Black Widow

I stumbled onto this deadly beauty while spraying weeds in my backyard. She was living in the housing for my inground swimming pool cover. Lucky for me, this is only the 3rd Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans) spider I have ever found. Although rare, we do get these in Kansas. She is quite large, I would say maybe 1.5 inches in diameter. I'll try to snap some better photos after she warms up to her new environment.

And here, my prize, the Black Widow.
Isn't she lovely?...
And so deadly.
Her kiss is fifteen times as poisonous as that of the rattlesnake.
You see her venom is highly neurotoxic,
which is to say that it attacks
the central nervous system causing intense pain,
profuse sweating, difficulty in breathing,
loss of consciousness, violent
convulsions and, finally...
Death.

(lyric excerpt taken from Alice Cooper - The Black Widow)

MagicJack

I bought one of these several years ago thinking I'd save money on my phone bill.

WRONG.

After I received it I realized there wasn't a local area code available, so I set up a 314 area code and number. The problem with this was anyone who called me would be billed for long distance charges. After googling for a solution I discovered a site called Grand Central, now called Google Voice. I applied for an "invite" which would enable me to set up the number of my choice with a local area code. After waiting well over a year they finally sent me an invitation, and then I set up my account online. Long story short, I was able to get the 316 area code, but was limited to a very few numbers in my area.

I emailed my new number to everyone, thinking my problems were finally over.

WRONG.

At first everything was fine, then after a few months the magicjack device would shut off several times a day, and when I was talking to anyone there was horrible static that made it practically impossible to hear the person I was talking to. Googling again, I learned that recent updates caused the device to use more power than was available through my USB port, and that I would need a powered USB port in order for it to work properly. I found one on Ebay for $6.99 with shipping included, received it several days ago and it's been working fine since.

Hopefully this trend continues or I swear to God I'll go postal.


UPDATE:

I'm loading my gun... ; )

Shortly after I put this post up I looked on Magic Jack's website and discovered they had added my area code so I could change my number so it would be correct, and then I wouldn't have a Missouri area code. So, I did it.

BAD MISTAKE.

Now I'm getting 3 or 4 calls a day from people who claim I called them when I didn't. So, I started an online chat with a rep from Magic Jack who says no one else is making the calls, because IT'S MY NUMBER. I told them someone was making the calls and it wasn't me, and could I maybe change the number so I wouldn't receive all these calls? Sure I could, the jerkoff tells me, but it'll cost you 10 dollars. I said no, I won't pay you to fix your problem, so what are you going to do? He said he'd refresh my number on their end and if I have any more problems to get back with them. It obviously didn't work because I've had 2 calls from people who I don't know in the last 10 minutes calling to ask why I'm calling them.

Time to get back with the person from Magic Jack...

UPDATE 2:

OK, several hours later I get into a chat with a different Rep from Magic Jack who tells me I need to contact my internet service provider and have them "disable the automated outboard calling", because Cox is using my number (WTF?) to update services to other customers. So I call Cox and talk to a guy from India (sound familiar?) who is puzzled by what I tell him, so he switches me to a technician who explains this is impossible and that Magic Jack is yanking my chain and pushing their problem onto someone else. He said he had considered getting a Magic Jack but after hearing my problems with it he wasn't so sure now. I told him I was getting what I paid for, heh heh heh.

Time to get back with Magic Jack and tell them they're full of it.

It's That Time of Year (almost)

Several years ago I read a fascinating book about Charles H. Wilber, the Louisiana man who holds the world record for growing tomatoes. I was impressed with the amazing story of his life, his skills as a gardener, and in particular his ability to produce 1,368 pounds of organically grown tomatoes from only four plants! I used my own version of his methods for several years and grew plants that were eight to ten feet tall and produced so many tomatoes I was having trouble finding enough people to give them to! If you're a gardener or just interested in a very entertaining read, I'd highly recommend this book.

It may be a little early for this, but WTF. I saw these healthy plants at the local grocery store yesterday and just had to buy them. I've got Wall 'O Waters to keep them warm for the next month, so unless we have a late spring blizzard in the next few weeks they should be OK.

.


I'll keep everyone updated on how well these do in the weeks and months to come, and will surely post pictures of the BLT's D and I (and Jer!!!!) will be gnawing on later this summer.

Armadillo-Brillo

Saw this little guy a few weeks ago while looking for points at Fall River. I was pretty much ignored until he caught me sneaking up on him while attempting to get a decent picture, and then he started running towards the creek while exhaling loudly and frequently. After a few minutes of solace he decided to come back into the field, and then proceeded to continue digging for insects.

Chautauqua Hills Yummies

Derek and I hiked on the eastern shore of Toronto last winter and encountered all these strange, lovely galls growing on the underside of the blackjack oak tree leaves.

The Gall Wasps lay eggs on the oak leaves and secrete a chemical which causes the leaf to form a spherical shell around the larva, protecting it until it eventually matures and chews its way out.

More information here, at one of my all-time favorite websites:

What's That Bug?