Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house all the creatures were stirring except for one mouse. All were fretting about presents, gifts, and holidayness. The Children all wanted new toys and hoped beyond hope that there pleas got through. The parents all fretted about what to get who and if it can’t be bought, what will we do?

All of these things are worrisome worries, and it’s easy to get caught up in a holiday hurry. With all of the madness the whole season gets blurry. A tragic event when you realize you’ve missed all the sentiment. No Christmas time fun, just “I’m glad that’s done.” No thankful hearts for the Savior who died.

Thankfully there is a local shop that can remedy your holiday quandry. Cartronix AT&T is your one stop shop for all the things you need to get your Christmas season back on the right track. They have phones for free, phones for me, and phones for any busy bee. Now when I say free, I do mean free. The LG CF360 and Samsung A777 are the exact cost of $0.00 (after tax)! We also have several models free after mail in rebate including the Samsung Flight*, Samsung Solstice*, and LG Xenon*! All three are full touchscreen devices with 2.0MP cameras, media player capability, and bluetooth.

If that weren’t enough Cartronix has also dropped the price on all of there Blackberry smart phones by 50%. Email everywhere you go has never been so afordable. The Blackberry Bold 9700 which is Blackberry’s flagship model is now $99.99 after rebate*! With a 3.2MP auto focus camera with flash, 1GB of internam storage space, optical track pad, high resolution display, and 3G/wifi capabilities it is sure to keep even the most tech savvy member of your clan busy for sometime.

Alright, so you don’t need a phone this Christmas. Cartronix still has you covered. Perhaps you were thinking about a few upgrades for the vehicle this Christmas? Well our Car Audio department can fix you up. With a product line that includes popular items such as Viper alarms and remote starts, Pioneer Mobile Electronics, Pioneer Premiere, Alpine, Infiniy, and radar detectors we are sure to have exactly what your vehicle needs, or maybe Grandma’s vehicle.

I know, you’re saying thats all well and good but I’d really like a home theater system or soley devoted media room this year. You still don’t need to leave the shop because our team of highly skilled professionals will meet with you to figure out all your needs and desires. With top brands like LG, Samsung, Denon, Sonos, Klipsch, and Sanus they can put together the system that will make you the Jones’s to be kept up with.

Now, finally after all of the fanfare about the aforementioned company I bid you all a Very Merry Christmas. May God bless you and your families through the coming year and may a heart of thankfulness resound from within you, and in the famous words of Bing Crosby “May all your Christmases be White.”

-Tony Mendizabal

Long live the king.

There was speculation that since Fiat and Dodge/Chrysler will strategically lend helpings hands to one another, and being that Fiat owns Ferrari, that the successor to the retiring Dodge Viper could receive some Maranello magic.  Apparently, everyone who was either happy or worried about such a thing no longer have to be concerned with the matter.

Ralph Gilles, the Dodge brand chief, basically said that was some ol’ bullsh*t.  ”Ferrari is Ferrari. Viper is Viper.” , he explained simply.  I agree a million percent!

Though the prospect of a Ferrari/Viper fusion sounds wonderful in terms of performance, many, including myself, feel as though that would be…what’s the word?  Stupid.  That’s it. It’d be stupid (not my best moment, I know).  I don’t really mean stupid, but it would be…tainted somehow.  You see, the beauty of Ferrari is that they are Ferrari and no one else makes cars like they do.  The same can be said for the Viper.  Viper is Viper no matter how unpolished, old fashioned, brutish, and rough it is.  Whatever the characteristics of the car, they make that car what it is.  I’m just relieved to know that even with the companies working together on a B segment car, Dodge intends to maintain the integrity of the Viper legend, even in its replacement. To smooth away the Viper’s ludicrously vicious styling, the massive v10, and fill it with high tech go-fast stuff is like pissing on Michael Jackson’s grave: hate it or love it, you have to respect the legend.

From what I’ve read on the comments of Autoblog.com and some other message boards, people seem most worried that Dodge is nix the 8.4 liter v10. I can’t say that I don’t share the same feelings. That’s one of the best engines ever made.  However, I wouldn’t be opposed to something like…say a twin turbo V8.  Just sayin’.

Check out the Top Gear test and review video below and try not to get all misty eyed.

-Triple_Deuce

You are here: Home / Car News / Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X RevealedDodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X Revealed

December 11, 2009 by Adam Marshall

2 Comments

Dodge has revealed its newest special edition of the Viper SRT10, the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X. This is a turn-key race car that is not street legal and is due to make its debut mid 2010.
Based on the street legal Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer) with the safety of the Viper Competition Coupe, the Viper ACR-X is equipped with a SRT developed 8.4 litre V10 engine which produces 477 kW, 27kW more than the production model.

The suspension has been re-tuned for the race track and the weight of the car has been reduced by 72.6kg. Aerodynamics have been upgraded to improve the cars down-force and enhance stability as well as improving grip in high speed cornering.

“The Dodge Viper ACR-X takes the performance attributes of Viper to an even higher level for a wide range of drivers starting with the grassroots racer all the way up to the professional,” said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand. “This project is a result of many years of performance engineering expertise from our SRT team, combined with the passion and dedication of Viper Nation, to keep the Viper racing tradition going strong on tracks around the country and the world.”

Factory installed safety equipment similar to the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe are fitted. It has a roll cage, fuel cell and race seats as well as additional racing components to meet the requirements for on track racing.
2010 will be the final year of production for the current Viper model and the ACR-X is the third limited special edition to come from Dodge.

“We’re going to make 2010 the most exciting year for Viper yet with specially developed cars for the street and track,” added Gilles.

Testing at Laguna Seca raceway last month was the first time the Viper ACR-X was on a track, professional driver Kuno Wittmer was able to acheive lap times of 1:31.00 around the 3.6km, 11 turn course. These times are more than three seconds faster than the street legal Viper SRT10 ACR which holds the production car record at that raceway.

You will be missed, but surely never forgotten.

Everything that has a beginning has an end (yes, that’s from The Matrix Revolutions and yes, I am a nerd), be it good or bad.  As Dodge moves to restructure itself and build us a new company, they also begin to turn out the lights on the beloved American super car — the legendary Viper.

Having been around since 1989, the Viper has had a long, fruitful run.  Hell, the Viper has been around since before Dodge even had the SRT division.  It has become a performance icon known around well around the world and Dodge intends to give it a proper retirement party with a slew of special editions, first of which will be the track -ready, non-street legal ACR-X. “Doesn’t Dodge already make an ACR for the track?” Chyeah!!  But this one has a damn “X” at the end of it now.  You can guess what that implies. If a race spec, 640bhp ,8.4 liter V10 isn’t X-treme enough for you, go set your man bits on fire.

Check out the video below of the confirmed, track-ready 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X and try not to cry as they discuss the closing the curtain on this truly epic American exotic.

-Triple_Deuce

Photo copyright ©2009 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

You’ve heard of diamond-encrusted televisions. You’ve heard of gold-plated refrigerators. You’ve heard of bathtubs dipped in platinum. Are any of these things better because of their blinged-out status? No.

A gold-plated refrigerator is still a refrigerator. If I gold-plated my excrement, it would still be excrement.

When you get down to the nuts and bolts of the matter, it’s just flat-out tasteless.

This is what plagues the Lexus LFA.

It’s a great machine. It can lap the Nürburgring in 7:24. It’s got a great-sounding V10 engine. It’s dynamic, and it’s the automotive equivalent of gold-plated excrement.

I have come to this conclusion via the power of complex mathematical reasoning. If I were born yesterday, I’d be able to guesstimate the LFA’s price at $168,000 just by looking at it. If you told me how it performed, I’d add $25,000 to the total. If I were to hear the sound of the engine – which may be the best sound of any road car today - I’d start feeling generous and I’d add $30,000 to the expected price.

So where does that leave us? $223,000
Lexus LFA MSRP: $380,000
Discrepancy between perceived price and actual MSRP: $157,000

So where did all those Benjamins go? They went into the carbon fiber-reinforced polymer body which saves about 200 lbs. versus an all-aluminum car.

So tell me, are you willing to pay $157,000 to lose 200 lbs? I’m not and I’m certain NBC’s Biggest Loser isn’t either. So while the Lexus LFA is a great car, it’s a great car wrapped in carbon fiber, or the automotive equivalent of gold plating, and for an extra $157,000 … well, if i carry the seven and cross-cancel – yep, that makes the car crap – crap wrapped in “gold”.

I know, everybody wants to be like Audi. Put a halo car in the showrooms to get people to walk in, and they walk out with an A4. Same thing with the Ford GT. Same thing with the Acura NSX. Same thing with the Dodge Viper. All those cars changed their entire car companies and the way people perceived them.

But now the halo car business is becoming too much of a “me too” business; as a result, I think this car will hurt Lexus’s image. The Lexus LFA is a halo car done wrong. Halo cars have to present something new and/or unique to the marketplace. The Acura NSX was the best example – it was the first supercar that was easy to drive. The Dodge Viper – the automotive equivalent of a red thong flossing a tan butt on a summer day north of 100°F. Audi R8 - a true supercar you could drive every day and almost afford. LFA: just another fast car.

You see, halo cars don’t necessarily have to beat all their rivals, but they have to be compelling. I’m sorry, but among Ferrari 599 GTB Fioranos and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGs … even the much cheaper Nissan GT-Rs, the Lexus LFA is leaving this reviewer cold.

The name LFA originates from “Lexus Future Advance”. It’s a shame because in many ways, this car is retarding Lexus’s future.

They should have made a successor to the Supra (the name alone sounds better than “LFA”) that would have been less expensive than the Nissan GT-R, but better-performing. What they’ve given us is an overpriced Supra with a Lexus badge and radiators in the back. Stinky.

Photos copyright ©2009 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

In the meantime, enjoy these stunning photographs of the violently fast (and just plain violent) Viper ACR at this very location.

Credit: Edmunds

- Gyro

Today I finished writing an article on Kuching in Malaysian Borneo for an inflight magazine. The piece described the varied cultures, cuisine, jungle wildlife, incredible architecture and sights of this refined city by the Sarawak river. It was a joy to step back into the humidity, smells and experiences that is Asia, even from here at my computer in Australia.

One of the things I loved about Kuching was how there was definitely jungle beyond the town limits, but you could also discover the flavours of Sarawak’s 40 sub-ethnic groups, rare flora and fauna, colourful arts and crafts and tasty food without leaving the city.

Here’s a brief photographic insight into some of the experiences of Borneo.

Silver leaf monkeys in Bako National Park

Pitcher plants, Bako National Park

Viper, Bako National Park

Colourful windows, Kuching

Traditional tambang, Sarawak River

To see more images of Sarawak click to go to this link on my website.

——–

Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

by Michael Harley (RSS feed) on Dec 2nd 2009 at 12:48PM

The 2010 model year marks the last run of the 600-hp Dodge Viper. To keep performance (and consumer interest) high for the next 12 months, the automaker is adding new colors, enhancing performance and releasing several limited-edition models.

Standard Viper SRT10 models receive two new exterior colors: Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat. A new shorter fifth gear ratio (changing from .74 to .80) improves high speed acceleration (the 0-200 mph run drops by 14 seconds). The track-bred ACR models get a new short-throw shifter, and new aerodynamic tweaks to the rear wing lower drag while improving downforce (top speed bumps up to 184 mph on the ACR model).

As of today, the automaker has announced the first two special variants of the Viper, and they promise more will come. The Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition, paying tribute to the record-setting run at Laguna Seca, is identified by its unique two-tone Black Clear Coat/Red Clear Coat exterior color (the opposite of the original Viper ACR color). Other cosmetic enhancements include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights and red stitching on the seats. The Vooodoo-edition Viper ACR gets an all Black Clear Coat exterior with a Graphite stripe outlined in red. Talk about exclusivity – only 10 cars will be produced with the unique striping on both the exterior and steering wheel. You can check out both limited edition models in our live gallery below and read Dodge’s press release after the jump.

(autoblog) press release [Source: Dodge]

Dodge Viper SRT10® Lives On As The Ultimate American Sports Car

• Last model year for current generation Dodge Viper
• More exclusive than ever before with more than 7,600 possible appearance combinations available for limited production run of 500 cars
• Two new exterior colors, including Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat
• New wider, dual racing stripe pattern
• Revised fifth gear ratio
• New wing endplate and revised wing profile on American Club Racer (ACR) model
• Short-throw shifter on ACR model
• Various special, limited-edition models available across 2010 lineup

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 2, 2009 -

To celebrate the final production year of the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10, Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.

At the heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4-liter (510 cu. in.) V-10 engine that produces 600 (450 kW) horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. (760 N•m) of torque. Benchmark performance numbers, including 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, quarter-mile time in the mid 11-second range and 0-100-0 mph in 11 seconds flat, and a top speed of 202 mph, continue to prove how the serious, race-inspired, street-legal two-seater performs without apology.

Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR (American Club Racer) package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.

With the introduction of two new exterior colors–Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat–Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors – the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration, five different interior color combinations, four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7,600 combinations–the most for any one model year–significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.

New across the Viper lineup is a shorter fifth gear ratio (changing from 0.74 to 0.80) for improved high-speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. Acceleration from 0-200 mph has improved by 14 seconds. This improvement is a direct result of the Chrysler Group LLC Street and Racing Technology team’s experience at the 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany where during the lap-record run in 2008, it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in higher top gear acceleration and a quicker lap time.

The Viper SRT10 channels its power through a ZF Sachs twin-disc clutch that reduces rotating inertia by 18 percent, reduces clutch-pedal effort and improves engagement feel. Transferring power to the rear wheels is a heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission.

Stopping power is another carefully developed part of the Viper SRT10 equation, with 14-inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44/40 dual-opposing piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual-opposing calipers in the rear. This system results in world-class braking performance of 60-0 mph in less than 100 feet.

Interior color options for 2010 include: standard black, two-tone black and red with red accent stitching, two-tone black and blue with blue accent stitching, two-tone black and medium slate grey with medium slate grey accent stitching and the two-tone black and natural tan with premium tan Nappa leather seats, tan center console, lower instrument panel and door panels introduced for the 2009 model year. On the Roadster model, the black and tan package includes a matching tan cloth convertible top.

Viper SRT10 ACR

The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR receives a new short-throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes combined with the new fifth gear ratio result in an increased top speed of 4 mph (to 184 mph for the ACR model).

The enhanced four-wheel independent suspension features high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles, KW suspension with two-way adjustable competition coil-over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.

The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber “fanged” splitter in front and adjustable carbon-fiber wing with seven-position stanchions that allow up to an amazing 1,000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels, two-piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.

New Special, Limited-edition Models

Numerous special, limited-edition models are planned for the 2010 model year, including the Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition, which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two-tone Black Clear Coat/Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior highlights include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1:33 Edition Viper ACR models.

The 2010 Vooodoo-edition Viper ACR will feature an all Black Clear Coat exterior with a Graphite Driver’s Stripe outlined in red. Only 10 cars will be produced with the unique striping on both the exterior, as well as on the steering wheel.

Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions. Pricing on the 2010 Dodge Viper lineup also will be announced at a later date.

Since the SRT team from Chrysler Group announced that its Viper ACR had reclaimed the production lap record at the Laguna Seca race circuit early last week, this is the footage we have been waiting for.

Accompanying the in-car footage is narration throughout by driver Chris Winkler who describes the record breaking lap in detail, turn by turn.

This 1,200 horsepower heavily-modified Dodge Viper belongs to the guys at Underground Racing.

More photos after the break.

The following Toys are currently on sale at Books From A Rose:

A while back we told you about the roomba which is an automatic vacuum cleaner that sucks up your dust around the house. Well according to this article in Israels Yediot Acharonot Newspaper, this Roomba “captured” a deadly viper while a little girl was in the room. As the picture shows, the snake not only of captured but pawned, image being sucked in by a robot.

( COPYRIGHT FREE – PLEASE CREDIT ALASTAIR WALKER )

Allen Millyard's amazing Dodge Viper engined motorcycle

Allen Millyard is one the best custom motorcycle builders in the UK, with a variety of one-off motorbikes, most featuring multi-cylinder engines like V8/V12 Kawasakis, to his credit.

His latest amazing creation made its debut at the UK International Motorcycle Show, which opened today, Friday 27th November 2009.

The Millyard Viper V10 features an engine from the Dodge Viper car, which Allen sourced from e-bay for £5000. The 500bhp motor transmits its torquey power via a two-speed auto gearbox to the rear wheel.  Allen made the entire chassis in his garage, with the front forks featuring Vauxhall Carlton damper units and Hagon springs. Six pot calipers, plus AP Lockheed front disc brakes help slow this 630kgs heavy machine.

But the weight of the bike, and the lack of fairing hasn’t blunted the performance. A recent test at Bruntingthorpe saw the Millyard V10 Viper special hit 207mph, making this arguably the fastest road legal, unfaired motorcycle in the UK. Allen’s special has passed the government SVA vehicle inspection, so it is taxed and insured for road use.

The bike has been ridden at high speed by a professional test rider, who was impressed with the bike’s sheer torque and its stability. The plan is to take the bike to Bonneville to set an ultimate top speed of perhaps 250mph. Lateral thinking engineer Millyard is also seriously considering a limited production run of the Viper V10 machine.

“Everything’s been designed in my head on this bike,” said Allen, ” but I want to build a pre-production prototype and do some proper design drawings, so there’s a kind of template to work from. We could make maybe ten bikes to individual owner specifications.”

Reaction at the UK’s annual motorcycle show, held at the NEC near Birmingham, was very positive, with many bikers commenting that Millyard’s V10, the Norton Commando launch and the new BMW six cylinder concept bike, were the main highlights of the event.

ends.

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex Maleev (art), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: Madame Hydra attempts to recruit Jessica once again.

What’s Good: Madame Hydra/Viper is certainly great fun to read and works as an excellent foil to Jessica.  If Bendis hopes to use her as the arch-nemesis of the series, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.  The chemistry is definitely there.  Viper’s voice is well-done by Bendis, a good mix of slimy, conniving villainy and rampant sociopathy.  It’s also clear that in the midst of her intelligence, a few screws are loose.  Several times I felt as though Viper’s dialogue wasn’t quite in-synch with her conversational context and surroundings.  It’s very subtle, but it definitely adds a nice tone to the character.

Overall, what this issue does is muddy the waters.  Jessica Drew hunting skrulls for SWORD is apparently, while fun, just too damned simple for a Spider-Woman comic.  Rather, the possibility of her working as a double agent returns and at the end of the issue in particular, her ethical limits will be tested.  Long-term, this issue looks to make things more interesting.

I also enjoyed the internal monologue quite a deal this month.  The repetitive self-pity and excessive quips of self-loathing that I’ve complained about in past are completely gone.  Instead, Jessica’s snarkiness has been raised, making her far more likable.

On art, Alex Maleev is still putting out an amazing looking comic.  His rendition of Madame Hydra looks almost as good as Jessica Drew, and that’s saying a lot.  It’s refreshing that for once, Jessica doesn’t stand head and shoulders above all the other characters.  Maleev’s drawings of the comic’s urban surroundings are also absolutely fantastic.  His scenery shots nicely break up what would otherwise have been a comic entirely of talking heads.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that barring one quick helicopter chase, this entire comic is essentially one long conversation.  That doesn’t make for the most thrilling reading, nor does it feel like particularly brisk storytelling.

Also, while I did say that I liked Jessica’s skrull-hunting occupation being made a little more complex, I am wondering if everything’s happening just a little too soon.  She’s only hunted down one skrull, and already she’s being approached by HYDRA?  She just became an Agent of SWORD, and it already feels as though Bendis was running out of ideas on the simpler skrull-hunting front, so decided to move onto the next thing.

It’s a shame too that older Spider-Woman continuity is already being brought in to play a major part.  I guess I thought this book was going to be a fresher start for the character than it is and I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

Finally, this isn’t Maleev’s strongest work either.  While the book is by no means bad looking, Maleev definitely goes overboard when it comes to re-using the same images over and over.  This is fine when it’s used for dramatic purpose or pause, but it’s clear that the only motivation here was cutting corners and saving time.  Changing the size or placement of a face does not mean that it’s a different image, and it’s thoroughly unacceptable on an ethical level.  I bought a comic to see illustrating, not copy/pasting.

Conclusion: I’ve really enjoyed Spider-Woman thus far, but this is issue is feels a little phoned in.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Ja nu har vi varit tre gånger på klubben med hundarna, och alla gåner har det regnat, värst var i torsdags då var vi sjöblöta efter träningen.

Första gången vi var där hade Viper stooora problem, det var ju massor av främande hundar på planen och dom skulle skällas ut, värst utskällning fick nog den stackars Landseern, en 7 månaders stor koloss som bara måste fram till alla hundar med stora skutt och skällande, vilket gjorde Viper galen, han har ju svårt för stojiga hundar och speciellt första gången han träffar dom. Sedan skulle alla hundar få hälsa på varandra och deras förare vilket inte gick med Viper, han kunde inte släppa blicken från landseern Kalvin, så vi gick bara fram och tillbaka en bit ifrån dom andra.  Med Diezel var det inga problem stod där så snällt och nosade lite när dom kom fram till honom vände sedan bort huvudet och lät den andra hunden nosa klart innan han hälsade, synd att Viper inte fått lite mera lugn ifrån morbror. Vi skulle även göra en första inkallning som det gick jättebra att göra med bägge hundarna, Diezel visste jag ju att han skulle klara det men var lite osäker på Viper men det fungerade bra. Efter praktiken var det fika och teori, då fick jag sätta mig ner på golvet för att hålla Viper lugn han tyckte inte om att Kalvin var i samma rum utan satt och skällde på honom till och från, Kalvin hade jättesvårt att slappna av utan låg och stirrade på alla hundar och skällde flåsade och skulle bara hålla igång.

Det märks att Viper fortfarande är kvar i spökåldern, allt är farligt för att inte tala om alla läskiga hundar och människor det finns på denna jord. Han har fyllt ett år men uppträder som om han bara var 7-8 månader.

Andra gången var inte Landseern där, så då gick det mycket bättre för Viper, nu ville han fram och hälsa på alla hundar. Denna gång skulle dom gå förbi en godis sål utan att röra både med och utan koppel, tur man alltid gjort så hemma när man “tappat” mat på golvet under tiden man har lagat den. Inga problem för någon av killarna.  Denna gången när vi hade teori så gick även det bättre bägge lade sig tillrätta och slappnade av på en gång.

Tredje gång, nu var Kalvin tillbaka vilket gjorde Viper lite osäker men det fungerade bra ändå, denna gången ökades svårigheten på godisskålen, nu stod den strax framför hundarna första inkallningen vid andra så stod skålen en liten bit framför föraren och sista gången mitt på planen, och när det var dags för våran tur så står Kalvin på sidan av mig en liten bit bort, på planen bakom så tränar en tjej sin schäfer, så jag tänkte jaha Diezel är det ju inga problem med, men hur ska Viper klara det. Inga problem, skålen står mitt på plan med ledaren ca. en meter ifrån den om hon skulle behöva rädda korven, och vid inkallningen så springer han mellan skål och ledaren i full kareta och sätter sig på vänster sida som om han aldrig gjort något annat i sitt liv . Dizel tyckte det var lite jobbigare, en av tikarna höglöpte så han hade inte full fokus idag men utförde alla moment bra ändå, men måste snegla på skålen medans man springer förbi. Vid fikat brydde sig inte Viper om Kalvin utan ville bara leka med den lilla söta taxvalpen Texas, så himla söt liten kille, och uppe på teorin lade sig bägge hundarna tillrätta och slumrade till ända tills Kalvin började låta lite för mycket, då låg Viper och små morrade och blängde på honom. Men tystnade rätt så fort, det räckte att peta några gånger på honom så kopplade han bort Kalvin.

Förutom inkallningar och godisskålar så är det ju en del andra moment vi tränar på, gå fint i koppel, visa tänderna, föremåls intresse m.m.

Nästa gång ska vi köra lite budföring, ska bli roligt och se hur hundarna gör där, för det är något som jag och Janne gör i skogen ibland och då tycker dom det är jätte roligt, vi kommer även testa på sök och spår under kursens gång.

Det värsta är att lämna Doris hemma när man går till klubben hon står och tittar på en med sorgsna ögon, ska inte jag få följa med. Så nu får Janne ta med sig henne in i soffan med ett gott märgben när vi går, så hon  får lite extra när vi sticker iväg. Även om man bara med sig henne på prommenad när man kommer från klubben så känns det lite taskigt när man går med bägge killarna.

I have never been much of a wildlife person. Preferred “being wild” to “in the wild”. Over the years, there have been the odd trips here and there with friends who have a deeper appreciation for the wild and her denizens. Without exception all these trips have been memorable and yet I remain unconverted. I have never bothered figuring out why this was the case and I am not going to do so now. So please continue reading the post without fear of being subjected to psycho babbling.

The last few months, since my move to Goa, I have had practical, real world, on the ground reasons for taking more than a cursory look at the world around me. To begin with, the place around Arco Iris is beautiful and the visual beauty will not escape even a blind man. More relevantly, Curtorim is a fairly heavily wooded area. It is natural that it has a far degree of wildlife presence in the form of birds, reptiles and a handful of mammals (not the big cat variety though, more like jackals and mongoose). The mammals, by and large, keep to themselves. You can spot the neighbourhood mongoose, friendly guy that he is, on a lucky day and the jackals make it a point to come as a pack almost every other night to Arco, do the ceremonial symphony and slink away. The birds, in and around the property are beautiful. Again, not much of a birder myself, but fortunately, been in the company of friends who are interested in avifauna. Thanks to them, I know that you can sight babblers, robin magpies, common kingfishers, whistling ducks, egrets, cormorants, the white heron, Indian owls and so on within a 500 metre radius of Arco. Since the property abuts the Corjim lake, I am told by local birders that one can spot upto 40 bird species within a 1 km radius. I guess, I have digressed. The point is the birds are beautiful and with the exception of the odd bat that manages to find its way inside the house, they largely go unnoticed by me.

The reptiles are a different kettle of fish altogether (nice turn of phrase, even though I am saying it myself) . I am pretty much petrified of them, snakes in particular. Unfortunately for me, over the last few months, we have had a couple of visits from them. Fortunately for us, we had picked up a list of snake rescuers with their mobile numbers (a lot of them volunteers) available in Goa and it was post a frantic call triggered by a snake deciding to drop by that we had a very friendly Forest Department official coming to rescue the bugger. He had a cup of tea with us and in true Goan fashion managed to find a link in his family tree to Beni’s. Brief though the interaction was, I realised that he sincerely enjoyed what he was doing for a living. He called us this morning to find out if we would be interested in accompanying him to Karmel ghat and witnessing the release of a few pythons, vipers and a cobra that he had rescued the last week. Yes, he had rescued about 8 pythons in the last week alone in just South Goa!!. I found the numbers unbelievable, but he reassured me that these numbers were par for an average week. This was too good an opportunity even for an agnost like me and I promptly rushed to join him.

In the Forest Department Office’s parking lot in Margao, I was mightily impressed with the grace, strength, sensitivity and dexterity of the officer as he transferred these giant snakes from their cages to the sacks which would be their transit homes till their release a few minutes later. He ensured that the cobra and the vipers would have sufficient moisture around their sacks to survive the trip back home. Being aware of the contents in the sack, I drove a respectful distance behind his Forest Department truck to Karmel ghat where he was releasing the snakes. Karmel ghat is about 25 kms from Arco (not far enough for me considering that they are used regularly by the FD for releasing rescued snakes) and it took us about 40 minutes to reach the place. Once there we parked our respective vehicles by the side of NH 17 and he unloaded the 5 sacks and proceeded to take them one by one to the insides of the forest. Again, I followed in awe struck silence. He started by releasing the pythons one by one. In the wild, they looked even more magnificent. Silent so far, they started hissing ( I took it as their excitement to be back in their rightful places) and proceeded to find their way here and there. Their on ground speed took me by surprise. This coupled with their massive size made for an amazing sight. A couple of them snaked their way up trees and decided to have an afternoon siesta. It also, to an extent, explaines why wildlife enthusiasts go to extreme lengths to spot animals in the wild as opposed to seeing them inside zoos. At the same time, it was sad to see a couple of empty plastic bottle containers even this deep into the forest. I am no angel myself when it comes to such issues, but the line has to be drawn somewhere.

The officer left the vipers and the cobra for last. For my benefit, the officer added that the viper was a Russell Viper. I am not sure if I have the spelling right. He (ie Mr. Viper) made very impressive noises and slithered away and quickly made himself invisible (at least to my untrained eyes). I guess the officer saved the best for last when he released the cobra. Looks ordinary enough except when he spreads (is that the word for it) his hood. Manages to look elegant, graceful and fierce at the same time. Much like a Lara cover drive. In the middle of all this, I did manage to take a couple of photographs. Again, given my indifference to photography (at least in this case I have some philosophical underpinnings for the indifference), I am not sure they will do justice to the spectacle that unfolded this morning in front of me.

Before deciding to join the Forest Department official on the trip I had checked with him if it was within the rules of the department to let citizens witness these weekly episodes and he replied saying that it was one of the better ways of creating awareness amongst people about the need to be sympathetic to the requirements of these creatures. I cannot agree more. During the course of this trip, I realised that there are by and large only four venomous snakes in and around Goa and most of the chappies that we see slithering here and there are by and large harmless. Not that it converted me to a snake lover, but at least it helped me start the process of understanding them to a certain extent. A final word on the commitment of these officers and volunteers. Based on the couple of experiences that I have had with them, they are a wonderfully committed and passionate bunch of guys. They are rendering yeoman service to society without so much as even an acknowledgement. The least I could do was offer them the use of Arco Iris for conducting an awareness programme on snakes for the interested residents of Curtorim.

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