Ask the Author: Kenneth J. Stein
Answered Questions (30)
Kenneth J. Stein
Dear Isabel,
Thank you for the inquiry. I've already written the Intro, Prologue, and two chapters for "Hornet Farm." I was beginning to roll along but I was asked to write a textbook for a company and had to stop. I hope to pick it up again this spring. I hope you are doing well.
Thank you for the inquiry. I've already written the Intro, Prologue, and two chapters for "Hornet Farm." I was beginning to roll along but I was asked to write a textbook for a company and had to stop. I hope to pick it up again this spring. I hope you are doing well.
Kenneth J. Stein
Yes, I am working on a book about hornets - Your life will never be the same!
Kenneth J. Stein
I can't say! It's like asking which do I like better, apples or oranges? Maybe some days I like one better than the other and vice versa. I think i may like Pharaoh's Ticks slightly better because it has so much history, archaeology, and Egyptology in it.
Kenneth J. Stein
Dear Isabel,
Thank you for reading my book, and thank you for the question!
Anytime foreign substances enter the body through a bite or a sting, we say that the substances are toxins (or allergens). When ticks or mosquitoes bite, they release biochemicals (from their saliva) into your bloodstream that help promote blood flow. Some of these compounds modulate the immune system and increase the susceptibility to acquiring diseases they carry.
Some species of ticks contain toxins that cause paralysis. But even within a given species known to produce paralysis, not all ticks will induce paralysis in their hosts. I think this is what you are referring to?
The next time you get bitten by a mosquito or stung by a bee, bear in mind that they are placing toxins into your bloodstream; ouch! I hope this answers your excellent question. Thank you.
Thank you for reading my book, and thank you for the question!
Anytime foreign substances enter the body through a bite or a sting, we say that the substances are toxins (or allergens). When ticks or mosquitoes bite, they release biochemicals (from their saliva) into your bloodstream that help promote blood flow. Some of these compounds modulate the immune system and increase the susceptibility to acquiring diseases they carry.
Some species of ticks contain toxins that cause paralysis. But even within a given species known to produce paralysis, not all ticks will induce paralysis in their hosts. I think this is what you are referring to?
The next time you get bitten by a mosquito or stung by a bee, bear in mind that they are placing toxins into your bloodstream; ouch! I hope this answers your excellent question. Thank you.
Kenneth J. Stein
I don’t have a magic answer and believe my life is no different from anyone else’s. You begin your life with goals and ambitions, followed by years of twists and turns.
I would like to borrow some lyrics from a song by the Talking Heads, “Well, how did I get here?” That is the mystery, and I don’t have an answer except perhaps guided by Providence.
I would like to borrow some lyrics from a song by the Talking Heads, “Well, how did I get here?” That is the mystery, and I don’t have an answer except perhaps guided by Providence.
Kenneth J. Stein
That’s a good question! What you are really asking is: How does one’s education influence their worldview?
I can’t help thinking of a book I read by Benjamin Wiker (Ten Books That Screwed Up the World). He points out that as a society becomes less spiritual, they begin to love their government. Of course, this is an overly-simplified generalization, but the point is worth noting.
Ernest Hemingway commented, “The only way a novelist could do good was to show things as they really were.” In his mind, writing was neither right nor left, only good and bad. Here the problem becomes knowing what is good and bad, especially if you do not have a complete picture.
Many writers who have covered wars started writing based on their prejudices – they believed in something. After a while, they saw things differently and changed their views. This happens throughout one’s life.
Politics aside, when a writer writes what is good or bad, it is inevitable that many will disagree with the writer’s assessments of events. If the reader feels that they are being lied to, then their education and belief system kick into gear, and they may reflexively refuse to “see” the author’s message. If that is the case, they will not like the novel and become critical of it.
I can’t help thinking of a book I read by Benjamin Wiker (Ten Books That Screwed Up the World). He points out that as a society becomes less spiritual, they begin to love their government. Of course, this is an overly-simplified generalization, but the point is worth noting.
Ernest Hemingway commented, “The only way a novelist could do good was to show things as they really were.” In his mind, writing was neither right nor left, only good and bad. Here the problem becomes knowing what is good and bad, especially if you do not have a complete picture.
Many writers who have covered wars started writing based on their prejudices – they believed in something. After a while, they saw things differently and changed their views. This happens throughout one’s life.
Politics aside, when a writer writes what is good or bad, it is inevitable that many will disagree with the writer’s assessments of events. If the reader feels that they are being lied to, then their education and belief system kick into gear, and they may reflexively refuse to “see” the author’s message. If that is the case, they will not like the novel and become critical of it.
Kenneth J. Stein
It is a wonderful journey into the past and explores the challenges that the ancient Egyptians faced. In addition, it reveals what they new about the natural sciences. Of course, the story becomes one of bioterror, but I love studying ancient Egypt.
Kenneth J. Stein
That is a very good question, and it changes with each stage of one's life. My role model when I was growing up was my father. When I left home and joined the US Navy, it became some of the senior leaders who I worked for – even friends. In college, I had some very good professors, and some of them were very influential. Then, in various work environments, there were many people I looked up to. But sometimes, I never had a role model and then drew upon memories of previous role models and asked myself, How would they handle this?
Kenneth J. Stein
The first draft may roll along fairly easy when "the subject comes to me," perhaps 2-3 hours for one page. I suppose with the continued drawing out of the theme and editing, it may take 6-8 hours per page. I think that is standard - from what I was once told by military journalists.
Kenneth J. Stein
I have three favorite times, not in chronological order.
I think I would like to be at the manger in Bethlehem during the time of Christ's birth. Then, it would be interesting to journey with the Holy Family into Egypt, where they lived for 3-1/2 - 4 years. His life in Egypt is a mystery, and when St. Mark came to preach the Gospel, he found that some of the Egyptians already knew about him.
I would like to be in Egypt upon the arrival of Alexander the Great (332 BC), who freed the country from the Persians. All historical accounts suggest that it was a great time for the Greeks and the Egyptians.
I would like to be on Lewis and Clark’s expedition. They suffered many hardships, and it would have been fascinating to see our country before it "progressed."
I think I would like to be at the manger in Bethlehem during the time of Christ's birth. Then, it would be interesting to journey with the Holy Family into Egypt, where they lived for 3-1/2 - 4 years. His life in Egypt is a mystery, and when St. Mark came to preach the Gospel, he found that some of the Egyptians already knew about him.
I would like to be in Egypt upon the arrival of Alexander the Great (332 BC), who freed the country from the Persians. All historical accounts suggest that it was a great time for the Greeks and the Egyptians.
I would like to be on Lewis and Clark’s expedition. They suffered many hardships, and it would have been fascinating to see our country before it "progressed."
Kenneth J. Stein
I'll take the monopoly board sized house, otherwise, you would not be able to entertain chipmunks and gnomes.
Kenneth J. Stein
What a nice question! I have always loved the yellowjacket wasps, particularly the bald-faced hornet (not a true hornet). I worked with these in both the field and laboratory for years and previously, had not known that they could be "worked." By that I mean, you can "keep" honey bees but you can also "keep" hornets. I reared bald-faced hornets in cages by "transplanting their nests" and learned quite a bit about them. Each morning when I came to bring them live prey, whether flies or honey bees, they anticipated my arrival. As soon as I began walking toward their cages (6 'x 6' x 6' screen), they began hovering in front of their door, a screened flap. As soon as I opened the flap and inserted food, they descended on their prey.
Another fond memory of yellowjackets comes from the time I was conducting foraging experiments in Columbus, Ohio. Each morning I would bring sealed buckets of food to the center of the park. By the end of the first week, the yellowjackets were meeting me at my car and flying alongside me as I walked the 200 yards or so, to the location where I had set up foraging experiments.
One of my best non-research memories comes from the time when a bald-faced hornet queen built a nest on the front corner of our garage. I knew it was a poor choice for them because the backside of their nest would tear away from the nest each time the automatic, remote-controlled garage door opened. Of course, we couldn't approach that area for 45 minutes until they settled down, or risk getting stung. But they stayed there and continued to build their nest.
If we left the garage door open after the backside of the nest was ripped open and waited for them to calm down, we could peer inside their nest and watch the queen walk around while the workers took care of their young - they adapted! In fact, they quit building on the backside that would rip open and eventually papered over it, building their nest outward!
So, there is a tendency to look at insects as simple, which they are. But that doesn't mean they can't adapt to situations by learning. How do they do it? I don't know, but it is a mystery.
I guess what I am trying to say is hornets are very intriguing insects.
Another fond memory of yellowjackets comes from the time I was conducting foraging experiments in Columbus, Ohio. Each morning I would bring sealed buckets of food to the center of the park. By the end of the first week, the yellowjackets were meeting me at my car and flying alongside me as I walked the 200 yards or so, to the location where I had set up foraging experiments.
One of my best non-research memories comes from the time when a bald-faced hornet queen built a nest on the front corner of our garage. I knew it was a poor choice for them because the backside of their nest would tear away from the nest each time the automatic, remote-controlled garage door opened. Of course, we couldn't approach that area for 45 minutes until they settled down, or risk getting stung. But they stayed there and continued to build their nest.
If we left the garage door open after the backside of the nest was ripped open and waited for them to calm down, we could peer inside their nest and watch the queen walk around while the workers took care of their young - they adapted! In fact, they quit building on the backside that would rip open and eventually papered over it, building their nest outward!
So, there is a tendency to look at insects as simple, which they are. But that doesn't mean they can't adapt to situations by learning. How do they do it? I don't know, but it is a mystery.
I guess what I am trying to say is hornets are very intriguing insects.
Kenneth J. Stein
It's the only animal that can shoot quills into your face when you bite on them! :)
Kenneth J. Stein
Two things: drowning or acquiring a new, emerging disease that no one knows about. No one will know what to do and it will simply have to run its course.
Kenneth J. Stein
I'll take a map, you can fold it up and stow it away. You can't do that with a globe.
Kenneth J. Stein
Water is the most unique compound in the universe. All living things need it to survive. What makes water truly unique is that it is the only compound that becomes less dense when solid.
Kenneth J. Stein
I would love a ticket to any of the National Parks or National Monuments in the United States. We are very fortunate to have had leaders that enabled the setting aside of land for recreation and enjoyment. Right now, I could use a trip to Mt. Rushmore, in the Black Hills, South Dakota. We went there as a family when I was 10 yo and it left an impression on me. My second choice is the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Absolutely stunning.
Kenneth J. Stein
Sitting and drinking coffee, looking at the sky.
Kenneth J. Stein
That's a toss-up between wild boar and baboons. Having lived and worked throughout Africa, baboons are fun to watch. They aren't so nice when they enter villages and are quite pesky.
Kenneth J. Stein
Aquamarine or blue as in blue topaz.
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