A fighter that was salvaged from an ice cap in Greenland, known as “Glacier Girl”, was one of a squadron of six P-38’s forced to crash land while flying a support mission during world war two. It was flown for the first time since it was salvaged. I just love the old planes. Just something nostalgic about them.
http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?collectionId=622
In June it will be decided if the US bald eagle will be removed from the threatened
species list. There are now 9,789 breeding pairs through out the lower 48 states. If only other breeds of endangered species where doing so well.
The other day I dug deep into the back of my closet. I dragged out something I hadn’t used in ten years, but today I needed it. Searching through dusty piled up boxes, I was sure I still had one.
My six year old’s curiosity peaked as he stuck his head in my way. I finally found it dusty , but in good shape. I don’t think I had used it more than a half dozen times. As I went and set it up, I could see my son’s eyes light up with questions. 
I told him not to touch it because it was hot. Finally the question I knew he had, blurted out. “Mom, what is that? I’ve never seen one before.” I had to laugh as I explained to him what it was and why I was using it. He had never seen an iron and an ironing board before and I hope he doesn’t expect to see one often. Isn’t that what wrinkle free clothes are for?
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the honeybee. To many it’s just an annoying pest, but without them our food supply as we know it could drastically change.
Honeybees are one of the few pollinators that are synchronized and managed with the growing of crops. Without them there would be 1/3 less crops in the world then there is now. There are no other pollinators that can be moved from crop to crop. They are the biggest producer of consumer honey. Other pollinators such as yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, butterflies, bats and birds are solitary pollinators and just can’t do the job.
Some plants rely on the wind or are self pollinateing but for most fruits and vegetables they rely on the honeybee. Many grasses also need pollination, if the grasses don’t reproduce then the grazing animals will starve and we lose another source of food.
So what’s killing them? Well pesticides for one thing. People are killing off the good with the bad. Another problem is fungus and mites that are feeding off the larva and the adult. There is also a fast-spreading malady called “colony collapse syndrome”. Whole colonies are disappearing with only the queen, worker drones and larva remaining.
One theory is that with the increase use of cell phones, the radiation is messing with their homing instincts. But what about the ones they found dead. Bees are extremely sensitive to the environment. Air pollution, water pollution, and global warming have not helped the situation much.
With the increasing use of geneticly altered plants, could it be killing off the bee? I think everyone who has the space for a hive should get one. New equipment should be used to not contaminate the new bees with whatever may have been in old equipment.
There is so much going on in the world we don’t need to add massive starvation to it.
Some websites that talk about honeybees are:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-02-honeybee-die-off_N.htm?csp=34
As you probably have guessed I am new to the world of blogging. There are all kinds of blogs out there. While mine may not be original, it’s all my opinion. Oh yes I have lots of opinions, doesn’t everyone? Hopefully I will catch on to this and have something worth while to share. So while I dust out the cobwebs from the corner of my mind and my house, let’s see what I can come up with. Looking forward to sharing.
