Wishfire

"Over the Shoulder" by Ministry

Whiskey and root beer. I'm getting there.

It's been a while since I've logged in, so I just found out about this. Man, I don't even know what to say.

 

Of course, my condolences go out to his family. I don't know what it's like to lose someone, so I don't know what they're going through, but I wish the an easy time coming to terms, and hope that they have nothing but good memories of Joe.

At least its not pee flavored saoda.........

 

To me, they're both equally unappetizing.

 

:angry:

 

I know some people who would find pea-flavored soda nasty, but pee-flavored... you don't wanna know.

Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach with corn.

Apparently a third nacelle is a design no-no.

 

Well, technically it's supposed to be just an odd number of nacelles, but that idea was apparently thrown out with this year's Star Trek in the form of the USS Kelvin.

The only three-nacelled ship we ever see, to my knowledge, is the modified future Ent-D in "All Good Things..."

 

 

But since it was just an altered version of a pre-existing ship (in a time-line whose existence is dubious, at best), I doubt it would be called anything other than "refit" or "variant."

 

A spider that dines almost exclusively on plants has been described by scientists.

 

It is the first-known predominantly vegetarian spider; all of the other known 40,000 spider species are thought to be mainly carnivorous.

 

Bagheera kiplingi, which is found in Central America and Mexico, bucks the meat-eating trend by feasting on acacia plants.

 

The research is published in the journal Current Biology.

 

The herbivorous spider was filmed on high-definition camera.

 

Running the gauntlet

 

The jumping arachnid, which is 5-6mm long, has developed a taste for the tips of the acacia plants - known as Beltian bodies - which are packed full of protein.

 

But to reach this leafy fare, the spider has to evade the attention of ants, which live in the hollow spines of the tree.

 

The ants and acacia trees have co-evolved to form a mutually beneficial relationship: the aggressive ants protect the trees from predators, swarming to attack any invaders; and in return for acting as bodyguards, the ants get to gorge on the acacias' Beltian bodies themselves.

 

But the crafty Bagheera kiplingi has found a way to exploit this symbiotic relationship.

 

One of the study's authors, Professor Robert Curry, from Villanova University, Pennsylvania, told BBC News: "The spiders basically dodge the ants.

 

"The spiders live on the plants - but way out on the tips of the old leaves, where the ants don't spend a lot of time, because there isn't any food on those leaves."

 

But when they get hungry, the spiders head to the newer leaves, and get ready to run the ant gauntlet.

 

Professor Curry said: "And they wait for an opening - they watch the ants move around, and they watch to see that there are not any ants in the local area that they are going after.

 

"And then they zip in and grab one of these Beltian bodies and then clip it off, hold it in their mouths and run away.

 

"And then they retreat to one of the undefended parts of the plant to eat it."

 

Like other species of jumping spider, Bagheera kiplingi has keen eyesight, is especially fast and agile and is thought to have good cognitive skills, which allows it to "hunt" down this plant food.

 

Fierce competition

 

The spider's herbivorous diet was first discovered in Costa Rica in 2001 by Eric Olsen from Brandeis University, and was then independently observed again in 2007 by Christopher Meehan, at that time an undergraduate student at Villanova University.

 

The team then collaborated to describe the spider for the first time in this Current Biology paper.

 

Professor Curry said he was extremely surprised when he found out about its unusual behaviour.

 

He said: "This is the only spider we know that deliberately only goes after plants."

 

While some spiders will occasionally supplement their diet with a little nectar or pollen, Bagheera kiplingi's diet is almost completely vegetarian - although occasionally topped up with a little ant larvae at times.

 

Professor Curry said there were numerous reasons why this spider might have turned away from meaty meals.

 

He said: "Competition in the tropics is pretty fierce so there are always advantages to doing what someone else isn't already doing.

 

"They are jumping spiders, so they don't build a web to catch food, so they have to catch their prey through pursuit. And the Beltian bodies are not moving - they are stuck - so it is a very predictable food supply."

 

Acacias also produce leaves throughout the year - even through the dry season - which would make them attractive.

 

And Professor Curry added: "Because the plants are protected by ants, they have none of their own chemical defences that other plants do."

 

Source.

Slow-cooked jambalaya with freshly-baked French bread.

I hope everything works out fine for you. Hospital stays suck.

Where's my house, cars, and money?

A dreadnought is something larger and more heavily armed than the standard cruiser. Number of nacelles has nothing to do with it.

Rum and Coke.

I'm hungover.

I have a great new addition to all the "Happy Birthday" pics for our awesome members...

 

Nine thousand seven hundred eighty-six

Woo me!

1. What's your name?

 

Derek

 

2. Where are you from?

 

Originally, Massachusetts. Currently, Orange County, CA.

 

3. That's an interesting forum nick, what's it mean?

 

It's the title of my favorite album.

 

4. So, are you over 25 or under it?

 

Over.

 

5. If you could live anywhere else where would it be?

 

Germany.

 

6. Star Trek in one word:

 

 

7. How did you get into Star Trek?

 

Don't remember. I was 3.

 

8. Do you try recommending Star Trek to other people?

 

Not recommend, per se. But I bring it up quite a bit.

 

9. Favorite episode of Star Trek?

 

"Yesterday's Enterprise"

 

10. Favorite character?

 

Dax. (All of them.)

 

11. Favorite Star Trek series?

 

I don't have a specific favorite. I love them all equally.

 

12. Favorite non-Star Trek bit of sci-fi?

 

That's a hard one. I'm undecided.

 

13. Favorite other TV shows?

 

King of the Hill, Futurama, Family Guy, Cities of the Underworld

 

14. What's your favorite film of all time (just one)?

 

The Boondock Saints

 

15. Film that most made you regret having eyes?

 

I don't think it would be appropriate to say, as this is a family-oriented board.

 

16. Favorite actor(s)?

 

No specific favorites.

 

17. Last film seen in cinema (and how was it)?

 

Zombieland. Frakin' awesome.

 

18. Recommend a film we've probably not seen.

 

Can't think of any that aren't little-known. Um... "El Laberinto del Fauno" (aka "Pan's Labyrinth")

 

Oh, wait a minute... Zombieland just came out yesterday...

 

19. What are you listening to these days?

 

Various goth and metal bands.

 

20. Name a song you like by a band that sucks horribly:

 

I don't listen to bands that suck horribly.

 

21. Most hated band/s (go on have five)?

 

Anything hip-hop or boy band.

 

22. Best gig you've been to?

 

The Crüxshadows in concert on Halloween several years ago.

 

23. Favorite drink?

 

White Russian

 

24. Favorite food?

 

Jambalaya

 

25. Last book you read?

 

"Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice

 

26. Desert Island crumpet (US translation - chick/guy you'd like to get saucy with)?

 

Other than my wife? Fairuza Balk.

 

27. If I was king/queen of the world I would....

 

Get us to Mars.

 

28. Best moment of 2009?

 

Getting into the Hollywood premiere of Zombieland, where I smoked weed with Woody Harrelson.

 

29. Star Trek II (or the sequel to the new Star Trek) will be....

 

Even better than Trek XI.

"Bloodline" by the Crüxshadows

I grew up on the Massachusetts coast, crabs were a dietary staple. And lobsters. And scallops. And quahogs.

 

Mmmm... clam boils...

"Don't Fall" by Brotherhood of Pagans