ALL THE REST —  May 31, 2001
  

Amphibians and FROGS

Tons of Toads

Toads are remarkably prolific, most laying 20,000 eggs in a single clutch, with the giant toad producing as many as 100,000 eggs at a time. The eggs, typically laid in water, are laid in strings, the male fertilizing them as they are extruded. The eggs hatch into tailed aquatic larvae, known as tadpoles. These metamorphose into the adult form in a few weeks. Several types of toads do not reproduce in water. The Nectophryne species lay eggs on land and do not have a free-swimming tadpole stage. The Nectophrynoides fertilization is internal and birth is given to fully formed toadlets.

The common American toad is Bufo americanus. It can be found from New England to Georgia, and across the Midwest from Minnesota to Mississippi. It primarily lives in cool damp areas. In hot or dry weather it spends its days in burrows it digs with its spurred hind feet. Sometimes it spends the heat of the day under a log, or underneath a porch.

Toads are, or should be, welcome in the backyard garden. They have a prodigious appetite and consume many of the worst of the garden pests. They enjoy: slugs, caterpillars, snails, cutworms, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and other bugs. Over a period of 3 years a toad will probably eat 9,936 noxious insects.

One more toad fact — a group of toads is called a knot.

Sources for the Amphibian - Frog series include:

Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians - Editors: Dr. Harold G. Cogger, Dr. Richard G,.Zweifel, Academid Press
Frogs - Text: David Badger, Photography: JohnNetherton; Voyageur Press
Groliers Encyclopedia
Microsoft(R) Encarta(R)
Encyclopedia Britanica

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

 

A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes.  "Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he said.

  Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wit's end, he remembered the envelopes.  He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope.  The message read, "Blame your predecessor."

  The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO.  Satisfied with his comments, the press and Wall Street  -- responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.  

About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems.  Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Reorganize."  This he did, and the company quickly rebounded.

  After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times.  The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope.  The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."

SOURCE: Wit & Wisdom by Richard Wimer 

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A preacher was traveling by airplane and was asked by his seat mate what he did for a living.  Now this man of the cloth was tired of people clamming up around him when they found out he was a preacher so he decided to be a little evasive--but he sure didn't want to lie.

"So, buddy, what line of work are you in?"  The preacher thought and then said, "Sales" which was technically true since he was in the business of selling the Gospel.

This worked for a moment and then the other man asked, "So, who's your boss?"  After reflecting the preacher smiled and said, "I work for my father (Father)".

Things went on from there OK until the question came up, "So, mac, what's the name of your outfit."  The preacher thought it over and then said, "Lord & Company."

The guy chewed that over.  Then came the inquiry, "Well now, what's your product?"  This was a hard one for the preacher.  But in a little bit came the answer, "I sell fire escapes."

"So, how's business?" asked the man.  The preacher fired back, "We're workin' to beat the devil."

SOURCE: Bill's Punch Line - Don Brandon" DONBDON@worldnet.att.net

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Q: What is the first recorded case of consipation?
A: It's in Kings, where it says that David sat on the Throne for forty years.

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

BATHROOM SCALES: Equipment which only seems to work correctly when one holds on to towel rail, stands on one foot and leans hard to the left.

Daily Miscellany Comics

Have A Great Day !

Phillip Bower

Send Mail to pbower@neo.rr.com

Copyright Information: Phillip Bower is not the author of the humor, and does not claim to own any copyright privileges to the jokes. Sources of jokes are listed when known. Birthday's and Happenings for the date, and quotations are public knowledge and collected from numerous sources. Quotations are public knowledge and sources are listed when known. Weekendspirations are written by Tim Knappenberger who has copyright privileges. Cathy Vinson authors Whispers from the Wilderness and owns copyright privileges. Weekendspirations and Whispers from the Wilderness are used with permission by the respective authors. Other devotions are written by Phillip Bower unless otherwise stated. In all cases credit is given when known. The Daily Miscellany is nonprofit. Submissions by readers is welcome.