I'm surprised by how much of a stir this story is creating. I've used USAA for almost 5 years now and the whole time they've had a "Deposit@Home" javascript that allowed you to scan your check and deposit it immediately the same way. It's the quickest and most convenient way to do it, considering that USAA is an internet-only bank. They're also pretty much the best bank in the world...ATM fee rebates, a decent web interface, and scanning (or sending them in snail-mail in postage paid free deposit envelopes) deposits? What more could you ask for?

As a hermit crab owner (whose crabs are a completely irrational joy in my life...and may be for a long time as they can live 30+ years in captivity) I have in fact seen that crabs remember pleasant and painful experiences. I have three crabs which I try to handle regularly. One of them took a rather nasty fall onto carpet during the first handling session and he has never since gotten over that fear of handling. When I handle him, he dump his shell water all over me and is frantic to escape. Two other crabs, who have had small falls from one hand into the other but nothing as high as the first one, have learned that no harm comes from being handled and have no similar responses when being handled. Their only response is to explore whatever I let them, be it my hands, arms, legs, room, etc. So it doesn't surprise me that scientists have found that crabs can make connections between certain experiences or circumstances and unpleasantness. People who have owned these creatures have known it for years.

This somehow reminds me of that proverb about frogs and boiling water - frog story. You can't throw an animal (i.e. lobster or crab) that regulates its body temperature by moving through different 'microclimates' in its environment into a pot of boiling water and expect it not to try to find a cooler place to go.

I find it rather amusing that the article from ryanair.com linked above mentions Virgin [airlines] in conjunction with their "Beds and Blowjobs" video clip. It amused me, anyway...