Results tagged “wouldi”

Soldier Jonathan Aponte is facing criminal charges of conspiracy and falsely reporting an incident after admitting that he hired a hit man to shoot him. Why did he hire a hit man? Because Aponte didn't want to return to Iraq.

A reader came to us with a problem. While she's lucky enough to have a nice Fort Greene backyard for grilling and cookouts, mosquitoes still view her and her friends as bait, even with a thick coating of anti-mosquito spray, anti-bug incense, and 7 citronella tiki torches.

Is there a mosquito-eating reptile or amphibian that is indigenous to the region that I could purchase and release into my backyard without upsetting the balance of nature back there? (Could a herd of a dozen toads or lizards from the Midwest start a harmful infestation of non-native species in Brooklyn? Far-fetched but possible? Wasn't there an episode of the simpsons about that?) Would I be releasing the bug eaters to a certain death? Would it be at all effective against my super itchy, blood sucking enemies?

Gothamist was intrigued, because we hate mosquito bites with a passion. We called 311 to first ask if it was against the law to have a toad or lizard stationed in the backyard to eat mosquitos; 311 said it should be fine, as the city doesn't regulate private property. We replied, "Huh, that's interesting, because we know it's illegal to have, say, a tiger in the apartment." So the nice 311 lady and Gothamist looked over the city's health code to see what animals were illegal. Some lizards, like the Komodo dragon lizard are definitely prhohibited. But there's nothing about other kinds of lizards or toads. But would toads be too noisy? We checked one website that said certain fish (guppies!) and bats were good mosquito predators; guppies might be possibility, but bringing a pond into the yard might attract more bugs - and then do you need a permit to add a pond?

Reading both of Clay McLeod Chapman’s novels and seeing the Pumpkin Pie Show within a single week made for some very strange dreams. But when I saw that the novelist and storyteller was bringing the Pumpkin Pie Show in its current incarnation, Junta High, to the stage, I couldn’t resist combining the experience of reading his words and seeing his words performed all at the same time, to compare the two and see the connection between how his imagination pours out on paper and onto the stage. Would I find disparity between the two? Which would outshine the other, and why? It seemed like a fascinating experiment.

Chuck Klosterman