Example of sick honeybee
-Bugs vs. bees-
An update on "colony collapse" or the mysterious phenomenon of honey bee hives dying off. It turns out the culprit might be "Israeli acute paralysis virus" (IAPV).
In keeping with previous, anectdotal evidence, the disease only seems to strike domesticated bees. I'd reported earlier that organic beekeepers haven't experienced collapse and the new study shows that "feral" (i.e., wild) bees aren't affected either. Earlier speculation that inbred domestic bees could be the problem may be correct.
Not that the industrial franken-bee keepers will change anything. Expect Monsanto to develop a genetically modified clover to deliver a vaccine to the bugs. There's no problem for the "fuck with nature" crowd that can't be solved by digging in deeper. 12 Monkeys here we come. (Boston Herald)
-Smell that fresh arctic air-
Scientists have determined that arctic air has been contaminated with "chemical traces from factories in Russia, pesticides in Israel or China's coal-fired power plants." Wait a second, Israel? What the hell are they putting on their fields that lands way the hell up by the north freakin' pole?
Also disturbing, "[F]uneral pyres in some Asian countries release toxic mercury from fillings in the teeth of the deceased." Santa can't be happy with that... (Reuters)
-Virtual credit card, actual debt-
A new credit card company is offering a "virtual" credit card for the online community Second Life. FirstMeta's "MetaCard" can only be used in SL and only offers a very small credit limit -- $37.20 per month in real world dollars for their gold card. Even then, only 75 stores in SL are accepting them.
Also problematic is the interest rate -- between 0.13-0.15% a day, which works out to be an APR of 47.45-54.75%. And, while the community is virtual, the hits on your credit report are real.
All in all, it sounds like a real bad idea to me. (Wired)
