For those of you who worry about accuracy of reporting - here's a new one.

We found an article in one of the checkout stand papers that describes what
appears to be our work.  It has a picture on the cover of a bee with an
electronic chip on its back.  It names me, but puts me at the University of
Minnesota - although there are Bromenshenks in that part of the world,
mostly around St. Cloud, MN.

And, through most of the article, someone named Herb (we will skip the last
name in this post, but it is listed in the article) talks knowingly about
the research, including its strengths, weaknesses, problems, etc.  Herb
claims to have helped design the work and says he is involved in training
of the bees.

But, there are a few problems, and I don't mean in the description of the
work, which is pretty awful.

1.  The insect wearing the chip doesn't exist - at least its not any chip
that I have ever seen or worked on.

2.  We haven't the foggiest idea of who Herb is.  The article did say this
was a hush hush project that was described at a press conference at the
American Association of Science Meetings in D.C. about a month ago.  Well,
I was the one talking at the press conference - but this is hardly a hush
hush project - it has gotten international press for well over a year.

Maybe Herb is right, it is hush hush.  So much so, that I didn't know Herb
was working on it.  Think I better get the contracts folks looking into
this - wonder how much I've paid him.

Anyway, my point is that this story is far removed from the truth.  The
worst thing is that most of us know enough to doubt the stories in some of
the papers in the checkout stand racks - but the "reputable" press can be
almost as bad.

Cheers

Jerry
Jerry J. Bromenshenk
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http://www.umt.edu/biology/bees