Comments on: Lo, the Black Raspberry! http://www.wonderofcreation.org/2009/07/09/lo-the-black-raspberry/ "Wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." —Job 9:10 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:54:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rdrcomp http://www.wonderofcreation.org/2009/07/09/lo-the-black-raspberry/comment-page-1/#comment-427 rdrcomp Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:14:48 +0000 http://www.wonderofcreation.org/?p=3259#comment-427 Uh, the state bird of Alaska is the Alaska Willow Ptarmigan. A few internet sites list the mosquito as the "unofficial" state bird (but who's arguing?) If those things really get to be a pound???? I'm staying in the south!! They will itch you silly here, but no mistaking them for a helicopter. I did read that although they have a lot of mosquitoes up there and about a dozen varieties, they don't carry disease. Just itch! I understand that school children in Alaska voted on the state insect, and a type of dragonfly won over the mosquito, but not by much. They must actually like those things up there. I have a niece and nephew who live in Alaska (not brother and sister, and they live in different parts of the state), and they love it there. Had a brother in law who developed heart disease while living in Palmer AK, and doctors advised him to return to the 48 because life in Alaska was too rugged for him anymore. I've never been, but sure would like to someday. Keeping DEET at hand just in case I get there. Bob Uh, the state bird of Alaska is the Alaska Willow Ptarmigan. A few internet sites list the mosquito as the “unofficial” state bird (but who’s arguing?)

If those things really get to be a pound???? I’m staying in the south!! They will itch you silly here, but no mistaking them for a helicopter.

I did read that although they have a lot of mosquitoes up there and about a dozen varieties, they don’t carry disease. Just itch!

I understand that school children in Alaska voted on the state insect, and a type of dragonfly won over the mosquito, but not by much. They must actually like those things up there.

I have a niece and nephew who live in Alaska (not brother and sister, and they live in different parts of the state), and they love it there. Had a brother in law who developed heart disease while living in Palmer AK, and doctors advised him to return to the 48 because life in Alaska was too rugged for him anymore.

I’ve never been, but sure would like to someday. Keeping DEET at hand just in case I get there.

Bob

]]> By: Dean Ohlman http://www.wonderofcreation.org/2009/07/09/lo-the-black-raspberry/comment-page-1/#comment-426 Dean Ohlman Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:21:26 +0000 http://www.wonderofcreation.org/?p=3259#comment-426 At this point in scientific research apparently the most we know is that the mosquito makes up the diet of several birds, bats, and larger insects. But since we are "east of Eden" and under the curse, for all we know they may be (or at least their huge numbers) the result of either the Fall or the curse. However, since massive amounts of mosquitoes inhabit the wilderness areas, say the tundra, where there are few humans and large warm-blooded animals to feed them all on blood, we could assume that they have an ecological role to fulfill that we have not identified. Or there could well be long-standing ecological imbalances that have made the mosquito a larger problem than they might be. As one wise naturalist said, "Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, they are more complex than we <em>can </em>think." Which brings to mind the question: "Do you know the state bird of Alaska?" It's the mosquito! The story is told there of a young aircraft service attendant who absent-mindedly filled a mosquito with aircraft fuel when he was supposed to fill the helicopter next to it! A lot of mosquitoes in Alaska weigh a pound---but you do have to collect a lot of them! And while I'm on a facetious run here, I do have to propose this next question: "Do you know what the Alaska state wine is?" "I waaant to go to Hawaii!" (That works best of course spoken and not written since the wine in question is actually spelled 'whine.'") At this point in scientific research apparently the most we know is that the mosquito makes up the diet of several birds, bats, and larger insects. But since we are “east of Eden” and under the curse, for all we know they may be (or at least their huge numbers) the result of either the Fall or the curse. However, since massive amounts of mosquitoes inhabit the wilderness areas, say the tundra, where there are few humans and large warm-blooded animals to feed them all on blood, we could assume that they have an ecological role to fulfill that we have not identified. Or there could well be long-standing ecological imbalances that have made the mosquito a larger problem than they might be. As one wise naturalist said, “Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, they are more complex than we can think.”

Which brings to mind the question: “Do you know the state bird of Alaska?” It’s the mosquito! The story is told there of a young aircraft service attendant who absent-mindedly filled a mosquito with aircraft fuel when he was supposed to fill the helicopter next to it! A lot of mosquitoes in Alaska weigh a pound—but you do have to collect a lot of them! And while I’m on a facetious run here, I do have to propose this next question: “Do you know what the Alaska state wine is?” “I waaant to go to Hawaii!” (That works best of course spoken and not written since the wine in question is actually spelled ‘whine.’”)

]]> By: rdrcomp http://www.wonderofcreation.org/2009/07/09/lo-the-black-raspberry/comment-page-1/#comment-425 rdrcomp Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:47:27 +0000 http://www.wonderofcreation.org/?p=3259#comment-425 Black Raspberrys look great on ice cream. Will have to try that soon. My choice is still the blackberry, just part of my redneck upbringing I suppose. But regardless, ripe fruit picked from the prickly bushes is always tasty. My dilemma is where does the mosquito fit into the wonder of creation. Being outdoors so much, I'm kind of used to them, but when you think about it, does their existence make sense? I've gotten past the question of snakes, but haven't quite reached any good conclusion about the mosquito. I suppose those of you all in the northern parts of the country ask about the black flies, while others ask about the varmints in other locales. Not questioning the wisdom of the Father in this, just wondering what purpose they provide other than their peskiness is just another way of having to resort to the mercy of the Lord Jesus (and that's not a bad reason for them after all!) Bob Black Raspberrys look great on ice cream. Will have to try that soon. My choice is still the blackberry, just part of my redneck upbringing I suppose. But regardless, ripe fruit picked from the prickly bushes is always tasty.

My dilemma is where does the mosquito fit into the wonder of creation. Being outdoors so much, I’m kind of used to them, but when you think about it, does their existence make sense? I’ve gotten past the question of snakes, but haven’t quite reached any good conclusion about the mosquito. I suppose those of you all in the northern parts of the country ask about the black flies, while others ask about the varmints in other locales.

Not questioning the wisdom of the Father in this, just wondering what purpose they provide other than their peskiness is just another way of having to resort to the mercy of the Lord Jesus (and that’s not a bad reason for them after all!)

Bob

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