I was studying, and this thing walked slowly toward me. I wanted to die. while it was living, the black thorax was expanded into a bunch of black rings, with a shiny translucent yellowish body inbetween. it was at least an inch and a half long. what is it!!!
This is a Jerusalem cricket (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae; Stenopelmatus sp.). Other than being able to give you a sharp nip with its powerful jaws should you be careless in picking one up, they are completely harmless. See http://tinyurl.com/ybmxvv for detailed information.
