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and Golden Bell Frog"> and Golden Bell Frog" width="100" height="69" longdesc="l/i/t/Image%7ELitoria_aurea_green.jpg_4fe7.html" />

The and Golden Bell Frog">Green and Golden Bell Frog is a ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Measuring 11 centimetres (4.3 in) in length, the Green and Golden Bell Frog is one of the largest Australian frogs. Many populations, particularly in the Sydney region, are in areas of frequent disturbance, including golf courses, disused industrial land, brick pits and landfill areas. Once one of the most common frogs in south-east Australia, the Green and Golden Bell Frog has undergone major population declines, leading to its current classification as globally vulnerable. Population numbers have continued to decline and major threats include habitat loss and degradation, pollution, introduced species, and parasites and pathogens, such as the amphibian chytrid fungus. ( and Golden Bell Frog">more...)

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From Wikipedia's newest articles:

... that the printmaking technique of mezzotint was invented in 1642 by professional soldier Lieutenant-Colonel Ludwig von Siegen (example pictured)?
...that Copeland Creek was significantly degraded by cattle overgrazing in the 19th century, but restoration efforts have reversed that trend?
...that Russian Indologist Gerasim Lebedev was the founder of the first European-style drama theatre in India and also the first printing house in Europe equipped with Indic scripts of Bengali and Devanagari?
... that Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is the nephew of former player Greg Campbell?
...that eleven Pacific hurricanes have had their names retired, due to the damage they caused and other reasons?
...that Herbert Gutman co-founded the "new labor history" school of thought, which focuses on the effects that ordinary people have had on the history of labor?
...that Major General John Paton commanded the rear party during the evacuation of Anzac Cove in World War I and was one of the last Australian soldiers to leave the beach?

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In the news

Outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan (pictured), in his final speech in office, encourages the United States to return to its historic commitments to multilateralism and human rights.
Former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet (age 91) dies one week after suffering a heart attack.
Christer Fuglesang becomes the first Scandinavian astronaut in space as the Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to the International Space Station.
Ethiopia begins to intervene in the Somali Civil War.
The Iraq Study Group releases its final report, describing the situation in the Iraq War as "grave and deteriorating" and making seventy-nine policy recommendations.

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On this day...

December 11: Republic Day in Burkina Faso (1958)

1282 - Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last independent Prince of Wales to rule in Wales, was killed in an ambush.
1602 - Geneva successfully repelled a late night attack by the combined forces of Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy and King Philip III of Spain (pictured), an event commemorated annually during the Fête de l'Escalade.
1931 - The Statute of Westminster gave complete legislative independence to the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
1946 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was established.
1981 - About 900 civilians in El Salvador were killed in the El Mozote massacre.

Recent days: December 10 – December 9 – December 8

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Today's featured picture

A male Mallard in mid-flight. The fundamentals of bird flight are similar to those of aircraft. Lift force is produced by the action of air-flow on the wing, which is an airfoil. This occurs because the air has a lower air pressure just above the wing and higher pressure below. When a bird flaps its wings they continue to develop lift but they also create an additional forward and upward force, thrust, to counteract its weight and drag.

Photo credit: Alan D. Wilson
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