Amphibians Dying Out At Alarming Rate

I heard about this alarming news the other night on Coast to Coast radio.
Following is a short clip copied with permission from Linda Moulton Howe's web site which can be found at www.earthfiles.com or go directly to her free report at http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1378&category=Environment
Photo AmphibianArk.org

Howard at www.ionxchange.com

Amphibians Dying Out At Alarming Rate

© 2008 Linda Moulton Howe

“This recent and massive decline in amphibian populations,
that have been on Earth for millions of years, is one of the greatest extinction
events in history.” - Andrew Blaustein, Ph.D., Oregon State University

January 18, 2008 Corvallis, Oregon - Can you imagine what the Earth would be like without frogs, toads and salamanders? Mosquitoes, flies and other insect populations eaten by amphibians would soar. Until now, the possibility that frogs, toads and salamanders that have been living on this planet for millions of years could ever disappear was unthinkable. 2008 has been declared the Year of the Frog by Amphibian Ark.org, which is trying to let the world know that amphibians are dying out in ever-increasing numbers. Scientists say that without immediate public, zoo and government efforts to conserve them, this century could see the extinction of nearly half of all the world's 6,000 amphibian species.

How many amphibian species are already declining so rapidly that extinction seems inevitable? 500


For more info go to...http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1378&category=Environment

Hoar Frost

Occasionally I am reminded that winter also carries many beautiful faces. I wrote this last week after we had days and days of fog. Suddenly the fog lifted it's veil to reveal the following.

This morning on the way to town we had the most spectacular view of hoar frost on the trees and bushes.
The sun was just beginning to peak out from the haze that had created this frosty celebration on the trees.
As we drove along the ridge on our journey, taking in the panoramic view of the hills and valleys for many miles on both sides of the road, we were amazed at the beauty of the landscape.
The pristine fresh snow and the trees all dressed up in hoar frost - as if they were just posing for our delight and enjoyment.
As the sun began hitting the trees it reflected the ice crystals, turning them into a thousand little glass reflections.
Every time I am lucky enough to catch one of these displays of nature’s beauty I am reminded of how glad I am to live in beautiful Northeast Iowa! Kay at the Ion Exchange Inc