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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on June 27, 2004 7:35 AM. The previous post in this blog was Kerry is like Hitler. The next post in this blog is Blogroll add. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Sunday, June 27, 2004

Keeping busy

Across the street from our house, hanging from a branch in the big tree that the neighbor kids love to climb, is the largest freestanding beehive I've ever seen. I've seen bees build their homes under eaves and along roofs, and of course I've seen the big boxes that professional beekeepers provide for them. But to see how it's done out in the wild is pretty impressive. The thing is straight out of "Winnie the Pooh," only real.

Here's a photo, which doesn't really do it justice. You'll forgive me for not getting closer. There's no way I wanted to disturb these little guys:

Comments (12)

I initially visualized a honey bee blob resting for the night on some migration to nowhere in particular. Then – horror set in when I saw the picture of a hornets nest. If all creatures have a purpose what then is their reason for beeing?

Hornets, eh? See, to a guy from Newark they're all just bees.

That thing is chock full of pure 100% brimstone evil.

Hint, Nature Boy: Change "love" to loveD for your neighborhood tree-climbing kids!

The hornets don't seem interested in people nearby. But I wouldn't start climbing that tree.

Fortunately, the property owner has called professional help in, and the plan is to move the thing (or nuke it, or whatever they do) tomorrow. I plan to watch if I'm here -- from a screened window!

I grew up in Medford, and for years and years and years there was a funky old log cabin affair in upper Lithia Park in Ashland (before the Marin Country crowd took the town completely over) that had a bisected but active bee hive on display safely behind glass. It was mesmerizing.

Yep, them's not bees.

In an earlier life I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala in the 1980s, assigned to a beekeeping extension program. But as it happened, the Africanized bees were first sighted in Guatemala the month I arrived and by the time I left 2.5 years later there was nothing but Africanized bees and they had spread all the way to Central Mexico.

My counterpart and I actually spent more time eradicating wild swarms of African bees as we did working with beekeepers. We did this kind of thing on a daily basis. You want to get rid of those guys? Put some malathion or other insecticide in a garden sprayer and soak that hive at night when they are all inside. They are less likely to go after you at night. The next morning you can cut it down and dispose of it. Don't mess with fire or smoke or any other sort of stupidity.

Jack,
As noted, those aren't bees. Watch yer behind. :-) I just took one of those down from the eaves of our house yesterday. Oh, that was all kinds of fun. Glad I didn't wait, though, when I saw how many baby nasties were inside.

I wouldn't touch that thing for $1000. I'd rather fix my plumbing and electrical wiring on the same day than wrangle with that beast.

Hornets are mean. Leave it to the pros.

Probably bald-faced hornets. Their sole purpose is to maim and destroy. In college I committed the (to them) unforgivable sin of walking under a nest of about that size. I never saw it. Instead, one buzzed down and delivered a sting to the back of my noggin that, no joke, felt like I had been hit with a bat. It hurt so much I was ready to tear my own head off to stop the pain.

I came back with a can of wasp killer with a 15' range on it, soaked it, cut down the nest and its branch, burned the whole schmiel with diesel, and stomped the remains. And I am normally a gentle man. But such is the power of the hornet, to arouse such base and destructive rage in the hearts of others.

what part of portland is this hive in? ive never seen anything like this here... :-)

The hive was in close-in NE Portland. It's been destroyed.

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In Vino Veritas

Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Marques de Casa Concha, Cabernet 2005
Santi, Sortesele Pinot Grigio 2006
Al Muvedre, Tinto Joven 2006
Layer Cake, Shiraz 2006
Gritti, Ca' Andrea, Umbria red 2005
Altos de Luzon, Jumilla 2004
Thomas Leithner, Zweigelt 2004
Cain Cuvee NV 3
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot 2003
Meridian, Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Paringa, Shiraz 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2005
Kris, Pinot Grigio 2006
Silvan Ridge, Pinot Gris 2006
Fife, Mendocino Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
Castle Rock, Cabernet, Paso Robles 2005
Willakenzie, Pinot Gris 2006
The Show, Cabernet 2005
Essencia Valdemar, Rioja Rose 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Beaulieu Vineyard. Napa Valley Cabernet 2004
Irony, Cabernet, Napa Valley 2003
Rosenblum, Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones 2005
Fra Guerau, Montsant 2002
Barefoot Chardonnay
Kana, Syrah 2004
Castell Salegg, Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2004
Fetish, The Watcher Shiraz 2004
Gold Note, Fair Play Zinfandel 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet 2003
Ponzi, Pinot Noir 2004
Red Diamond, Merlot 2003
Mateus, Rose
Benton Lane Pinot Noir 2004
Penya Cadiella Vins de Comtat 2003
Kamiak, Cellar Select Red 2003
Anselmi, San Vincenzo 2005
Rubrato, Aglianico dei Feudi di San Gregorio 2004
Le Grand Noir (Black Sheep) Cabernet-Shiraz
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2005
Los Vascos, Cabernet, Reserve 2004
Jackaroo, Shiraz 2003
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Crozes Hermitage Syrah, "La Jalet," 2001
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Cotes du Rhone, "Parallele '45,'" 2003
Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003
Oyster Bay, Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Woodbridge Chardonnay 2005
Barnard & Griffin, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2004
Quinto do Carmo, Alentejano Red 2000
Forefathers, Alexander Valley Cabernet 2001

The Occasional Book

Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 28
At this date last year: 102
Total run in 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
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