But if you drive a Prius this is in no way your fault right?

Uh, I can't tell the difference in oil progression. Am I supposed to be able to?

that's not nearly as bad as i'd thought it would be. the containment dome is going down today, let's hope for success.

We are so fucked.

I grew up on the Gulf Coast and cannot bear to read about this, or look at the pictures, or think of all the people whose livelihoods and lives have been ruined. I am just sick about it. Someone please let me know when it's all over

And that's just what shows on the surface. Think of it like an iceberg, where most of the mass is underwater. BP is using tons of chemical dispersant, which is 1) toxic on its own, and 2) doesn't really get rid of the oil, just breaks it down so it mixes with the water. So instead of cleaning up and collecting oil on the surface, which would lead to lots of photos of oil-coated birds (bad PR) they're just sinking as much of the oil as they can, at the expense of all the underwater sea life: sea turtles, fish, shrimp, crabs, coral, etc.

The gulf is so fucked. Humans are a cancer on this earth.

@8: Seriously? Aren't the Feds overseeing this operation? How the hell is BP getting away with making such a stupid decision?

@7: I don't blame you one bit. I can't look either. It's hard enough thinking about the effect on wildlife -- the oil hit the Chandeleur Islands today; birds are covered in oil, endangered birds -- but to know the place and people and to call it home? That would kill me.

That said, I hope people do look, and look hard. I hope this catastrophe sears itself into the minds of Americans and the world as strongly as those images of 9/11. And if nothing good comes of it, then we need to face up to the fact that this is what we're willing to sacrifice for our way of life. This is what we're willing to lose.

Irena, you're right, but you know, these are not wealthy areas. They are also fairly remote from big news orgs. The long-term story may not get the play that it would get in Tampa or Miami. The shrimpers and crabbers are never wealthy in the best of times---it's hard work, and a pretty hard life. Most of them are minimally educated. One of my best friends from high school runs a sightseeing boat company that focuses on nature: dolphins, birds, small coast islands, fish.... What's going to happen to him, and who's going to tell his story?

Yeah, true. But the scope of the disaster is huge. Maybe that will be what gets attention.

I've really want to believe that something good will come of this. Unlike 9/11, where nothing fucking did.