Open Thread - Spidey Edition

Email Print posted by desertpear 10/15/2008 03:30:52 PM EST

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Male jumping spider courting a mounted female/decoy.  You gotta keep watching because he really gets going!  Oh, and you MUST have your speakers on.

< THE DEBATE: What to watch for? | Quick Question! >

Poll

Could human males learn some courtship maneuvers from jumping spiders?
I like tuhtles 28%
Spiders scare me 14%
I can do that already 57%

Votes: 7
Results | Other Polls
 Display:
Open Thread - Spidey Edition | 52 comments (52 topical, 0 hidden)
Yep. (none / 0)

That's pretty much how I got my girlfriend.

He's like a spider to motorcycle transformer or something (and he even has handlebars).  And you know all of that loud tapping at the end is extreme sexual frustration.  "Man!  She's not buying it AT ALL!  What gives?!"

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 04:01:17 PM EST

Joe and Joanna Sixpack from Ohio (none / 0)

story on Daily Kos

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 04:08:36 PM EST

My take (none / 0)

Obama is bearing the cross of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate.

Sharing this burden with actual Muslims and Arabs allows them to relate to Obama as they couldn't to any other American president.

This means that Obama's in a unique position to establish a new relationship with many Arab and Muslim countries.

Just think of strategicall important Indonesia. Many there consider him basically a native son.

Of course, for American bigots that all amounts to a case AGAINST Obama. Being liked by Muslims and Arabs is suspicious to them (as being liked by Europeans is also suspicious to them - albeit to a lesser degree).

For the sane, of course, an Obama presidency provides the unique opportunity to turn a page in US-Arab and US-Muslim relations. A means to restore much of the soft power the USA has squandered over the past years.

I think this also provides a unique opportunity - together with the new Israeli prime minister - to sort out the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

by charlesf on 10/15/2008 04:47:29 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Al-Jazeera (none / 0)
For those interested, you can get a program called Livestation and watch Al-Jazeera, BBC World, France 24, Lord British in Space, C-Span and more on your desktop for free... And it's legal.

They had this story yesterday.

www.livestation.com

Jan

by Scandinavian Chef on 10/15/2008 04:53:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
cool, thanks for that Jan (none / 0)

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 05:09:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
so sad. (none / 0)

Sad that rural ohio is so racist, bigoted, and out of touch with the truth.

On the bright side, most ohio residents live in populated areas such as columbus and cleveland...which are very blue.

Also, those people who were interviewed wouldn't have voted for a democrat anyway....even if a democrat's policies would have helped their lives more so than a republican.  Most of the dying cities, such as Dayton, are located in ohio... see: outsourcing.  The same interesting phenomena is written in the book, "What's the matter with Kansas?".

Even better, I'm an Ohio registered voter and received my absentee ballot yesterday.  So that's one more vote for Obama. :)

by DocZee on 10/15/2008 08:32:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
poor little white people (none / 0)
why wont he sympathize with the other half of his race. i want to know, is he a gangster, like my grandfather calls him, an elitist, a black sepretist, or a muslim terrorist. he cant be everything can he?

by holy noize on 10/15/2008 09:36:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Is it just me or did "she" get to enjoy (none / 0)
some pretty lengthy foreplay!!! (Take a hint, gentlemen!!)

by tifosies on 10/15/2008 04:10:03 PM EST

arachnaphobia (none / 0)
I have a bizarre and unwarrented fear of spiders. How bizarre? Get this--I loooooove insects. I just can't get beyond spiders. I have never felt guilt about killing them, only enormous relief. I will admit that my rational biologist mind can take over long enough for me to process and even admire a video like this, but when I see one loose in the room I get the heebee jeebies.

I like to speculate that my european heritage contributes in someway, but I have no idea. I'm just fascinated by little examples of uncontrolled instinct in people. I like to think that they're like little leftovers of our evolutionary past. Some people are afraid of rodents (I'm not, although I do get a murderous rage when I see them--which is entirely learned), and others of snakes.

by hazmat on 10/15/2008 04:24:44 PM EST

spiders (none / 0)
I too am creeped out by spiders, but not jumping spiders for some reason.  I think they seem cuter.  I don't kill giant house spiders here, but escort them outside even though they scare me.

There has been some research recently showing that such fears are not so much instinctual as learned. So, whereas a 4- to 5-year-old will happily cuddle a rat or hold a tarantula, by age 6 or 7 their behavior begins to change to one of fear or disgust.  I see this at rat shows--the kids are practically giddy holding the rats.  They haven't learned to hate or fear them since their parents are obviously aren't showing that prejudice.

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 04:41:42 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I'd like to read that research. (none / 0)
I honestly believe I have no control over my fear of spiders. I concede that its possibly a learned behavior, but like many people, I will jump and panic instantly to the point where I may injure myself (for example if I discover that one has landed on my shoulder when I step into the shower in the morning). I have no control over this instantaneous reaction, nor over the shudder that sometimes follows soon after. I have no rational explanation for these behaviors, and insects, frogs, mice, snakes, or centipedes and millipedes, worms and other creatures of the night have no similar effect. What ties my revulsion to spiders in my mind to the idea of a fixed-action-pattern idea (ala Lorenz's ducklings) from behavioral science in my mind, is that in my case its the motion of spiders that scares the shit out of me, moreso than their appearance. I'm convinced that my reaction to these critters takes place in my spinal column, and not in any higher center of cognitive function... but like any scientist I am open to the evidence.

by hazmat on 10/15/2008 05:39:07 PM EST

[ Parent ]
snakes and spiders and ratties, oh my (none / 0)
The question is definitely unresolved.  And I'm not sure where phobias fit in.

Evolution of Aversion
Postulates that their may be an instinctual alertness related to certain creatures, but not necessarily fear.  But supposedly that would vary between individuals.

This seems to support that hypothesis.

"Previous research has argued that snakes and spiders attract preferential attention (they capture attention very quickly) and that during this early processing a negative (fear) response is generated... as an implicit and indexed subconscious [action]," Dr Purkis said.

"We showed that although everyone preferentially attends to snakes or spiders in the environment as they are potentially dangerous, only inexperienced participants display a negative response."

The study is the first to establish a clear difference between preferential attention and the accompanying emotional response: that is, that you can preferentially attend to something without a negative emotional response being elicited.

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 05:56:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]
ATTN Fantasy Football Nerds (none / 0)
I need help with a trade since Romo is injured.

I have two trade offers on the table:

Trade A: Delhomme/Burress/Addai for Romo/MJD/Housh

Trade B: Favre/Jamal Lewis for Romo

My other QB's are Schaub, O'Sullivan, Cassel and Hasselbeck. My other RB's are AP, Slaton, Edge, Chester Taylor. My other WR's are Steve Smith, Cotchery, Holmes, Engram, Lance Moore, Galloway.

Keep in mind it's a PPR league. The thing is, I'm not crazy about Jamal Lewis. I need to win NOW (horrible record), and his schedule is brutal, plus he doesn't get a ton of catches...although the Browns offense does seem to be heating up after the bye.

Favre already had his bye and has a very nice upcoming schedule which is great.

Addai has a hamstring injury and is out this week, plus he's @ Pittsburgh next week which means he's useless to me for 2 weeks (MJD is on bye this week).

Burress is a clear upgrade over Housh since Carson Palmer is out and will probably be shut down for the season. But Housh is good for PPR because Fitzpatrick is still getting him 5 or more catches per game for some yards.

What do you think? I'd love to squeez a WR out of Trade B since he has Wayne, Calvin Johnson and Coles.

by ihavenobias on 10/15/2008 04:44:10 PM EST

Never mind (none / 0)
Apparently Addai's hamstring is torn and he'll miss 2-4 weeks.

by ihavenobias on 10/15/2008 05:13:07 PM EST

[ Parent ]
UPDATE (none / 0)
The latest offer is

I give up: Romo/Housh

I get: Favre/Calvin Johnson/Jamal Lewis.

I think I should take it.

by ihavenobias on 10/15/2008 06:27:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]
will you be on the chat tonight nobias? (none / 0)

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 06:30:33 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Somebody was too busy (none / 0)
with football and politics today to finish all of his work (setting up canvassing for Saturday and fantasy trades).

That somebody unfortunately has to work. Listening to TYT debate coverage while working is one thing, but listening to TYT, working AND chatting is just too much.

Hypothetically speaking, for someone who's behind on his work.

;)

by ihavenobias on 10/15/2008 06:38:50 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I can't keep up with chat (none / 0)
when there are so many people on it ;)

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 11:19:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Check this out. (none / 0)

I just got Balaskovits for Corwin and Montecristo for Abercrombie.  Which means I'll probably end up going 8 for 11 on Sunday Sunday Sunday.

And 206x (99/6.7)=73  solve for x.

 I sunk your battleship!

Wait... what?

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 06:35:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Also (none / 0)
HADOUKEN!

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 06:36:05 PM EST

[ Parent ]
totally lost (none / 0)

but don't explain. I read your posts when I come across them no matter what, but this was an exercise in archaea. It looks like a message of some sort that isn't superficially what it seems. Hey, since I'm here, what did you think of the debate, my friend? DP if you're out there I'm all ears.

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 02:26:21 AM EST

[ Parent ]
but (none / 0)
as a genXer I do get the hadouken ref.

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 02:27:27 AM EST

[ Parent ]
fantasy football and debates (none / 0)
I have to confess, I still don't know what fantasy football is.  I have a very vague idea, but no interest ;)  I'm not a sports person.

The DEBATE!  You know, I almost thought McCain was doing a halfway decent job for a bit, but then his facial contortions and poorly concealed cranky old man temper just sort of overwhelmed the entire screen.  When you know that many Americans go on overall gut reaction and emotions, you get the feeling that McCain totally bit the dust. I think he totally lost any moderate women out there with his retarded comment on women's health and abortion--WHAT A MISTAKE!!  I was watching with a young girlfriend who works at Starbucks for about $8.50 an hour.  She isn't as into politics as I am, but is voting for Obama.  She rightfully pointed out that nobody addresses her issues--the single people trying to bust out a living on minimum or near-minimum wage.  Someone said almost a third of workers in America make only minimum wage--is that right?

But neither of us could stop talking about Roe vs. Wade and how the overturning of that law would ruin women's rights and careers.  You would force women over 40 to give birth to Down's Syndrome babies?  Force teenagers to give birth and miss out on their education?  These things would drain our economy dry. It's just unthinkable for a modern society.  It also doesn't address the problem of employers preferentially hiring men just because they wouldn't miss work by getting pregnant. What if you are in a job like I used to do--be in the field constantly, living in hotels and doing biological work.  oh, man, I am just so angry at the conservatives I could spit.  And I burn with hatred of McCain and Sarah Palin at this point.

So, thank the gods that Obama kept his cool (I knew he would) and he's ahead and likely to pull ahead even more.  

how about you?  

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 02:44:51 AM EST

[ Parent ]
forest for the trees (none / 0)

abortion. I'm pro-choice. Its probably a reflection of my gender, but I'm less inclined to express strong feelings on the matter. I've heard the arguments and found the pro-lifers wanting...however: My wife, who is pro-choice also, has had a couple stints in abortion clinics, and without going into a lot of detail it's best to say that I've learned not to get too invested in these discussions. Being a father myself, I think there's more grey to this issue than black-and-white.

Reasonable people must agree that in a grey world, we must protect a woman's right to choose. That's where I stand. It's important (and critical) not to get angry over this. Don't get me wrong DP, you're my elder, and I don't presume to lecture you on this topic, and we obviously agree on some basic level. But I definitely have mixed feelings. Barack Obama said it best in the debate--good people can disagree but fundamentally we must protect choice. Like so many things, Sarah Palin paradoxically agrees in deed but not in rhetoric. Fascinating. Anyway, I put my initial debate reax on Cenk's blog here.

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 03:26:45 AM EST

[ Parent ]
it's a very sad thing (none / 0)

I actually feel that there is vast room for improvement in our society in terms of controlling unwanted pregnancy and I would like to see this pursued vigorously in terms of sex education and easy access to birth control and morning-after pills.  That is where I would like to see the emphasis.  I've never been pregnant, so that also colors my view.  I'm angry about what McCain said tonight, but I have VERY mixed feelings about abortion too.  As a biologist, I know a fetus is a living human being.  It may not be conscious in the same way as a child, but it deserves respect as much as any living thing.  If it were up to me, I would probably outlaw abortions after a certain number of months; probably more restrictive than is now allowed, honestly.  But it has to be paired with access to birth control, education, and other services.  But I also can't imagine the decision being made for me that I would have to carry a baby to term no matter what. 

I recently saw the best documentary ever on abortion, called Lake of Fire.  It's disturbing to watch parts of it (there are very graphic scenes of real abortions), but it presents the issue from all sides.  After seeing that, there is no way I could feel comfortable about late-term abortions.  Not that I ever did. 

We could reduce unwanted pregnancy so much if we really tried, and if access to birth control wasn't restricted by Christian Republicans. Don't you think?  Or is this pie-in-the-sky? 

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 03:45:20 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Random note: (none / 0)
I'm annoyed every time someone says "pro-abortion", which McCain did tonight.  I mean, like most liberals, I want all babies to be aborted as late into the pregnancy as possible.  It's only right.  But calling me "pro-abortion"...   That's just below the belt.

by Spencer on 10/16/2008 03:49:24 AM EST

[ Parent ]
yeah that's heinous (none / 0)
I come off tough, but I really am schmoopie when it comes down to any living thing.  I mean, I can't even kill spiders.  One thing I noticed in these debates is that nobody bothers talking about the poor in our country.  Not after Edwards left the picture.  We gotta care about born children too.

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 03:54:50 AM EST

[ Parent ]
In hazmat's defense (none / 0)
He feels guilty shortly after feeling relieved after having smushed the spider.

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 04:02:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
that's really funny (none / 0)
I think my final thought is that, I don't care so much about the right of a fetus to live, but I think every being deserves a humane exit if possible. 

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 04:20:34 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I hear my bad rodent children (none / 0)
knocking things off shelves upstairs unsupervised...

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 03:56:31 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Most pro-life people aren't (none / 0)

Most pro-lifers think they are pro-life because they don't like abortion.  No one likes abortion.  That is crazy.  Pro-choicers support adoption, counseling and every other thing that will decrease abortion.

The question is should people be jailed for having/performing abortions. That is the only question.  I NEVER hear the pro-lifers talk about that and when its brought up (see the Palin-Biden debate) they say people shouldn't be jailed.  Doesn't that make them pro-choice?

The whole thing is a giant political scam to vilify Dems to promote the tax cut agenda by tying it to an unrelated, made up issue.

If someone wants to tell me they are pro-life, my question is how do you want to punish people who get abortions?  That is where this debate has to start.

by ProfRich on 10/16/2008 09:41:31 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I think (none / 0)

the supreme court's ruling on Roe vs. Wade set reasonable limits on abortion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but RvW sets out that 2nd trimester abortions are limited and 3rd prohibited except in cases involving the life and well-being of the mother. This sounds similar to what you prescribe. The only problem I have with those very reasonable restrictions is that they are based on a constitutional guarantee that doesn't exist. The constitution very clearly does not guarantee the right to an abortion any more than it guarantees a foetus's right to exist. It's a major oversight. Conservatives have a point in this one specific case when they say of RvW that this constitutes "legislation from the bench". That's the sense I get. Its quite a conundrum. Unfortunately, the supreme court has taken liberties with the 2nd amendment recently as well, and those were the so-called "conservatives", so I don't know which end is up anymore.

I reserve the right to be wrong about this!

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 04:00:47 AM EST

[ Parent ]
rights (none / 0)

I think growing up knowing I always had the right to abortion if necessary made it easy to not pay much attention for most of my life.  I know I was very relieved when RU-486 finally became available in the US as an alternative for women. 

this article in Harper's in 2004, making me rethink a strictly pro-abortion stance.

I've always thought that this issue deserves attention from a world-class panel of developmental biologists, doctors, and ethicists. 

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 04:10:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
very effective article (none / 0)
I'm tired. good night.

by hazmat on 10/16/2008 04:30:00 AM EST

[ Parent ]
No they don't (none / 0)

The Constitution does not preclude a right to an abortion.  Its called the 9th Amendment.

The only legal question is does a fetus have a right to life.  The rest is all rhetoric.

by ProfRich on 10/16/2008 10:57:03 AM EST

[ Parent ]
McCain did pretty well (none / 0)

On radio.

On TV, he was a colossal failure.

by ProfRich on 10/16/2008 07:50:23 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Well now I have to explain. (none / 0)

I don't know anything about football or even how fantasy football works, so all of this stuff is lost on me.  So basically I just wanted to make up as much random shit as I could to try fake my way into the conversation.  Anything to avoid doing actual work...  Oh well, I'm dumb.

Here!  This'll save it:

Please pretend I posted this instead.

Tatsumakisenpuukyaku!

by Spencer on 10/16/2008 03:33:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
you did well (none / 0)

I was fooled.  The entire thing is another language to me.  But I do know Engrish.

 

by desertpear on 10/16/2008 03:51:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
You should probably do it. (none / 0)

by ProfRich on 10/15/2008 11:10:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Aw, man! (none / 0)

All we get to see is the foreplay?  I like my spider porn to be more hardcore.

by EveningStarNM on 10/15/2008 04:49:08 PM EST

It's not a real female. (none / 0)
It's like a spider necrophilia movie.  You don't want to see that.  Or do you?

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 04:53:34 PM EST

[ Parent ]
No! Really? (none / 0)

I thought she was one of those who would just lie there and do nothing.  I felt kind of sorry for him.  I mean, he seemed to be doing okay, being patient, attentive, and entertaining all at the same time.  But you're saying he's just some wierd pervert who uses plastic dolls?

Hm.  Good lookin' doll, though.

by EveningStarNM on 10/15/2008 05:35:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
that's what i call hard work! (none / 0)

(poor guy)

 

by RNinNYC on 10/15/2008 04:55:30 PM EST

Mixtape Madness! (none / 0)
Regarding Tuesday's discussion about how annoying it is playing cassette tapes in the car, has the TYT staff never heard of mixtapes?  You don't have to worry about that pesky fast forward button when every single song is handpicked and glorious.  There is nothing better than a long drive with a badass mixtape at your side.  Plus, tapes can be as long as 120 minutes, while a CD can only hold 80.  I'm just saying...

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 05:04:16 PM EST

and I want a TYT mix tape CD (none / 0)

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 06:00:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I have an Archos 605 with an 80GB hard drive (none / 0)

I can make a lot of playlists with that.

Think I'll pass on the cassette tape.

by ProfRich on 10/15/2008 10:44:15 PM EST

[ Parent ]
"hard drive"? (none / 0)
You kids and your techno-babble.  Get off my lawn!

by Spencer on 10/15/2008 11:29:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]
cute tarantulas (none / 0)
They like to drum too


by desertpear on 10/15/2008 05:21:07 PM EST

I could never (none / 0)
hold a tarantula in my hand. I have always marveled at people that can do it.

by hazmat on 10/15/2008 05:40:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
not that good of an idea (none / 0)
I found out that they can actually THROW barbed urticating hairs.  With some species, it's not bad apparently, but it allows them defense against predators.  The females can live 30-40 years or more, can you believe that?

These fine hairs are barbed and designed to irritate. They can be lethal to small animals such as rodents. Exposure of the eyes and breathing system to urticating hairs should be strictly avoided. Species with urticating hairs can kick these hairs off: they are flicked into the air at a target using their back pairs of legs. Tarantulas also use these hairs for other purposes such as to mark territory or to line their shelters (the latter such practice may discourage flies from feeding on the spiderlings).

To predators and other kinds of enemies, these hairs can range from being lethal to simply being a deterrent. With humans, they can cause irritation to eyes, nose, and skin, and more dangerously, the lungs and airways, if inhaled. The symptoms range from species to species, from person to person, from a burning itch to a minor rash. In some cases, tarantula hairs have caused permanent damage to human eyes.

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 05:45:33 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't get it. (none / 0)

He was drumming and drumming to seduce her.  But when she tries to get close to him, he keeps backing away.  Does he have a reason to be afraid of her?

by EveningStarNM on 10/15/2008 05:46:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
hmm (none / 0)
Maybe it has something to do with this?
"Mature male tarantulas also may have tibial hooks on their front legs, which are used to restrain the female's fangs during copulation."

or maybe she hasn't been sufficiently "lulled"?

"When a male spider detects the presence of a female, the two exchange signals to establish that they are of the same species. These signals may also lull the female into a receptive state."

by desertpear on 10/15/2008 05:59:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Open Thread - Spidey Edition | 52 comments (52 topical, 0 hidden)
 Display: