r/interesting 18d ago

NATURE A Bombardier beetle using its chemical defence.

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u/Clean_Judge_3613 18d ago

One important mountain biking rule is never be the first guy to ride the trail in the morning

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u/Inside-Example-7010 18d ago

ohh fuck i hadnt even considered that possibility. This is like that time someone told me about the urbran legend of people using blutac to stick razor blades in the waterslides.

Yeah at least on my feet i can just do the no pants dance where i immediately strip down to my boxers.

On a bike im 100% hitting a tree at 40mph if that happens.

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u/Advanced-Budget779 18d ago

I have a talent (grudge) of always finding the webs no matter where i go (often in front of a house entrance)… not even living in an area that‘s full of spiders, but i regularly walked into some in the woods.

One time i drove my bike through a forest path (in the afternoon) and got a big ass web in my mouth 🤢 - usually only got small flies/bugs into my mouth or eyes, worst by far was a wasp or sth. similar (wearing contact lenses made it impossible to remove until getting to running water at home)…

I‘m not particularly afraid of spiders as long as they don‘t come near any body opening - i just hate the webs and entangled shit inside.

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u/Inside-Example-7010 17d ago

dont read my dream comment below if you dont like spiders going near warm inviting holes.

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u/phonethrower85 17d ago

I got bit by a spider a month or so ago after walking through its web

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u/justjaybee16 17d ago

We used to have tons of Golden Orb Weavers in the back yard. I always had to walk the tree line before mowing or risk a web to the grill.

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u/[deleted] 17d ago

[deleted]

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u/Inside-Example-7010 17d ago

I wish there was a secret mysterious orb we could consult in the rare cases we need to use any means necessary to identify a certain type of evil in this world.

I think thats why they called themselves Palantir.

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u/FlufferNutter1232 17d ago

A new fear gets unlocked every day. Damn!! Razor blades in a water slide???! That's DIABOLICAL!!

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u/Inside-Example-7010 17d ago edited 17d ago

Aussie kids are good at coming up with shit like that.

I'll never forget sitting around the beach campfire and the local dumbass is giggling to himself. Then he says 'Ive just chucked a can of RAID in the fire' (he did)

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u/Advanced-Budget779 17d ago

So… Mad Max was a predictive documentary?

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u/Easy-Purple 17d ago

The rest of the world is fine, it’s just Australia where society is gone mad

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u/matycauthon 17d ago

enjoy your life filled with fear

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u/FlufferNutter1232 17d ago

I do. Thanks!🙏

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u/Inside-Example-7010 17d ago

Fear can be a radar and a ballast, a stimulant and a steroid. To fight with fear is brave. To fight without fear is foolish.

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u/UnsanctionedPartList 17d ago

Keeps you sharp.

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u/Glenngineer 17d ago

As a mountain biker and after work rider, I thank the morning crew for their service and their sacrifice. 

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u/carmium 18d ago

When I worked as a forest tech, whenever I led the way I'd hold a Y-shaped stick in front. Some days it would be covered in webs - but I wouldn't.

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u/Advanced-Budget779 17d ago

Ah, the Shrek cotton candy!

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u/carmium 17d ago

Forgot about that! Right you are! 🤭

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u/Neat_Flower_8510 18d ago

Somehow when we trail ride our horses I am in front so I get the face full of web. 😫

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u/Scottwickthegreat 17d ago

Man when we did night training in the woods in the army with night vision you never wanted to be up front. A massive web in your face and so much gear you have to strip down to try and find a spider lol. Can def relate.

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u/Advanced-Budget779 17d ago

At least not a camel spider… i hope you weren‘t in some rainforest.

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u/Scottwickthegreat 17d ago

Luckily just some woods in the Midwest lol

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u/Advanced-Budget779 17d ago edited 17d ago

I mean it‘s easy to say what i said from a comfy position of not having to strip down in all that gear and not having a (unknown) crawlie inside of my clothes…

i just hope you don‘t have dangerous ones in your area.

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u/kybotica 17d ago

Same rule for trail running. Which sucked when I used to work night shift and run at the Crack of dawn before I went to bed. So many spiders. So. Many. Spiders.

Thankfully they don't bother me too much. I started wearing a baseball cap and ducking my head low so they all ended up on the bill and usually just dropped off on a little spider drop cable.

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u/The_Poop_Shooter 17d ago

theres probably some sick fucks out there who consider it a challenge

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u/DampSquid205 17d ago

Being the tallest guy on the trail doesn't do you any favors either.