Tulsa hosts deadly spider

[badger]

It was found on bananas from Honduras. (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090318_11_0_TULSAO471908)

Brazilian Wandering Spider is the most deadly spider in the world and can kill a person in 25 minutes. Realizing that spiders freak some people out, I won't post the pic here, but here's a link to one sitting on bananas, (http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/876/20092115.JPG) which is what I think the Tulsan saw it as.

If I was the store worker that saw that image, I would probably be traumatized for life. :eek:

More amazingly, the Whole Foods dude spared the big spider's life (can't say the spider would have done the same thing) and instead gave it to the University of Tulsa.

[homerSimpsonsBrain]

They interviewed a TU entomologist on the news last night. He commented that the spider was very aggressive and would actually jump at you. He said you had about 25 minutes to wait while your nervous system gave out on you. And that there's a anti-venom but none in the area. So had it bitten someone, they were dirt-napping within an hour.

[StoopTroup]

So...there's a new monster that's eating 11th street? :D

[OKLA21FAN]

TULSA > OKC!!!!!!
:pop:

[Okla-homey]

We should point out, for the record, this was at one of those hoity-toity "Whole Foods" places that only sells pesticide-free, ungassed and/or unradiated produce. Thus, if the spider-of-death had bitten anyone, odds are it would have been a hairy-legged hippie chick. The rest of us are safe if we stick to good-old pesticide sprayed and gassed 'nanners.:D

[OUDoc]

So, will PG neg the whole city?

[Frozen Sooner]

I'm with Homey here. I want my food glowing in the dark if possible.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Well...you know that Potassium is slightly radioactive...so with a lot of it, bananas can glow in the dark.

[SicEmBaylor]

I'm with Homey here. I want my food glowing in the dark if possible.

x3

[olevetonahill]

It was prolly some aggies date that got away ;)

[SoonerJack]

We should point out, for the record, this was at one of those hoity-toity "Whole Foods" places that only sells pesticide-free, ungassed and/or unradiated produce. Thus, if the spider-of-death had bitten anyone, odds are it would have been a hairy-legged hippie chick. The rest of us are safe if we stick to good-old pesticide sprayed and gassed 'nanners.:D


This response made my day.

Homey FTW.:)

[SoonerStormchaser]

Well...for all you old geezers out there, according to wikipedia:
"The venom may eventually be used in erectile dysfunction treatments."

[badger]

Ok, if you read the newest version of the story (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090319_11_A9_Whatmi278315&archive=yes), the spider is dead. TU bio guy decided that he wouldn't take any chances with having the fiend around.

It is also possible that the spider was misidentified, according to a zoo official.

So, perhaps the spider wasn't so deadly after all? I still wouldn't stick my hand in that thing's cage :eek:

[OUDoc]

Ok, if you read the newest version of the story (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090319_11_A9_Whatmi278315&archive=yes), the spider is dead. TU bio guy decided that he wouldn't take any chances with having the fiend around.

It is also possible that the spider was misidentified, according to a zoo official.

So, perhaps the spider wasn't so deadly after all? I still wouldn't stick my hand in that thing's cage :eek:

I saw that. The zoo official said something along the lines of "I doubt that's the identity of the spider" but went on to add that he never saw the spider.
Why would you be quoted saying you "doubted the identity" without verifying it?

[SoonerStormchaser]

Why would you be quoted saying you "doubted the identity" without verifying it?

That's how political officials get elected all the time.

[badger]

Ok, so are we ready for another SPIDERGATE update?

The spider, in fact, may have been harmless all along (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090319_11_0_Whatwa99771), according to Tulsa Zoo officials.

So, was the spider destroyed to cover up that it was actually a Huntsman spider and not a Brazilian wanderer? Here's a photo (http://members.iinet.net.au/~pterren/Spider_Dads_hand.JPG) of one walking on a hand, to show it's size and how harmless it is... like a pet tarantella. Scary looking, but harmless to humans.

Something fishy about spiders in Tulsa...

[OKLA21FAN]

Tulsa spiders > OKC spiders

[Chuck Bao]

Personally, I would rather take my chances with the Brazilian spiders and the hairy-legged hippy chicks.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/30098326/Malaysia-Bans-Thailand-Oranges


Malaysia Bans Thailand Oranges

Malaysia has banned the import of oranges from Thailand with immediate effect, Malaysian media have reported. The ban was because the oranges from Thailand were found to contain Ethion, a highly toxic pesticide which is banned in Malaysia, due to its effects upon health.

Malaysia Health Ministry's assistant director of the International Safety Division, Dr Mahyin Abdul Halim, said that tests conducted showed that the oranges from Thailand contained the highly toxic pesticide Ethion.

At least 50 consignments of oranges which entered Malaysia in 2008 contained the banned pesticide, he said, after a border co-operation agencies' meeting on sharing information between Malaysian and Thai departments was held in Sungai Golok.

Ethion (C9H22O4P2S4) is an organophosphate insecticide used to kill mites, maggots, leafhoppers and other insects, and is banned in Malaysia.

Now, I’m left wondering why my maid is suddenly leaving me a lot of Thai oranges.

http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/kanunu/nannersandoranges.jpg

[C&CDean]

I'll take spiders and bug parts in my produce any day over radiation, chemicals, etc.

I do (well I don't, but momma does) spray Sevin on the tomatoes and squash plants once or twice during the growing season. She always makes sure there's no ripe or nearly ripe veggies when she sprays so we can give it some time.

Did I ever mention how irrational it is to be afraid of spiders?