FReeper Canteen~ Camel Spiders Found in Iraq , Urban Legends and Folklore ~Sept.21,2006

[fatima]

---

Camel Spiders Found in Iraq , Urban Legends and Folklore Urban Legends:Subject: FW: Camel Spider found in Iraq--This is a huge spider!!!! Yuck. I sure am glad we don't have these here. Although we probably will after this war..... This picture is a perfect example of why you don't want to go to the desert. These are 2 of the biggest I've ever seen. With a vertical leap that would make a pro basketball player weep with envy (they have to be able to jump up on to a camels stomach after all), these spiders latch on and inject you with a local anesthesia so you can't feel it feeding on you. They eat flesh, not just suck out your juices like a normal spider. Comments: The photo appears to be authentic. Fortunately for all of us — especially the guys in the picture — the same cannot be said of the accompanying text, which merely repeats false rumors circulating since the start of the Iraq war. This scary-looking creature (actually, it's a pair of scary-looking creatures dangling end-to-end) is indeed commonly called a camel spider, but it is found in arid locales all over the world — including the southwestern United States — not just in the Gulf region. A typical specimen can grow to about the size of a child's hand, but, though they are known for being vicious predators, camel spiders are neither venomous nor a threat to human beings. They don't eat camels, either.

World's Tallest Woman Netlore Archive: Emailed photos purport to show the tallest woman in the world Description: Emailed photos Circulating since: 2002 Status: False

The Giant Grizzly Bear Not quite a world record In real life, the big grizzly in the first two photographs measured 10' 6" from nose to tail and weighed an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 pounds — unusually large for the vicinity in which it was found, says the USDA Forest Service, but not quite a world record, nor even a record for Alaska. It was killed on October 14, 2001 by U.S. Air Force Airman Theodore Winnen on Hinchinbrook Island, Prince William Sound. The photos were taken by his hunting partner, Staff Sgt. James Urban. Both were stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks at the time. Though the bear was within 10 yards of the hunters' position and moving towards them when he fired the first shot, Winnen says, it did not charge them, contrary to what the email claims. "I don't know if the wind was in our favor or what," he told the Anchorage Daily News. "We were dressed in camouflage. He might not have seen us." Winnen's weapon was a 338-caliber Winchester Magnum, not a 7mm semi-automatic as alleged. The first bullet pierced the bear's brain but left it standing; five more in the chest brought it down.

[Jet Jaguar]

LOL, make sure you ping me. I am out for the evening.

[fatima]

chemical warfare :)I heard they bring back their buds if you don't get them right away..

[rabidralph]

EWWWWWW!!! I hope you are safe and having fun. Thanks, for all that you and your teammates do for us!

[fatima]

Amen,Thanks The Mayor.

[fatima]

:)(((Hugs)))

[The Mayor]

My pleasure..

[Allegra]

chemical warfare :)I heard they bring back their buds if you don't get them right away..

LOL. I left that location last year and am in "the big city" now. Haven't seen any of those or the scorpions we used to see out on the desert. Thank goodness.

I hope all is well with you. You have been in my thoughts and prayers.

[fatima]

Get better-night-PS ,got the pic of the cat.You are bad:)

[fatima]

Thank Honey-It was up and down today.They do live more in the desert locations.

[Allegra]

I hope you are safe and having fun.

I'm safe now...I'm HOME! Headed back next week, though. All good things must come to an end. ;-)

Thank you for your kind comments. I hope all is well with you.

[DoughtyOne]

Okay, I'm going on the record here.

The wife calls me to get rid of one these things and I'm bailing.

[fatima]

Hehe:)They sure are big.

[DoughtyOne]

They sure are.

BTW, just how large are the hands of the children this guy is talking about?

[TASMANIANRED]

What a thread...It's stupendous. It's tremendous..It's gargantuan.

[TASMANIANRED]

Shiver, shiver.

[fatima]

I don't know.DoughtyOne is this story true or false:)
Username: Fred F.

I spent 11 months in Iraq with my fiancé (now wife) and we brought home a camel spider that we kept as a pet. It was so cute and is actually potty trained. It grew from just a few inches to about a foot long (I saved all of it’s skins). We let it sleep with us in our bed—just like a puppy. Recently, my wife developed a lump on the left side of her abdomen. The doctors agreed that it was benign (basic cyst). A dermatologist at the Mayo clinic lanced it and found several marble-sized eggs and a live, baby spider.

Now, we have a beautiful daughter (spider) named Shadow. My wife feels blessed to have been the surrogate mother and the two of them (Hungry and Shadow) are part of our family. Today I found a lump on the inside of my mouth—what a joy!!

[TASMANIANRED]

Put a cup...er a gallon bucket over it.

[fatima]

Thanks Tas:)Nice to see you.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.



If you would like to be removed or added to my ping list please click below.

Please Remove Me

 

CLICK HERE to FReep mail to remove from ping list.

Please Add Me

 

CLICK HERE to FReep mail to add to ping list.


CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.
The FR Canteen is Free Republics longest running daily thread specifically designed
to provide entertainment and morale support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.
We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.


CLICK BELOW to ENTER the
FR Canteen Post Office, Support Our Military and Vets Links and Info

FR Canteen Post Office Established November 30, 2001

Will You help keep the Candle Lit for our service men and women?
Can you spare a few moments today to either
e-mail them or learn about sending packages to them?
Many of them are away from home for the 1st time.
PLEASE Click on the graphic and help cheer them up.
You will stay right where you are on this thread while you write them.


NOTE : CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily, and on the Music Thread,
Never requires a paid subscription to listen to.
It's always provided FREE,
for the enjoyment
of our troops and visitors

[AZamericonnie]

Ok....I'm all settled in for a bit...I think! lol

Thank you for this evenings thread Fatima! I'm not a real squeamish gal when it comes to crawly critters but if I saw one of those things in my house I'm quite sure I would squeal!!!