All Discussions Tagged 'insects' - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T09:35:43Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=insects&feed=yes&xn_auth=nothe beestag:www.classroom20.com,2007-04-25:649749:Topic:81002007-04-25T23:34:02.555ZConnie Weberhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/connieweber
At home, I use dial-up. Am I the last one? Does anyone else know what it's like to be able to go get a cup of tea between clicks? At school, things are lightning fast. The contrast is dramatic.<br />
Here at home we might shortly get Washtenaw Wireless, a county initiative to hookup the "most rural and outlying areas." Everyone would then have low-cost high-speed internet connectivity. Great, right?<br />
<br />
For connecting to the wide world, great.<br />
But...<br />
<br />
Has anyone heard about Colony Collapse Disorder? No,…
At home, I use dial-up. Am I the last one? Does anyone else know what it's like to be able to go get a cup of tea between clicks? At school, things are lightning fast. The contrast is dramatic.<br />
Here at home we might shortly get Washtenaw Wireless, a county initiative to hookup the "most rural and outlying areas." Everyone would then have low-cost high-speed internet connectivity. Great, right?<br />
<br />
For connecting to the wide world, great.<br />
But...<br />
<br />
Has anyone heard about Colony Collapse Disorder? No, it's not about social networking, not this sort anyhow.<br />
Bees are dying, all over the country, and in Europe, too. It's inexplicable. The hive itself will be intact and seemingly healthy. The honey supply will be plentiful; bodies of sick or dead bees are not to be found. The bees just simply disappear.<br />
<br />
Why this isn't front page news in every major newspaper, I don't know.<br />
<br />
Scientists are onto this. They're working to find out what in the world is going on, and are generating a lot of theories: climate, stress, pesticides, an accumulation of viruses. There's also a theory that I initially dismissed as "way out there": wireless connections may be disrupting the bees' ability to navigate or communicate.<br />
<br />
I didn't give that theory the time of day until last weekend when I went for a walk with my neighborhood friend who's a beekeeper. I noticed a big red mark on her forehead and asked her about it.<br />
Her response: "Oh, I should have known better. I was so stupid. My phone went off and i just answered it, right while I was checking on the hive."<br />
"Yeah...so..."<br />
"Instantly one took a dive bomb at my face and then the whole hive was alarmed. I got out of there, fast. See my stings?"<br />
I was incredulous. "You think the phone going off made the bees mad?" (She doesn't even use the ringer, just keeps it on vibrate. She carries the phone in her pocket.)<br />
"Without doubt. Beekeepers know (or should know, I was SO stupid) that you don't use devices around bees. Very dangerous."<br />
<br />
After talking with her, I began wondering. What if there actually is a connection between the demise of the bees and our luxurious connectivity to wireless communications? Could this possibly be a factor in the problems the bees are having? I'm wondering if I should be quite as enthusiastic about our wild area going wireless.<br />
<br />
Is this silly?