Happy Birthday Freekboi's Random Thoughts

Today makes 1 year of Randomness!!!!

Freekboi's Random Thoughts is 1 year old today!

At least 6 new frogs discovered

Laos said to harbor many new frog species
Apr 20, 2006, 19:51 GMT

NEW YORK, NY, United States (UPI) -- The Wildlife Conservation Society in New York says new species of frogs -- and lots of them -- are being discovered in the Southeast Asia nation of Laos.

The organization says six new frog species have been found in Laos during the past two years. Little is known about the new frogs, other than where they live and how they differ morphologically from other similar species.
...
Laos is the least densely populated country in Asia and has produced a treasure trove of wildlife discoveries during recent years."

Link to the full story, and link to the story over at Crytomundo.

Yeah, I know, I'm late with this one, but I still don't have internet access except in the library. However, that all changes soon. They ran the phone lines in my house today, and I should have my DSL modem within a week, and I'm moving out of the campus housing in a little less than a month. So hopefully soon the net access will be restored! The frog pictured is Rana khalam, one of six new species of frog found in Laos. The picture comes from the Cryptomundo blog.

No Internet

Unfortunately for me, my internet has royally screwed up. The campus where I live has a policy that to be connected to their network you have to download a program called Clean Access Agent. The program will not allow you to access the network if you do not have all the current windows updates installed, it will grant you only restricted access to download the updates. Unfortunately, mine's not working right. It booted me off the internet Monday because there was a new update to install. So, I tried to go to Microsoft's site to get the update, but the *expletive deleted* program will not even allow me the limited access to get the update, and for some reason, my automatic update feature isn't reading it. So now I'm stuck in a paradox. I need to get on the net to get the update, but I can't get on the net until I have the update! Isn't technology grand? I just keep telling myself that 3 more weeks and then I'm out of here. No more stupid policy saying I have to do this or that just to get on the net. The very first thing I'm going to do when I move my computer back home is delete CAA once and for all! The good news is, we're getting the phone lines hooked up back home this weekend, and we're also signed up for DSL so no slow dial-up connection!

Oh, for all of you who are wondering how I'm updating the blog without internet access, I'm right now sitting in the campus library because my wife, thank God, had to do some research and I volunteered to come with her, because I was suffering from net withdraw and had to check my e-mail desperately.

Happy Easter

Honesty, really the best policy???

At least he's telling the truth!

New stingray species discovered

New stingray species discovered in Thailand - Yahoo! News

"BANGKOK (AFP) - Scientists have discovered a new species of freshwater stingray in a Thai river, an environmental group said, warning that its habitat must be protected to ensure its survival.

The bottom-dwelling species, Himantura kittipongi, was found in the western province of Kanchanaburi and belongs to the Dasyatidae family of stingrays, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on Wednesday.

The stingray has 12 to 14 rows of teeth on its lower jaw -- more than any other species of Thai freshwater stingray, the fund said.

Two scientists, WWF Thailand senior freshwater biologist Chavalit Vidthayanon and Smithsonian research associate Tyson Roberts, last month confirmed the new species."

Link to the full story on Yahoo! News. Also, a link to the story from the WWF. Photo © WWF Cannon Thailand

Another new species added to the list. If this keeps up, I'm going to just create a new blog dedicated solely to new species discoveries, because this is slowly taking over here. Not that I'm complaining, I love the finding of new species and the recovery of endangered species.

What's Your Theme Song?

Your Theme Song is Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf

"I like smoke and lightning Heavy metal thunder Racin' with the wind And the feelin' that I'm under" A total independent spirit, you can't be held down or fenced in. You crave the feeling of wind on your face... and totally freedom.

What's Your Theme Song?

Coca-Cola Blak

A few of you may remember back in December I blogged about a new product coming out from the Coca-Cola Company called Coca-Cola Blak, a coffee-infused cola. Well, the local "Sprawl-Mart" finally got some in stock, so I bought a few bottles to try today. I haven't tried it yet, it's still in the fridge getting cold, but I'll update later after I try one. The bottle looks cool, and I'm a big fan of both coffee and Coke, so hopefully this will live up to the hype. Only time will tell, check back later for an update concerning the taste of the new Coke Blak.

UPDATE: And now for the update. My Coke Blak finally chilled enough to be drinkable, so I grabbed one out of the fridge, popped the top, and took my first sip. I have to say, it's quite good. The flavors of Coke and coffee blend subtly to make a drink that is quite refreshing, but not overpowering with either flavor. It's not quite as carbonated as normal coke, yet still enough to be enjoyable. Overall, I think the new Coke Blak is quite enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it. As a further update, these also seem to make great energy drinks. I've drunk two of them tonight, and as of 3 AM I am still pretty hyper.

Link to my original post about Coke Blak.

I'm not eating it...

I just love it when people don't proofread their signs!

Two new species discovered in Philippines

CHICAGO -- Scientists have discovered two new species -- a parrot and a mouse -- that live only on a small island in the Philippines. This island, Camiguin, is the smallest Philippine island, of which there are 7,000, known to support a bird or mammal species that is endemic (lives nowhere else).
The scientists' research, which is embargoed, is described in the April 5 issue of Fieldiana: Zoology, a peer-reviewed, scientific journal about biodiversity research published by The Field Museum.

These new discoveries and the biological diversity they document strengthen the case for preserving the small area of natural rain forest still found on the island.

"Knowing that at least 54 species of birds and at least 24 species of mammals live on Camiguin, and that some of these animals are found nowhere else on earth, makes us realize how important this island is in terms of conservation," said Lawrence Heaney, Curator of Mammals, at The Field Museum and a co-author of several of the reports in this publication. "For these animals to survive, we've got to save the dwindling forests where they live."

The island was once almost entirely covered by rain forest, but by 2001 only 18% was still forested, Heaney said. That amount has dropped since then, as logging, agriculture and human settlement have continued to erode the forests. In fact, almost half the island is now covered with coconut plantations.

Link to the full post.

Amazing, two more species discovered. This has to be some kind of record for species discovery. It really makes you wonder what all is still left out there in the remote corners of the world for us to find. If you like hearing about new species and other cryptid creatures, you should head over to Loren Coleman's Cryptomundo blog for lots of great posts. Photo by Thomas Arndt, Courtesy of The Field Museum.

They asked...

Found the pic over at Attu Sees All. Check out his blog for more great stuff.