Comments on: Things you don’t think about: Bees http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees Riskable's home on the web Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:37:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Riskable » Colony Collapse Disorder probably due to typical free-market behavioral patterns http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees#comment-1095 Riskable » Colony Collapse Disorder probably due to typical free-market behavioral patterns Fri, 04 May 2007 20:06:26 +0000 http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees/#comment-1095 [...] In February I wrote about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is the moniker used to describe the phenomenon of enormous amounts of bee colonies dying off. I speculated that it was likely due to run-of-the-mill inappropriate use of pesticides. Turns out I was probably half-right: I just discovered the most thorough article on the problem I’ve seen. It is full of references, facts, and seems to have the best answer yet as to what is going on: It is a complete ecosystem problem. [...] [...] In February I wrote about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is the moniker used to describe the phenomenon of enormous amounts of bee colonies dying off. I speculated that it was likely due to run-of-the-mill inappropriate use of pesticides. Turns out I was probably half-right: I just discovered the most thorough article on the problem I’ve seen. It is full of references, facts, and seems to have the best answer yet as to what is going on: It is a complete ecosystem problem. [...]

]]> By: jer http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees#comment-986 jer Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:05:33 +0000 http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees/#comment-986 :) Yeah, I do realize that :) :)

Yeah, I do realize that :)

]]> By: Riskable http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees#comment-985 Riskable Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:56:08 +0000 http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees/#comment-985 Uh, you do realize that African honeybees are "killer bees". They actually *have* migrated to North America and when they mix with the normal honeybees (i.e. the European honeybee =) they become "Africanized bees" (i.e. killer bees). So yes, what you propose has already happened... It just wasn't a great outcome. -Riskable "Soul Search Box: A broken search engine (i.e. you search for answers and only get 404s)." Uh, you do realize that African honeybees are “killer bees”. They actually *have* migrated to North America and when they mix with the normal honeybees (i.e. the European honeybee =) they become “Africanized bees” (i.e. killer bees).

So yes, what you propose has already happened… It just wasn’t a great outcome.

-Riskable
“Soul Search Box: A broken search engine (i.e. you search for answers and only get 404s).”

]]> By: jer http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees#comment-984 jer Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:02:12 +0000 http://riskable.com/2007/02/27/things-you-dont-think-about-bees/#comment-984 I heard somewhere a few years back that all non-farmed bees were killed of due to some infection that spread like wildfire. Only bees with the benefit of antibiotics survived. I suspect that this story isn't true, but I heard it being told to a vegan as an example of how enslaving animals can be a good thing. Purportedly, if we hadn't enslaved them -- and given them healthcare in the process -- they'd all be dead. I'm not traditionally in favor of robbing societies of freedoms, but the least a dictator can do is provide healthcare for its citizens, right? :) What they need to do now is somehow breed bees from a heartier climate (like say Africa) with a more productive bee (like one from Europe) and we'll get a "super bee" that we can then allow to slowly take over the pollenation duties here in America. What could go wrong? I heard somewhere a few years back that all non-farmed bees were killed of due to some infection that spread like wildfire. Only bees with the benefit of antibiotics survived.

I suspect that this story isn’t true, but I heard it being told to a vegan as an example of how enslaving animals can be a good thing. Purportedly, if we hadn’t enslaved them — and given them healthcare in the process — they’d all be dead.

I’m not traditionally in favor of robbing societies of freedoms, but the least a dictator can do is provide healthcare for its citizens, right? :)

What they need to do now is somehow breed bees from a heartier climate (like say Africa) with a more productive bee (like one from Europe) and we’ll get a “super bee” that we can then allow to slowly take over the pollenation duties here in America. What could go wrong?

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