Bzzzzzzz!

[Ed62]

I went passed a barn today, that had a huge sign covering one complete side. It read something like "Get rid of cell phones. Save the bees."

There have been reports that the frequencies related to cell phone use, confuse bees, and they can't find their way back to the hive. They then die. I don't know how accurate these reports are, but when I heard it, I wondered how many people would be willing to give up their cell phones to save the bees. That would be a big inconvenience. So my question is, Are you willing to do without your cell phone to save them (if the claim has substantial data to prove it to be right)?

Ed

[final_t]

Not true, all speculation on the parts of reporters (cell phones just *now* are causing a problem??). The scientists believe it's more than likely a viral infection that is causing them to die off.

[Alex Franke]

I was just reading about the honeybee problem the other day -- http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americ...eut/index.html

I think I'd prefer to keep the cell phone, but reduce usage to a minimum -- use it for emergencies and the like.

What I don't get this: The beekeepers lose the bees out at farms in the middle of nowhere. Seems like there probably wouldn't be a lot of cell phones or towers in the same places they're losing the bees... The phones probably do more damage to our brains than the bees...

[hermit]

I still don't have one ...... how do I vote?

Todd

[LCHIEN]

can I stop driving and save the dinosaurs?

[MilDoc]

Haven't had one in years and don't want one for as little as I'd ever use it.

[Jaden]

There are also reports that cow flatulence is destoying the ozone layer.....so do your part to preserve the ozone.......eat a cow


Steve


(yes......this joke stolen directly from Ron White)

[Russianwolf]

While I agree that the chances are slim that cell phone are causing the problem, the question was "IF there is evidence to prove it to be true". If it were true, I would have no problem giving up my phone. I think having fruits, vegtables and nuts is a much better thing.

[eddy merckx]

I would happily give up my cel phone for any legitimate sounding reason.

Eddy

[LCHIEN]

How about this, can we just give each bee a miniature cell phone with GPS to help them find their way home? See, Modern technology can solve any problem.



Oh, darn, just got to wondering where they would plug them in to recharge at night. so much for that idea.

[Black wallnut]

can I stop driving and save the dinosaurs?

Exactly!! Although there is plenty of production agriculture in areas without much cell usage, there is also much agriculture close to mega population centers.

[Ken Massingale]

I agree there is still a very big IF involved, but....

Those making light of this might not be aware that the honeybee population has been reduced in the last several decades by loss of habitat to the point that bees have to be trucked to large agricultural areas to pollinate the crops that we depend on. Now for several years those large commercial hive colony owners that get paid the truck their hives to those areas are very rapidly loosing their bees for 'some' reason.
Scoff at the possibility that cell towers/phones are part of the problem if you want, don't expect sympathy from me when you start complaining about low food supplies and high prices.
There's something wrong out there guys, and not just with bees. Wake up.

[25]

How about this, can we just give each bee a miniature cell phone with GPS to help them find their way home? See, Modern technology can solve any problem.



Oh, darn, just got to wondering where they would plug them in to recharge at night. so much for that idea.

If we have that kind of technology then we can assume that we also have the technology to be able to strap a little generator on their back powered by their wings .

[DaveS]

I was thinking that maybe the bees got outsourced.

[cwsmith]

I guess it's easy to make light of this mysterious loss of bees. Perhaps we don't really care, it's a lot like the other intrusions we have forced on the planet.

Hey, I just bought our first cell phone last week. I haven't used it yet and really don't plan on it, but with traveling much more than usual this last year it might come in handy if I have a breakdown someplace. But beyond that, a cell phone is the last thing in the world I need or want. Other than that, they seem to be a scourge on society IMO.

How in the world did we ever survive prior to ten years ago. Can any of us imagine how difficult life must have been to drive down the highway, work on a job, or take a walk through the neighborhood when we were all alone (even with a good friend or a loved one by our side) It's extremely frightening to think that if the cell phone went away, we might be forced to talk to the person right next to us, or pay attention to the road, or even focus on the job without the need to be interupted by that need to press the plastic to our ear.

Well, hopefully we'll discover that the bees have another problem. Otherwise the world will surely plunge into another dark age.

CWS