I can smell oil this morning.

[trof]

We're 5 1/2 miles north as the crow flies from the beach at Gulf Shores, AL.
When I walked out the front door I could smell oil.
There's a south wind and I could smell oil throughout my 3 mile walk.
Smells like a filling station.
bleh
:-(

[SoFlaJet]

1. Fucking sad

I dread when that oil makes it around the Keys and up towards Palm Beach County-bastards

[Angry Dragon]

2. The government won't get too excited

until it comes up the east coast and they can smell it in DC.
Can't have it smell up the government now can we

[conscious evolution]

5. I doubt the smell of oil

can overcome the stench of bullshit that comes out DC.

[tango-tee]

34. Oh, that's overcome

but the sweet smell of corruption, my friend!

[Durtrider]

7. Where is the Navy??

Why haven't they been mobilized with ships loaded with oil containment supplies?

They could do a hell of a lot more than the Coast Guard or BP can.

[Submariner]

14. Most Navy ships are too big

and too high off the water to properly deploy/retrieve oil containment/cleanup gear, and can't maneuver as readily as the Coast Guard vessels or fishing boats when deploying/retrieving gear. Our Navy just isn't setup to adapt quickly to this type of task.

There are probably some ship retrofits now underway to deal with the potential for a long term gusher problem, but in the short term our ships aren't suitable yet.

[tabasco]

45. Defending your ass from enemies - where it's supposed to be.

The Navy is not a fucking janitorial crew for BP.

[Shadow Creature]

44. doesn't government smell worse?

heh. Well, I thought it was funny.

Okay, shouldn't have said "well" either.

[Robbien]

3. Just read about the tar coming ashore at Gulf Shores

So sorry trof

So so sorry

[Botany]

4. I wish there was something I could say or do for you and your neighbors

..... I am so sorry.

[midnight]

6. So sorry to hear this. Can anyone tell me why this oil ad aimed at Sen. Feingold

targets him to reign in these oil barrens? It is a google ad, and it is very odd. Sen. Feingold has just introduced legislation to remove this country from these oil wars. If this war ends, it will be the greatest gift to our environment. Sorry, I know it's a bit off the path of your terrible tragedy of smelling bp everywhere. I hope they are able to get the cap to stop this flow....

[ChiciB1]

8. I'm Sitting A Little South Of Tampa... I'm Waiting With Heavy Heart!

If BP thinks they're getting BAD PR right now... well they ain't seen NOTHING YET! Many people in my neck of the woods have money and LIVE right on the beach! It's ALL about the beaches for some of them, even if they don't care about the environment!

You KNOW that thing about MONEY TALKS! Hands that have been lathered with green are going to be going BALLISTIC when they see the red/brown/black BLOBS sitting next to their deck chairs and umbrellas as they sip their nightly choice of brew!

I DREAD with a broken heart that I may soon see THIS environment ruined. I can't even STAND to see the poor birds and wildlife having their bodies covered with GOO as they suffocate to DEATH!! This stuff doesn't WASH OFF... IT KILLS & KILLS & KILLS!

Oh, my head aches and my heart BLEEDS!! They say things happen for a reason... I'm WAITING to see WHAT IT WILL BE!

I'm NOT thinking I'm going to feel much better and the fact that I may only have 25 years or so to live doesn't make it any better either! I have kids and grandkids and I'm beyond infuriated!
:cry: :cry: :cry: :scared:

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. %$#^&!!^$*&!!

Those who do not live "down" south have no idea of how beautiful and green it is,

I am so sorry you have to smell that crap.

We are 90 miles north of you, as the crow flies, and getting all the rain storms that are coming out of the
Gulf. I cannot help but wonder what else is in the air that blows this way.

[Angry Dragon]

18. I live up in the north country

but have spent time on the gulf. Biloxi, Gulfport, New Orleans to Pensacola, and found the country side different than up north but nice. The people were friendly and the food good.

No one, no matter where they live should have their lives threatened or destroyed because someone wanted to make money. The government needs to wake up and decide that they work for the people, and something like this never happens again.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. I lived on Anna Maria Island and also Ft Walton Beach. I know how

beautiful and green it is/was. :cry:

[Selatius]

10. I live a few miles east of Biloxi, MS. I smell the oil on days with a brisk south wind.

The oil has begun touching Petit Bois Island and Ship Island further south of here in the Gulf.

[donco6]

11. Sorry.

:(

[Ishoutandscream2]

12. Just terrible!

Nothing but best wishes to you folks on the coast.

[Frances]

13. Sorry, Trof

I've read that some southern governors are complaining that drilling has stopped. In Louisiana, the voters who vote Repub are inland so I can understand that Jindal (R) can get away with this position politically. But what about the Alabama politicians? Where do they stand on continued drilling at this time?

[trof]

19. No offshore drilling, no royalties for state.

Our repug gov has been mum about drilling so far, but the state is already broke and that revenue would be missed.

Repug senator Shelby is still in favor of deep water drilling, haven't heard what Jeffy Sessions opines.
He's too busy trying to dig up dirt on supreme court nominee Kagan.

[nenagh]

15. So sorry, I can't imagine what it must be like..

Smells like a filling station... awful..

[fascisthunter]

16. anyone know how dangerous it is to breath that crap?

If one can smell it on a 3 mile walk, I would be inclined to think there is plenty of bad stuff going into ones lungs.

[ensho]

21. it is dangerous to inhale it

there are reports proving that

[fascisthunter]

29. exactly.... how much exposure does it take?

this is going to cause lot's of human lives.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

37. "this is going to cause lot's of human lives" ... ??

Are you indicating that somehow the scent of the oil washing ashore will promt sexual promiscuity between those caught in its wake?
"Boy, nothing turns me on like the stench of a beach covered in crude oil. Let's make a baby!"

[bdamomma]

30. oh yea, and the american public and those who are working in this stuff

will be the last to know, remember 9/11 workers getting sick.

[fascisthunter]

31. yes I do... that's why I think this will lead to more human death

and this fascist government of ours will instead protect BP instead of representing their tax paying citizens.

This crisis highlights how fucked up this country is due to its economic policies.

[JNelson6563]

17. My condolences to you and all stuck in that mess!

This is such a nightmare!

[trof]

20. You're right about 'stuck'. And it's a mess on so many levels.

All fishing charter boats are docked except for those 'lucky' enough to be working the slick. Deck hands out of work, marinas selling no gas/groceries/ice/beer/etc. to the fishing fleet.

Vacationers canceling hotel/motel/condo/campground reservations left and right.
Snowbirds this winter?
No way.
Restaurants and bars empty.
Ditto souvenir and beach stuff stores.
Stores of any kind, for that matter.

Commercial fishing (shrimp, oysters, crabs, finned fish) dead.

The economy is in shambles and will get even worse.
Real estate?
Forget real estate.
You wanna buy a house or condo here?
'No thanks.'
This place will be a ghost town by August.

Loss of tax revenue to towns, county, and state will be huge.
We're screwed.
Period.

[marions ghost]

42. is there a support group....?

:grouphug: seriously. Doesn't have to be formal or cost money--but don't go it alone down there.

I'm on the Atlantic coast -- suffering along with you guys. And we'll get our chance I fear...

stay with us trof if it gets worse, which it might...
:-(

[grahamhgreen]

23. Are there oil booms completely surrounding your coast? They should be everywhere.

[RainDog]

24. this is all so heartbreaking

I hope we will learn lessons from this and I hope it's not too late to learn those lessons.

[JitterbugPerfume]

25. That is just sad trof!

I am afraid that our grandchildren will live in a much less safe, and beautiful world tham we know and love. Sometimes I look into their little faces and feel very helpless to do anything to make their world better

[spacelady]

26. I was wondering if anyone has a theory about weather changes regarding the floating oil.

I asked my husband (environmental engineer) if the surface oil could possibly impact our climate. He opined that the dark surface of the oil could act as a heat absorber and lid to keep the gulf waters at a higher temperature. Hurricanes need warm water to build strength...

I asked if some of the chemical components could evaporate and affect the ozone layer - he did not know but thought it possible. My question is has anybody discussed the scientific ramifications of this disaster relating to weather and climate?

trof, I sure hate hearing about the foul odor - we live just north of Mobile.

[GumboYaYa]

27. We could smell it in New Orleans the week after the spill started.

It is faint at first, then it haunts you.

[dixiegrrrrl]

32. Greaet. So tourists will want to avoid NO also, because of the smell??

[glowing]

36. When the rig was on fire, you could smell it burning on the wind in FL.

[bdamomma]

28. oh boy, that just really sucks.

I have a heavy heart to all those affected by this horrible horrific mess.

[blindpig]

33. . k&r

Capitalism is killing us.

[NightWatcher]

35. I just left Mobile Bay last week and will be back in a week or so

I was working on a dredge that was digging up in the state docks and dumping out past buoy #3. I saw some sheen but nothing real bad while I was there, I suspect things will be different next rotation.

[maryf]

38. The smell of the drive for profit....

is a killing smell, I'm so sorry for you, for all of us...K&R

[Feron]

39. I call it the BP smell.

And yeah it's pretty rank. It bothers my sinuses so I try to stay indoors on those days. Honestly I don't know how people right on the coast cope.

One blogger called it a barbecued Barbie smell which I think is perhaps the best descriptor so far.

[Lorien]

47. Yuck. How many miles inland are you?

[Stinky The Clown]

40. Trof, for what its worth, what's been Riley's history on off shore drilling and oil in general?

Has he been a cheerleader and enabler like Jindal and Barbour?

[NNN0LHI]

41. Are there any plans to evacuate any populated areas that you know of?

I think there should be some plan in place for that. Inhaling these fumes can't be healthy.

Don

[femrap]

43. Doens't smelling this

stuff kill brain cells????

[Lorien]

46. It's going to take a toll on everyone's health in the gulf States. Has anyone

else with an autoimmune disease living near the gulf had far more problems with it over the past few weeks? I live 40 mile inland and I've been popping pain pills and other medications like they are tic tacs lately, and that's not normal. Short flare ups, yes, but not continual for weeks on end. I have to wonder if fumes from corexit or the oil drifting across the peninsula are causing the problem. Could just be that the neighbors are spraying more lawn chemicals than usual, but then again....?

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Please be very careful and watch your health.

I hope you heard Riki Ott on Rachel tonight. She knows what she's talking about.

[trof]

49. Oil now on Gulf Shores and Pensacola beaches.

Spotty, but it's coming in.
Also at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.
http://www.fws.gov/bonsecour/

"Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge: A safe haven for wildlife"
Yeah...well...it WAS.
:eyes: