Sunny & Clear ~ Fires ~ Picture of the Day ~ PIGS! ~ Goliath Beetles ~ Goliath Frogs ~ Easy Zucchini Fritters ~ Tom & Adele (Easton) Graves ~ National Coast Guard Day

 

Good 61º clear sunny morning. 

 

 

Yesterday another clear blue sky sunny day. We topped at 102º. 

 

The fires....at present are all contained. 

 

 

Picture of the Day...

 

You have heard that cops are called pigs, right? Well just for your info if you didn't know and for all the insignificant people who call cops that, PIG means Pride Integrity and Guts!!!!!

 

 

Interesting about Goliath Beetles and Goliath Frogs....

 

 

Goliath was the large biblical warrior defeated by the young David in the Book of Samuel. There couldn’t have been anyone more intimidating than Goliath, but David had no fear of man because he feared the God he served.

The Goliath beetles (named after the biblical giant Goliath) are among the largest insects on Earth, if measured in terms of size, bulk and weight. They are usually 2.1 to 4.2 inches long, weighing up to 1.7 ounces at adult stage. Goliath beetles can be found in many of Africa's tropical forests, where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit.

Goliath beetles, like almost all other beetles, possess a reinforced first pair of wings (called elytra) that act as protective covers for their secondary pair of wings and abdomen. Only the second pair of wings (which are large and membranous) are actually used for flying. When not in use, they are kept completely folded beneath the elytra (pair of hardened forewings). Each of the beetle's legs ends in a pair of sharp claws, which provide a strong grip useful for climbing on tree trunks and branches. Males have a Y-shaped horn on the head, which is used as a pry bar in battles with other males over feeding sites or mates. Females are without a horn and instead have a wedge-shaped head that assists in burrowing when they lay eggs. In addition to their massive size, Goliath beetles are strikingly patterned as well. Prominent markings common to all of the Goliathus species are the sharply contrasting black vertical stripes on the pronotum (thoracic shield).

 

The massive goliath frog (Conraua goliath), as its name alludes, is the largest frog in the world with individuals weighing 7lbs. The granular skin is greenish in color with a yellowish-orange underside, and the feet and hands are webbed. It lives in or near fast-flowing rivers in the coastal rain forests of west Africa.

This species has a relatively small habitat range in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its numbers are dwindling due to habitat destruction and its collection for food and the pet trade.

 

Like most amphibians, water is vital for their reproduction. Because the goliath frog lacks a vocal sac, it does not produce mating calls, a behavior generally present in frogs and toads. Males construct spawning and breeding areas alongside and within rivers by pushing rocks into semicircular patterns. The egg masses consist of several hundred eggs, approximately 0.14 inches each, attached to vegetation at the bottom of rivers. Larval development takes between 85 and 95 days.

 

The goliath frog can live up to 15 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live up to 21 years. It is preyed upon by snakes, Nile crocodiles, Nile monitors, and Humans among other predators.

The primary threat to the goliath frog is hunting, as it is considered a food source in its native range. The IUCN has highlighted the need for conservation measures, in cooperation with local communities, to make sure the hunting is at sustainable levels. To a lesser extent they are also threatened by habitat loss and degradation. They were extensively exported to zoos and the pet trade, but have proven shy and nervous in captivity. Although captives may live longer than their wild counterparts, the species has not been bred in captivity. Due to their classification as an endangered species, the Equatorial Guinean government has declared that no more than 300 goliaths may be exported per year for the pet trade, but few now seem to be exported from this country.

 

 

 

Easy Zucchini Fritters

.... easy to make, low in calories, and the perfect way to sneak in some veggies!

 

Ok, go out in your garden and pick some zucchini...

 

1 1/2 pounds zucchini, grated

1 t. salt

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg, beaten

2 cloves minced garlic

kosher salt and pepper to taste

2 T. olive oil

 

Toss zucchini and salt together in large colander and plane in sink to drain for 10 minutes.

 

Put zucchini in the middle of a piece of cheesecloth (or several paper towels) and wrap the cheesecloth around the zucchini and squeeze to drain as much of the moisture from the zucchini as possible.

 

Mix flour, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, kisher salt and ppepper together in large bowl. Stir in zucchini.

 

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.

 

Scoop batter by tablespoon into hot skillet and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

 

 

 

Special Anniversary today, high school pal Adele aka Del (Easton) and her hubby Tom Graves are celebrating #54 today. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!!

 

 

 

Historically this date

1892 – The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home.

 

1944 – The Holocaust: a tip from a Dutch informer leads the Gestapo to a sealed-off area in an Amsterdam warehouse, where they find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others.

1987 – The Federal Communications Commission rescinds the Fairness Doctrine which had required radio and television stations to present controversial issues "fairly". WHAAA???

1993 – A federal judge sentences Los Angeles Police Department officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 30 months in prison for violating motorist Rodney King's civil rights.

 

 

Births this date include....

1901 – Louis Armstrong, American jazz trumpeter and singer (d. 1971)

 

 

1944 – Richard Belzer, American actor and comedian

1955 – Billy Bob Thornton, American actor and writer

... weirdo and with wife #6

 

1962 – Roger Clemens, American baseball player

 

 

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Sunday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

National Coast Guard Day on August 4 celebrates and honors the courageous work of the service members of Coast Guard. 

The United States Coast Guard is one of the five US Armed Forces. While this maritime service is a branch of the military, they are a multi-missioned service. During peacetime, it operates under the Department of Homeland Security. However, their responsibilities can be transferred to the US Navy by the President of the United States any time deemed necessary, or by Congress during war times.

Always ready, The United States Coast Guard’s official motto in Latin reads Semper Paratus.

Since 1790, the Coast Guard’s missions have changed. As the nation and the military services grew, maritime needs evolved. In 1917, the first Coast Guard aviators graduated from Pensacola Naval Aviation Training School. Today, aviation is a large part of the Coast Guard’s security, enforcement and defense readiness.

Always ready to protect our shores and waterways, the Coast Guard provides more than search and rescue. They are a large part of the nation’s navigation system and Marine Environmental Protection.

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of America, the US Coast Guard saved over 33,500 lives. Their maritime efforts rescued an estimated 24,000 lives from peril in severely dangerous conditions.

Since 1790, service members have been at the ready to provide support whatever the mission. Their commitment continues today. 

NATIONAL COAST GUARD HISTORY

The United States Coast Guard traces its founding to an act of Congress on August 4, 1790.  The Coast Guard consisted of 10 vessels which carried out the enforcement of various trade and humanitarian duties.