Eatin' Sea Spiders

Last night "Cape Breton Beth" prepared Lobsters for us. You really gotta work for that dinner, man. For starters there's the fear factor - while still living and moving, those beasts are freaky. J and I watched from the safety of the kitchen doorway while our hostess chucked them into the pot. Even then, once they're on the table, I half-expect one of those many legs to twitch, or the claw to snap. And stop starring at me, damn it! Luckily we had a good instructor teaching us how to eat a lobster. There's something very primitive about tearing apart the thing you're about to feast on with your hands (and maybe using a hammer at one point - that was really fun. More foods should require a hammer.). It's so decadent, especially with all the dunking into garlicky butter. Mmmm.... The table was decked out in plastic covering, as were we, and in no time there was lobster shrapnel all over the place. The best moment was when J looked down and discovered that his plate was actually completely empty, and dinner was spread all over the table around it, instead.
Partway through the meal, our host thought that it would be a nice thing to point out that lobsters actually belong to the arachnid family. (I just had a flickering thought that I would link through to some site proving that, but then realized that would entail searching the web for arachnids and I have absolutely no intention of stumbling onto any website so devoted. Ick.) Now, deep within, I knew this. I knew that all those legs that articulate in such creepy ways were no accident. All the same, I didn't need it pointed out!
Here's something super freaky:

Lobsters are capable of reflex amputation (autonomy). They can discard a limb to allow escape so as to prevent more serious injury. Lobsters have the ability to regenerate some of their body parts; for example, the claws, walking legs, and antennae. The fact that lobsters are capable of limb loss and regeneration is indicative of a very primitive nervous system and their differential sensitivity to pain compared to humans or other types of animals (they can "drop" a claw, etc. and go off like nothing happened.Could you drop an arm or leg like that?).

Now I'm thinking that maybe we should just leave the lobsters alone, in case they stop being so primitive someday. Or keep eating them to let them know who's boss!