A while back, I received a junk email, and seeing as it was about bee
stuff, I took a look.  It went like this...
 
>  Hello Beekeepers, As fellow beekeepers we are hurting every day the
> time we waste on unprofessional work. We have teamed up with the Bee
> Guard company that have invented the Easy Bee Guard, that will save you
> hundred of working days a year. Following is a short explanation of the
> product. We suggest that you enter our E-Mail Site, that has a detail
> explanation with pictures of the Easy Bee Rig. The site will let you
> understand and "feel" the product, and its advantages.
> http://www.bee-guard.co.il
 
Naturally I even visited the web site mentioned:
http://www.bee-guard.co.il
 
I was impressed by the amount of work that the people have put into this
product, but cannot imagine it working at all well in any situation, for
at least 100 good reasons.  I imagine using it would be an expensive and
inconvenient total nightmare.  I wonder how many people have gone for it.
 
It also makes me wonder about all the other inventions out there, from the
 thousands of 'improved ventilation that vastly increase yields' scams to
the 'amazing new hive mover' gizmos to the 'quick queen finder' that I
know a big commercial guy poured thousands into.  Beekeepers are
inventors.  Always looking into a better way.
 
In my limited 25+ years of commercial bee experience, I've learned that
sticking to the tried and proven standardized basics usually is the safest
 and most profitable policy. My dad recommended that when I started out;
but I had to prove he was right the hardest way possible.  Over and over.
 (He was).  Nonetheless, I have to admit that I'm an inveterate and
unreformed tinkerer and think nothing of building an entirely new machine
just because I think it will work.  These days it usually does.  Sorta.
 
 I'm right now in the process of having my shop build 6 new truck decks
and  will likely build at least 5 removable vans for them of a totally
unproven  design.  I'll also think they are wonderful until I actually
have to use  them for a season.
 
What amazes me is that although we have standardized  the design and
function of the decks, it is almost impossible to get my  weldor to build
two the same.  I guess when he gets the hood down and that  light starts
to flash hypnotically in front of him, he gets inspired.  I  have to spend
about half an hour a day convincing him that I would really  like them to
all be identical.   Creativity is a funny thing.  Too little  and a person
is not much help unless the job is entirely repetitive, too  much and the
person is a menace.
 
Anyhow, all this is a lead in to ask you what the dumbest bee related
thing you've ever seen is?  I've given you mine.
 
Allen