Journalistic incompetency*sigh*
Is this how everyone feels when a topic of interest of theirs is reported on? Even not knowing any more details than what was reported in the brief, 2 minute segment I can point out a slew of problems.
-It was an effin tarantula! That's not to say it couldn't have been dangerous, there's a chance it was one of the two or three species with medically significant venom, or he could have been allergic, but that sort of thing should have been mentioned to avoid unnecessary villainization of the family.
-Their “expert” was a dude who worked in a grocery store for twenty years? What the fuck!
-How about mentioning that the reason he didn't suffer any affects was likely because it was a dry bite and no venom was injected? Tarantula bites may not be fatal in the majority of cases, but we don't need people thinking they're pleasant, either.
-The fact this was even on the radio at all. What about journalistic integrity? Can we get some real information instead of just regurgitating what some yokel's yelling?
Annnd with that out of the way, I'm going to get myself some coffee and breakfast, and come back here to do some research of my own. My initial thought when hearing about the striped legs was one of the Pokey species (Poecilotheria), but now that I'm thinking about it I think that they rarely do dry bites, and he sure as hell would have known if it had used any venom. On top of that, I'm pretty sure they're an Asian species... not the most likely source of N.A. Bananas. So, I'll have to look at some other options. (update: yup, Asian species)
*grumble grumble. Stupid CBC.*
Alright, having caffeinated myself and listened for a rerun of the story (there wasn't one), I've researched to my interest's end. Here's what I've found.
CBC apparently doesn't deem this news worth a second mention. Not only did they not repeat the story on the next hour, but there is no mention of it on their website, nor can I find it anywhere else online. If anyone else is interested in looking for it at a future date, the key terms are “banana, spider, Tim Campbell (sp on the name up in the air, it was just a radio bit)”. Maybe throwing bite in there would help, but I've given up for now.
As for species, I got a couple options before I got tired of searching. The point to take away, though, is that since it was in bananas, and bananas are typically a New World shipment, the tarantula was likely a new world species itself. New world tarantulas are rarely considerably venomous, and rely on their urticating hairs as primary defense. They don't even usually bite unless pressed.
Anywho, it could have been a few of the Acanthoscurria spp, Aphonopelma spp, or even Brachypelma spp, if the guy has a funny idea of what striped means. You may note that those are all fairly high up on the alphabet... well, like I said, I got bored.
Aphonopelma and Brachypelma both include some common species kept in the pet trade, and are far from dangerous to the average, non-allergic person. Acanthoscurria spp are slightly more nervous and prone to using their urticating hairs, which probably means more likely to bite, but still not deadly.
A good chunk of these species are found in South America, not Central, and I'm not sure if bananas come from there. Anyone have a passion about bananas? I don't much care. The point I'm trying to make is that of all the possible tarantulas that could have ridden in on a bunch of bananas, none of them are deadly.
Stories like this are what cause moronic city councilors to outlaw tarantulas. People hear this story and walk away thinking “wow, that dude was lucky he didn't die!” When they should be walking away, chuckling, thinking how lucky the guy was for seeing a wild Brachypelma spp or whatever (and, uh, y'know, lucky he wasn't envenomed. It'd still suck, fatal or not.)
I think I'm going to write CBC...
On a side note, I found this article while searching. Make sure you read the gray boxes below the original story for the updates
Oh... and... uh... I wrote a journal!
Neutral
--
brittanyann
--
Imageination is the one weapon against realety!
my stock account ~ayra-stock
"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"
received this
letter from a friend on the computer, did what it told me to, and
within a
week, everything I had wished came true!! Here's an exact copy,
this
really
works!!!!
*************************************************************
1. To yourself, say the name of the only
guy or girl you wanna be with 3
times!
*************************************************************
2. Think of something you wanna accomplish
within the next week and say it to your self
6
times!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. If you had 1 wish what would it be? say it to
yourself 9 times!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Think of something that you want to happen
between you and that 1special person and say
it to your self 12
times!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Now, heres the hard part! Pick only 1 of these wishes and as
you scroll down focus and
concentrate on it and think on nothing
else but that wish.
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
*
*
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
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* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
Now make one last &final wish about that one wish
that you picked.
After reading this, you have 1 hour to send it out to 15 people,
and what
you wished for will come true within in one week!
u only get one chance!!!!! Now scroll down and think of your
crush!!!
Keep going
down
Keep going
Keep
going
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you think of your crush? I hope so, that was
your last chance. Now pay very close attention this important
message!
Sorry but once read, must be sent. Yes, this is one of those kinda
chain
letters that everyone hates. This one has been going since 1863
and
if you
break this chain, you will pay!!!!!! Remember that after hearing
these
stories.
First Example:
Take Barbra Wallace.. She was a pretty lucky girl,
up till she got this same chain letter. She had a crush on the same
kid
since kindergarden. when she got this mail she didn't pay any
attention to
it. She just thought, no big deal. And deleted it. The next day her
dad
got fired and her mom dies in a car crash. If she would have sent
the
letter none of that would have happened and her mom
would be alive.
Second Example:
Try Freddie D. Now Freddie D. was your average
nerd. Had glasses, was short and chubby, was in gifted. All the
signs of
your total dork. He also received this letter and sent it to 51
people in
the hour. Now, like Barbra, he had a crush on a girl since 3rd
grade. The
next day after sending the chain the girl confessed her love for
him ever
since 3rd grade. Freddie D. finally had the courage to ask her out,
and of
course, she had been waiting to yes to that for years. They grew
up
and
married each other to live happily forever.
Third Example:
Now if you couldn't relate to the others, this'll
get ya hooked. Listen to this. A kid named Jordan Johnson was just
getting on AOL to check his mail. He was a quiet kid, not that
popular but
not a geek either. he was just normal. He saw he had mail from his
friend. It was this exact letter. Now Jordan Johnsen was a smart
kid and
he knew what could happen if he didnt pass it on. He simply pulled
a few
friends from his buddy list and sent it along. The next day,
about
that
same time, he got a phone call. It said he had won the lottery!
then his
dad came home and bought him a new bike! His mom bought him
Nintendo64 and
play station! His grandmother sent him a new computer, and his best
friend
gave him tickets to the concert he wanted to go to, Kid Rock and
Limp
Bizkit! Then he inherited a brand-new tv from his aunt! He was
goin' wild!
the next day his secret crush asked him out, and they have been
going out
ever since.
Now, you heard the stories. I know
which person i'd rather
be, but thats up to you. I wouldn't wanna end up like Barbra but
thats
only me. We all want what we cant have but now's ur chance to go
out with
that special somebody ur waiting for. Take it or leave it. If you
send
this to-
1 person- you will lose all luck in ur love
life.....forever!!!!!
10 people- your crush will say they like you as a
friend......ONLY!!!!!
15 people- your crush will say they like you
20 people- your crush will ask you out!
25 people- your crush will kiss you!!
30 people - Your crush
will have sex with you
35 people or more- All of the above!!
Don't blow it, it's ur chance to shine! Have
everything u wanted, and more! Now, complaining cus u dont have any
friends. Well theres an answer 4 everything. It's simple, just go
in a
chat room, pick some names and send away! but here's the
catch.....you only
have one hour to send it after being read. Please pass this
tobermorry,
where you in a kilt?
if so, it was you.
hi im jessica.[link]
Joy
--
HarajukuJunkie,,,,
(lovesLife)
--
[link]
<3
haha i used to date bert.
weird huh?
Jessica
--
HarajukuJunkie,,,,
(lovesLife)
--
[link]
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