Comments on: Snow, Sun, Wasps, and Bees

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:34:00 +0000

rickrusselltx: I appreciate your comments Rick. I can see how it would be easy to write a "what if" catastrophe article on this subject. the questions certainly came out of my mouth during interviews.

But as I worked through the story I was fascinated by the scientific detective work and I had not really seen much of that in the general press.

ale: I think it was in a book that I read about the name. I remember seeing overhead diagrams of the Vespa design next to an insect image...

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:30:00 +0000

gina: thanks! Say hello to Stacy for me.

ronman: Tennessee is a great place to ride as well. I've always considered the two states sort of similar in topography, at least in the Appalachian region.

And thanks for your kind words about the article.

heinz & frenchie: This was an extra-curricular activity at work. I'm not a writer but asked if I could give this topic a whirl. The editor gave me a go.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:26:00 +0000

doug c: I spent some time gathering journal articles and materials already published in the scientific community and went over them just to have a solid understanding. And I also looked at a variety of articles in the general press and on Web sites. I suspect this took 4 to 6 hours of work.

Most of what I learned was from direct interviews with the various researchers and scientists involved in the work. I think I did 7 interviews and each one was about an hour long.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:24:00 +0000

Brent: Still at PSU. My primary role at the magazine is as a photographer and photo editor. I work with the writers and art director to produce or locate suitable images for illustration. I'm still getting up to speed since this is a new responsibility. I used to do this before but not since 1991.

The writing was something I volunteered to do. I was interested in the CCD issue and I was a blog writer so I figured I must be qualified....

hrw115: I'm ready to get in the garden too. Lots of work waiting and I am ready!

rick: It is scary. It's easy to let my mind run wild with possibilities. But I will keep watching what the scientist's uncover.

irondad: You must have seen me at a Barnes and Noble! I'm just trying to figure out if I have a superpower that I am unaware of.

AS far as an attack Vespa goes, maybe. But not sure who or what I am attacking? Boredom? Indolence? Indecision? Noise? Chaos maybe.

By: Ale-

Ale- — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:22:00 +0000

"Somewhere along the line of scooter ownership I learned that Vespa means wasp in Italian"

...might it be my weblog? ;-)

L'Insetto Scoppiettante (the Arkansas Chuggabug)

this post might be the key!

By: RickRussellTX

RickRussellTX — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:38:00 +0000

I concur, really good article. You covered all the scientific bases in reasonable detail. Too many journalists would obsess on the "human cost" and lose sight of the important and difficult scientific aspects of the problem. The discussion about getting clean data, which comes up several times, is something that really needs to be emphasized in any article about real science.

As a former journalist and almost scientist myself, I am impressed.

By: Heinz & Frenchie

Heinz & Frenchie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:36:00 +0000

We had read a previous short article on this problem about a year ago. Great job on this one. Very well covered and full of pertinent information. Is this in the line of your normal work or was this an extra curricular project? So well done!

By: Ronman

Ronman — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:24:00 +0000

Always love your photos Steve. I really need to get up in that part of the country sometime on my "scooter". As for the Bees I've been hearing about this problem for the past two or three years.......I don't think folks realize how much these bees do for mankind.......great work as always my friend.

Ride Safe

Ronman

By: Gina Marie

Gina Marie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:18:00 +0000

We got the magazine today in the mail. The article looks great! Stacy and I are looking forward to reading about the bees. Awesome job!

By: Doug C

Doug C — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:24:00 +0000

Kudos on both the photos and the article, Steve.

Just out of curiousity, how much time was involved with the research for the article. Certainly looks like something that required considerable time.

Excellent as aways.