Slog - Comments on If You Don't Hear From Me Tomorrow... http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow It's probably because I'm slowly dissolving in the stomach-pod of a giant alien fungus. Here is the situation: I have lived in my current apartment for one year and eight months. Today, I stepped through my front gate for an unremarkable (if drippy) walk to work, and was confronted with this magnificent beast: Dear people of Slog, WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!?! I have never seen this extremely large yellow thing before in my entire life. Was it always there, but somehow eluded my gaze for 20 unsuspecting months? Did it appear overnight, in conjunction with that glowing chunk of space garbage... Copyright 2008 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:08:47 -0800 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:37:57 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Breklor For fuck's sake don't eat it.

You might want to smoke it, though.

]]> Breklor http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113401 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113401 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:14:11 -0800 Comment by Jeff One of those sproutted out of the tree in my back yard last year. My neighbor, a well-respected chef, came over with a knife, cut it off, cooked it and served it.

It's called Chicken of the Forrest.

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113402 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113402 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:16:17 -0800 Comment by MadDog EAT IT EAT IT!!!

]]> MadDog http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113403 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113403 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:16:36 -0800 Comment by N Yes, eat it! They're [apparently] delicious. See: http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000700.php

]]> N http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113405 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113405 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:20:25 -0800 Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball Let ECB try it first.

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113406 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113406 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:20:44 -0800 Comment by apres_moi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur_shelf

Eat it and tell us what ya think. Seems like they're damn good. I might just need to look for some of these in the park.

]]> apres_moi http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113407 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113407 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:21:42 -0800 Comment by homage to me That thing should go back where it came from.

]]> homage to me http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113411 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113411 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:25:20 -0800 Comment by MattD Eat it?
Smoke it?

Naw.

Clearly this is to be thrown at one's enemies...preferably while on fire.

]]> MattD http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113412 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113412 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:25:44 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @5 for the win.

Now, the big question is, what should she cook it with? Any special herbs or condiments?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113413 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113413 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:26:31 -0800 Comment by Eric Grandy I have a feeling this thing and a certain giant moth are going to be having one hell of a battle in your backyard sometime soon.

]]> Eric Grandy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113425 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113425 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:34:04 -0800 Comment by N Cut it up, cook it, and bring it in for everyone in your office to try.

]]> N http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113427 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113427 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:35:26 -0800 Comment by Loves Mushrooms but... Unless you can get a positive ID do not eat it!!!!!

Many mushrooms look the same and if you make a mistake you could end up very sorry.

Contact the Puget Sound Mycological Society http://psms.org they might be able to help you ID it at one of their monthly meetings.

]]> Loves Mushrooms but... http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113430 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113430 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:37:11 -0800 Comment by paulus I vote "throw-pillow"

]]> paulus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113437 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113437 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:42:10 -0800 Comment by pox Why would "eat it" be one of your first impulses?

]]> pox http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113440 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113440 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:46:00 -0800 Comment by Greg Don't eat it until you have a mushroom expert look at. Mushrooms can be dangerous.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113441 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113441 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:46:25 -0800 Comment by CattyMaran ugh! Don't eat it! It doesn't look JUST like the pics of the "chicken"- besides- EW!

]]> CattyMaran http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113453 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113453 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:55:13 -0800 Comment by Kristin Bell I agree: don't eat it unless an expert checks it out. Also: uhmm gross! lol Weird mushroom placement! lol And that thing is HUGE! I think someone will eventually chop it down though. Maybe you should chop it down first and get a positive ID on the sucker!

]]> Kristin Bell http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113460 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113460 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:57:44 -0800 Comment by The General Nature is so gross.

]]> The General http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113465 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113465 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:00:45 -0800 Comment by KCip Get it checked out, just to be sure. I'm lazy, so I'd just try a little of it first to see if I get sick.
As for preparation, keep it simple. Sweat onion in the butter, tear up some of the mushroom with yo hands, add more butter, and let that come together for a minute on a medium heat, preferably covered, and season with salt and pepper. Toast some bread. Eat it with the bread. Keep shroomin', Lindy.

]]> KCip http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113480 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113480 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:10:02 -0800 Comment by catnextdoor OMG #5 made me spit out my beer. Nice one.

]]> catnextdoor http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113487 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113487 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:14:17 -0800 Comment by hillpagan In AK they call it Chicken of the Woods. Hugely popular for eatin'.

]]> hillpagan http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113493 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113493 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:20:20 -0800 Comment by eliza Naw, it's a big ole kombucha...

]]> eliza http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113525 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:53:48 -0800 Comment by Catman You can borrow my copy of "National Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms." DO NOT EAT IT UNTIL YOU HAVE PROPERLY IDENTIFIED IT. Looks delicious and happy, though.

]]> Catman http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113541 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:16:10 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Eat a tiny piece, the size of a fingernail paring, first. There isn't anything mega-bad that looks anything like that.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113563 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113563 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:49:24 -0800 Comment by bemaha Yep, Chicken of the Woods it would seem. Yum, yum!

]]> bemaha http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113567 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113567 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:54:26 -0800 Comment by The Incredible Sulk Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?

And no, I don't feel like letting it go.

]]> The Incredible Sulk http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113581 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113581 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:15:06 -0800 Comment by RonK, Seattle Here's the deal: The real living fungus is a huge network of microfilaments inside the tree. This mycelium can puke out a fruiting body like yours in the time it takes to bake a loaf of bread.

]]> RonK, Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113593 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113593 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:28:09 -0800 Comment by Thisbe Technically, it WAS there all along.
The fungus is inside the tree, eating the tree; the mycelium is and will remain in the wood.
Probably the combination of rain and warmish weather made the mycelium decide it was time to make babies.
So, it sprouted a fruiting body. Hooray!

Fungi are the best.

]]> Thisbe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113594 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113594 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:28:44 -0800 Comment by chet. fuck it (not like 'awww, fuck it' - but FUCK IT HARD)

]]> chet. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113597 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113597 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:35:14 -0800 Comment by Nature @18:

You are nature too. So there!

]]> Nature http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113645 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113645 ??!! Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:31:49 -0800 Comment by firewomon It looks like a yummy, fresh sulphureus that cropped up after a big rain. If it were in Bellingham I would examine it and then help you fry it up and eat it!

]]> firewomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113685 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113685 ??!! Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:01:31 -0800 Comment by firewomon Do NOT eat sulphureus uncooked! That can make you sick.

]]> firewomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113826 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113826 ??!! Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:37:15 -0800 Comment by Dr. Thompkins All fungus frightens me.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

]]> Dr. Thompkins http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113892 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1113892 ??!! Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:22:35 -0800 Comment by Paul Nadeau Hi,

As a very much novice mushroomer, I just found a chicken of the forest (sulfurous) and decided to prepare it for the table: Needed to know if The pores are to be removed or eaten. The web search brought me to this page: Have rarely, if ever, laughed so much in reading what the contributers contributed !!! Concluded that I'll eat the whole darned thing.

Thank You,

Paul

]]> Paul Nadeau http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1117943 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/08/if_you_dont_hear_from_me_tomorrow#c1117943 ??!! Sun, 31 Aug 2008 07:37:57 -0800