Bee problems. They've been in the news a lot - and with good reason. Pollinating many of our major food crops without bees would be difficult to impossible.
Colony Collapse Disorder is the culprit, and all kinds of causes have been pointed to. Diet? Pesticides?
Researchers in Australia have, however, discovered what really happens when a hive "collapses." The hive resorts to child labor.
Worker bees take 14 days to fully mature. When a colony collapses, workers start going out before the critical 14 day point.
That means they don't fly as far, collect less food, and are more likely to be caught by predators. It also means they aren't doing the normal childhood chores of cleaning the hive and caring for eggs and larvae. As the young workers die, even younger bees go out, until suddenly...you don't have a colony.
So, why does a hive engage in self destructive behavior?
Stress.
Any kind of stress. There is no one cause of CCD. Some hives may collapse because of pesticides. Or fungal infections. Or lack of nutrition. Or weather.
In other words, we aren't dealing with a "disorder" or a "disease." We're dealing with a "syndrome" - a set of symptoms that can come from multiple causes.
And it's happened before. In 1903 in Utah, 2000 hives collapsed, apparently after a hard winter.
What can we do?
Beekeepers may be able to monitor a hive's health by tracking when young bees start to forage. (Yes, we have radio trackers we can put on bees now).
And, of course, we can all do stuff that helps bees, such as planting flowers they like in our gardens and not using insecticides unless we have to.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Review: Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone
Oh, where do I start? Urban fantasy is often seen as sort of
synonymous with contemporary fantasy - but it doesn't have to be.
Three Parts Dead combines urban fantasy with some elements
of steampunk (it doesn't really have the costumes) with legal thriller with
mystery. Tara just got thrown out of magic school (literally) for trying to
expose an unethical professor. Now she's been hired as a probationary associate
by a law firm.
In a world where magic is used in all the ways we use
technology and then some. Arguing a court case can be quite dangerous!
Especially when you're investigating the death of a God.
Oh, yes, and it also involves gargoyles, necromancy and
politics.
Three Parts Dead reminds me a little bit of The Iron
Dragon's Daughter (although I prefer the latter). It's a fun read.
One interesting aside on this. I was told by a Tor editor
that they do not put black people on book covers because it "reduces
distribution in the South." But I'm holding a Tor novel with a black woman
on the cover. So, apparently that policy is (thankfully) shifting.
(Copy obtained at World Fantasy Con).
Monday, February 9, 2015
Speculative Fiction Blog Hop
And...I'm doing a blog hop.
The previous person was Elle Chambers
Elle Chambers has been a lover of horror from the minute she heard the words, “It was a dark and stormy night.” She idolized Stephen King as a child and even attempted to put herself up for adoption in hopes that her hero would come take her under his wing and teach her everything he knew about the craft of dark fiction.
Elle is now a paranormal investigator in Ohio. She lives (mostly) alone with a black cat named Tabs and the occasional visitor from the great beyond.
She can be found on the web at http://indiespiritpress.com/
1) What is the name of your character? Is he or she fictional or a historic person?
I'm going to feature Dorothy Mayling. She's entirely fictional.
2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set in North Carolina, in the area around Raleigh, in an unspecified "near future."
3) What should we know about him or her?
Dorothy is a middle aged white woman with two children. She starts the book as rather racist and sexist (and maybe a little unlikeable). She's pretty much, though, an ordinary woman. She makes very nice jewelry, though. She's very loyal to her husband and her boys, and determined to keep her family together against all the odds. Although, she has her own secrets - which will come out in the book.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his or her life?
Zombies! Well, people who have caught a plague that turns them into unreasoning beasts. It's contagious and the victims are violent. There goes civilization.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
To protect her children, above all. Personal survival's in there, too, but really her goal is to keep her family intact as everything else falls apart all around them.
6) What is the title of the book(s), and where can find out more?
The book is "The Silent Years: Mother," and it's the first of a series of three novellas about the "Silent" plague.
Dorothy Mayling thought her worst problem was the long-standing family feud over her sister's choice of husband. Or her son's grades. Then the rumors started - bird flu in Seattle, SARS in Washington State? The truth is a hideous, terrible disease, one that slowly steals away the ability to speak and reason, turning people into nothing more than zombies. Worst of all, it was meant to be a weapon. Can Dorothy hold her family together as the world ends around them and people fall, one by one, to the silent plague?
You can get your own copy here.
7) When was the book published?
November 28, 2014. Volume 2, "Crone," was published on February 6.
On or about the 16th, visit Aurora Springer at http://auroraspringernovels.blogspot.com
She says about herself:
The previous person was Elle Chambers
Elle Chambers has been a lover of horror from the minute she heard the words, “It was a dark and stormy night.” She idolized Stephen King as a child and even attempted to put herself up for adoption in hopes that her hero would come take her under his wing and teach her everything he knew about the craft of dark fiction.
Elle is now a paranormal investigator in Ohio. She lives (mostly) alone with a black cat named Tabs and the occasional visitor from the great beyond.
She can be found on the web at http://indiespiritpress.com/
1) What is the name of your character? Is he or she fictional or a historic person?
I'm going to feature Dorothy Mayling. She's entirely fictional.
2) When and where is the story set?
The story is set in North Carolina, in the area around Raleigh, in an unspecified "near future."
3) What should we know about him or her?
Dorothy is a middle aged white woman with two children. She starts the book as rather racist and sexist (and maybe a little unlikeable). She's pretty much, though, an ordinary woman. She makes very nice jewelry, though. She's very loyal to her husband and her boys, and determined to keep her family together against all the odds. Although, she has her own secrets - which will come out in the book.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his or her life?
Zombies! Well, people who have caught a plague that turns them into unreasoning beasts. It's contagious and the victims are violent. There goes civilization.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
To protect her children, above all. Personal survival's in there, too, but really her goal is to keep her family intact as everything else falls apart all around them.
6) What is the title of the book(s), and where can find out more?
The book is "The Silent Years: Mother," and it's the first of a series of three novellas about the "Silent" plague.
Dorothy Mayling thought her worst problem was the long-standing family feud over her sister's choice of husband. Or her son's grades. Then the rumors started - bird flu in Seattle, SARS in Washington State? The truth is a hideous, terrible disease, one that slowly steals away the ability to speak and reason, turning people into nothing more than zombies. Worst of all, it was meant to be a weapon. Can Dorothy hold her family together as the world ends around them and people fall, one by one, to the silent plague?
You can get your own copy here.
7) When was the book published?
November 28, 2014. Volume 2, "Crone," was published on February 6.
On or about the 16th, visit Aurora Springer at http://auroraspringernovels.blogspot.com
She says about herself:
- I am a scientist morphing into a novelist. Whimsical stories in weird worlds. Science fiction and fantasy, love and war with a spice of humor. Aliens and outer space!
Friday, February 6, 2015
Friday Updates
The Silent Years: Crone is now available in all popular ebook formats!
Get your copy from these links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Silent-Years-Jennifer-Povey-ebook/dp/B00S9XKEF6/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silent-years-jennifer-r-povey/1121083061?ean=2940046519259
Smashwords (All formats): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510906
I posted my Farpoint schedule earlier this week.
Apparently I have to moderate Timothy Zahn...
Get your copy from these links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Silent-Years-Jennifer-Povey-ebook/dp/B00S9XKEF6/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-silent-years-jennifer-r-povey/1121083061?ean=2940046519259
Smashwords (All formats): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510906
I posted my Farpoint schedule earlier this week.
Apparently I have to moderate Timothy Zahn...
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Driverless Cars and Disruptive Technology
Overall, I'm in favor of driverless cars. They will revolutionize the lifestyle of many disabled people once perfected.
But they will also hasten the oncoming changes in our society.
Driverless cars can pick up fares faster, safer, and cheaper than a cabbie. They will not completely eliminate taxi drivers unless and until they come with robots that can help you put your luggage in the trunk. (And some people will probably always prefer the luxury of a human driver).
And good and bad? There will be far fewer cars. In urban areas, many people are already trading in car ownership for using public transport, ride sharing and car sharing services, or just renting a car when they need one. Most cars sit around not being driven 90% of the time. Fewer cars on the road means fewer cars being built. Great for the environment. Not so great for the auto workers.
I'm starting to think driverless cars are going to be one of the things that put the coffin nails in our current economic system. Something is going to have to change.
But they will also hasten the oncoming changes in our society.
Driverless cars can pick up fares faster, safer, and cheaper than a cabbie. They will not completely eliminate taxi drivers unless and until they come with robots that can help you put your luggage in the trunk. (And some people will probably always prefer the luxury of a human driver).
And good and bad? There will be far fewer cars. In urban areas, many people are already trading in car ownership for using public transport, ride sharing and car sharing services, or just renting a car when they need one. Most cars sit around not being driven 90% of the time. Fewer cars on the road means fewer cars being built. Great for the environment. Not so great for the auto workers.
I'm starting to think driverless cars are going to be one of the things that put the coffin nails in our current economic system. Something is going to have to change.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Review: Without Bloodshed by Matthew Graybosch
This book presents itself as cyberpunk, then takes a
sideways turn into fantasy...maybe.
Genre-bending aside, Without Bloodshed is a pretty good
book. (And I happen to like genre-bending every now and then). It does have cat
people, but they aren't portrayed in the usual overdone manner. Morgan
Stormbringer has CPMD - i.e., he's a cat person. He's also an Adversary - he
works for the Phoenix Society, which ostensibly makes libertarian society work
by taking out anyone who violates "individual rights." Of course,
humans being humans...or others being others...there's more going on than that.
Yes, there's some libertarian propaganda in there - except
there's also an admission that it may or may not actually work. Morgan and his
girlfriend Naomi have to face the fact that everything they worked for and
believe in might be a lie.
Oh, and it has rock and roll. Including, according to the
author, a ton of references I didn't get. Ah well. And swordfighting, because
killing somebody with a sword is more honorable than using a gun - a sentiment
I've seen in my fantasy before. (Or maybe it's just an excuse for
swordfighting).
It's a pretty fun read, and is the first of a series. As for
that genre - the author calls it a "near-future science fantasy
thriller." Which will do. Maybe.
(Copy received at World Fantasy Con).
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Farpoint Convention Schedule
Just got my formal schedule for Farpoint. (With the usual caveat that things can change at the con - as long as we don't have any Alien Sex incidents).
Star Wars & Disney: The New Republic - we're going to discuss thoughts, hopes, and concerns about the new Star Wars movies. Friday, 5.00PM
Favorite Heroines - Conventional & Unconventional (moderator) - I'm still considering exactly where to take this one, but I have some interesting ideas. Friday, 6:00PM
Author Reading with Richard White and Gregory A. Wilson. Saturday, 2:00PM
Public Speaking For Authors (moderator) - A repeat of the panel I moderated at Balticon last year, but with different people. Saturday, 5:00PM
When The Journey Is The Destination (moderator) - The Fantastic Voyage in literature and media. (And, panelists be warned, I do plan on opening this up to media portrayals. There might even be some Star Trek discussion). Sunday, 10:00AM
BBC Science Fiction - Orphan Black for the win. Sunday, 11:00AM
3D Printing - I did a panel on this at RavenCon last year, where I represented the sociological viewpoint rather than the technical one. Sunday, 2:00PM.
And I'll be at the entire con, so keep an eye out for me.
Star Wars & Disney: The New Republic - we're going to discuss thoughts, hopes, and concerns about the new Star Wars movies. Friday, 5.00PM
Favorite Heroines - Conventional & Unconventional (moderator) - I'm still considering exactly where to take this one, but I have some interesting ideas. Friday, 6:00PM
Author Reading with Richard White and Gregory A. Wilson. Saturday, 2:00PM
Public Speaking For Authors (moderator) - A repeat of the panel I moderated at Balticon last year, but with different people. Saturday, 5:00PM
When The Journey Is The Destination (moderator) - The Fantastic Voyage in literature and media. (And, panelists be warned, I do plan on opening this up to media portrayals. There might even be some Star Trek discussion). Sunday, 10:00AM
BBC Science Fiction - Orphan Black for the win. Sunday, 11:00AM
3D Printing - I did a panel on this at RavenCon last year, where I represented the sociological viewpoint rather than the technical one. Sunday, 2:00PM.
And I'll be at the entire con, so keep an eye out for me.
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