[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> Recent listings requested more info on the weather. So, to all you
> freezing Northern Hemisphere types, I'm sorry to say that it is a
> sweltering 40 degrees C at the moment on the southern tip of Africa.
>
> This heat has undoubtedly frizzled what little common-sense I ever
> had, as I am about to (briefly) enter the very regrettable Pedro
> Rodriquez - James Satterfield debate.
>
> I could launch a defence on the virtues of the rigorous rules
> pertaining to scientific publications, but will limit myself to
> commenting that (rightly or wrongly) the scientific community for the
> last thousand years, now, and for as long as this planet lasts, -
> will always be cautious about new information or ideas. And will only
> accept them after thorough peer review, and after independent
> corroborative evidence. The system is slow and often annoying, but in
> the long term it works well. The jingle to sell the most popular beer
> in South Africa is "it has stood the test of time". Ditto for good
> science.
>
> So Pedro, if you have good results, publish them and allow them to be
> judged. If you choose not to do so, they do not exist, and will never
> exist, no matter how many posts are sent to this list. Come on, this
> is a fantastic opportunity. Prove that the scientific community are
> the pampered fools that you clearly think they are. Publish and prove
> how blind and lazy and selfish we are. Allow all the scientists AND
> beekeepers out there the opportunity to see how important your
> results are. Or else, please shut up.
>
> Last little comment. All these great, industry-saving results are (we
> are told) to be circulated to benefit the industry. And all the years
> of toil were done for the sake of the researcher-forsaken beekeeper.
> But relax, the saviour for Joe Beekeeper has now arrived. Well Pedro,
> if your results are worth something, and it was all done out of
> concern for beekeepers, why don't you immediately post your results
> and solutions to this list to save the thousands of colonies and
> hundreds of beekeepers that you have convinced us that you have
> answers for. Why only talk about it, why only promises? Methinks this
> is all for Pedro Beekeeper.
>
> And now I am quilty of all those things this list has recently been
> criticized for - verbosity, personal attacks etc. And like James
> Satterfield, I promise, never again.
>
> Vanquished, and meekly departing
>
> Mike Allsopp
>
> Mike Allsopp                            tel    (27)(21) 887-4690
> Honeybee Research Section               fax    (27)(21) 883-3285
> Plant Protection Research Institute     pmail  plant3/vredma
> Agricultural Research Council           email  [log in to unmask]
> P/Bag X5017
> Stellenbosch 7599
> South Africa
 
Continued Personal attacks:
I am new at this type of techonology and I have yet to learn how to use
most of its techiniques, thus I do not know how to "snip." Please
forgive my inability to do so.
I continue to be awed by the lack of decency of some people who hurl
gratituous insults to people whom they have not even met once in their
lives. Of course coming from South Africa where civil rights are equated
to trash, it is understandable.
In a true democracy, people have the constitutional right to free
speech. Giving a synopsis to one's planned agenda for a meeting or
conference has been an acceptable practice forever and that's all I
intended to do when I made my initial comments. "My findings will be
made available to the beekeepers of the world shortly," were, and still
are my comments. These are the rights enjoyed by the people of a true
democratic country, and I aim to assert them to the chagrine of bigots
and ill-intentioned self-proclaimed dictators of research etiquete.
I am surmising that private or institutional "researchers" can hardly
wait for me to reveal my work so that they can work on it for their won
profit. Soon, it will be there.  But I am afraid that there will be
little that the "righteous and mighty" might do to improve my method
because of its simplicity.
I owe my alliance to my fellow beekeepers. I am sure that they will
enjoy the benefits of my hard work and I suppose that many will thank
me. I don't expect thanks from the paid, insult-hurling buzzards who
lurk in the shadows of their neat workplace drooling with envy about the
achievements of their fellow men. Their intellect is held captive to
their obligation to their pay check to the point that they will
interfere with other people who may attempt to perform research on a
private basis, as so well described yesterday  on this medium by a
fellow beekeeper and researcher from California.
Sincerely.
Dr. Pedro Rodriguez
Virginia Beach, Virginia USA