This has been the most popular story at CTV.ca pretty much all day: Five-metre python eats family dog in front of kids

This is the part that really had me wondering:

Stuart Douglas, owner of the Australian Venom Zoo in Kuranda, said  ... the snake had actively stalked the dog for a number of days, and the family that owned the dog had actually seen it in the dog's bed, which was a sign it was out to get it.

The family called Douglas after the dog had been killed and by the time he arrived there, he said, all that could be seen of the dog was its hind legs and tail.

The snake had stalked the dog for days?!?! The family sees the snake in the dog's bed?!?!?! They have young kids and a giant snake in their back yard, but they don't call anyone until after it kills and starts swallowing their dog?!?!?!?!

WTFF?!?!?!?!?!

Some telemarketer just called offering 0.000001 per cent interest if only I'd ...

I exaggerate for effect, and truth be told, I didn't hear much of the spiel.

My standard tactic for some time has been to put the phone down when the person starts talking and then go on about my business.

I continue to be amazed when I return several minutes later and they're still there. "Hello?" this particular guy asked as I picked up the phone before quietly hanging up.

My question for these guys, should we ever speak on a non-commercial basis, would be, "at one point did you realize I wasn't listening to you at all, and why didn't you hang up when you clued in?"

I sympathize with people working for a living, but I place telemarketers and traffic cops on about the same low plane of existence.