Saturday, July 24, 2010

Tropical Storm Bonnie & The Oil Spill

Right now, "Bonnie" has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression, which means that it that its sustained winds are 39 miles an hour or lower.  It is expected to gain some momentum in the gulf waters but not much.  As it stands now, it is only expected to get back up to a Tropical Storm strength.

Here is the predicted landfall route:



















Now as it stands right now this is going to take it if not directly over the Oil Spill, it will encompass enough of it for us to consider it a direct hit.

So what does that mean?  Well it will most certainly push a lot of oil ashore, so we can expect to see and hear more of that information, but the waters will be agitated due to the wave action which will break up some of the sheets of oil as well.

Based on what I have read, the storm is expected to come ashore in Louisiana at around 9 pm tonight.  That is good news as it is near the low tide time frame will result in less oil entering the marshlands.

This is the anticipated locations of the oil impact from Bonnie, the predictions are from NOAA.


















Now a lot of things can happen, but Jeff Masters of Weather Underground posted last night (with an expected update on things this morning) that he gave Bonnie a 30% chance of dissipating over the gulf before it even reaches land due to some specific weather patterns.



Now we know that all work in the Gulf with regards to the oil spill has been suspended due to this storm, which while understandable, makes many concerned about the fact that there is no way to observe what is going on. There were reports that at least one if not 2 ROV's would be the last out and first in after the storm so that as little time as possible was spent without a picture of what was going on. Originally the plan was to unseal the cap and allow the oil to flow into the water again while everyone in the area evacuated, since there would be no way to monitor the site, but they have now decided to take the "chance" and leave the cap in place and unmonitored. This is a gamble because it risks a catastrophic problem arising with no one around to be able to respond, for days, if something should happen. I think it is a small gamble as they have been watching this cap in place for a week now and nothing has happened. Right now it is a wait and see situation, but I think we can all be thankful that this storm isn't worse and has been limited to the Tropical Depression/Storm category rather than ramping up into a Hurricane which would be much more problematic for everyone.



One last look at the most current "Wundermap" from Weather Underground. On this map I have included the forecast track for Bonnie, along with the Radar so you can see where the worst of the weather is headed.
















Weather Underground

Just for future reference, if you would like to go to Weather Underground, use the above link, and then when the homepage opens, you will see this at the top of the page:



I've put arrows to the sites that I use, which is the "Wundermaps" and Dr. Jeff Masters Blog, which he updates regularly with explanations on all storms.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Dangerous Nature Of Sarah Palin's Lies & Hateful Rhetoric

Sarah Palin has been discussed lately due to her tweets, with her comments on the Mosque/Community Center being set up 2 blocks away from Ground Zero.

She has taken this a step further now with a post on her facebook page which shows that she is deliberately fanning the flames of religious intolerance as well as deliberately misinforming her adoring fans about the truth of what is going on.

This is the post she made:

An Intolerable Mistake on Hallowed Ground


Earlier today, Mayor Bloomberg responded to my comments about the planned mosque at Ground Zero by suggesting that a decision not to allow the building of a mosque at that sacred place would somehow violate American principles of tolerance and openness.


No one is disputing that America stands for – and should stand for – religious tolerance. It is a foundation of our republic. This is not an issue of religious tolerance but of common moral sense. To build a mosque at Ground Zero is a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks. Just days after 9/11, the spiritual leader of the organization that wants to build the mosque, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, suggested that blame be placed on the innocents when he stated that the “United States’ policies were an accessory to the crime that happened” and that “in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.” Rauf refuses to recognize that Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of our ally, Israel, and refuses to provide information about the sources of funding for the $100 million mosque. Rauf also plays a key role in a group behind the flotilla designed to provoke Israel in its justifiable blockade of Gaza. These are just a few of the points Americans are realizing as New York considers the proposed mosque just a stone’s throw away from 9/11’s sacred ground.


I agree with the sister of one of the 9/11 victims (and a New York resident) who said: “This is a place which is 600 feet from where almost 3,000 people were torn to pieces by Islamic extremists. I think that it is incredibly insensitive and audacious really for them to build a mosque, not only on that site, but to do it specifically so that they could be in proximity to where that atrocity happened.”


Many Americans, myself included, feel it would be an intolerable and tragic mistake to allow such a project sponsored by such an individual to go forward on such hallowed ground. This is nothing close to “religious intolerance,” it’s just common decency.


- Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Facebook Notes Page


First of all, lets dispel some of the misinformation.   Cordoba House is NOT, I repeat NOT "at Ground Zero" as Sarah and her ghostwriter would have you believe.   This is a map showing the location of the structure in relation to Ground Zero:



This next picture is from Google Maps and I have placed a red box around the area that the Cordoba House is going to be located and you can see it in relation to where Ground Zero actually is.



Now lets address this "building a mosque" claim.

This is not a building being erected, but a renovation of a building that is already in place.  This building will be named "Cordoba House" and will include many many more things than just a prayer center, which by the way is already in place and being used regularly.


Cordoba House is a Muslim-led project which will build a world-class facility that promotes tolerance, reflecting the rich diversity of New York City. The center will be community-driven, serving as a platform for inter-community gatherings and cooperation at all levels, providing a space for all New Yorkers to enjoy.


This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all.


The site will contain tremendous amounts of resources that otherwise would not exist in Lower Manhattan; a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, art exhibition spaces, bookstores, restaurants - all these services would form a cultural nexus for a region of New York City that, as it continues to grow, requires the sort of hub that Cordoba House will provide.

The Cordoba House Project



No one in this community has any illusions about the dangers we face in this world. We lived through the attacks of 9/11 and years of rebuilding. Many of us responded that day and afterwards – including dozens of members of Imam Rauf’s congregation. Our neighbors at Sufi Books (now Dergah Al-Farah), which has been on West Broadway since 1983, responded immediately and passionately in our neighborhood’s and our country’s defense – by helping to save lives at the site of the attack and by immediately condemning the terrorists and their cause. Rauf recently described his mission as to “embolden the vast majority of Muslims who hate terrorism to stand up to the radical rhetoric” and to “interweave America’s Muslim population into the mainstream society.”


When Ms. Grillo leads tours as a docent for the 9/11 Tribute Center, she asks visitors from all over the world to focus on the word “tolerance.” What better place to teach tolerance than near the site where hate tried to kill it?

A Tradition of Tolerance: Welcoming Cordoba House


Now just for a bit of a refresher, lets revisit the 1st Amendment to the Constitution shall we?  You know that pesky document that Sarah Palin keeps demanding we stick to when she feels she has another rant coming on?

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law "respecting an establishment of religion", impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Seems to me that Sarah Palin and those opposed to this Community Center are trying to impede the free exercise of religion by demanding that this place not be allowed to go forward, and they are also interfering with the right to peaceably assemble by demanding that this community center be moved to a different location simply because they dislike the specific religious beliefs of those who are going to be using the prayer center.


It has been nearly 9 years since the September 11 Attack on this country. How long is long enough to begin healing? How far enough away would it be acceptable to establish this community center in order to make people like Sarah Palin happy?  Does Sarah Palin and her facebook ghostwriter know how many Muslims were killed on September 11th? Do they even care?

Americans were killed along with people from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, El Salvador, Germany, Grenada, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom. People of various ages ranging from 2 up to 85 years old. This was a world tragedy not just an American one. Yes, it happened on American soil, and yes it was directed at American, but we were not the only ones who lost people on that tragic day. People from all backgrounds were killed on that day.

There is so much involved in this subject that we could go on for days discussing it, but the main thrust of this post is supposed to be about getting the facts out there,  and showing the dangerous attitude of the people who are supporting the misinformation that Sarah Palin and those like her are distributing in the name of politics or personal bigotry.

How are people reacting to her facebook note? Good question, and I have some answers. It isn't pretty. Not pretty at all and it shows how she stirs anger and is quite happy to do it as we've seen from the many incidents where she has sought to divide people in this country.




Those are just two screenshots of the comments made.  At this moment there are 2,884 comments and a majority of them are like what I have show with the screen shots.

Here are a few more that I copied earlier...

Steve Walther 
Absolutely unbelievable. Thats nothing less than outright provocation.21 minutes ago


Camille Troy 
Mayor Bloomberg is very accomplished. He may not be my favorite Mayor but you cannot argue w/ success. His religious faith is glorified by showing tolerance to others IMO.19 minutes ago


Rich Fitzgerald 
symbolism is a huge part of islamic extremist thinking. building it at ground zero is a symbol of their success in beating the infidel..
wake up liberals !!19 minutes ago
Christine Lesko
 Mayor Bloomberg , Are you reading these? For no amout of money should the city allow this to happen. This is 9-11 all over again.18 minutes ago


Leslie Miller
 this in NOT tolerance and openness in the manner in which brings peace. the peace is false and those who are allowed to build such things are hoping we keep on being tolerant and open so as to destroy America.17 minutes ago


David Swift 
The goal of the muslim world to to destroy the world. They can't do it they can't do it by war, so they WILL do it with the ballot box.17 minutes ago


Theodore Hoak 
Sarah, You tell it like it is, and Patriotic Americans support you. This is a definite in your face America attempt, especially since their plans also include opening this on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. How any Real American can support this is beyond me. Haven't enough Americans fought and died for this country to show the Liberal ...See More17 minutes ago


Kimi Perkins O'Dell
 It just shows you the intolerance of extreme Muslims. Not putting them all in one basket, mind you, as there are some peace loving Muslims I know personally. Is the world so small that there is NO other location to build their mosque? They feel it necessary to minimize the event, forget the anquish and the pain and overlook what was one event ... See More17 minutes ago




Pattie Coker Holt
 he must be a liberal. get him out of office16 minutes ago




John Davis
they should never build this anyway near ground zero period. to many lives lost. scared ground for christian's16 minutes ago


Steven Thomas 
Bloomberg a BLOOMING IDIOT!!!! Can't he see those radicals want to take over this country!!! When will they wake up!!!!16 minutes ago


Cathy Ashby
 Perhaps we should also allow a floating sushi bar over the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor16 minutes ago


Mark Adams 
New York City is one of the most liberal areas in the country. However, even a majority of New York City voters agree with Governor Palin on the mosque
New York City voters oppose 52 - 31 percent a proposal by a Muslim group to build a mosque and cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 17 percent are undecided.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1302.xml?ReleaseID=147315 minutes ago


David Bower 
It is nothing less than a monument to their victory.15 minutes ago ·  1 person




Cindy Bevington Olmstead 
Whatever happened to old-fashioned consideration and respect? If this religion is truly anti-violence, why don't they say, hey, a terrible thing connected with our religion happened here, and we don't want to rub salt in the wound, so out of respect for those who died, we will NOT build a mosque, but rather will find a place that doesn't cause irritation? Now THAT would show that their religion truly does respect others and denounce violence.15 minutes ago ·  1 person


Jenny Maria Moiser Heinzen 
You don't see the U.S.A putting up statues of Busch in Iraq to replace the Saddam Hussein ones that were torn down....15 minutes ago


Liberty Force 
Patriots, It is time to take back our country! Join us at Liberty Force.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12058120131801014 minutes ago ·  1 person




Mary Roosa 
The most disturbing thing is that nobody is listening to the families of 9/11 victims! It is just common decency and "political correctness" is killing us!14 minutes ago


Camille Troy 
LOL A Guiliani - Bloomberg showdown? You mean Mister "NOUN+VERB 9/11" Guiliani? As I said :


election year ? CHECK!


politicizing 9/11? CHECK!... See More14 minutes ago


Nancy Taul Howey 
I wonder what he would have said if some one had suggested building a Baptist church there?13 minutes ago


Rafael Gomez
 Sarah, come on! You cant really be serious (or disingenuous). There were many Muslims who died on 9/11 too. Moreover, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 are not a reflection of Islam anymore than the dropping of the Atom Bomb was a reflection of Baptist love towards the Japanese :)13 minutes ago


Judie Tracy 
wow...13 minutes ago


Theresa Woltmann- Silvestri 
Politicians have NO common decency!!!! Its all about THEM.12 minutes ago


Don LaBanca 
If the city of New York, specifically Mayor Bloomberg, had any balls, they'd take the site of the proposed mosque by eminent domain and put an end to this crap once and for all. NO mosque, NO way, NO how, Not NOW not EVER12 minutes ago


Mary Manley 
This tells who we are as a nation. I think that we need to look at this with common sense. What has tolerance and openness led to?12 minutes ago


Karin Berryman 
How disgusting for those who died and their families. The suicide bombers may have had the excuse of being brainwashed, but what is Bloomberg's?12 minutes ago


Dan Combs 
This Is a country founded partly on religious tolerance; the founding fathers wanted everyone to be able to chose their own form of Christiamity, not be forced to worship at a state church. The Muslim religion did not enter into the picture. Similarly, Americans should not have to tolerate the religion of another tried and tested, violent culture... See More12 minutes ago


Camille Troy
 Forget 9/11??? If you bring up Saddam Hussein and Iraq I'll wager you don't KNOW anything to FORGET! Sheesh!12 minutes ago


Doug Mataconis 
That sound you here is the death of the First Amendment, property rights, and religious tolerance. 


Nice job there12 minutes ago


Mary Urscheler Moïse 
This is NOT religious tolerance! THIS IS RADICAL ISLAM MAKING A HUGE STATEMENT! WAKE UP AMERICA!11 minutes ago ·  1 person


Debra Luptak 
Thank you Sarah for keeping it "real"...this is absolutely insane that ANY American would even consider this mosque to be built on or near ground zero...what a slap in the face...are we that gullible...wow. My heart breaks for the families of those who innocently died on 9/11 and this is just a stab in the back and will be a constant reminder...May God's will be done here!11 minutes ago


Shelly Young Bird 
I totally agree! And I also say, "Palin for President!!"10 minutes ago


Ron Kreitzer 
got some dam nerve putting it at ground zero.....just a place for them to plan another 9/11....America is so gullable.....10 minutes ago


Steve Dia 
What a huge insult that would be to our country. We Americans had better wake up and very soon or this will no longer be the land of the free. We are in need of a new governing party and ideals.10 minutes ago


Donna Jacobson 
Remember people, Bloomberg is the one that literally wrote himself in for mayor for there terms when the term for every other mayor is two. 


Also, I lost my cousin, a firefighter, on 9/11 and the last thing I want to see next to the place he gave his life is ANYTHING Muslim.9 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile


Daniel Gokie
 Thank you for bringing up the topic.8 minutes ago


Penny Rogers 
When are people going to stop this movement.... Please listen to the 9-11 ,family"s. It's disrespectful to them and the United States... It seem's you have to be policalty correct anymore. I would just like to throw up on this administration!!!!!! Enough is enough!!!!!!!8 minutes ago


Camille Troy
Donna Jacobson-
I am deeply sorry for your loss.8 minutes ago


Gloria Legorreta Anderson 
This building in NY is just to flaunt in the face of Americans a "victory" of sorts. No different than the building of the Dome of the Rock in Jerasalem where Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.8 minutes ago


Lena BattleCat Pullum
 I dont care one shit about these damn Muslims and their feelings in regard this Mosque! i am sick to my stomach with these ppl trying to FORCE their religion, their veiws and their so-called ethics down the throats of American society and they R doing it on our own soil! Poor us! Our politicians R kissing the asses of these religious fanatics because they R scared 2 death that they may begin their efforts AGAIN, 2 murder more americans!8 minutes ago ·  1 person


Carol Anderson McKinney 
Amen sister!! This is a slow and steay infiltration of our country and an insult to the victims, their families, the emergency workers twho gave their lives, the children who are growing up without a mom or dad or grandparent! THINK about them more then appeasing a group of people who would glady wipe us off the face of the map given the chance!7 minutes ago


Edi Saddlemire 
HUH ???7 minutes ago


Michael Santa Cruz 
?@Mark Adams: 
http://weeklystandard.com/articles/mosque-grows-near-brooklyn
The author of that article is a Muslim centrist with obvious expertise on the subject, but if you read very carefully, you will see that the links to radical Islam are fairly spurious. To summarize: Raum served in an nonprofit with the former director of a questionable ... See More6 minutes ago


Kurt Nielsen 
That is the Hopey,Changey type pf crap that will end up destroying us....If you "Go with the flow" in a river you will drown eventually..we must STAND against this.......religious freedom is one thing being ...allowing the muslims to use that part of our sacred "Bill of Rights" to spit in our eye and rub our noses in it is another..akin to the ...See More6 minutes ago


Kerry Burak 
what a freakin ridiculous idea.. a mosque at ground zero? what they hell are these people thinking? what it does is violates all laws of common sense. not to mention the fact of insulting those that died that day. it has NOTHING to do with First Amendment. If they want to build a mosque.. let them.(i believe in freedom to choose ones own religion). but somewhere else other than ground zero.6 minutes ago


Rich Shull 
What a freakin retarded anti american government we have going on. I am ashamed of america. I really think the senators and congress need stop, re-evaluate, take a look at where they think it will honestly go, and correct it.5 minutes ago


Shirley Beckman
 What were they thinking?5 minutes ago


Leo Torrez 
I would like to see Sarah and Jan Brewer on the ticket! Out with idiots Nobama, and Biden......and take Bloomberg with them...I am christian, my friend is Muslim, my family Catholic and Jewish....WE ALL SAY STOP THE MOSQUE.... SARAH and JAN "because they can!"4 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile


Rita Siller 
Someone has got to stop this madness! This was Bloomberg's reply to a recent email asking him to stop the mosque:
Last month, the local community board voted by an overwhelming margin (29-1) to endorse the project.
Time to get rid of him and the entire local community board!4 minutes ago




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I Refreshed Page to see more comments:
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Ronald Twyman 
It is time we stop leting this Antichrist politics go unchecked and stand up for and return to our religious rights, befor it is to late to save our children!14 minutes ago ·  1 person


Luanne Buege 
what are they thinking - oh that's right - they forgot how13 minutes ago


Don Evans Rafael:
The killing of other Muslims makes no difference to Islam as long as the intent is towards the "Infidels". "...terrorist attacks on 9/11 are not a reflection of Islam"? What an ignorant statement!13 minutes ago


Karen Jalaba
 Where is our government when we need them???????12 minutes ago


Christine Kingsbury
 It makes no difference what we do when dealing with these religious fanatics that are a kickback from thousands of years ago. This is an instance where we are damned if we do and we are damned if we don't. They will not appreciate the concession of the American people if we "tolerate" the building of an Islamic Mosque on a piece of land that has ... See More12 minutes ago


Jesse Pettyjohn Jr.
 Bloomgerg is an IDIOT,who would have never been elected if he did not have his own money. I live in NJ,I saw those buildings fall.I lost some people I know ,that day.It is not tolerance that should come from us but what should come from us is anger for the nerve of these maggots(Bloomberg included)that they give us another sucker punch.12 minutes ago


Andy Tackett 
no the building of one shows the intolerance of the muslims wanting to build there bloomberg is dead wrong and the last pole of new yorkers was at 52% not wanting it there so why does the majority not get heard 12 minutes ago


Terri Murray
 I would think so 11 minutes ago


Willis W Mahan 
Like Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11 minutes ago


Karin Berryman 
I only saw this outrage 5 mins ago and the other thing is ; What does this kind of thing do for your soldiers, for those battling with tragic memories I would think this would be outright dangerous! Whoever gives the ok for this can be sued in my book!10 minutes ago




Homer Cantrell
 Religious tolerance has absolutely nothing to do with Terrorist Organizations wanting to build a trophy mosque at the site of the worst terrorist act commited on OUR land. The Obama Admisistration would do well to tell these people: "NO WAY are you going to build a mosque on that site." However, we all know our secret Muslim so-called President will just sit back and let it happen.10 minutes ago


Jean Pierre Wilding
 There should be no problem in banning building it. It amounts to a hate crime, and if anything does not promote unity and is not PC. Even if you believe in that nonsense. God bless America - start praying for a miracle.9 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile


Carolyn Adams
 Why not just make Ground Zero a memorial park and let it alone. There are still enough spirits to make it sad but beautiful. Because anything that is chosen would be out of place. Any cemetery is both sad but yet beautiful. Sometimes it is hard to go there but once you do you feel better.9 minutes ago


Patrice Benner-Dick
 Sarah, thank you for being the voice of so many Americans who feel the same way but are powerless to be heard.9 minutes ago ·  1 person


Bobby Vergis 
In the history of Islam, mosques have been built on the sacred ground of countries or cities they have conquered. This is not an issue of religion, but of this imam wanting to make a statement of how muslims have conquered America. 


Besides that; the design of their mosque is just a loud obnoxious statememnt in and of itself, just yards from the ... See More9 minutes ago


Ralph Edward Benner 
WE ARE TO BLESS AND CURSE NOT. Why? Because God said, Vengeance is mine-I will repay. We are to show LOVE at all times. Why? Because perhaps you will win a friend who once was an enemy. If not, you heap coals of fire on the enemys' head(s) Why?Why?Why? Blessing, Cursing, Loving are all boomerangs-If they do not strike the target they all come home to the sender.9 minutes ago




Esther Zeigler Burns 
The problem is the assumption that everyone thinks alike. The Mosque at ground zero will be seen as marker of a heroic victory over the great Satan. I mean, liberals hate themselves to the point they like being debased and debasing their country....Bloomberg must have a closet full of BDSM gear then.8 minutes ago


John Sutherland 
Sarah, I'm sure you understand that the progressives and the communists in our midst intend to completely destroy our Judeo/Christian American culture. They mean to bring us down. Don't expect fair fights or honest debates - they lie, cheat, and steal to get their way. But they are America haters 100%. It never occurred to me that success would... See More8 minutes ago


Carol Anderson McKinney 
good video explaining what this is all about!! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFzFIDbKpg&feature=player_embedded8 minutes ago ·  1 person


Debi Fitts
 Amen Sarah....we know what their agenda is.8 minutes ago


Ricky Abel
 Bloomberg is a douche7 minutes ago ·  1 person


Lisa Horn Brichetto
 It really is just about common decency, something so many Americans just don't have anymore. Thank you Sarah for speaking out about this.6 minutes ago


Becky Lew- Hobbs
 Sarah - thank you stating what so many of us agree with. Ground zero should be a memorial and not a religious statement.6 minutes ago


Duwayne Rains 
Never EVER let this happen America! This is a slap in the face to all Americans! Why do we continue to let the minority rule? To the Mayor and everybody else in NY, get a little backbone and stand up for once!5 minutes ago ·  2 people


Rick Gallagher 
B.S. A mosque at ground zero is a slap in the face to Americans!5 minutes ago


Cheryl Hannan Nashatka 
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time."
4 minutes ago


Scott Tucker 
I agree with Bloomberg.
Shut up. Go home.
Become obscure again.3 minutes ago


Stu Ballenger 
If anyone needs a volunteer to fly a plane into it once its built...hit me up..3 minutes ago


Joe Starbuck 
Oh, forgot one more thing: did you see the President walking to his plane? He was carrying a book called "Post America" written by a Muslim. Some say, "Maybe he's trying to get more insight to deal with sensitive issues." I'm not buying this angle because too many of his recent decisions have been pro-Muslim and anti-Christian, anti-Constitution. I... See More3 minutes ago


Christy Foster 
I can't believe this is happening?? WHY would we allow this to happen?? I am with Duwayne have a little backbone and stand up to these people... Did Americans forget what happened that day and who did it???3 minutes ago




Richie Diaz 
Go Sarah. Always willing to step up to the Plate and take a swing, for the American people.2 minutes ago




Lena BattleCat Pullum 
THE ANTICHRIST, 4 THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS, IS AT WORK AND HE HAS THIS NATION AND IT'S POLITICANS SNOWBLIND TO THE FACTS OF LIFE AND THE REALITY OF OUR PRESENT SITUATION! I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINING OF A MORE SINISTER FUTURE FOR US! GOD HELP US!2 minutes ago


Vicki Conard 
Thank you Sarah Palin for bringing this to our attention. Maybe with your contacts you can help stop this. It would be nice to see that you can push through all the red tape and have this dumped out of New York! This is definitely an eye opener.about a minute ago


So as is obvious there is a lot of hate, misinformation and dangerous attitudes among Sarah's followers.   The anger displayed toward individuals who have a different belief system than they do is plainly evident and exceptionally frightening.   To believe that Muslims are all bad, or that this Community center is some kind of dangerous place or disrespectful slap in the face to those who died is a joke, but sadly one that is becoming more and more popular with a select group of citizens.

How sad that this is what so many feel, when they themselves are likely to cry foul if someone tried to trample on their right to free religious expression.


What better place to teach tolerance than near the site where hate tried to kill it?

That comment stands out for me.

Sarah Palin could have taken this opportunity and used it to show herself to be a true Christian, and instead she went down the opposite path. She could have shown herself to be supportive of the Constitution like she professes herself to be, but again that is not the path she wanted to take.

 I am not surprised by the behavior she displays and encourages in people, but I am saddened by it.  I have been paying close attention to her for what feels like an eternity but in reality is has only been a few years.  In those few years, I have watched her lash out, encourage rage and anger in her supporters, lie, deliberately misrepresent, and bilk people out of money,  and all of it to feed her own ego, and to become a celebutaunt on the national stage.

She is a dangerous person and one who should not be ignored, as she will do everything in her power to continue to encourage dangerous behavior from as many people as she can.  That is what she does and it is who she is.  Sadly she has conned a lot of good decent people into believing her, but I am always hopeful that people will finally remove the blinders from their eyes and simply look at the facts which show how shallow, egotistical, and narcissistic her behavior is.

More examples of those fans of Sarah Palin and her viewpoints.

A disgusting ad celebrated by Conservatives4Palin:



"The audacity of jihad." Real subtle. But you see here the neo-fascist, civilization-war rhetoric that Palin will deploy more and more crudely as she moves toward the White House.

Andrew Sullivan The Daily Dish “They”

-Check out this awesome ad on the mosque issue from National Republican Trust.
By Ian Lazaran 

Conservatives4Palin; Georgia Elections Open Thread



Despite its name, the National Republican Trust has no formal connection to the Republican Party. It is an independent group with ties to the conservative Web site Newsmax. 
FactCheck.org

Another article leads us to further information about this group and its founder:

Scott Wheeler is at it again. As before, the following fundraising email has not been edited:

Dear National Republican Trust Supporter:
How do you feel about leather-clad, baton-wielding New Black Panthers "patrolling" your local polling place? Or the planting of a monstrous 13-story mosque at Ground Zero? What about NASA's Muslim outreach...the NAACP's race-fueled assault on the Tea Party...and Jeremiah Wright's enduring influence over Barrack Obama? Worrisome, yes. Outrageous, even. But random, isolated incidents? Not a chance.
We are developing an investigation that will demonstrate these events are calculated elements of a grand and poisonous strategy to divide, dispirit, and diminish The Left's political adversaries. In other words, you and me.
Big Media just rendered their verdict on our campaign by refusing to run our Mosque Ad.
IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED OUR POWERFUL TELEVISION AD THAT
WILL KILL THE GROUND ZERO MOSQUE. PLEASE WATCH IT HERE!
NBC and CBS refuse to run this ad. They think they have a monopoly on your news consumption. Let's prove them wrong.
They don't mind running the radical left wing Moveon.org ads, but they won't run this one. You might have heard about Big Media's shameful actions last night on the O'Reilly Factor.
You can help us blow through their barrier with the truth! If we can raise enough money, we will post this ad on the Drudge Report, the most widely viewed website in the world. From there, it will go viral, reaching millions of Americans, and killing the plans to erect this disgraceful mosque!
GO HERE TO JOIN THE FIGHT, AND SIGNAL TO BIG MEDIA
THEIR NEWS MONOPOLY HAS ENDED!
Please forward this message to all of your friends and family!
Together, we'll make sure every American is aware of this despicable plot.
We can defeat the censors and kill the mosque, if all those reading this email will donate. This must be a team effort. We all must pitch in. Anyone who donates $100 dollars or more we will receive an autographed copy of Shadow Government: What Obama Doesn't Want You to Know About His Czars.
This disgraceful Mosque project cannot go forward. We owe it to the 3,000 Americans slaughtered on 9/11 to ensure this project of hate is stopped immediately.
We can do it, but we desperately need your help with this campaign. The media may refuse to cover this project, and even work to silence our voice, but together, we can expose this outrage and broadcast it into the living rooms of every proud American.
Please consider an investment of $250, $100, $50 or $25. And Please know that no contribution is too small. Together, we suffered on that horrific September day; united, we will fight to honor and protect our fallen by stopping this disgusting effort.
This Ad campaign and our ongoing investigation will ensure that we are victorious. We will kill the Ground Zero Mosque.
We cannot let these terrorists build a shrine on the ground where they cowardly attacked innocent Americans on 9/11. GO HERE TO JOIN THE FIGHT!
Yours for America,
Scott Wheeler,
Executive Director
[Link: www.GOPTrust.com...]
Note Wheelers ranting about a conspiracy trying to bury the truth and silence him and his talk of exposing it. That's how totalitarians talk.

Scott Wheeler Falls Off The Conspiracy Nut Tree & Hits Every Branch On The Way Down

Now I had previously put up photographs of the site of this Community Center (and make no mistake that is what it is) showing it in relation to where Ground Zero is, but for a better understanding of what the location looks like and to show that this isn't going to be a Mosque like the above video is trying to imply it will be, you must remember that this is not a new building going up.  It is a building in place that is simply being renovated to use for the Community Center.  This center will have bookstores, restaurants, a swimming pool, and many other things.
This is a picture of the street where this Community Center will be located:




Not quite the way it is pictured
in the video is it?











This is what is in the video and what these people would have you believe that this Community Center will look like..






If they are going to continue to claim that this "Mosque is being built at Ground Zero", which we have now proven to be two separate and distinct lies, (it is a building that is being renovated & it is not at Ground Zero) then you have to ask yourself, what else are they willing to lie about?   The answer to that is ..whatever they want to lie about in order to scare people and use that fear to bring in support both emotional and financial.

They certainly aren't going to tell people that this center is housing much more than a prayer room  (which is already being used) because that would seem much more reasonable and not so frightening to people who are already leery of those who are "different".

What is so frightening and damaging to the community about restaurants, bookstores, swimming pools, art exhibitions and worship groups?  Nothing about those things are frightening at all to reasonable people so that is why they aren't mentioned, and that is why this is being labeled a Mosque instead of a Community Center.




I had been trying to write a conclusion to this piece and had rewritten it several times when I noticed someone had linked to this article by Jeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic who wrote a wonderful piece titled "Why Sarah Palin Endangers American National Security (and Israel's, as Well)"

On the second point, the danger she poses to America -- and specifically, to American national security -- Palin has this week argued vociferously against the building of a mosque near the site of Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. She calls the idea of a mosque there a provocation. But it is her opposition to the building of a mosque that is provocative. The organization that hopes to build the mosque, the Cordoba Initiative, is a moderate Muslim group, striving for better relations between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. It is in the direct interest of American national security to strengthen those groups that argue against Islamism. Palin's opposition to the mosque -- and by extension, to the enfranchisement of moderate Muslims -- is a gift to Islamists, proof to their potential followers that America is as intolerant of Islam as Europe is, proof that it is America, not Islam, that wants to see our civilizations clash. We as a society should embrace those Muslims who want to live the American dream; their lives, as free, devout and proud Muslims in a diverse country, are a refutation of the radical notion that the West is forever aligned against the interests of Muslim believers. Opposing the building of mosques by anti-jihadist Muslim groups in this country is perhaps the best way to radicalize American Muslims not otherwise prone to radicalization.

It is true that this country is home to a non-insignificant number of already-radicalized Muslims. There's no point in denying that. But there's a war on -- a clash within a civilization -- and we can affect the outcome of this war by embracing those Muslims who are ready and willing to live in our multi-confessional country, while fighting those who violently oppose American values. Sarah Palin, from what I see so far, views Islam as a monolith, and because of this view, she argues for policies that could do severe damage to American national security. This is a complicated war we're in, and Sarah Palin is, by the evidence at hand, dangerously simple-minded.

Jeffery Goldberg @ The Atlantic
(H/T to drpatois at palingates.blogspot.com for the link)

I agree with his conclusion as it was what I was trying to put into word. She is more than just simple-minded, she is willing to take on any cause if she thinks it will keep her in the news, and she doesn't care about what the issue is, nor does she care to understand the issue. For Sarah it has always been about making noise and riling up her supporters in whatever way she can.

There is no doubt that there are people in the world who want to do harm to others and they will always find a reason to do so in their own warped minds, but we should not be playing into their hands and into their deliberately misinformed viewpoints by ensuring that their supporters are seeing us act out in the ways that these terrorists claim we will and do.  Sarah Palin and those who blindly follow her are dangerous to this country for the simple reason that they seek to divide us, which weakens us in many different ways, on many different fronts.

We will never completely eradicate terrorism.  There will always be those who seek power through intimidation and fear, but we can fight it, and we only lose to them if we allow ourselves to change who we are and what we do out of fear and intimidation.

Oil Spill News

Oil spill found in field inside AK wildlife refuge

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) - An estimated 630 gallons of oil have spilled in a pipeline corridor on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in south-central Alaska.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says a survey crew discovered the spill in the Swanson River Oil Field Tuesday. Chevron notified authorities and shut down its active crude line in the area.
KTUU Reports


Reports like this one is why we need to rethink drilling here in the United States, whether is on land or in the sea. This particular incident is not the first nor will it be the last of these "accidental spills" and we have either got to find a way to stop this from happening or stop the drilling.

Judge halts oil, gas development on Chukchi Sea

NCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal judge in Anchorage has blocked federal offshore oil drilling leases in the Chukchi Sea. Oil companies may be disappointed, but some villages on the North Slope and environmental groups call Wednesday's decision a victory.

U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline's ruling -- that the federal government failed to follow environmental law when it granted billions of dollars in leases in the Chukchi Sea -- isn't the final decision in the matter, but it could have major impacts on future drilling in the area.

"While the ruling is disappointing, the judge did not vacate the lease sale," said Shell Oil spokesperson Curtis Smith.

The decision is seen as a win for the environmental groups and villages on the North Slope who sued, saying not enough scientific research on drilling in the area has been completed.

"There are some places we need to protect that are too important to drill in," said Carole Holley with Pacific Environment. "People are paying $10 a gallon for milk -- how are they supposed to have the resources in place to do a search-and-rescue operation if people are killed on an exploratory rig? Nothing is in place to take care of a spill of this sort in the Arctic."

KTUU


Florida Updates July 21 2010

Current Situation:

Florida beaches are open.

Currently Deepwater Horizon is not discharging any oil into the Gulf of Mexico. BP well integrity testing is ongoing and active monitoring continues. Progress continues on the two relief wells.

This event has been designated a Spill of National Significance.

Unified Area Command continues with a comprehensive oil well intervention andspill response planning following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans.

More than 42,500 personnel are working the on and offshore response.
Oil-water mix recovered: nearly 34.5 million gallons.
Response vessels available: more than 6,491
Response aircraft available: 120
Dispersant: more than 1.84 million gallons deployed.
There is no planned use of dispersants in Florida waters.
Florida Specific:

FDEP announced the removal of supplemental Tier 3 boom within the next 72 to 96 hours in the Panhandle counties in light of potential tropical activity. The removed boom and equipment will be temporarily stored to prevent damage and will be redeployed as conditions permit.

Tar balls, tar mats and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida.

Isolated impacts will be possible in Northwest Florida over the next 72 hours.

Five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in Northwest Florida to protect sensitive inland water bodies. These skimmers are operating out of Escambia, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties.

Pensacola Pass and Perdido Pass may be closed with incoming tides.

Oil Containment Boom (in feet) total: 797,261 deployed in Florida.Tier 1 & Tier 2: 481,000 / Tier 3: 316,261 In accordance with established plans, protective booming, staging, and boom maintenance is being conducted along the coast from Escambia to Franklin.272 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.

940 Qualified Community Responders are working in the Florida Panhandle.

Federal Fishery closure, west of Cape San Blas to state line. (see NOAA FB10-060)

In addition to $100,000 for Volunteer Florida to maintain a volunteer registration database, BP has issued over $75 million in grants to Florida for booming, tourism advertising, and state preparedness and response efforts. An additional $500,000 has been issued by BP to fund innovative technology solutions for Okaloosa Cty.

BP claims in Florida total 31,973 with approximately $ 41,273,901.34 paid.

Florida Information Lines:

The Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.

English – (888) 337-3569 / TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955-8770
Spanish – (877) 955-8773
Haitian Creole – (877) 955-8707
For general health/exposures information questions related to the oil spill, contact the Florida Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.

Two public hotline numbers for oil spill investigation and cleanup:

Impacted Wildlife: (866) 557-1401
Oiled Shoreline: (877) 2-SAVE-FL or #DEP for cellular devices
The Florida Department of State has established a hotline for archeological, historical preservation, and tribal lands that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident: (850) 245-6530.

To confirm legitimate charities and determine if an organization is registered with the state, call Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) (800) 435-7352 or www.800helpfla.com.

Information Websites:

Volunteer registration: www.VolunteerFlorida.org and click “Register to Help”

Health advisories: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/health.htm

State sampling data: www.nrdata.org

GATOR web mapping application: http://map.floridadisaster.org/gator/

Recovery related jobs: http://FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com/

NOAA GeoPlatform, response management application: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/

State Actions:

State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is at a Level 1 (Full), operating from 0700 to 1800 EDT, with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as the lead agency.

Governor’s Executive Orders 10-99, 10-100, 10-106 and 10-132 declared a state of emergency for identified Florida coastal counties.

Governor’s Executive Order 10-101 established the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force, which will facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries to recover the loss of commerce and revenues due to the oil spill.

Conducting daily conference calls with county and emergency management partners, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and various Unified Commands.
A portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County is closed to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp.

A SERT Toxicological Data Analysis Cell is providing consistent scientific assessments of collected sampling to inform local/state decision making.

The Agency for Workforce Innovation and Regional Workforce Boards are identifying and filling jobs related to the oil spill: 13,949 positions advertised; 42,976 applicants referred.

124 Florida National Guard personnel on duty at various duty posts in the Deepwater Horizon area of operations.

19,680 volunteers have registered to respond to Deepwater Horizon. 23,873 volunteer hours have been worked.

AmeriCorps, National Civilian Community Corps members are assisting with models for a community-run Citizen Information Station (CIS).

Conducting daily reconnaissance flights and shoreline patrol from Escambia to Franklin Counties for impact. Real time reconnaissance reports are being entered into GATOR.

Currently, Florida’s coast has 9 decontamination sites for response vessels and 8 that are being operated for commercial vessels. A site for recreational vessel decontamination has also been established and 13 additional recreational vessel sites are in negotiations with BP.

Florida Releases July 21, 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Situation Update





I continue to wonder why it is we allow the drilling we do. The amount of money we get in royalites is negligible in comparison to what we end up paying anyway because our consumption far outstrips our production. What we can find here in the states and in our local waters doesn't begin to make a dent in the supply of oil and it's products that we demand, so why are we risking our environment for such a small return financially and with such a high cost to us when these spills do occur?

We don't get to "keep" the oil & use it here anyway. It goes onto the world market and then we simply get our oil in the same place as everyone else does.

Doesn't "reducing our dependency on foreign oil" really boil down to reducing our demand for oil? As long as we demand the amount of oil and gas that we do, we are going to be dependent upon foreign nations for that oil. That is no more than a simple fact.

Reducing our demand is what will reduce our dependency.

Monday, July 19, 2010

**Update On Seepage**

It has been confirmed that the "seepage" that was reported yesterday is at a distance of two miles away from the well and is unrelated to the drilling/wellhead.


Also updated is the total to date collected animals

Birds
Alive: 1232
Dead: 2283
  Released:  534

Mammals
Alive: 5
Dead: 62
  Released:  1

Sea Turtles
Alive: 213
Dead: 472
  Released: 11

http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/pdfs/collection_07192010.pdf

News On Seepage Detected 'Some Distance From Well'

There is no reason to panic as of yet.  There is some indications that there is "seepage" but what exactly is coming out is unknown as of yet, the exact location is unknown as of yet and just how bad the seepage might be is also unknown.  These factors will not be known right away, so better not to panic as of yet. It will be today (Monday) at the earliest that we could find out what this is all about.

The concern does grow when it is found that the President is prepared to order BP to open the top of the well again.  This would be done in order to relieve pressure on the well which could be causing the problems in seepage.  BP is going to fight this no doubt as if they open the well again and the 'seepage' stops then that is the indication that would show this 'seepage' is being caused by the capped wellhead.  We don't know that this is the case, as a matter of fact we don't know much at all.  Due to that lack of knowledge it is better to have a wait and see approach rather than a panic attack until we know more.

There are normal and known leaks that occur on the seabed, so that is why there is no need to panic just yet as we do not know the location of these "anomalies" as of yet.  Thad Allen sending the letter to BP is a precautionary one and is intended to make it known to BP that the government is aware of the possibility of problems, as well as wanting constant monitoring of said anomalies, and is prepared to demand immediate action should the anomalies be found to be related to the well & capping procedure. It is again, not surprising that BP will do what they can to protect themselves in this matter, and hopefully the government via Incident Command is doing all they can to get accurate and timely information to ensure that any and all precautions are taken and that the correct information is obtained.


Incident Commander Thad Allen sent a letter to BP which states:

Bob Dudley 
Chief Managing Director
BP Group
501 West Lake Park Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77070

Dear Mr. Dudley,
My letter to you on July 16, 2010 extended the Well Integrity Test period contingent upon the completion of seismic surveys, robust monitoring for indications of leakage, and acoustic testing by the NOAA vessel PISCES in the immediate vicinity of the well head. Given the current observations from the test, including the detected seep a distance from the well and undetermined anomalies at the well head, monitoring of the seabed is of paramount importance during the test period. As a continued condition of the test, you are required to provide as a top priority access and coordination for the monitoring systems, which include seismic and sonar surface ships and subsea ROV and acoustic systems. When seeps are detected, you are directed to marshal resources, quickly investigate, and report findings to the government in no more than four hours. I direct you to provide me a written procedure for opening the choke valve as quickly as possible without damaging the well should hydrocarbon seepage near the well head be confirmed.
As the National Incident Commander, I must remain abreast of the status of your source control efforts. Now that source control has evolved into a period beyond the expected 48 hour interval of the Well Integrity Test, I am requiring that you provide me a written update within 24 hours of your intentions going forward. I remain concerned that all potential options to eliminate the discharge of oil be pursued with utmost speed until I can be assured that no additional oil will spill from the Macondo Well.
You may use your letter of 9 July as a basis for your update. Specifically, you must provide me your latest containment plan and schedule in the event that the Well Integrity Test is suspended, the status and completion timelines for all containment options currently under development, and details of any other viable source control options including hydraulic control that you are considering. You should highlight any points at which progress along one option will be impacted by resource trade-offs to achieve progress along another option. Include options for and impacts of continued twice-a day seismic testing versus once a day testing.
As you develop the plans above, note that the primary method of securing the source is the relief well and this effort takes precedence. Therefore, I direct you to provide a detailed plan for the final stages of the relief well that specifically addresses the interaction of this schedule and any other activity that may potentially delay relief well completion.
Have your representative provide results on the monitoring efforts and source control requirements described above during today’s BP and Government Science Team call at 8:00 PM CDT.
Sincerely,
THAD W. ALLEN

Letter from Thad Allen To Bob Dudley of BP

As is noted in the letter, Incident Command is now knowledgable about the situation and is going to do everything in their power to make sure that BP knows it, and responds to it.

Now it is understandable that people are concerned.  We've seen the problems with transparency from both BP as well as the government with nearly everything regarding this disaster.  It is normal to be fearful due to the amount of misinformation that has been put out there as well, and sometimes it is hard to know what is truth vs what is fabrication.

As I was reading the discussion about this on The Oil Drum, there were a few who were expressing concern about whether this news was cause for panic or not.  Each person stated they lived somewhere on the gulf coast and were truly fearful.   This is understandable, again as I said, due to the lack of clear and concise information.  We are left to try and figure this out on our own which should never be the case in times of a disaster.

The response to these concerns were varied with some people laughing, and others being very understanding of the concern.  The two most informative & compassionate answers given were:

No, don't panic. The scare stories about methane tsunamis etc. are meant to scare you. What the motivation is, I have no idea. There's a seep 1000+ feet from a troublesome well three days after they capped it and prevented lots of oil from escaping into the water. The Gulf seeps anyway. People who have a lot more competence than you and I are watching things and there's a plan to kill it.

And this one:

Stay, fill the car with gas, pack a bag, get $300 cash and watch the news. Do everything else normal. It is not time to hit the OH CRAP button yet. Relax and call a relative. You will be fine.

Edit: And go see professional & get some help tomorrow. Perfectly normal what you are going through. Drink two beers if it might make you feel better. You will be good to go no matter the outcome if you prepare your mind. In this case, we are talking very low chance that events will directly impact you. Smile, I am and I live in Gulf Shores.

The Oil Drum Thread Talking About the "Seepage" Part I
The Oil Drum Thread Talking About the "Seepage" Part II

Both hold a lot of truth to them.  Don't panic because there are experts in the field who are working on this matter, and they will be giving it their full attention to try and determine what is going on.  It is too soon to have all the information that is needed released to the public as of yet, but I trust that we will get the information one way or another, even if it is revealed to us by an 'anonymous source' who is going to get the truth out.  We also know that people who are experts in various fields are watching this closely, like the guys at the Oil Drum, who know when bullshit information is being offered and when it isn't.  They have had ongoing discussions regarding the information being offered vs what is able to be seen simply by virtue of watching the ROV camera's and understanding the information being relayed through them.  They are  not perfect and will ask questions of each other as well, but for the most part they usually debunk information pretty quickly and will happily answer questions or explain things to make it easier for the average joe to understand.

If you are concerned, do as the second comment suggested, and prepare to leave.  Pack a bag, get some cash and then go ahead and live like you would if this was not happening, but be ready to go if you think you need to.  Much like anyone living on the gulf coast would do for hurricane season.  I have this done already, bags packed, hurricane kit at the ready, cash stashed in my "go bag", car filled with gas and a couple of gas cans filled & stored, and am ready to evacuate due to a hurricane should the need arise, but having lived on the coast for close to 10 years, I can say that I have never needed to implement my evacuation plans, and have lived through numerous hurricanes.  I did not prepare for anything with regards to this disaster, I did mine for the normal hurricane preparation that I do every year in April.

I'm not going to suggest that people need to go talk to a professional unless you are feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with this situation.  I would suggest that you try and calm down, have a drink if that is your prerogative  and not worry to the point that it is overwhelming to think about.


Now this next comment from the Oil Drum (From the Part II section) is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This was posted by a commenter who goes by the name of Rovman.


As I have stated before,I work with ROVs and have done for many years. I have spent many many hours looking at footage from ROV cameras as part of my work and am very familiar with how ROVs work, what they do, and what you see in the monitors and what it is that is causing what you see. I have also spent many hours over the past few weeks watching the feeds from the Gulf. In that time, I have seen many interesting things but at no point have I seen anything which I can say is definitively, or even slightly likely to be, an oil or gas leak from the ocean floor. What all of the above videos show without exception is almost certainly silt kicked up from either thruster wash or the ROV itself contacting the ocean floor. There may be some small natural seeps, but I've not seen footage of any so far. There may even be some leaks that are to be worried about, but I haven't seen any evidence of this at all yet.

The ROVs involved in this task are very powerful. The Oceaneering Millenium, which is the commonest vehicle there produces 220hp and weighs 8,800lbs in air. They are trimmed to be 'heavy' and so will naturally settle to the bottom if power is lost. It is quite usual to have the ROV sitting on the bottom with a small amount of upward vertical thrust still applied. This sends a continuous wash of water down to the sea bed and kicks up silt, even though the vehicle is sat stationary on the sea floor. It really takes very little to disturb this very fine silt and create a sh*t storm. One the ROV takes off from the bottom, it trails with it a fair amount of silt and this creates a continuing sh*t storm for several tens of seconds as well. A classic sign that what you are seeing is silt kicked up is what appears to be black lumps with a trail of 'smoke'. These are what the commentator in the above video refers to as rocks thrown up by the erupting sea floor. They are no such thing, they are small lumps of mud trailing a plume of silt behind them.

Another thing to be aware of is the apparent scale of what you are seeing. When you see the stack it is easy to forget that it is about 5 or 6 stories high, and that the ROVs are the size of a minivan. They look a lot smaller. On the other hand, when a 'rock' flies past the camera it is easy to think it is a foot across. It isn't. It's probably about the size of a small coin.

I'd also caution people about trying to interpret the sonar images. There were comments a few threads ago which were wildly off. If you want to know what you are looking at, post a picture or a video clip and I or someone else with experience will take a look. These things are much harder to interpret than the video images.

I do get tired saying the same things over and over again, but I'm happy to continue to do so in an effort to educate people and counteract the rising tide of nonsense out there.


This comment was posted in response to someone linking to some Youtube videos they claimed showed "explosions on the seafloor".   You can see that this is detailed and reasonable explanation for many of the things that are seen but may or may not be misunderstood or mis-characterized by people who are unfamiliar with what they are seeing, or don't have an understanding of this type of work.

This goes to show that panic infused scenario's can easily become the norm just as much as "everything is fine don't worry".   We must not be complacent.  Be concerned, but don't panic at each and every story that comes along.  The more information we can obtain the better to determine the situation.

I'll keep a watch on the situation like everyone else and update as I get newly confirmed information.