The Secret of the Ooze: Two Years After the Spill
Al Jazeera has a frightening, damning, and infuriating report on the ongoing damage to the Gulf of Mexico ecosystems since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It’s been nearly two years since the Macondo well was ruptured, spilling almost 5 million barrels of oil and requiring almost 2 million gallons of dispersants to clean it up.
Fishermen are reporting shrimp catches full of eyeless shrimp, as well as fish and shellfish with oozing sores and black gills. The damage doesn’t seem limited to oil, either. Manganese-heavy drilling mud and dispersant lefotvers are showing up at even higher rates than petroleum.
Head over to Al Jazeera to read the full article. The Gulf has not recovered, and it will likely take most of a lifetime to do so. It’s important that scientists continue to get financial support to monitor the area and that the government keep pressure on BP to do their part. Not just this year, but until the mistake is fixed.
This is one of the most diverse and fruitful ecosystems in America, and we must repair it.
Hi.
(Source: pusheen)
Cut-Out Street Maps by Karen M. O’Leary. The three maps below are cut-outs of Berlin, Vancouver & San Francisco. Considering the amount of time and effort that goes into each piece, you’ll find her works listed on Etsy for just over $1000.
This is so freaking cool.
(Source: onepointperspective)
“Riot” in Vancouver, June 15, 2011
Might as well write while it’s still a buzz.
Riots in Vancouver. Happened 15 years ago (one day off mind you), why not today?
Firstly, those of you who ditched Georgia Street and went home because you suspected something like this would happen, good on ya, you did the right thing.
Secondly, those of you who had your property (or some meaningful place of some monetary or psychological significance) destroyed or damaged, I feel the worst for you. I couldn’t even begin imagining drunk, hateful, and malicious people doing it “for teh lulz” doing this to you, and I hope you get the compensation that you deserve from the results of the actions of these idiots, which you didn’t deserve.
Thirdly, those of you who lost loved ones from this seemingly pointless happening, stay strong. My deepest condolences to you.
Fourthly, the police officers working hard late to this night on the tireless control of the mob, we pay your taxes for a reason. I don’t mean that in a “YOU SUCK GO DO WORK” sense, but a compliment in that without you, this city would go out of control. Keep it up.
Fifthly, those of you who are committing to cleaning up the city and attempting to reclaim the city as a proud one, try your best. It won’t be easy after what these “protesters” did to the city we love to live in, but every city has its share of idiots and emotionally unstable people. Good on ya. I won’t say that it’s a hopeless attempt or you people are the heroes among men, but at least you’re doing SOMETHING productive with your time.
…SPEAKING OF WHICH.
Hi protesters. Remember me? Yeah, probably not, but I live in the city. I hope you people haven’t forgot about a couple things. One, there’s a Tumblr that’s dedicated to figuring out who you are so people can blackmail/prosecute/fire/etc. you. Also, remember that whole ordeal we showed during the Olympics (I know there’s that whole financial debate about it, but that’s another story for another time), you know, about friendly Canadians and nice city? Yeah, that’s all going down the drain thanks to you. Think of it; billions of dollars in city funds wasted thanks to you. As well, you might think killing and injuring people is fun and “tough-guy material” when you’re in a mob and/or drunk, but think if you would do this in your sober, stable minds (this sentence is only for those of you who actually are sane when sober and stable). Finally (and this is the big thing here)…
Really? Over a sports game? All the damages, destruction, deaths, and chaos, because we were facing another team who played better today? I admit, I was sad to see our team lose (and more sad because I lost money in the process on bets), but to destroy ourselves and the guests who aren’t harming us?
I have to question the emotional control these certain people have in our society. Our society is full of stressful and emotional traumas which affect us greatly. A league of professional athletes and the games regarding it shouldn’t be this kind of trauma. Further, it definitely should not be what causes more trauma.
I’m done rambling. I’ve got work tomorrow, but I hope some people can sober up tomorrow morning and realize what they’ve done. Open up your eyes.
P.S. Now to just wait for someone to yell out, “U MAD?” Not mad at the game, just at the people who react radically at a game.
EDIT: I forgot to mention tonight’s game. Thank you to both teams for a wonderful series. I had fun, and hopefully others have as well…well, that’s saying a bit too much, considering what’s happening here. XP
