gulf oil spill

[southeastastra]

here frightening

That's actually slightly misleading. There is oil washing up on the beaches of Alabama and the water has been closed for a while.

The oxygen level in the deep water has lessened to the extent that larger fish and sharks are now up in the surf -
blog.al.com/live/2010/06/sharks_in_oily_water_video_vie.html

That blog is excellent for see how a community is affect by and dealing with it. It's really hurting them down there; it's an area dependent on tourism. One skipper in the little marina we used a couple of years ago has killed himself. (I've been going since I was 13, so decades...) There's a wildlife refuge and turtles nest on the beach (I've seen them! They're so neat.)

Devastating.

Yes, Jimmy Buffet's sister has been doing tourism adverts on telly for the Alabama beach community and he is due to give a concert on the beach soon to raise awareness/money. She has a restaurant there called 'Margaritaville'.

It is a real tragedy on so many levels.

I feel guilty because we've been going every year but aren't this year. Not guilty enough to go, though.

I know some people who have been to the Destin area, and the beaches there are fine - so far, but it is only a matter of time I'm sure. Pensacola is having problems.

Evidently the heat has been so intense that workers can only be outside cleaning 10 minutes or so every hour.

I know alot of people who aren't going to the beach this summer (the economy), or are going to the Atlantic coast.