Man blows himself up trying to kill a spider

The Telegraph ^ | August 31, 2010 | Laura Roberts

[Texas Songwriter]

Does the spider live?

[righttackle44]

Are you kidding me? Hairspray? We used a can of hairspray to accidentally set desert brush on fire trying to use the flamethrower effect to kill desert critters. Fortunately, the brush was isolated, separated from other brush clumps by dry desert.

You could wipe an entire gang of Taliban thugs using hairspray and a Bic.

[calex59]

but in the process ignited the gas fumes and caused an explosion.

What frickin' gas fumes? Something tells me they left part of the story out, typical of today's reporting.

[Sax]

Meanwhile down at the DIY insect killing symposium

[Joe 6-pack]

That's my exact point...hairspray, in and of itself, is relatively inert. Spray some on your countertop so it makes a wetspot, and drop a lit match in it...it will go out. When it's aerosolized and mixed with its propellant vapors, it makes for quite a flammable/explosive combination, especially in a relatively confined space.

Non-dairy creamer can also make for some interesting fireworks if you get a cloud of it suspended in the air and touch off an open flame.

[nevergore]

I like it....

Right now I’m going out to my front yard to spin a giant web to catch some liberals.....

[calex59]

RE: comment #43. Several FReepers have mentioned that spray cans use butane as a propellant now, that would explain the gas remark.

[editor-surveyor]

And he coudda been a Darwin contender....

[editor-surveyor]

“What was he spraying that caused an explosion like that?”

.
Many aerosol cans now use propane or butane as a propellant, since freon has been outlawed.

[editor-surveyor]

> “Does the spider live?”

.
Ahh, compassion for natures little critters...

[handmade]

Unless the spiders are poisonous....

Ah but that smacks of common sense and understanding nature.

[Towed_Jumper]

Interesting picture...definitely brings a whole new meaning to the term “flash mob.”

[RoadGumby]

I believe that ALL spiders are venomous, just some more so than others.

[Daffynition]

We've seen this guy before...

[Vigilantcitizen]

I do exactly the same thing and have noticed, like you, they learn where to not build their webs.

[Vigilanteman]

That's sort of like saying that all substances are poisonous. It is just a question of quantity and concentration. You can kill yourself just as effectively by eating the right dosage and concentration of Vitamin C as you can by swallowing the right dosage and concentration of arsenic.

[SunkenCiv]

Great. Now spiders everywhere will start carrying lighters.

[RoadGumby]

It is nothing like that. If a spider has venom, then ergo, it is venomous.

[Eye of Unk]

This is what happens when people use alternative weapons in other countries.

All a person needs is a 12 gauge loaded with rice to kill spiders. Or cornflakes.