The Anchorage, Part 3

[McGyver]

Because Mother Nature likes to create things that horrify most people and I like to share stuff that gives people nightmares...

The worse part is I have a gigantic hand...
But in case you want scale...

That's a dead cicada killer wasp... I believe it was a suicide, so don't blame me for its demise...
I've actually have been trying to catch (for observation purposes only) one of these little darlings for years, but they are way smarter and faster than me.
They come in my shop sometimes and fly out right away or they fly up to me when I'm on a ladder and try and push me off.
They are actually fairly harmless unless you are a cicada or really small and dressed as a cicada.
Well, in case anyone has Giantwaspophobia... You are welcome.

 

[Terre]

Ick.
What I see more of is Tarantula Hawks. Why You Don't Want to Get Stung by a Tarantula Hawk - Science Friday

 

[McGyver]

Hmm...
But... if I get stung by a radioactive Tarantula Hawk, I'll probably get both tarantula and hawk powers!
That's sweet...
Flying and shedding itchy hairs on my enemies...
I should probably read the linked article, but I'm sure it's just about regular tarantula hawks...
Well, it's off to the nuclear power plant I go!

 

[Terre]

Radioactive might be better. Perhaps it's sting will NOT feel like being shot by a 9mm pistol. (That really is how some people describe it)

 

[McGyver]

Update...
I went to the pet store and they don't sell tarantula hawks... The guy didn't know what they were and said that it sounded a little unnatural and maybe they are a little mutated to begin with...
He suggested I buy a couple of tarantulas and he could hook me up with a guy who sold used hawks, and I could try slipping them a little radioactive malt liquor and playing some Barry White and see where that took things...
That sounded too complicated so I came back and was gonna ask you (Terre) if you could ship me a couple of spare tarantula hawks... But I decided to read the article first instead...
Well...
I'm disappointed... I was hoping for something more... Greek mythology... Or 60s Japanese monster movieish...
The article was informative though...

"Stung by a tarantula hawk? The advice I give in speaking engagements is to lie down and scream. The pain is so debilitating and excruciating that the victim is at risk of further injury by tripping in a hole or over an object in the path and then falling onto a cactus or into a barbed-wire fence..."

I personally would have written that last part differently...

"The pain is so frickin'debilitating and excruciating that the victim is at risk of further injury by comically falling into a pit of lava, vat of hungry piranhas or slipping on a banana peel and then falling out the window onto a migrating herd of porcupines wrapped in barbed wire..."

I would have kept the "lie down and scream" part because lately that has been my advice for most things... Especially anything in the news relating to TBFOIPTBPOTUS...
Try it.
It's very cathartic... But it scares cats, small children and most other household mammals.

 

[Terre]

Just keeping with the subject of wasps. I'm afraid.

 

[McGyver]

Well...
Update...
My efforts to create a hybrid tarantula hawk didn't work out, so I decided to shoot for an easier goal.
Tarantula pigeon.
That hasn't worked out well either...
Lots of dead pigeons.
Either the malt liquor or the Barry White music isn't working.
It's a bummer because I was looking forward to shedding itchy hairs at my enemies and being able to fly over their cars and statues and poop on them.
I know, there are always ladders... But it's just not the same.

 

[Terre]

LOL

 

[AlphinaNovaStar]

Perhaps you'll remember later?

Nope but I forgot my Goldfish's name. It is either Callie or Charley.

 

[Mythocentric]

Just finished reading Maggie Stiefvater's 'Raven Series' recommended by Lorraine. Yeah, Lorraine. Definitely one of those series you didn't want to end!

No goldfish Alphina but the little one's got two rabbits called Daisy and Buttercup. It can be a bit confusing at times because she's also got a doll called Daisy and it can be hard to figure out which one she's talking to at times!

 

[AlphinaNovaStar]

I think my goldfish is named Charley unless it was Charley who died. They were the same type goldfish and both were orange.

 

[Bonnie2001]

Killer wasps at 35mm long? Wow! Over here the wasps are only about 20mm long and not killers. We still don't like them all the same.

 

[Terre]

Has anyone come across canned veggies that are a mix of bell peppers and onions? The people wanting that for salsa aren't the first to ask for that mix. I can't find anything and suspect that it's a regional thing but have no idea where or what the brands may be. If you have seen any and remember the brand could you pass the name along so I can tell the supplier who's looking into this for me, please? As things stand now I think the customers are stuck just buying fresh bells and onions and preparing the veggies themselves or asking someone "back home" so purchase and send them some.

 

[McGyver]

I've seen that here a few times. I usually either buy them fresh, or get a salsa... I think its just cheaper that way.
The cans I've noticed are kinda small.
Goya might have had it... but I'm not sure.
I'll look next time I go to the Grocery Dome...(its like the Thunder Dome only with shopping carts and obnoxious people).
Have you looked into frozen veggies?
They might be better tasting... they don't last as long as stuff in a can, but they taste better.

 

[Miss B]

Well I just did a search, but the only things I found were various recipes for them.

Oh and they did have links on how to can bell peppers and onions. No links to stores selling them already canned.

 

[McGyver]

I have to go shopping soon, but I'm too tired now... So I checked my local store's website (ShopRite)...
They are probably not in your state... (Sadly you'll miss out on their stupid "Can-Can"sale commercials... Sadly that is if you own a TV repair shop... That commercial makes me want to throw a shoe at the TV)...
Anyway...
Their website showed a Hunt's canned pepper/onion dealie, but it was a tiny image.
So I looked that up at Hunt's...
Apparently that's Tomatoes, peppers and onions... So basically it's almost salsa already...
Megh...
I did find this...
Furmano's Mixed Pepper Strips with Onions #10 Can
But that is a #10 can... Which is about 6 1/2 pounds... Or 12-13 cups... That's kinda big.

Ingredients:
GREEN AND RED BELL PEPPERS,WATER, ONIONS, VINEGAR, CITRIC,ACID, SALT, SUGAR, PORK SNOUTS, PIGEON FEET AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE.

I added the pork snouts and pigeon feet to the list... Sorry.


I know I've seen other smaller cans...

 

[McGyver]

You can also get them separately...
Just peppers...
Mixed Red and Green Pepper Strips #10 Can
And just onions...
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Emergenc...75035&wl11=online&wl12=46772422&wl13=&veh=sem
Those are emergency onions too... No ordinary onions... These are for enjoying in underground bunkers!
So theoretically, you could mix at point of consumption.

By the way, those Del Sol peppers look very familiar and may be one of the brands we have in our local stores... So they are probably available in smaller cans.

 

[Terre]

Thanks.

 

[Terre]

Frozen: I pointed out a pepper stir fry and the man rejected it. I do agree that it would taste better to me.The stir fry had the same mix as the Furmanos can.

Links to how to can peppers: yeah, that was all I could find too.

 

[Rae134]

Maybe its the textural difference between canned and frozen he didn't want Terre?