I volunteered in Big Bend National Park during the summer of 1978. A fellow volunteer kept tarantulas, scorpions and Black Widow spiders in her cabin. She would get the tarantula out of its jar and let it crawl across her face and her open mouth. 😱
Otherwise, she was a very nice and normal-seeming person. But I still shudder in horror thinking about it. I also freaked out while driving through the desert on the main road to the park and driving through rapidly traveling hordes of thousands of tarantulas as far as the eye could see. In case it isn't clear I also am an arachnophobe!
I could verify this using DeepSeek, but I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that spiders are not animals. They may be alien spawn sent to destroy human civilization, but 'animals' they are not.
But I was on the spider’s side in that second video, where the guy with the stick was relentlessly bothering the spider. I was hoping he’d get at least the warning sting. It reminded me of somebody teasing a cat.
I had to look up "priapism". I was so terrified by those videos, I must have missed something, which is odd because I rarely miss an opportunity to apply off color (disgusting) humor to whatever is being discussed.
Planning a survivalist outing? What a thrill seeker! You could always just go to the Everglades down the street there. If that’s not challenging enough, do the Naked and Afraid version, as seen on TV.
Just asking questions. I don't do survivalist well. I wish I was rich enough to pay people to do that for me and then take pictures so I could brag about "my" survivalist outings? Hmmm, there may be a business proposal lurking in there somewhere?
Good morning. About 29 right now, rising to the 40s this afternoon. The mothership is covering the Trump administration’s actions to try to remake the civil service into more of its own image.
Morning. Twenty degrees here under a dark clear—no clouds to hold any warmth. Officially 29º as recorded at the local airport for the government’s aviation weather services and the National Weather Service.
It’s so cold you might want to cuddle up with the nearest furry spider…or not.
My AccuWeather app showed a notification this morning. I clicked on it and an article popped up saying an airliner collided with a helicopter at Reagan National Airport. I flew out of that airport one time and could not believe all the helicopters flying in the air space. It was a little concerning. Now I know my concern was justified.
It's our main airport. Quantico and other military bases are a straight shot and helicopters are ubiquitous all over the area. Reagan is really busy and has notoriously short runways. I was on the road between Alexandria and DC in 1982 when Air Florida flight 90 crashed into the 14th St Bridge. The road parallels the river and miles of rush hr traffic was held to a dead stop. We all saw the immediate aftermath, spot lit rescue operations into the icy night. It was surreal and terrifying.
My first time landing at Reagan, you don't see the runway until you're almost about to land, and you think you're doing a water crash.... Then the runway appears, and it is business as usual.
This is delightful and happy!
“I've Been a Long Time Leavin'” by Roger Miller cover from Josh Turner Guitar, featuring Allison Young and Erik Alvar.
https://youtu.be/HDTB_B__rMw?si=mnVag3zUokgm5d4o
31F and vital rain refresh overnight totalling 0.0013". Visible.
“…and the males can be snacked by their mates.” That left me feeling more than a little on edge this morning.
It reminds me of a song by Nazareth
Love hurts, love scars, love wounds
And marks, any heart
Not tough or strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud
Holds a lot of rain
Love hurts...... ooh, ooh love hurts
Whenever I'd (gently) tease my daughter, she'd thwap me, and I'd sing this to her. I used a nerdy voice for it.
Nature is brutal.
It was almost 70 here yesterday. I saw a big brown bat flying around in broad daylight. He seemed happy about the weather.
The spider videos terrified me. I'm an arachnophobe.
I take it you didn't like David Bowie's "Spiders from Mars" concerts then?
Ms . Pinki is a total arachnophobe as well.
We do have lovely large hand sized Tarantula. Which I find cool myself.i
I volunteered in Big Bend National Park during the summer of 1978. A fellow volunteer kept tarantulas, scorpions and Black Widow spiders in her cabin. She would get the tarantula out of its jar and let it crawl across her face and her open mouth. 😱
Otherwise, she was a very nice and normal-seeming person. But I still shudder in horror thinking about it. I also freaked out while driving through the desert on the main road to the park and driving through rapidly traveling hordes of thousands of tarantulas as far as the eye could see. In case it isn't clear I also am an arachnophobe!
I'm terrified just reading your post.
Daughter C, Drama Queen, the mother of my granddaughter, used to breed black widows. She has a tarantula now.
Just one question. WHY????????????
She loves animals.
I could verify this using DeepSeek, but I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that spiders are not animals. They may be alien spawn sent to destroy human civilization, but 'animals' they are not.
I thought bears were the aliens.
Priapism is no joke!
But I was on the spider’s side in that second video, where the guy with the stick was relentlessly bothering the spider. I was hoping he’d get at least the warning sting. It reminded me of somebody teasing a cat.
It reminded me of that guy that was always bothering animals for his TV show, and then the sting ray stabbed and killed him.
Steve Irwin
Right.
I had to look up "priapism". I was so terrified by those videos, I must have missed something, which is odd because I rarely miss an opportunity to apply off color (disgusting) humor to whatever is being discussed.
Question: Does Brazil have as many life forms that want to kill you as Australia does? Asking for a friend.
I think they're probably pretty close, but you're more likely to drown in Brazil.
Oh?
Because of the Amazon River and all the other ones.
Ah.
I meant, more likely to drown in Brazil than you are in Australia.
Noted!
Planning a survivalist outing? What a thrill seeker! You could always just go to the Everglades down the street there. If that’s not challenging enough, do the Naked and Afraid version, as seen on TV.
Just asking questions. I don't do survivalist well. I wish I was rich enough to pay people to do that for me and then take pictures so I could brag about "my" survivalist outings? Hmmm, there may be a business proposal lurking in there somewhere?
Good morning. About 29 right now, rising to the 40s this afternoon. The mothership is covering the Trump administration’s actions to try to remake the civil service into more of its own image.
I’ll be on the road for the next several days.
Got your travelin' tunes covered for ya'... drive safe, have fun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKkhPwOyeP0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgBHRYtt-Y4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khH9ih2XJg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIgcyvLKKgU
Good - until I got to the last one.
Watch out for traffic! 😳
Safe travels.
I hope your travel goes well.
Safe travels!
Morning. Twenty degrees here under a dark clear—no clouds to hold any warmth. Officially 29º as recorded at the local airport for the government’s aviation weather services and the National Weather Service.
It’s so cold you might want to cuddle up with the nearest furry spider…or not.
My AccuWeather app showed a notification this morning. I clicked on it and an article popped up saying an airliner collided with a helicopter at Reagan National Airport. I flew out of that airport one time and could not believe all the helicopters flying in the air space. It was a little concerning. Now I know my concern was justified.
It's our main airport. Quantico and other military bases are a straight shot and helicopters are ubiquitous all over the area. Reagan is really busy and has notoriously short runways. I was on the road between Alexandria and DC in 1982 when Air Florida flight 90 crashed into the 14th St Bridge. The road parallels the river and miles of rush hr traffic was held to a dead stop. We all saw the immediate aftermath, spot lit rescue operations into the icy night. It was surreal and terrifying.
My first time landing at Reagan, you don't see the runway until you're almost about to land, and you think you're doing a water crash.... Then the runway appears, and it is business as usual.
It can be very exciting…
I’m not sure I would ever get on another airliner if I witnessed a crash. I don’t love flying to begin with.
I hate it. Only fly if there is no other way - esp out of Reagan
My weathers say 37 with a high of 51 expected.
Good morning, venomous arachnid fans. I had my granddaughter all day yesterday, to give the parents a break. We had a nice time.
The intentionally incremental defensive response is really interesting.
My mother always used to say that grandchildren are life's gravy.
🥰
That sounds like fun. 🤩🤩🤩
It was. She is very snuggly.
How did the baby’s local aunts and uncles react?
They were helpful. Baby was interested in all the different faces.
Snuggly is best part!
I agree. A baby for a little while is very nice.