• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster...

Connie and I will be going to Manasota Key beach the first week of June. I hope the beach there isn't going to be "messy". But I'm getting dark colored swim trunks, just in case.
 
We usually spend a good portion of the summer in the Keys, but we will be staying out of the water this year and definitely not fishing. Between oil, and tar balls, and dispersant's that cause reproductive problems our family is going to have to make a change to more pool based activities.

I honestly cried when I got a call from family in the Keys telling me that tar has started to wash up there, because I have talked about brining my kids there when they are older to do the things I did there when I was a kid, but after all this I don't think there will be reefs there to bring them to. I can imagine the pillar coral at Pickels reef dead and bleached and to think that my kids won't get to see it the way I did, and that is if there is even anything left for them to see.

The whole thing makes me so sad and so angry and when I was out and about in town yesterday I counted 5 cars at the BP gas station :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: . I wanted to stop in and ask those people WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!?!?!?!?!?
 
Maybe this will start making more people think harder about looking for more efficient means of energy and one day put oil companies out of business completely. It would be better for the environment, that is for sure.
 
Connie has been bringing home a LOT of shrimp from the market in Panacea where she works one day a week, and stocking up the freezer. We cleaned out one of the freezers we used to use for frozen mice, bleached it out, and am now filling it with frozen shrimp. Right now we have something like 50 pounds in there, and she is going to get more this weekend.

A couple of the shrimpers said they could smell something that smelled like oil to them while out in the Gulf. So I expect the window of opportunity for us is going to close pretty soon.

BTW, someone on one of my other sites posted this interesting video clip..

​
 
Outcast said:
Planning on swimming in money?
Click to expand...

Actually, you would think there would be a way to recover all that oil in the Gulf. So yeah, in a way I guess there is the possibility that I might actually be swimming in POTENTIAL money.........

Heck, if someone could come up with a way to make the oil spill residue valuable, people would be fighting over the opportunity to get a slice of that pie.
 
So now gas prices will go up along with straw and hay. Farmers will sell hay to BP and then cattle won't have much to eat so surplus cattle to market. While we can't get seafood (mainly shrimp) we will be able to eat all the red meat we want for cheap.

Also what happens when they place this hay/straw in the Gulf with all the pesticides and herbicides on it. I know a lot of farmers use 2-4D or Glyphosate around here for weed control. You would think that there be some major things come up that is wrong with this idea. For Example on the herbicide part there is special aquatic type glyphosate (roundup) that you have to use if you will be near water. Regular round up type herbicides are toxic to the fish and macro invertebrates in the water. Then again it might be better than some of the surfactants they are spraying/putting out there as well.
 
Hay is raised to feed to livestock. It would be counter productive to plant it and then spray 2-4D on it and kill it. I would also be a bad business move to spray poison on the crop you are going to feed to livestock. Just thinking out loud.
 
Do you think hurricanes will move more quickly across the Gulf by sliding across that oil slick? :rolleyes:
 
As I was dozing off last night I heard some discussion on the Weather Channel about tropical cyclones and oil slicks. One theory is that the oil will slow the lift of evaporated water in to the air and hinder development or intensification of storms. I don't think anyone really knows how it will affect storms, though. It makes sense to me that the turbulence of the storm on the surface will lift oil up with moisture and rain oil (if only in a very dilute amount). That sounds scary
 
I'm wondering if lightning strikes will ignite the oil. Imagine a hurricane turned into a giant rotating fireball. Not likely, of course, but that image is probably coming to a movie theater near you in the future as another disaster movie....

Oh, someone on another forum of mine stated that he learned that the amount of oil actually coming out of that spill is 10 times what BP has claimed it is. Not sure of his source, so the accuracy is suspect, of course. But it certainly wouldn't surprise me in the least. It's not like anyone in government or business has even the slightest hesitation about lying these days... :rolleyes:
 
How much has the seafood prices changed there? I would be curious as to what is was like before this accident, during this, and what it will end up at the end of this.
 
CrousesCorns said:
How much has the seafood prices changed there? I would be curious as to what is was like before this accident, during this, and what it will end up at the end of this.
Click to expand...

So far shrimp and oyster prices are staying about the same. All of us locals are going out and eating a lot of shrimp in case it will be a while before we get more... so the price is going up a little, just because we are demanding a lot right now.

I really hope they get this stopped soon. A lot of damage is going to be done before it is all over.
 
So, Uncle CT, (Conspiracy Theorist), has been sending me all kinds of stuff about the oil spill of course, so I thought I might share this little tidbit from one of his forums... and remember when reading this, these are conspiracy theorists. Your mileage may vary...

Plans to evacuate the Gulf are BEGINNING TO FLY AROUND THE NET.
Benzene, incredible amounts of Benzene are being released into the atmosphere and is a clear and present danger not only for the old and people with respiratory problems but the general Gulf population as a whole.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that benzene is a human carcinogen, and can cause various forms of cancer from prolonged exposure.Exposed to high levels of benzene show association with leukemia cancer; including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Benzene-related leukemias have been reported to develop in as short as nine months,(read more below)
This is much more serious than they are letting on, especially as one of the options here is to burn the escaping oil!
Florida Gulf oil spill: Plans to evacuate Tampa Bay area expected to be announced
Gulf Oil Spill 2010: Plans to evacuate Tampa Bay area expected to be announced
Plans to evacuate the Tampa Bay area are expected to be announced in the coming days as FEMA prepares for what is now being called the worst oil disaster in the history of the world.
MORE HERE
Evacuate Florida!! Good God in Heaven!!! What have these monsters done to us!!
Was tuning my sat dish and picked up ‘The micro effect radio show’ and there is a scientist on there who said they have backup plans to evacuate Florida and eventually the East coast now that the oil is in the loop currents. The slick is releasing huge amounts of Benzene. Benzene will flat out kill ya!! Don’t go down there, stay away!!!!
Click to expand...

Benzene and Human Health
Benzene is a clear, colorless and highly flammable aromatic liquid that evaporates quickly into the air, and can dissolve in water. It is formed from both natural processes and human activities; natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires.
Benzene is present in crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. It is industrially used as a solvent in paints and other chemicals and products such as dyes, detergents, nylon, plastics, drugs and pesticides. Benzene is widely used in the United States; it ranks in the top twenty chemicals for production volume and makes up about one percent of every gallon of gasoline.
Are there health hazards to benzene exposure, i.e. can benzene cause cancer?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that benzene is a human carcinogen, and can cause various forms of cancer from prolonged exposure. According to the IARC, benzene is often considered “the mother of all carcinogens,” as a large number of carcinogens have structures that include benzene rings. Occupational studies of workers exposed to high levels of benzene show association with leukemia cancer; including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Benzene-related leukemias have been reported to develop in as short as nine months, and can remain dormant for as long as 25 years after initial exposure.
Even a small amount of benzene exposure can cause temporary nervous system disorders, immune system depression and anemia. Short term affects include skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation, headache, stomach irritation, drowsiness and dizziness. High levels of exposure can result in a rapid heart rate, excessive bleeding, tremors, vomiting, unconsciousness and death. Benzene can cause harmful effects on bone marrow, and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to myelofibrosis and myelodysplastic syndrome.
How can I be exposed to benzene? Who is most likely to be at risk?
Undoubtedly, the greatest risk for high level exposure to benzene is in the workplace. Occupational exposure to benzene is likely to occur in the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, and the shoe manufacturing industry, as well as in gasoline storage, shipment, and retail stations. However, most individuals are exposed to benzene through tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust and other environmental sources such as gasoline filling stations, industrial emissions, and food products that contain benzene naturally. Indoor exposure can result from glues, paints, furniture wax, adhesives and detergents.
In addition, certain industries may release benzene into the surrounding air. These include ethyl benzene and styrene-production facilities, petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturing plants, and recovery plants for coke oven by-products. Leakage from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can also result in the contamination of well water.
Is benzene regulated by the U.S. government?
Yes. Because of the dangerous health effects benzene exposure is known to cause, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now regulates benzene in the air and water, as well as emissions by industry. The EPA has passed laws to limit the use and release of benzene to keep levels as low as possible. Regulations set by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, in association with the EPA, limit workplace exposure to a maximum of one part benzene per million parts air (ppm), averaged over an eight-hour workday.
Further, congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 requiring the EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water. Subsequently, benzene’s level was set to zero.
Do I have legal rights if I have been occupationally exposed to benzene?
Yes. Despite being banned as a solvent in the U.S. for over twenty years, and the decrease of benzene in other manufactured products, workers continue to be exposed to direct and indirect sources of the chemical. The first thing to do if you suspect you’ve been exposed to benzene is to report the exposure to your employer, and seek immediate medical assistance. If you believe you have been harmed by benzene exposure, you can contact an attorney to learn of your rights, and to file a legal claim for injuries sustained. Individuals can file a lawsuit within two years of discovering a benzene-related illness, regardless of the last time of exposure. Compensation can cover factors such as loss of income, medical costs, pain and suffering, and in the case of Wrongful Death lawsuits, loss of life.
A qualified benzene attorney can provide the necessary tools and support to put together a strong case for a benzene-related illness. To find a skilled attorney who specializes in benzene-related claims, please search our directory.
Read more: http://gazbom.blogspot.com/2010/05/b...#ixzz0oi2XeYEP
—–
— From an email we received…
—–
The information below just came in shortly ago from one of my sources… and I am getting it out rough form to you ASAP. Militia’s nationwide as advising everyone to stock/purchase supplies as to your financial limits, without hurting yourself at this time. No matter how big or small …. there will be a shortage of supplies by the time the impact and mass evacuation starts in Florida and expands to other States and locations. Early reports to my person say that there are thousands of people in Florida already leaving and en route out… have packed up what they need and hitting the Interstates before closures by FEMA are set in place. More to follow as information is received. Please share with those on your email who will appreciate info on this crisis. Thank you!
—–
There is talk about evacuating parts of Florida. The reason is deadly benzene gas that is omitted from the crude.
Internet chatter is, many military troops from Montana, Georgia, Louisiana, along with the 1m plus Fema troops are currently being mobilized.
Talk about relocating all the elderly first, then the masses from Florida, and Louisiana. Also talk about Georgia next.
Said crude oil slick will reach Nova Scotia within a week.
People are expected to be leaving Florida in mass. Before the FEMA vehicles, ban private cars, etc from the roads for the evacuation with FEMA buses.
Click to expand...
 
Well, interesting theory, but I haven't seen any evidence of people close to the oil spill wearing any sort of protective gear at all. I would think that if benzene were a credible threat, then those people would be well aware of it and taking the necessary precautions to limit their exposure.

That being said, here's an interesting website I found -> http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html?ref=us

Note the text descriptions of the estimates of the actual amount of oil being expelled. :eek:

I'm thinking I might as well cancel those reservations on Sanibel Island this Fall. Might be better to take trips out west or up north instead and write off going to the Gulf beaches entirely.

Speaking of which, Connie and I went to St. George Island on Tuesday. We noticed some sort of black, grainy material was washing up on the beach and some was visible in the shallows of the Gulf. It's heavier than water and was laying between "waves" in the sand beneath the water. We were walking through this black stuff (honestly, it looked all the world to me as being "cricket poop") and it would adhere to the bottoms of our feet, but did wash off with just a bit of effort without leaving any stains. The tide was going out and in some of the shallows left behind, there were shiny areas on the water that seemed to pick up some material from the beach. Kind of hard to describe, and I don't think the camcorder would have helped to view it. Not something I recall seeing before, but heck, I just might be seeing something natural that I just never noticed before. But both together did seem kind of odd and coincidental.
 
I am not sure how many of you are keeping up with the map I posted a link to a few days back, but I have seen some interesting changes in it. The local thunderstorms are pushing the oil ever closer to Florida. I know the small tar balls and thing are washing up, but this map is of the most significant oil masses. I also heard on the radio if this isn't stopped and contained soon it will be in North Carolina by July. It is hard to imagine that, but I can see how now. Here is the link to the map again http://www.intellicast.com/National/GulfOilSpill.aspx

If you use Google earth on your computer then you will find this site interesting http://paulrademacher.com/oilspill/ You can take the oil spill and move it to you location to compare the size of it to somewhere you are familiar with geographically.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top