Houston, we have identified the problem, and it is called 'stupid,'

Why some people should stay in town.

From the Associated Press:

‘Missouri man dies from copperhead snake bite’

“Finch said Levins was at a cabin, saw the snake and pointed it out to his son. The snake, 18 to 20 inches long, bit Levins two or three times after he picked it up.”

(Yes it is an attractive snake, tan and brown and all. But its very appearance screams, “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!”

(True story: At the company assembly area at Camp Maxey, Texas, on a spring Friday, 10 APCs, the XO, another NG soldier and me, the XO called, “Sgt. Merriman, do you have a knife?” Hey, I am a sergeant; I always have a knife, a pocket notebook, a pencil and a plastic spoon. “Yes, Sir,” I replied. He said, “Would you please bring it over here?” He was a little bent over, staring at the brown leaves and a 15-inch copperhead. I had a survival knife. Using a stick, the XO picked up the copperhead after the snake became headless.)