Do you like spiders? Would you sacrifice $15 million just to save one?
I don't know about you, but my natural instinct upon spotting any member of the arachnid family is "kill." A kind of disquieting mania comes over me. The adrenaline starts to rush through my body and I begin grabbing every thing I can find and flinging it at the beast while uttering a kind of guttural growl of disgust and detestation as I track it and beat it to a pulp.
It doesn't matter if I'm decked out and late for a meeting. I will crawl through any grime, including the mystery muck that makes up my garage floor, and spend as much time as it takes to make sure the spider is destroyed.
So I'm going to have to go with "no," I would not sacrifice $15 million.
But believe it or not, some people would. It takes all kinds. Some kinds of spiders apparently are worth more than others.
Workers in Texas recently found a Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider in the middle of a $15 million highway construction project in northwestern San Antonio. Pretty impressive, isn't it? Just imagine how excited the construction workers were. "Hey, ya'll! Looka he-ah," they shouted in fine, Texas accents. "This he-ah is one of them there Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spiders!"
No, that's not how it happened. Actually, what happened was, there were biologists from the Texas Department of Transportation's environmental affairs division working along side the construction crews, because that particular area in San Antonio is "known for its abundance of natural resources, including songbirds and rare cave animals, like the spiders."
Seriously; I'm not making that up. That is an actual quote from an actual news story. Songbirds and spiders are natural resources. Who knew? So the project was halted despite the $15 million price tag.
The Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider, so it seems, is on the endangered species list and hasn't been spotted for nearly three decades. That means proceeding with the project is out of the question. Those construction workers must be really happy that, despite the fact that they are now out of work, that particular species of spider, one of the "special kinds," will continue.
So the spiders are safe - except for the one that they dissected to make sure it was indeed a Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider. That's right, they found what they thought was a rare spider that they wanted to save, so they killed it and dissected it.
Biologists are a rare breed. In fact, I think there should be a biologist sanctuary where we study them, dissect them, and try to figure out why they do the things that they do. Like why is it so important to save a spider from extinction?
Sure, it's so sad that various species are becoming extinct, but frankly I'm just glad that these people were not around when the dinosaurs were alive because it would be a pain in the backside to have to dodge a pack of brontosauruses on the way to work. And really, who knows if these spiders might someday evolve into giant, man-eating freaks ala some John Carpenter horror film?
I'd rather not take any chances. Thus I will continue to kill every spider that crosses my path. I will not stop to interview the spider and see if he is on any kind of list. I will just beat him to a pulp per my natural instincts.
I'm just that kind.
- Rebecca Todd is a freelance writer and the author of the book "What's the Point?" available at booklocker.com. Contact her at btodd@tds.net.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
Commentary
Discussion
It takes all kinds
By Rebecca Todd CNHI
Do you like spiders? Would you sacrifice $15 million just to save one?
I don't know about you, but my natural instinct upon spotting any member of the arachnid family is "kill." A kind of disquieting mania comes over me. The adrenaline starts to rush through my body and I begin grabbing every thing I can find and flinging it at the beast while uttering a kind of guttural growl of disgust and detestation as I track it and beat it to a pulp.
It doesn't matter if I'm decked out and late for a meeting. I will crawl through any grime, including the mystery muck that makes up my garage floor, and spend as much time as it takes to make sure the spider is destroyed.
So I'm going to have to go with "no," I would not sacrifice $15 million.
But believe it or not, some people would. It takes all kinds. Some kinds of spiders apparently are worth more than others.
Workers in Texas recently found a Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider in the middle of a $15 million highway construction project in northwestern San Antonio. Pretty impressive, isn't it? Just imagine how excited the construction workers were. "Hey, ya'll! Looka he-ah," they shouted in fine, Texas accents. "This he-ah is one of them there Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spiders!"
No, that's not how it happened. Actually, what happened was, there were biologists from the Texas Department of Transportation's environmental affairs division working along side the construction crews, because that particular area in San Antonio is "known for its abundance of natural resources, including songbirds and rare cave animals, like the spiders."
Seriously; I'm not making that up. That is an actual quote from an actual news story. Songbirds and spiders are natural resources. Who knew? So the project was halted despite the $15 million price tag.
The Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider, so it seems, is on the endangered species list and hasn't been spotted for nearly three decades. That means proceeding with the project is out of the question. Those construction workers must be really happy that, despite the fact that they are now out of work, that particular species of spider, one of the "special kinds," will continue.
So the spiders are safe - except for the one that they dissected to make sure it was indeed a Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver spider. That's right, they found what they thought was a rare spider that they wanted to save, so they killed it and dissected it.
Biologists are a rare breed. In fact, I think there should be a biologist sanctuary where we study them, dissect them, and try to figure out why they do the things that they do. Like why is it so important to save a spider from extinction?
Sure, it's so sad that various species are becoming extinct, but frankly I'm just glad that these people were not around when the dinosaurs were alive because it would be a pain in the backside to have to dodge a pack of brontosauruses on the way to work. And really, who knows if these spiders might someday evolve into giant, man-eating freaks ala some John Carpenter horror film?
I'd rather not take any chances. Thus I will continue to kill every spider that crosses my path. I will not stop to interview the spider and see if he is on any kind of list. I will just beat him to a pulp per my natural instincts.
I'm just that kind.
- Rebecca Todd is a freelance writer and the author of the book "What's the Point?" available at booklocker.com. Contact her at btodd@tds.net.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
May 21, 2013
Mr. President, the buck stops with you.
President Truman set that standard, with these very words posted on a sign on his Oval Office desk.
But now, with over a thousand days left in this second Obama administration, we find a Nixonian stench emerging from the “W. House.”
May 21, 2013
Rarely has the White House briefing room so resembled the main ballroom at a meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference.
May 21, 2013
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
Follow me on Twitter
Will you be attending this year's Indy 500?
Tires
Telecommunications
Beauty Salons
Government
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
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