time in & did a lot of research. Its a very good book & hard to put down once you pick it up. I enjoy how so far, at least in my opinion the book lets you determine the persons character for yourself. The book really so far has touched the gray area & makes you wonder. It's easy to say smugglers are bad but when you think of how many animals are no longer close to being extinct because they were smuggled & gained popularity or animals that died in the care of wildlife fish it may change your mind. I'm not saying whats wrong or right or what I agree with or not but it's nice to have some info that makes you wonder & understand how the pet trade became what it is. I really enjoyed it so far & would recommend it to others.
 
Huh, I haven't even heard of it until now... Most of the reviews seem to say it's pretty good though and makes you think, so it's worth a try! I'll have to check it out. :D

Here's something though - a reviewer on it here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9039179-stolen-world says that
"Reptile collectors are a strange breed, most moderately to severely handicapped in social skills. Perhaps this is due to their odd obsession of keeping creatures in the basement that eat live chickens and mice for dinner."

Really now? :eek3:
Yeesh. Did the lady get that notion from the book or am I missing something...?
 
Randall Berry shed some Light......

Are you sleeping? Oh.....he's on Vacation......Next Book (Movie)....Shoot Out at Florida Snake Ranch.......Once again Crutchfield Lives.....Gets the girl and
the snakes.....Sign me up.....
 
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