Billytea, I'm with you on wanting to be able to see them. I knew about the Sydney funnelweb, but didn't realise they were large; Australia has another spider - what is it, the wolf spider? - that's really uncomfortably large, and venomous as well.

Strictly speaking, all spiders are venomous. The wolf spider isn't overly dangerous, though anaphylaxis would probably be a risk. More of a risk, though, with our bulldog ants, especially the jumping jacks (so called because they will jump about a foot to attack you. They're highly aggressive buggers with big jaws and potent venom; people have died from an adverse reaction to a single sting.)

And no fair with the ant example, because a species that hunts in bunches is way different from a single ant, hunting and consuming larger species all by its lonesome.

The driver ants creep me out far more than funnelwebs do. if a person is unfortunate enough to be caught in their path (granted, a person would have to be incapacitated, and no risk of anaphylactic shock, as they don't sting) - white-fonted because I find it disturbing, and I figure others might - death comes through asphyxiation as they invade the throat and eat the lungs from the inside.

So, y'know, I give them a pass. Plus, being ants, the genetic entity is the whole nest, rather than a single ant (as most don't reproduce).

True, but they don't hunt as singletons, do they? The ants, I mean? One of them versus one of me, I could squash its tiny head. The danger's in a group.

And the difference between venoms does make a huge difference. Truly. Trust me: been there, nearly died because of it, courtesy of the shiny black spider with the read smeary mark on her belly, aged nine (me, not the spider). There are degrees between venom types - some are way more venomous than others.

Hell, California's main genuinely venomous spider is the brown recluse, which rarely comes above ground and is mostly a danger to people like sewer workers and people who work in tunnels. But the bite will wreak severe havoc on people with or without any particular venom sensitivity; Nic would be very close to being as at risk as I am, and he isn't allergic. They're just truly toxic buggers. The skin begins to rot off, and it happens fast, and it spreads.

Whereas a bee sting would give him a bump, while I require epipen at warp nine, and a fast ride to the casualty ward.

My friends' computer has a much higher resolution than I have at work and I just looked at all the F2F photos again. My fingers are ITCHING to take more photos of all the foamy folk. You guys are a good lookin' bunch of people.

Love the group photo in front of the Capitol. Wish there'd been one of the whole group, wahh! too late. Next time? Schedule a group photo opp time, or is that too anathema?

The driver ants creep me out far more than funnelwebs do. if a person is unfortunate enough to be caught in their path (granted, a person would have to be incapacitated, and no risk of anaphylactic shock, as they don't sting) -

Gah, I read a book years ago that had that scenario. Until now, I thought I'd successfully blocked it out. Thanks, guys.

I can live in harmony with spiders and bugs as long as there's only one or two of them. It's when they decide to throw a party without asking me that I get annoyed.

Also, number...

Just to add to the fun - were you aware that king crabs are also arachnids?

Just to add to the fun - were you aware that king crabs are also arachnids?

Yes, but unless you live in Alaska, you'll pretty much only ever see the legs. Which look like food, not spiders. (Same with lobster -- whole, they look like the overgrown bugs they are. But their tails look like food.)

their tails look like food

Their flesh looks like food. Their tails look like a strange way to spend an afternoon.

Schedule a group photo opp time, or is that too anathema?

It's a worthy goal, but might be like herding cats. Buffistas tend to be easily distracted by shiny things. So, en route to the photo location, Buffista #1 would realize she needed to go back down to her room to get her tiara, Buffista #2 would be too absorbed in squeeing over [insert objet de fannish adoration here], which would draw Buffistas #3, 4 and 5. Buffista #1 would come back, but #s 2-5 would still be squeeing, so while you tried to pry them away from the TV/computer/comic book, Buffista #1 would wander off with Buffist #6, because they decided that they need ice to make mojitos. As soon as they left, Buffistas #2-5 would have finally joined the group, but wait! Buffistas #1 and #6 are getting ice....

Herding cats.

Nothing F2F related, but Susan, I love that book "Hug". A friend of mine gave it to my sister as a shower gift and it resulted in all of us calling Sean "Bobo" while he was still in the womb.