Um, GIANT FREAKING SPIDERS?!!!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:07 pm

Has anyone ACTUALLY seen one of these? Or was this Ranger kidding? (Please, please tell me he was kidding). http://www.softcom.net/users/rocksci/bman/. Scroll down to "Things not to lose sleep over."

Funny, I'm feeling insomnia coming on...

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:11 pm

I thought everyone knew about those. Why the hell do you think I bring a well-sealed camper?!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:20 pm

Aaaaaaaaaa!!! (!!!) (Not overreacting or anything. And I HAVE a camper--though my daughter isn't staying in it--it's strictly for 2. She's tenting it.)

You're kidding, right?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:30 pm

there is a thread out there dealing with just what types of "nasties" are out there..........
I can't remember the name, though, dang it.

I know, the few times a snipe has been seen out there, great fun is had chasing it to the lucky few hiding in wait.......not that anyone has any chance at capturing said elusive creature, but, it's super fun to try................

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:32 pm

It is superfun to send people on snipe hunts, because there AREN'T any snipes.

There aren't any of these, either, right??

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:39 pm

Like this?

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:41 pm

According to Wikipedia, critters of that name do exist, but from that point on I'm pretty sure the guy is kidding -- certainly about the size and the tracks. I've never seen, nor heard of them, in four years on the Playa.

That said, shaking out your shoes and your sleeping bag is always a good habit -- novelty stores sell all kinds of rubber snakes and stuff!

Essentially, there are no living things out there, except those tiny organisms down in the ground that are dormant in the summer and live only when the winter rains fall.

A few small critters blow in from the surrounding mountains. I have seen photos of two live Praying Mantis out there -- a friend of mine found and photographed one of them a few years ago -- it's in the BM web site photo gallery.

Now the Captain and the others will pick on me for failing to carry on with the joke.

yellowdog · Post by **yellowdog** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:41 pm

Why do you think everyone stays up all night and roams around? They sure as hell aren't gonna go sleep in some flimsy tent at night with GIANT FREAKIN SPIDERS around!

And, of course, thats also why everyone tells you to bring lots of lights with you at night.

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:43 pm

Elliott, I'm pretty sure you are my new favorite person.

Now I can sleep tonight...

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:46 pm

Let's see now.... what is it I'm supposed to say, in order to maintain my status as a "Bad Dude" on this forum.... Oh, I know: Here we go: "No problem, tell your daughter she can sleep with me in my bus."

Did I do that right, guys?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:50 pm

yes, sleep, sleep well

well done Elliot............any know bling so we can all watch?

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:50 pm

She's pretty fierce, you're on your own with that one.

But the two-ton tricycle is way cool!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:53 pm

Elliot:
are you sure you're not Canadian?............

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:58 pm

ygmir wrote:Elliot:
are you sure you're not Canadian?............

He's canadian.

Just for shits and giggles, maybe I should bring up a collection of black widows, and set them free.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:05 pm

I'm pure Norwegian, born and raised in Oslo. So I dare claim I'm Vikinger than thou, Ygmir, you little Danish runt!

Funny thing about the Two Ton Tricycle, is that I never got it to BM. Usually, I ride some version of the pedal car in my avatar. But the Two Ton Tricycle shall be rebuilt and shall come to BM eventually.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:11 pm

Elliot wrote:
I'm pure Norwegian, born and raised in Oslo. So I dare claim I'm Vikinger than thou, Ygmir, you little Danish runt!

Funny thing about the Two Ton Tricycle, is that I never got it to BM. Usually, I ride some version of the pedal car in my avatar. But the Two Ton Tricycle shall be rebuilt and shall come to BM eventually.

*bows head, feeling puny and insignificant, in the face of one more "Viking" than I*

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:19 pm

point served! I'm still bringing th black widows.. sorry ygmir.

j_cavera · Post by **j_cavera** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 5:25 am

Great site! Wonderful advice on all subjects, at least until I came down to this part:

drink and additional amount of water equal to 4 times the volume of alcohol you drink.

So the obvious question: How the HELL am I supposed to even carry 12 f'n gallons of water per day, let alone drink it all!?

Oh, wait.... does PBR count as "water"?

- Jim

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:39 am

Yes. PBR counts as water, and in fact you can replace ALL of your water at Burning Man with PBR.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:44 am

Actual spider bite on the playa:

See the larger picture at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/civex/21001341/
so you can see the red vein extending up to his heart.

And here's the villain:

The poor guy was taking his shower on the playa, and this sucker nailed him. Be very careful of shower spiders on the playa.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:47 am

You must be talking about these spiders:

You'll find that as you walk along, they like to follow you, to stay in your shadow for the shade. Worst part is they run fast and can jump over 6'

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:49 am

Hmmm. Are there a LOT of drywall showers with fabric shower curtains on the Playa? That is one HUGE spider--so big I'm having a tough time believing it could be on your arm and BITE without you noticing if you were awake and conscious.

But now I'm going to check out our shower tent WAY more carefully than I would have!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:50 am

Thanks ever so, Sail Man. I've heard of those in the deserts of Iraq. UGH!!!!

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:55 am

Basically, what is more real in this thread is that ANY kind of bug can be found on the playa...because WE bring them!!
They stow away in our trailer full of projects we bring out!

See fly's...they come in with the campers... See spiders, yup road in on the wheel well...see Praying mantis', they ride on the wings of the playa gods, weird lil' beetles are from Frog pond,cacadia(sp?) big and also from the playa edge.
As far as the Playa...nothing lives out in the middle...we bring 90% of all bug life with us.

Its harsh out there...people arnt kidding about that part!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:57 am

Thanks, Pinemom. I suspect you're right. I am most definitely not bringing any GIANT FREAKING SPIDERS!!! from WI.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:26 am

Phil is a straight shooter and a wealth of sound information, so that bite definitely did happen in 2004. But the origin of the victims spider is probably unknown. Note that Phil's spider photo is from 2000. In other words, the spider photo only illustrates the type of spider suspected -- kind'a like identifying a thief from a mug shot.

Pinemom is surely right in that we bring critters in our vehicles. My bus and trailer are inevitably home to many during "the other 51 weeks", and they do not get off the bus just because it is leaving for BRC.

I got a similar bite and infection from a cat a few weeks ago. Cost me $900 at the ER -- to say nothing of the scare of the temporarily disabled hand. Common sense and caution should be applied all 52 weeks. Nothing to it; life is wonderful and that special one week even more so.

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:29 am

Thanks, Elliott. I was bitten in Utah by what was probably a Hobo spider (never saw the culprit--it was in my pants when I put them on). Looked a lot like the one in the picture--my whole leg swelled up, and it hurt like crazy for a day or two there. Needed a tetanus shot. But, no long-term harm done. At least it wasn't a Brown Recluse. Or a GIANT FREAKING SPIDER!!!!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:29 am

Just repeat with me: "there are no bugs on the playa, there are no bugs on the playa".

This should keep you busy until the nurse comes round with your meds.

And shake your boots out in the morning, pilgrim!!!

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:03 am

And careful about killing one of them.
Their mates will come out for revenge.

Fire Wire · Post by **Fire Wire** » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:23 am

Have a nice weekend!!!