> ...With these exceptions, not only has no one else indicated any > interest in collaborating on providing some customized software, but I > have received some rather nasty comments that this is a discussion list, > not a software design group ...So, I will take this discussion off the List. Jerry, don't let them get to you. And others please take note too. *Anybody* who contributes anything worthwhile to this group receives impolite and abusive private email from several people who act righteous in public but seem to think they get get away with anything in private. Many would be amazed to find out who these people are :) I gather you have received some of this hate mail. You can either take them seriously or laugh. If you do the former, we will all miss out on the chance for a good discussion and a chance to learn something. You see, what you are proposing is something new and worthwhile, not something that has been rehashed a thousand times or which we can find in books. Such discussions will naturally be over the heads or outside the interest areas of some and they may complain, but on this list, if we insist on finding the lowest common denominator even that level will decline as the more interesting people leave. Besides where else can we discuss this? We cannot please everyone. We must do what is right. And I think for a PhD working with bees at a university to request discussion on this list about software for managing bees is definitely as bona fide as anything else on this list. I wish we had more of this type of thing. Further, I believe it is also just fine for *anyone* who has constructive comments and observations on the subject to respond to the list. After all this is what BEE-L is for. People will always complain, and as long as those complaints are polite and show respect for those who differ in opinion, I believe that they are constructive and positive. It is important that we maintain a feeling of comfort and mutual respect on this list. In recent disagreements and in my accidental blitzing of the list, I have been amazed at the level of maturity, civility and good humour of all but four people (yup, the same four). BEE-L continues to be one of the most civilized groups on the entire net. I salute the list members and hold all with great affection. Let's get on with discussing bee management software. Allen