Florida's Giant Toad - a beneficial garden critter or exotic pest..
First published at Qondio
:
The Giant Toad (aka Marine Toad or Cane Toad) is reportedly the largest of the Florida frogs and toads. When this non-native species feels threatened, it secretes a highly toxic substance from its large paratoid glands in the back of its head. This secretion will burn eyes, may inflame the skin and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest it.
It was originally released in canefields to help control rats and mice and is now commonly found in Florida yards. It breeds all year round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
It is known scientifically as Bufo Marinus, the Cane Toad, Giant Toad or Marine Toad and is native to an area extending from Mexico and central America to the Amazon basin.
Florida's first Giant Toad population was accidently established by a release at Miami International Airport. Others spread by a pet dealer escaped through canals to other areas.
This Giant Toad is related to the Australian Cane Toad which was also spread after being released in cane fields in Queensland in the 1930's. They are now in epidemic proportions in that state and are spreading northwards and westwards endangering small native animal life.
They too are regarded a pest on a par with wild rabbits which have created an environmental wasteland in some areas of Australia. Read more here
English: Bottled water fills an aisle in a supermarket (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Water, water the staff of life, but are we running out of water...
First published at Yahoo Voices:
Water, water the staff of life, but are we running out of water?
"The challenge of securing safe and plentiful water for all is one of the most daunting challenges faced by the world today...often where we find water, we find guns." Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General.
According to an Uzbek saying,"if you run out of water, you run out of life." Some experts would probably say that those words seem more prophetical than proverbial. Each year about two million people die as a result of poor sanitation and contaminated water, and 90% of the victims are children. Suffer the poor children!
"The Aral Sea in Central Asia was the fourth largest lake on the planet in 1960. By 2007 it had shrunk to 10% of its original size." - Scientific American.
"The five great lakes of the United States and Canada - Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior - are shrinking at an alarming pace." - The Globe and Mall.
At one time, Australia's Deniliquin mill processed enough grain to meet the needs of 20 million people. Now, however, the rice crop has been reduced by 98%, and the mill closed in December 2007. The cause? Six long years of drought." - The New York Times.
I acknowledge the excerpts from the above newspapers:
Draining dry the rivers and streams:
"Africa's Lake Chad, once a landmark for astronauts circling the earth, is now difficult for them to locate. Surrounded by(Cameroon), Chad, Niger, and Nigeria...the lake has shrunk by 95% since the 1960's. The soaring demand for irrigation water in that area is draining dry the rivers and streams the lake depends on for its existence. As a result, Lake Chad may soon disappear entirely, its whereabouts a mystery to future generations. - Plan B 2.0 - "Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble", by Lester R. Brown.
America's Thirst for Water:
"America's thirst for bottled water seems unquenchable, reaching nearly 30 billion bottles a year," according to US News and World Report. Many consumers did not realise, however,that most bottled water is simply tap water, so "anyone who is opting for bottled over municipal(water) for health reasons is misguided," said the above magazine. What flows out of the tap in many countries is monitored to ensure uniformity to strict standards. And when compared with the 'outrageously expensive' bottled alternatives, tap water is practically free."
In my opinion the global bottled water industry is nothing more than blatant exploitation of water resources.
The standard of tap water is so high in New Zealand, it would be simply stupid and a waste of money to buy 'bottled tap water'. You just need only to run the tap until the water is nice and cool, fill a used soft drink or soda bottle, and leave it in the fridge until you go out for your daily jog or walk! The water crisis is global. It poses health risks to billions of people around the globe. Many steps have been taken to bring water supply and water use back into balance in some areas of the world, but not in others. This global balance is a vital necessity if we are not to have an acute water shortage in certain areas.
Each country seems to have its own method of dealing with the the water crisis. In some lands where favourable winds regularly blow, windmills raise water to the surface and also serve to generate electricity. In wealthier nations, desalinisation of seawater is also viewed as a viable solution. In many places huge dams retain river water and rainwater - a measure that has proved somewhat effective, even though reservoirs in arid areas may lose about 10 percent of their water through evaporation.- "Awake" Jan uary 2009.
But are we running out of water? The Green Planet
English: Evan Williams Bourbon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Gotta light mate..
Humour
First published at Qassia:
Three young friends were caught allegedly spying in China over a decade ago:
The judge sentenced the three men to ten years imprisonent, but with one proviso - they were allowed to take one thing into jail with them!
Joe the Kiwi took a ten-year supply of books.
Louis the Yank took a ten year supply of bourbon whisky.
Larry the Aussie took a ten year supply of cigarettes.
Ten years later and the three friends were released. Joe the Kiwi spewed out facts and figures like an encyclopedia; Louis staggered out drunk as a skunk; while Larry the Aussie poked his head out and asked," Gotta a light mate?"
Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Trinity debate reaches Petes Writing Place...
This is an old post which I don't believe I have posted here before:
The following has proven very popular at other blogsites. Please read on:
Should we believe in the Trinity - the Trinity debate?
Do you personally believe in the Trinity? I was actually brought up to believe in it from my earliest days at Sunday School, so many decades ago, when most of my generation attended regularly every Sunday morning.
It appears to me that it has always been a central doctrine of the church.I believe that it has always been there, just like the Cross. Should it be a subject that is more than just a passing interest? So I looked for some information from an organisation that obviously knows a little bit about the subject.The following is from The Watchtower magazine, with thanks!
Various Trinitarian concepts exist. But generally the Trinity teaching is that in the Godhead there are three persons, Father,Son and Holy Ghost; yet together they are but one God. The doctrine says that the three are co-equal, almighty, and uncreated, having existed in the Godhead.
Others, however, say that the Trinity doctrine is false, that Almighty God stands alone as a separate, eternal, and all-powerful being. They say that Jesus in his pre-human existence was, like the angels, a separate spirit person created by God, and for this reason he must have had a beginning.They teach that Jesus has never been Almighty God's equal in any sense; he has always been subject to God and still is.They also believe that the Holy Ghost is not a person but God's spirit, his active force.
Supporters of the Trinity say that it is founded not on religious tradition but also on the Bible.Critics of the doctrine say that it is not a Bible teaching, one history source even declaring:" The origin of the Trinity is entirely pagan." - THE PAGAN IN OUR CHRISTIANITY.
If the Trinity is true, it is degrading to Jesus to say he was never equal to God as part of the Godhead. But if the Trinity is false, it is degrading to Almighty God to call anyone his equal, and even worse to call Mary the " Mother of God". If the Trinity is false, it dishonors God to say as noted in the book of Catholicism: "Unless people keep their faith whole and undefiled without doubt they shall perish forever- lastingly.And the Catholic Faith is this: we worship one God in Trinity."
How is the Trinity explained?
The Roman Catholic Church states: The Father is God,the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God, In this Trinity...the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent - the Catholic Encyclopedia. Nearly all other churches in Christendom also agree.
But wait a minute there, Jesus is the Son of God, not God the Father. How can he be the Father of Himself?
Furthermore,Islam believes that Jesus was but one of the great Prophets, not the Son of God, just to throw another spanner in the works!
What do you believe?
English: Icebergs are breaking off glaciers at Cape York, Greenland. The picture was taken from a helicopter. Français : Icebergs issus des glaciers à Cape York. La photographie a été prise depuis un wikt:fr:hélicoptère. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"My 50th birthday idea - what will I do this year?"
My family reminded me that I will be 50 years old next week. Not fourty, but fifty! We want you to have a birthday treat; you decide and we will pay for it they said.
I agreed, but I didn't have a clue. Not a clue. Not one iota of a clue. I was totally clueless ! What on earth could I do to do something completely different? Dinner. Movies. A trip out of town. The theatre. A night at home with some DVD's? NO! No! What then? Come on you silly old bugger( I'm nearly fifty, is that getting old?) think now!
Bowling. Darts at the Pub. Down the club. A barbeque.Something I've never done? Oh come on. Think now! I saw a tourist magazine on the coffee table in the lounge. It was open but I couldn't quite make out what was in the picture - a man of about fifty appeared to be getting strapped up for some reason. What on earth was it? No way, no way. Not a bloody bungey jump! I tried that a few years ago and it nearly terrified me getting all strapped up to...jump into space. Mind you, it was an exhilerating flying through the air at a thousand miles an hour...well not quite that fast though.I came to a sudden halt just when I thought I was going to fall into the river and drown.
Now there has to be something that is really me. But just what could I do... come on now...think! I looked at the newspaper on my coffee table and saw an article and photos of icebergs floating off the coast of New Zealand." The first time this phenomenon has accurred for seventy five years. Come down to the South Island and take a helicopter ride to the icebergs - get out and walk on ancient ice that has been around for tens of thousands of years." All this was written in the newspaper, and I think I know where I'm going on my 50th Birthday! I'm off to the icebergs in New Zealand. I'm going to take a stroll on ancient ice. I'll take a flask of Whiskey and have Scotch on the rocks, away down under in New Zealand!
English: Big, black bull, Haroldswick (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Kiwi Bull Run - gotta get a way from this big black bull...
Jellen's Writing Challenge - my childhood memory: All Rights Reserved
After writing my recent post about flatulence from cows and sheep creating most of New Zealand's methane and greenhouse gas, the rest coming from the Beehive, the nickname for the round government building in Wellington, NZ; I suddenly remembered an incident from my childhood:
The Kiwi Bull Run - gotta get away from this big black bull...
I used to spend many holidays on the farm of my foster mother's brother (I came from a broken home, but that is another story for another time) 20-30 miles out of Christchurch City in north Canterbury. It was a mixed farm, sheep, dairy cows, a few pigs, some poultry and crops. Typical of the 1950's farms in the area, I reckon, going by my memory.
I used to wander around the farm at times, typical of a 10-11 year old Kiwi lad. But during these particular holidays the farmer had bought and brought a new Aberdeen Angus bull to the farm - a big black devil!
Being young, naive and a bit clueless in some respects, I starting making noises at the big fellow. He started to paw the ground and roar a little. This just excited me more, and I started to make louder noises and the big black devil began pawing even more, and roaring like a bull should roar!
I began to get scared and started running, running, and running. And so did he! The fence was six foot high, but to me it may have been only a couple of feet. This skinny sandy haired youngster who could run a bit, began to prove it. Around the bull paddock fence, across the main paddock towards the milking shed yards I went at the speed of sound, not looking back. The big wooden posts of the milking yard fence immediately came into view, and I scaled that fence as good and as capable as any olypmpic hurdler or high jumper...!
Over that fence into about two feet of sloppy, black and greenish cow manure I went, feet one way, and body another. After hosing myself down in the cow yard, I had to face the farmer. The fact he was furious was the understatement of the year. I knew the big fellow wanted to give me a giant kick up the backside and a few across the ear - quite common in those years of yore. But he cooled down quickly, and realising I was scared witless, he asked me how I felt? "Scared," I mumbled almost incoherently.
"And so you should. That fence just stopped that big black devil. I'll have to repair it, but I'm sure you won't do a stupid damn thing like that again, will you?" he asked demandingly. "Go inside and see the wife to get you some dry clothes." he added further.
I came to that farm many times in the future and remembered the day that big black bull chased me, with only a six foot barbed wire fence stopping him. Kiwi Bull Run
Many, if not all, readers would have heard or read about the extremely destructive 7.1 earthquake that struckChristchurch and the surrounding Canterbury district nearly three weeks ago. Actually there are many people around the globe who think New Zealand is part of Australia anyway. Well, this is not designed as a geographical guide but more as a factual newspiece expanding on what you may or may not know about this mind-numbing earthquake that has been repeated by a total of 1200 aftershocks which occur everyday and night since. Yes, I did say 1200 aftershocks! I've never heard of so many after an earthquake, have you?
At 7.1 on theRichter Scale this earthquake was identical in destructive force to the one in Haiti mamy months ago that killed tens of thousands, injured scores of thousands and probably made a million homeless for some period of time. What was the difference?
New Zealand is a first world country with extremely high standards of building, has a small spread out population — Christchurch, which is New Zealand's second largest city, has only 400,000 at the most, including its environs. But the saving grace of Christchurch during this shocking earthquake was the time — 4-35am. A few hours earlier and thousands would have been caught in restaurants, cafes, bars and on the streets; and a few hours later the early shoppers would have been caught in malls, shops, cafes and also on the streets.
The authorities, both local and centralgovernment agencies moved extremely quickly to support the victims of the earthquake. The prime minister, John Key and some of his ministers were down in Christchurch by the Sunday morning to see at first hand the results of this shocking earthquake and what should be done initially to help the local council's support of the victims. Nobody was killed, though there have been some fatal heart attacks which could be attributed to the earthquake, and only a few were seriously injured. One middle aged man was hit by a collapsing chimney that came through his bedroom ceiling and was seriously injured; and remains in a critical condition nearly three weeks later.
Finacial support has been given to help residents in the first few weeks, and companies with less than twenty employees were given wage subsidies later in the first week, for the first month to get their business operational and to help the local economy get back into gear.
Experts moved into action on the Monday morning examining damaged buildings in the city's CBD and then out into the residential areas both within the central city, suburbs and the outlying areas. Welfare centres were set up in schools, an indoor stadium and at Addington Raceway for homeless and those unable to go back to their homes for a variety of reasons, including the lack of sewerage, running water, and for psychological reasons caused by the repetitive aftershocks which were like minor earthquakes on their own.
Christchurch looked like a bombsight initially with the wreckage of buildings scattered throughout the streets of the city, making them extremely difficult to travel through. Within days it soon became obvious just how much damage had been caused, roughly how many buildings would be condemned and need to be destroyed for safety reasons. Red stickers were placed on condemned buildings and homes, and green stickers for those that could be saved and repaired. Insurance assessors were quickly involved in doing their particular tasks within the first few days. In New Zealand the state Earthquake Commission pays for the first $100,000 of individual damage caused by earthquakes.
Cleaning up the streets, repairing sewerage andwater mains and ensuring the homeless were taken care of in the welfare centres was the first priority in the days after the earthquake. And the aftershocks continued day and night creating psychological torture for the residents of Christchurch and out in the rural districts. While many streets showed evidence of the destructive force of this huge earthquake, out in the countryside the faultline looked as though bulldozers had carved up the earth for miles and miles lifting flat and even paddocks into untidy piles of earth in some places. The faultline had been there for 16,000 years and nobody had been aware of its existence.
The early estimates of two billion dollars in damage and estimated reconstruction, had doubled to four billion within a week — about three billion in American dollars. This is undoubtably New Zealand's worst civil disaster in monetary terms. The lack of fatalities and serious injuries are in fact incredible. Slowly but surely life has resumed, most children are back to school, and people are going back to work as their employers get their businesses back into operation. Life is not normal, of course, but the city is breathing some life again, and hopes are rising and the people are becoming positive once again. There are still many people who are homeless in the city, and a few hundred in the eastern suburbs who still do not have sewerage and running water — they are still using chemical toilets and have to wash at the local mall.
But they often say things go in threes. The day following the earthquake, at Fox Glacier a few hundred miles southwest of Christchurch, a small plane crashed on takeoff killing all nine onboard.
Just last weekend New Zealand was hit by a polar-like storm with snowstorms in the deep south being the worst in decades. In Invercargill city the local indoor stadium and some other buildings, were totally destroyed by the heavy snow, and out in the rural area farmers have lost a million newborn lambs. Throughout the rest of the country galeforce winds and rain caused considerable damage to homes and property. One would have to seriously consider that the South Island was on the receiving end of some retributive Karma force. Or perhaps somebody forgot to pay their bills?
As I close, quite safe and remote here in Wellington some 220 miles north of Christchurch, incidently my home town, I hear that the aftershocks are continuing, albeit less frequent and a little milder. My extended family members have been quite safe down south, and don't appear to have much damge caused to their homes, and have not suffered any personal injuries, apart from those psychologically.
Christchurchites are anticipating some better nights' sleep in coming weeks. And nobody will begrudge these hearty souls!
