So what set off this flock of Grackles? And note that they are large and loud Crow-like birds. Is there a connection between toad-murdering crows of Germany and this Houston event? Don't you want to know?

Then, lo and behold, Reuters' news service reported that on May 19, a sleepy little Russian village's lake simply DISAPPEARED overnight! Imagine that! You go to bed telling wife that you will be up before crack of dawn to go "Wet a Hook". You get up, eat a little something, grab gear, and walk down to lake, only to find that it is gone--Poof! [2]

I assure you I am not making any of this up. An entire lake was there when Russians went to bed and next morning it was gone.

Get this: The article is entitled, "Lake Disappears, baffling villagers". They find it, what, a little baffling? I wonder if TERRORIZED would have been a more appropriate word? Baffled just doesn't cut it. I am thinking that an overnight disappearance of an entire lake would elicit a little stronger reaction like,

"Мы тянем наших ишаков из здесь".

This roughly translates to,

"We are hauling our butts out of here."

Just what devil is going on here? Exploding toads in Germany (the explanation was NOT conclusive), vicious people-attacking CROW-like birds in Houston (authorities had to close down that section of street), then overnight disappearance of an entire lake.

Just where are Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Skully when you need them?

[1] Hostile Grackels Attack People in Houston; Associated Press

[2] Lake Disappears, baffling villagers.

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. He is a columnist with Cricketsoda.com and the Magic City Morning Star. He is also listed with Ezinearticles.com. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His newest book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can now be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241