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Sunday, September 09, 2007
Oy... did it have to be discovered here?
I actually started this post with the intention of thanking all the people who were nice enough to send me links to news articles about the 3000 year old bee hives found near Beit Sha'an, as well as the near constant flow of links I've gotten to sources that discuss the ongoing disappearance of North American honeybees dubbed CCD for colony collapse disorder.
In almost four years of blogging I doubt I've written more than half a dozen posts about my bees... but it must have stuck in people's memories because anytime there is something in the news about bees I get an avalanche of emails pointing to the source.
As I was reading one such article about CCD over the weekend, I saw with growing discomfort that many scientists suspect the cause may be an obscure virus called 'Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV)'.
Oy... this is all we're missing! Israel is already to blame for most of the world's ills (according to Jimmy Carter's latest literary effort, anyway), so if it turns out that we're also the source of a virus that is potentially endangering the humble honeybee, the cornerstones of global agriculture... I can't even imagine the negative fallout.
After reading on a bit, It turns out that the virus got it's name because it was first identified by Israeli researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem... which makes sense. But still... couldn't they have passed up taking credit just this once?
I suppose I shouldn't be too worried about the negative associations. After all, I don't hold anybody from Holland personally responsible for Dutch Elm Disease. But still, 'Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus' sounds so, well... evil!
If we could just get Dhimmy Carter to visit the region and get bitten by a Palestinian Viper, it might help even things out.
Just a thought.
Posted by David Bogner on September 9, 2007 | Permalink
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My friend, the blogger and bee-keeper Treppenwitz berated thanked me (and others) for sending him a link discussing the discovery of beehives showing a beekeeping industry going back to First Temple times.
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Comments
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The CCD issue has dropped off the radar screen around here, I haven't heard about it in a while. An acquaintance called me yesterday, concerned about a swarm of bees at his parent's house, all hanging out in a mango tree. I told him they were probably looking for a new place to build a hive and give me a call back if they build one around the house. I'd hook him up with the bee keeper that removed the hive from my sliding glass door.
At first glance, that viper could be mistaken for one of the pit vipers around here like the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake or Cottonmouth. But the shape of the Palestinian Viper's head and his head markings are far different. Good to know, since I plan on hitting some trails over there.
That snake pictured on the Wikipedia page was about to lay some hurt on the photographer. He was not happy.
Posted by: Karl Newman | Sep 9, 2007 1:44:38 PM
At least you know that people are thinking of you :)
Shavua tov!
Posted by: tnspr569 | Sep 9, 2007 4:04:45 PM
Rule number one: If you discover a planet, a new species of plant, or a cute woodland creature- name it after yourself.
Rule number two: Never name anything bad after yourself, especially a virus that kills cute little honey bees.
Posted by: Alice | Sep 9, 2007 4:48:52 PM
"The CCD issue has dropped off the radar screen around here, I haven't heard about it in a while."
Actually, NPR just aired a show about it. I think just this past week.
Posted by: jaime | Sep 9, 2007 4:57:59 PM
Glad to have helped fatten your inbox along with half of your loyal readership.
Your viper reference is a timely reminder - last year for Sukkot vacation we went camping up north and a friend's kid was bitten by that exact snake while walking barefoot at night at our campsite. Two of us caught the snake on the end of a barbecue fork and I raced it over to the hospital in a plastic bag so they could identify it and treat the victim with the appropriate antidote.
So of course, we're going right back to the same place again this year, you guys coming??
Posted by: yonah | Sep 9, 2007 7:02:31 PM
Huh. I wonder whether that was the snake I encountered here in the city when I leaned over a stone wall to sniff a rosebush. Something at my feet jumped, I jumped back, and as I watched with jaw hanging open a big ol' snake tore butt down the street. It was obvious that it was more frightened of me than I was of it. The snake looked a bit like the one in the picture, but since I know almost nothing about snakes, that's not saying much. There could be plenty of harmless lookalikes out there.
Posted by: Rahel | Sep 9, 2007 8:37:44 PM
Well, it was inevitable once Jews took a break from poisoning wells and shooting at defenseless Arab children that they would start working on paralizing honey bees. I'm surprised they did it with a virus. I always thought they'd use an evil space ray.
/sarcasm
Posted by: Doctor Bean | Sep 9, 2007 9:58:42 PM
Anyone who can beat a killer rabbit with a paddle has nothing to fear from Palestinian vipers.
Posted by: Bob | Sep 10, 2007 7:15:14 AM
Hmmm..."Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus"...
Should I make a snide remark about how that must be what's afflicting certain members of the Israeli government?
Nah - too easy. ;)
Posted by: psachya | Sep 10, 2007 9:09:17 AM
Karl Newman... Can't speak to the snake's disposition, but you can pass along that there are very few things more gentle than a swarm of bees clustered on a tree branch or mailbox. They are outside the hive and have almost no defensive instincts. The best thing is to call a local beekeeper... he/she will usually be happy to add a swarm to their own apiary.
tnspr569... Trust me, I'm not complaining at all!
Alice... Good rules.
jaime... Oy, you listen to NPR? And you still talk to us Israeli baby-killers?
yonah... Love to, but I have a gig. ;-)
Rahel... Best not to look too closely. :-)
Doctor Bean... I'm seriously waiting for the Palis to pick up on this and call it deliberate biological warfare.
Bob... Did I miss something?
psachya... Actually, that is a very astute remark. Wish I'd thought of it.
Posted by: treppenwitz | Sep 10, 2007 12:02:30 PM
Actually I was thinking of you over Shabbos. As I walked back from shul, I could see into the backyard of one house (the leaves are starting to thin out). I saw several white boxes piled up, and a swarm of something buzzing around them. Hmmmm... looks like a beehive, based on your photos!
My folks are having a bee problem though, bees apparently built a hive through the access in a light above the back door. But because that means the bees are actually in the house (behind the siding) they were told a beekeeper wouldn't take them, they'd have to call an exterminator. :-(
Posted by: JDMDad | Sep 10, 2007 2:51:05 PM
David, you mean that YOU don't like to listen to NPR, PRI, and APM? You are surely missing out on some great programs including one of my favorite quiz shows ... Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Btw, Doc Bean - that's hilarious.
Posted by: Jaime | Sep 10, 2007 11:07:48 PM
Jaime,
I du not hav eenuf edjukaton tu lisin tu npR. :)
David,
Among the other indignities that he brought upon himself during his time as President (Iranian hostage crisis, responsibility for rampant inflation, etc.), Jimmy was attacked by a swamp rabbit while fishing from a boat. He had to run it off with a paddle.
http://www.narsil.org/politics/carter/killer_rabbit.html
Dhimmy Carter, that's pretty good. Can I use that? :)
Posted by: Karl Newman | Sep 11, 2007 12:31:27 AM
I also liked the Dhimmy Carter reference. Don't think the Palestinian Viper idea would work, though. If your evil plan succeeded, and we could get Peanut Man bitten... they'd change the name of the viper, before it hit the press. Such is the efficiency of the MSM in protecting the Ancient Balestinian.
Posted by: rutimizrachi | Sep 11, 2007 1:56:58 PM
I am assuming/hoping that the comment about Israel being to blame for all bad things on earth was sarcasm/joke.
****** Oy... this is all we're missing! Israel is already to blame for most of the world's ills (according to Jimmy Carter's latest literary effort, anyway),
Posted by: Rich | Dec 16, 2007 5:34:01 AM
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