Colossal Lobster!

[Fritz]

Well, they only call him a giant, but I think he fits Colossal status

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149183,00.html

Gigantic Lobster Spared From Boiling Grave

Wednesday, March 02, 2005



PITTSBURGH — He could be older than Warner Bros. studio, General Motors and the Boy Scouts. He could have survived two world wars and Prohibition. He could have been dinner.

He's Bubba, a 22-pound leviathan of a lobster pulled from the waters off Nantucket, Mass., and shipped to a Pittsburgh fish market.

"It is overwhelming," owner Bob Wholey said. "If you see it, you will never forget it. Customers are just in awe."

On Tuesday, Wholey gave the lobster to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (search), which will send him to an aquarium at a Ripley's Believe It or Not (search) museum.

Based on how long it typically takes a lobster to reach eating size — about five to seven years to grow to a pound — Bubba may be 100 years old.

That would make the crustacean older than Warner Bros. (1907), the Boy Scouts (1910) and the states of Arizona and New Mexico (1912), not to mention the first commercial radio station (1920), television (1927) and computers (1943).

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (search) sent Wholey a letter asking him to work with the group to release Bubba back in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine.

Another group calling itself People for Eating Tasty Animals (search) reportedly offered Wholey a hefty price for the lobster. At Tuesday's price of $14.98 a pound, Bubba would retail for about $350.

Bob Bayer, executive director of the University of Maine's Lobster Institute (search), is skeptical and estimates that Bubba is likely 50 years old, but doesn't know for sure. Warm water and plenty of food may have more to do with a lobster's size than how long it's been alive.

"We have looked at all kinds of things to figure out if there is any way to age a lobster. I'm guessing 100 years is probably too high but I can't argue with it because you don't know," Bayer said.

No matter his age, Bubba dwarfs a typical 1½-pound lobster. He's about three feet long and took up about half a 4-foot-by-4-foot tank at Wholey's Market. A lobster sharing his tank was about as big as one of Bubba's claws.

A handful of people who wandered by the tank Tuesday were impressed. One woman quietly said, "Wow," while a man said, "He's serious."

Although his business is to sell seafood, Wholey says Bubba was never bound to be boiled and buttered. And he's become a little philosophical after seeing the lobster, which could be twice his 54 years.

"I don't think you could eat something that big. ... What range of emotions does a lobster have? Greed? Lust? Love? I'm just going to give him to the zoo and hope he lives another 100 years," Wholey said.

"If you sat down and ate this thing, wouldn't that be a bit shellfish?"

[bbor]

I got some garlic butter for that bad boy.

[WSUCougar]

Lobster Institute sounds like a Solecismic-8 school.

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Lobster Institute sounds like a Solecismic-8 school.

Or a rival of Franklinnoble's alma-mater, the University of Kiss My Big White Ass...

[Radii]

People for Eating Tasty Animals

I need to join this group I think.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by Fritz

"If you sat down and ate this thing, wouldn't that be a bit shellfish?"

Let's all take a moment to pay proper tribute to a man that took his shot at having a horrible pun published and made it happen.

Kudos.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Radii

I need to join this group I think.

At one point (in mid-90's), I believe they had the peta.org domain name.

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

They did, and it's criminal that they weren't allowed to keep it.

Unless they sold it at a ridiculous price--as was common practice back then...

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

At one point (in mid-90's), I believe they had the peta.org domain name.

They did, and it's criminal that they weren't allowed to keep it.

[JeeberD]

Pass me the butter, boys. It's lobster eatin' time...

[Coffee Warlord]

I think he would be a great dinner for the officers aboard our aircraft carrier. Let's pony up the cash and buy that bad boy.

[Kodos]

PINCHY!!!!

[sterlingice]

I think a better use of our money would be to add the "FOFC Colossal Lobster Wing" to the Lobster Institute.

SI

[WSUCougar]

We were at a party
His ear lobe fell in the deep
Someone reached in and grabbed it
It was a rock lobster

We were at the beach
Everybody had matching towels
Somebody went under a dock
And there they saw a rock
It wasn't a rock
It was a rock lobster

Motion in the ocean
His air hose broke
Lots of trouble
Lots of bubble
He was in a jam
S'in a giant clam

Down, down

Underneath the waves
Mermaids wavin'
Wavin' to mermen
Wavin' sea fans
Sea horses sailin'
Dolphins wailin'

Red snappers snappin'
Clam shells clappin'
Muscles flexin'
Flippers flippin'

Down, down

Let rock!

Boy's in bikinis
Girls in surfboards
Everybody's rockin'
Everybody's fruggin'
Twistin' 'round the fire
Havin' fun
Bakin' potatoes
Bakin' in the sun

Put on your noseguard
Put on the Lifeguard
Pass the tanning butter

Here comes a stingray
There goes a manta-ray
In walked a jelly fish
There goes a dog-fish
Chased by a cat-fish
In flew a sea robin
Watch out for that piranha
There goes a narwhale
HERE COMES A BIKINI WHALE!

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I think he would be a great dinner for the officers aboard our aircraft carrier. Let's pony up the cash and buy that bad boy.

What? Only the officers are good enough to have lobster?

[WSUCougar]

Back in the olden days, lobster and crab were food for the masses. Turtle and oysters were the seafoods of choice for the upper crust.

[rkmsuf]

Poor turtles.

[Sharpieman]

f*ckin conservative lobster

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

What? Only the officers are good enough to have lobster?

Since I called XO way back in the day, and therefore qualify as an officer.

Yes.

[Z²+]

A few of us went down to Wholeys (in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District Markets) on Tuesday for some fried fish sammiches, and happened to wander over to take a look at the lobster tanks, and saw Bubba (before ever reading this article). I kid you not, it was awe-inspiring. This thing was the size of a small child. It's claws were bigger than most whole crabs or lobsters I'v seen, and it's tail was probably the larger than an average human foot. To anyone in the PIttsburgh area, I'd seriously recommend at least driving into town and taking a look (plus you can get a delicoius fish sammich to boot).

I'm actually kinda impressed they are going to preserve it and not sell/eat it, although I have to admit I'd pay to get all that lobster meat.

And about Robert Wholey himself and the "it would be pretty shellfish" joke, if you know the man or have ever seen him, you'll know he didn't have to try at all. He's just a goofy bastard. He came up to our table during lunch yesterday with a chicken foot coming out of his shirt sleeve and told us he got too close to Bubba and had his hand clawed off. Nice guy, just somewhat insane.

[QuikSand]

I know I need to consider the source, but...

Originally Posted by foxnews

Based on how long it typically takes a lobster to reach eating size — about five to seven years to grow to a pound — Bubba may be 100 years old.

That would make the crustacean older than Warner Bros. (1907), the Boy Scouts (1910) and the states of Arizona and New Mexico (1912), not to mention the first commercial radio station (1920), television (1927) and computers (1943).

What kind of depraved mind decides to write this way?

Well, maybe it's pretty old ... can't really tell, maybe it's 100 years old. Hmmm... I know, people won't really understand what 100 years is, but if I make some comparisons, then they will understand. Warner Brothers! Of course Everybody knows when Warner Brothers was founded! It's perfect!

[Ksyrup]

I wouldn't want all that lobster meat, because there's no way I could eat it all at once, then I'd have to freeze it or do something else with it, and then it's not fresh anymore. Just give me a good-sized piece of tail ( ) and I'd be happy as a clam.

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Oh no! Bubba died today!

http://postgazette.com/pg/05061/465332.stm

[Ksyrup]

"A necropsy will be performed."


Fork and napkin included.

[Raven Hawk]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

"A necropsy will be performed."


Fork and napkin included.

Is that a necropsy bib you're wearing?

[Klinglerware]

Don't they have to be live when you cook 'em?

[CraigSca]

Not to disparage a dead lobster or anything, but it's my understanding that BALCO has some receipts with Bubba's name on it.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

Oh no! Bubba died today!

http://postgazette.com/pg/05061/465332.stm

a 23lb lobster gots ta eat!

----
"An animal rights group had asked that the huge crustacean be taken back to the ocean."

Guess the paper does not like PETA.

[HomerJSimpson]

Originally Posted by Farrah Whitworth-Rahn

Oh no! Bubba died today!

http://postgazette.com/pg/05061/465332.stm

We stopped loving him today
They placed wreath upon his tank
And they carried him away
We stopped loving him today


RIP, Big fella. I hope heaven is a huge tub of melted butter with your name on it.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

RIP, Big fella. I hope heaven is a huge tub of melted butter with your name on it.

Wouldn't that be hell for a crustacean?

[Thomkal]

Rumor has it he was going to be shipped to the Ripley museum here in Myrtle Beach. Reason alone to die right there.

[Fritz]

Thomkal's real name is Myrtle. its HIS fucking beach!

---

btw, when did you stop signing your posts?

[Thomkal]

I don't believe in sex on the beach

I still sign posts on occasion, but figure most people here and at FOBL know my name by now.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I don't believe in sex on the beach

sometimes i'taint jes the dolphins that are gay on the strand.

[Ksyrup]

The idea is way more romantic than the actual deed. Trust me. I've still got sand up my ...

Nevermind, you get the pi ...

Well, you wouldn't want that, either.

But I think you understand my point.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

And Fritz, how did you know there is a Gay Dolphin shop in Myrtle Beach?

you live in a resort town, if you hadn't noticed.

[Thomkal]

TMI KSyrup!

And Fritz, how did you know there is a Gay Dolphin shop in Myrtle Beach?

[Adamski47]

Isiah Thomas must be impressed.

[JeeberD]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7077221/?GT1=6305

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A gigantic lobster that may have survived two world wars and Prohibition before being plucked from the ocean will live on — but only as a shell of its former self.

advertisement
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium plans to keep the shell of the 22-pound lobster, named Bubba, and use its remains to educate school children, said Rachel Capp, a zoo spokeswoman.

Some of Bubba’s meat will be sent to labs for testing as officials try to determine why Bubba died, Capp said Thursday.

Bubba spent a week at Wholey’s fish market after he was pulled from the waters off Nantucket, Mass. He died Wednesday, after he was moved from the fish market to a quarantine area at the zoo’s aquarium. He was being checked to see if he was healthy enough to make a trip to an aquarium at a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum.

Randy Goodlett, a marine biologist and former curator and director of the zoo’s Aqua Zoo, said the lobster likely died because something was slightly off in the salt water mixture it was living in. Capp guessed it might have been the stress of being moved so many times.

Based on how long it typically takes a lobster to reach eating size — about five to seven years to grow to a pound — some estimated Bubba was about 100 years old. Marine biologists said 30 to 50 years was more likely.