• Posted 12/19/2024.
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    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.

Bad Guy BEWARE OF PIJAC!!!!

varnyard said:
Is it not a fact Joe, that you was involved with NRIP drafts several years ago? And you are working with the ones I speak of?

Simple questions Joe.
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I believe the document was on draft two or three when I got involved. It was very close to the final format when I got involved. I sat in on a couple conference calls. I offered some suggestions on language in some sections. I also wrote some guidelines and checklists to help people that wanted to participate. I think the guidelines here http://pijac.org/_documents/sopguide_comp.pdf are one of the documents I wrote. I believe I was on Bill's payroll at the time and I was paid by him to put some time into the project. That was six years ago, and I haven't received anything from Bill since then, and I have never received any compensation from PIJAC for anything I've done.

My only involvement with PIJAC is that I'm a member. I've sent out HR669 updates to my current and future tropical fish customers and encouraged them to oppose the bill and to support PIJAC. If PIJAC's stance on a white list changes than I will email the same people and ask them to reconsider supporting PIJAC.

Joe Hiduke
 
Suncoast Herpetological said:
Alicia

I agree that the fee structure is two burdensome on the small hobbyist. Everyone needs to step back and realize that the program is not yet in place. The current structure is a draft that can be amended and reworked as needed. Sending your comments to PIJAC in a civil and professional manner will undoubtedly have a much more favorable effect than simply attacking the large names in the industry with no evidence will as was done in the first post on this thread
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Thanks John.

I dont want to see this outright attacked. Its a good idea, But needs the small time hobbyists imput. We can still WORK with this.
 
If it is not true, and they are not creating a white list, then let them come forward with the truth. If they are creating a white list and using funds dontated by us little guys to support it, let it be seen as well.

All I want is the truth from the leading members of PIJAC.

USARK stated what they think, and they are fighting for us, why is it that PIJAC is so slow to do the same?
 
I dont know what is factual and what aint at this point. I have been hearing all kinds of things from many different sources. But what I do know is that any law passed will not change how I do things. Even if that means breeding and selling illegally. I am done letting this poor excuse for a government eat away my personal freedoms. I have done nothing but bend and give and bend and give for the last 20 years. I just cant bend no more. I love my country but my government can kiss my ass.
 
first of all I don't recall seeing anything from either PIJAC or USARK that said the bill was dead. It seems to me that both organizations indicated somethingto the effect that we may have won this round but the bill will be back.

Second, I didn't see anything in the NRIP that was so bad. It's a voluntary thing. The marine fish hobby has something similar (I believe it is called MAC). if you follow certain conditions you can be MAC certified. If you don't or don't want to you don't have to. Sounds pretty much like the same thing to me.

The thing is, it sounds to me like the NRIP is an attempt for the industry to police itself. If more people felt this way rather than the "I got mine, the heck with you" mentality that runs rampant in this industry/hobby perhaps bills like HR669 wouldn't pose as much of a threat.

I haven't had time to read through the NRIP completely. I just skimmed it so it is possible that after reading it more carefully I will be forced to come back here and eat crow but for now, I don't see what the big deal is.
 
Suncoast Herpetological said:
As i said earlier, some level of regulation is a foregone conclusion. It's going to happen...plain and simple. The only question is do we simply keep offering resistance to any sort of regulation, a tactic which is doomed to fail/ Or do we, as an industry, offer an alternative, more industry friendly solution? That is the purpose of NRIP.

The question comes down to a choice between a little or a whole lot of regulation. No regulation at all is no longer a viable choice.
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That's very pessimistic even if you are eventually correct. Resistance is futile.
I think that is one of the biggest disappointing mindsets of our time. We are doomed to fail no matter the effort made. I would certainly like to beleive that is incorrect.

You give a little this time then you give a little the next round of regulations and then the next.

No, I disagree. You do both. You resist any regulation and still propose more friendlier alternatives. Then you oppose those. Lower the government's bar.

It's only a foregone conclusion if you let it happen. Propose all you want, but I say no to any compromise. You fight each bill that comes up with the same passion as the last even if it was something proposed by the "industry".
 
Dennis Hultman said:

I say no to any compromise. You fight each bill that comes up with the same passion as the last even if it was something proposed by the "industry".
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I can agree there. Ill fight the laws till the bitter end. there, in my opinion ( since my state has GREAT reptile laws for the most part) is no reason for federal legislation on this subject.

I wont necessarily oppose an opt in program that reminds me of the AKC ( Thanks Theresa *On BP.net*) depending on how things are worded and applied.
 
I think it is time to recognize the inevitable.Our cash starved country has a cash starved government that sees an opportunity to make much needed funds from a new tax revenue base.

This is a simple negotiation strategy,you ask for the Sun and the Moon(Ban and restrict)and settle for the Sky and the Stars(Regulation and Taxation).Somewhere along the lines,compromise will have to be made,THE DEGREE OF COMPROMISE IS WHAT IS AT STAKE RIGHT NOW.

Some people will choose to do things based solely on personal gain,as they have a fiduciary responsibility to their family.What I humbly believe is that that is a relatively small community that will fail if it becomes too fragmented.You know what they say about a house divided.I believe Mr.Hill's concerns are warranted.I think we all should be able to put the two organizations under the microscope and see what is really going on before anymore is said.This place is the perfect place for it.


We can also negotiate as a community,not all agreeing,but like-minded enough to defend our hobby and livelihood,no matter desription which you fall under.Time for some transparency.
 
Dennis Hultman said:

That's very pessimistic even if you are eventually correct. Resistance is futile.
I think that is one of the biggest disappointing mindsets of our time. We are doomed to fail no matter the effort made. I would certainly like to beleive that is incorrect.

You give a little this time then you give a little the next round of regulations and then the next.

No, I disagree. You do both. You resist any regulation and still propose more friendlier alternatives. Then you oppose those. Lower the government's bar.

It's only a foregone conclusion if you let it happen. Propose all you want, but I say no to any compromise. You fight each bill that comes up with the same passion as the last even if it was something proposed by the "industry".
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I respectfully disagree Dennis. I don't think my stance is at all pessimistic...it is simply realistic. This industry has sailed along for many years with little or no federal regualtion. It was great while it lasted but simple 100% resistance to anything pretty much guarantees that some form of the legislation will eventually pass as proposed. If that is the only tactic we use we are doomed to eventual failure. It might work this time and the next but it won't work for long. I would much rather have a pro-active voice in deciding how my industry is regulated than to simply shout NO! at the top of my lungs every time regulation of some sort is proposed.
 
One more thing,compromise is not defeat,it is not giving in.It is agreeing to what we feel we can work with.They are coming after this tax base,they will keep trying.
 
Why do people think any industry automatically needs federal regulation? What this country needs is LESS federal regulations and to allow individual states to govern themselves they way things were meant to be.
 
Quite frankly, this whole thing just smells bad to me.

Firstly, the government smells a new revenue source. Kind of like blood in the water attracting a school of sharks. The government isn't truly interested in protecting anyone and only uses that as a pretense to charge licensing fees that they can pocket.

Secondly, generally when regulations of this sort are considered, what happens is that only some of the larger concerns in the particular industry are consulted. What they do is to take a look a their own business and propose regulations that they already are in compliance with, yet would be a hardship to smaller competitors to conform to. They will claim it's for the sake of protecting their industry, when in reality the law proposed would be an effort to reduce competition across the board by putting those smaller companies out of business via regulation and red tape.

And lastly, I've seen "compromise" when it comes to laws affecting gun rights. What will happen is that the proposal will, in effect, want to ban 10 guns. The compromise offered will be to request only 5 of those guns being banned. Yeah, certainly a compromise, but you STILL lose. A REAL compromise is that you would be willing to lose something if you can GAIN something in return. I don't see this being the case here. The compromise is going to be either lose a lot, or lose a little, but we will STILL lose.
 
Rich,I agree wholeheartedly with your view.I stated before that this is about tax revenue,plain and simple.I also further qualified my idea of "compromise" as "being something we can work with",not capitulation,which some will do because they get what they want,and really do not care about the masses.

Lest they forget,the big breeders need someone to sell to,and without a community who is having their right's threatened,what good is a PIJAC if there isn't any community to protect.Unless they are simply protecting a cherished few.Bring on the transparency.Let's see what proposal they have,let's see where the rubber meets the road.Forget some ambiguous mission statement.If they cannot reveal what they are truly doing,they do not warrant the support they are asking for.Better to support another body such as USARK. I am not a member of either but I am leaning towards one,because the threat is real,and will not give up.


I like to watch and see what is done by action,not spoken word,then make an informed decision as best as can be made by what we have in front of us.As someone who has sat in on a labor negotiation before,deals our hashed out,and sometimes you can win in a compromise.That link that Tom Crutchfield posted is somewhat troubling,regarding PIJAC.It raised some valid concerns.
 
varnyard said:
HR669 is not dead; we were told it was by PIJAC and USARK. The fact of the matter is, it is alive and well, it is being re-written and is going to be re-submitted this month. The new and improved HR669 will go something like this:

Small breeders will not be able to breed, sell, trade, import, export, or ship any reptiles. Only larger breeders that have an on the premises herp vet will be able to do so. Also USDA and USFW must inspect them and approve the facility, caging, care etc. The animals produced will only be shipped to pet stores, zoos and animal education facilities.

As for a response, we are not getting one; PIJAC, and USARK are not telling us the bill is still alive, why? I called one of the top board members at PIJAC; he knows what is going on, he said I was the first one to call him about it. He said he knows the bill is not dead and it is being re-written.

Do not let your guard down; there is much yet to be seen on this. PETA, USPS and PIJAC are now discussing the new HR669.

The "NATIONAL RODENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN" is still in the works, it will be slid through after HR669 passes, and it will pass.
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Bobby,
The USDA IS NOT quailified nor trained to inspect the health and well being of herps. The USDA has zero jurisdiction over reptiles/amphibians.

Randal Berry
 
Maybe someone could invite representatives of these two groups(PIJAC and USARK) here to openly discuss there intentions and ideas how to combat this threat.That will help us all to be truly informed.
 
I'm going to have to agree with some folks here - I don't see why federal regulation is a foregone conclusion, and I generally think it's a crap idea. Sounds like another layer of middlemen and government's greedy hand to me.

About the only regulation I could agree with have to do with wild imports/exports... because that's about the only thing the federal government ought to be messing with.
 
Rich Z said:
Quite frankly, this whole thing just smells bad to me.

Firstly, the government smells a new revenue source. Kind of like blood in the water attracting a school of sharks. The government isn't truly interested in protecting anyone and only uses that as a pretense to charge licensing fees that they can pocket.QUOTE]

I agree with Rich totally on this point. If the government really wanted to protect people they would outlaw cigarettes. BUT NOOOOOOO they will not give up the revenue from the taxes even though people will die because of it. Granted these people made a choice and have to live with it (no pun intended). The government could save thousands by outlawing smokes. I wonder why, when they are SOOOOO interested in what is good for you and me, they don't? :rolleyes:

Well at least the present occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania steps out to the back yard for a heater, so all the smokers won't have to worry about that for at least the next 3+ years or so.
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