Resonse to Friend Regarding Evolution Before Our Eyes

This post is in response to a couple articles my good friend Blake presented to me. 
Animals That are Evolving Right Before Our Eyes
Ant Species May Support a Controversial Theory on Evolution

First of all, I am always glad to get interaction and discussion involved. I don't have all the answers to all the skeptics questions, and I always welcome expanding my knowledge and hearing an alternative position. 

Let me begin by stating that the creationist model requires great flexibility and adaptability within the animal kingdom. This adaptability is made possible by having an enormous amount of already-programed genetic information available to the creature that allows certain traits to become apparent via natural selection. Over the years, through breeding and isolation, certain traits are kept and others are whittled away. Think of it as once there was a lot of information and now we see loss of information. Thus we should see examples of de-evolution such as example #7 and the skinks from #4 and #3 from the first article. 
In #7, an increasing number of elephants did not have tusks, due (probably) to the demand for ivory. Elephants without tusks (which have existed previously) have a better chance of breeding now than before the ivory-driven elephant poaching. This is natural selection. This is not upwards, onward evolution. The elephants without tusks has less information than elephants with tusks. These elephants, along with the skinks that are losing their legs are losing capability, not gaining new ones. I hate that we are seeing this take place.
 #6, dogs are super smart and adapt to their environment. These Russian dogs ride the subway and rob people blind using charm and strong-paw techniques. Coyotes have always impressed me with their hunting/survival tricks. I'm sure these dogs learned what works, and passed it on to their pups, generation to generation, just like a mother lion teaches her young to hunt.
#5 Fish became immune to toxins dumped by humans. I believe this is an example of incredible design. The creator of this fish (and many other fish) hooked it up with the ability to recognize and overcome toxins!  
#4 Lizards dance to stay alive. Apparently these lizards have figured out that to get lethal fire ants off of them they can shake. This trait appears to be learned and passed from generation to generation. Although cool and all, not evidence for the origin of species. It also claims the legs are evolving to be longer. Look at greyhounds, they have long legs as well, from selective breeding. Humans selected desirable traits from pre-existing information; the nature did it for the lizards. Fortunately the creator made room for the creatures to populate and adapt to the earth and it's various environments and demands. Animals can specialize, but do not become new creatures.  
#3 Lizards became omnivores, when they previously were carnivores. The lizards evolved a new muscle that slowed their digestion to allow them to eat veggies. I am pretty sure that a thorough examination of the pre-1971 lizard innards genome would show a cecal valve gene. It didn't just invent this valve/muscle; this is present in other lizards and even humans.
That's all I have time for now, I will post more later!