Just to let you all know.. im putting as much as i can toward the fund for the card. as long as something else stupid doesn't happen.. stupid bills. so if anyone donates ill put it in the pot. and try to figure out some way to reward you guys.
but im tired of once a week updates and letting you wonderful people down. good news is that next weeks page is already done and working on the next.
edit: 755.00 is now toward the card. YAY! thank you to a anonymous donor
and thanks to all the other folks who donated too!
Heh. Here in the Americas we have a tree known as "manchineel" {or variations} that can leave you with blistered skin if you stand under it in a rainstorm - and every part of it is poisonous/toxic...
However, speaking of Australian trees:
The Bunya Pine — although not one of the most poisonous trees — can certainly be deadly. Historically, however, it has also given life to its surroundings. The bunya pine, or Araucaria bidwillii, has existed since dinosaurs roamed the earth and is now found almost exclusively in Queensland Australia.
Every few years, bunya pine trees are known to drop extremely large cones weighing up to 40 pounds each — a particular danger to unsuspecting passersby.
These super-sized cones can be fatal when falling. Still, these living fossils have offered native people an indispensable source of food for hundreds of years. Feasting on the nuts produced by the cones has inspired gatherings where tribes perform ceremonies, trade goods, settle disputes, and arrange marriages.
[off topic?]
I watched the televised news coverage of the Alameda County (California) wildfire in the Oakland Hills as one Blue Gum Eucalyptus after another exploded and ignited its neighbors. They seem to be most prone to explosions if they're well irrigated.
Actually there are numerous poisonous butterflies around the world. But there are no venomous butterflies.
Easy way to remember the difference between poisonous and venomous is:
Venomous things bite or sting to inject the victim; while poisonous things tend to be eaten by the victim.
This makes me wonder if there are examples in nature of different species using chemically identical compounds in different ways? By which I mean is there a Species A that uses Specific_Toxin as a venom, while Species B is poisonous because it contains significant quantities of Specific_Toxin. Or does it work out, biochemically, that because of the differing operational characteristics, no single compound is well-suited to both roles?
Depending on which Specific_Toxin is the Specific_Toxin, there are those which are well tolerated by some species. That begs the further question: Are there species that tolerate Specific_Toxin in their diet, to the point of making them venomous?
Well, that's the question: Is there ANY chemical compound occuring in Nature for which Species A uses it as a venom, while Species B uses it as a poison?
It amuses me to imagine the following scene:
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "Cause of death was a lethal dose of Specific_Toxin."
DETECTIVE: "How was he poisoned?"
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "We don't know if it was a poison, or a venom. You'll have to find out how he was murdered first. If it was injected, it's a venom. If it was consumed, it's a poison."
DETECTIVE: "But it's the SAME STUFF!"
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "I don't make the rules." shrugs
The autopsy doesn't necessarily tell you how the toxin was introduced. Maybe you do find a puncture mark, or maybe you don't. If you do, do you know that the toxin was introduced through it, or is it just a mosquito bite?
I'm not saying don't do the autopsy, but autopsies are not always conclusive.
No, an autopsy isn't always conclusive, but you're on the right track, I think. Also, an examination of the gastrointestinal system might shed light on whether the toxin was ingested. That could also prove inconclusive, though. I am not a medical examiner either, so there again, I could be wrong.
There is a specific Tree Frog in South America that eats poisonous beetles to the point it itself is poisonous. And native tribes used it's excretions to coat their arrows and blow gun darts for use when hunting.
If Captain Kirk and company could go back in time to save some whales, then surely someone in this future has a way of slingshotting themselves around the sun and travelling back in time to save some blue ringed octopi and bring them back to the future. :)
I just chipped in extra above my normal Patreon subscription. My vote is for a new TWC voting incentive featuring the same RPG character currently being featured.
One thing I'm missing though, who are the "crians" that the 'caster mentions? At first, I thought maybe she was referring to the Epiphytes but now I'm just confused. I'm sure there's something I'm just not remembering from the before pages.
I must confess that when I first saw this strip, I thought that they were talking about Virtual Reality Sickness ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality_sickness ), which is a real problem and I therefore found the content confusing. I then learned that it was a reference to a fictional disease from the movie Johnny Mnemonic. I had heard of the film, but after seeing people on the internet discussing it, I feel that this one was too weird for even me.
The Aussies are experts when venomous invertebrates and reptiles are involved.
Australia is just Nature playing on hardcore mode.
However, speaking of Australian trees:
The Bunya Pine — although not one of the most poisonous trees — can certainly be deadly. Historically, however, it has also given life to its surroundings. The bunya pine, or Araucaria bidwillii, has existed since dinosaurs roamed the earth and is now found almost exclusively in Queensland Australia.
Every few years, bunya pine trees are known to drop extremely large cones weighing up to 40 pounds each — a particular danger to unsuspecting passersby.
These super-sized cones can be fatal when falling. Still, these living fossils have offered native people an indispensable source of food for hundreds of years. Feasting on the nuts produced by the cones has inspired gatherings where tribes perform ceremonies, trade goods, settle disputes, and arrange marriages.
Wonder if it's the inspiration for drop bears.
I watched the televised news coverage of the Alameda County (California) wildfire in the Oakland Hills as one Blue Gum Eucalyptus after another exploded and ignited its neighbors. They seem to be most prone to explosions if they're well irrigated.
Easy way to remember the difference between poisonous and venomous is:
Venomous things bite or sting to inject the victim; while poisonous things tend to be eaten by the victim.
Not a biologist; could be wrong.
Depending on which Specific_Toxin is the Specific_Toxin, there are those which are well tolerated by some species. That begs the further question: Are there species that tolerate Specific_Toxin in their diet, to the point of making them venomous?
It amuses me to imagine the following scene:
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "Cause of death was a lethal dose of Specific_Toxin."
DETECTIVE: "How was he poisoned?"
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "We don't know if it was a poison, or a venom. You'll have to find out how he was murdered first. If it was injected, it's a venom. If it was consumed, it's a poison."
DETECTIVE: "But it's the SAME STUFF!"
MEDICAL EXAMINER: "I don't make the rules." shrugs
MEDICAL EXAMINER: *rubs chin* "You know, That's so crazy, it just might work!"
I'm not saying don't do the autopsy, but autopsies are not always conclusive.
...and thank you Rose and Cent *hugs*
Looks like someone has difficulty saying no! XD
Awesome news, @Centcomm! I'm very glad for you!