Japanese Girls are Hotter

Remember the photo of the Giant Asian Hornet in my last post?  Just look what they can do to a honey bee hive. 

 Payback's a bitch.

Queen Bee Wat(t)son

You know about phantom rings?  Like when you hallucinate hearing your cel-phone even though it isn't actually ringing?  Or your butt goes all tingly because you think your phone's vibrating even though it isn't in your back pocket?  Now I hear bees all the time, even when they aren't there.

Here's a video that Christian made one time when we went to collect bees.  I'm wrong about one thing though--I said that the newspaper gets taken away, but that isn't so.  The bees just chew through the paper, so there isn't any need to remove it.  This lady has a nice explanation on her blog.  In fact, I found tons of blog posts and videos on combining weak hives with strong ones.

You might also wonder why I AM SUCH A DWEEB  in this video.  Probably I would have come across more naturally, but I had already explained this to him once, and he asked me to do it again for the camera.  Wheras the first time I was just telling him about it,  the second time I was trying to remember what I had said and repeat it.  So there. 



Oh, and just so you know that I know, Watson only has one T.  I didn't title the video.  So the spelling nazi's in the audience can pipe down now.

Since the shot of the combined hive in my dorky little film is kind of far away, here's a photo that I found which shows everything quite clearly.

Photo from http://plantertomato.typepad.com/

Injectable Bee Venom

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I get my bees from my friend Earl, who lives right up the street.  But winter is coming on, and that means cold, wind, and rain.  In turn, that means bees clustering in the bottom of the hive, not near the top where I get them from.  It's already hard enough for me to get my own bees.  I have to go to the bee yard at least twice a week, and psychologically it's a bit like having to pick my own switch. Don't get me wrong--I like going out to the bee yard.  But sometimes I don't feel like it, and then I don't sting within my 72 hour window, and the BVT isn't as effective as it should be.

So to secure an additional source of bees I mail ordered some from a place called Allen's Bee Ranch in Redding, CA. They should arrive today! This will be a good option for me as well if I need to travel, because I can just have the bees sent to my destination, and they will be waiting for me!

I also want to give injectable bee venom a try.  My source says that live bee venom is 100% potent in the spring and summer (when the weather is warm and they can forage from good pollen sources) but only 25%-35% potent in the winter.  Injectable bee venom, also called Apitoxin, is around 85%-90% potentcy.  Of course, these numbers are approximate, because some bees have more potent venom than others for various reasons--even bees in the same hive.  But the point is that in the winter, injectable venom might be preferable to live venom.  It also will be much more convenient.

In any case, I would like to have different options available to me so that I don't have an excuse not to sting.  I try to be committed to it, but sometimes it is really difficult, especially now that I do so many stings per session.  

Here's a video showing how bee venom is harvested using an electronic venom collector.  I have to warn you though--the music will really get you going.  As in, you'll want to adventure on the high seas like a pirate or something after watching this video.  Additionally, if you have a coke problem, you probably shouldn't watch it.  You'll see what I'm talking about. 

The thing is, for me to procure ampules of bee venom, I need a doctor.  I don't necessarily need a prescription, but here's what the website states as their requirement:

"Powdered and liquid bee venom orders must be received in writing on the letterhead of a medical practitioner, pharmacist, researcher or a laboratory that is certified to work with chemicals."

My rheumatologist might be willing to help me with this, but I don't know.  I'm kind of afraid to ask her.  I'm thinking about putting something a request up on Craigslist.  Or possibly one of the doctors who I met at the AAS conference in New Orleans would lend a hand.  Or maybe one of you, my dear and faithful readers, has a doctor or a researcher friend...   

Hook a girl up.  In the name of science and adventure. 

Katherine! What are you DOING?!

My friend Dusty Paik MADE ME A MOVIE!!!!!!!  When I awoke at 4am this morning (New Orleans jet lag plus the time change) there was a little prezzie on my phone :-)  I like it so much that it's making me tear up.  You will too.






Here she is--go visit her Etsy store!!

a B Movie

Get it?  B Movie?  Seriously, I slay me.  Go gitcherself some popcorn.  This baby is premiering at Cannes.  Angelina, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, mama's takin' over.

Our technique has changed and been refined considerably since the time we filmed this (at least 2 months ago), and we also do between 12 to 16 stings per session now (in the video we only do 5).

I was recently alerted to the fact that there's already a movie with this title out there.  Of course, my bubble was burst (thanks Lloyd) after the name had come to me in a seizure of double entendre glory.  Maybe the producers or whoever will see it (highly unlikely, but I have illusions of grandeur so maybe) and tell me that I'm infringing on something.  I don't really know how that all works. But I have an "A" at the beginning, and I only use the letter "B" instead of spelling it out, which is minutely different...
 
What if Barry Gibbs sees it and decides that I deserve a 3 week tropical vacation at his expense and a million dollars cash for all the pain and suffering I have heretofore endured? 

Who knows what will happen.  But until it does, I do what I want.