Centipede

Scolopendra subspinipes is Hawaii’s only centipede with “medical importance” – which basically means, medical care might be of importance to you, when bitten. Though extremely painful, their bite is usually not lethal to humans.

Though one can often read that they are aggressive and can rear up two thirds of their body length to bite you, you will usually find them minding their own business and trying to get away as quickly as their short legs can carry them – which is astonishingly fast.

Unfortunately, they like dark places to hide, which makes towels, shoes and other human things ideal and this is usually where accidents happen.

Although they are called centipede, they do not have a hundred legs. They have 21 segments with two legs per segment and can be up to 8 inches (20cm). This one was about 5 inches (13cm). They molt to grow bigger and may live for 10 years or more.

These centipedes are nocturnal and usually hunt everything they can wrap their tiny legs around, which can be anything from small insects to mice, if they can get one. They will curl around the victim, holding onto it with their many legs like claws, injecting poison with their fangs.

They also have a softer side to themselves. Females guard their eggs until they are hatched.

Bok choy kimchi

Bok Choi Kimchi

Upon special request, here a recipe.

Bok choi kimchi

grate:
ginger
carrots

chop:
garlic
bok choi

slice:
radish

Mix and stack in a mason jar.

blend:
apple cider vinegar
cayenne pepper
liquid aminos
water
sugar
salt

You want enough liquid to fill the jar. Add ingredients to taste. Close jar and let it sit for 48 hours unrefrigerated. Then transfer it to the fridge.

This is Claire’s recipe. She is my co-worker and an awesome vegan cook. By the way, the bok choi and ginger have been grown and harvested by herself.

The Miracle Berry

Miracle Berries

The Miracle Berry (Synsepalum dulcificum), when eaten, causes sour foods to taste sweet. This effect is due to a glycoprotein called miraculin and can last up to 30 minutes. The Miracle Berry originates in tropical West Africa.

It never got approved as a food by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). Without FDA backing, it’s legal to buy whole berries, or powdered ones, and to sell them in a restaurant or cafe, but you can’t distribute miraculin containing products in the US.

The circumstances surrounding this seem to be a story of mystery and intrigue, involving people being followed in a car, stolen research files, an FDA commissioner who accepted a bribe, alleged sabotage by the sugar industry and Donald Rumsfeld.

Also worth mentioning, there are “flavor tripping parties” featuring the miracle berry.

You can find these stories online.