The first asphalt volcanoes were discovered in 2003 by a research expedition to the Gulf of Mexico.
Also discovered alongside the asphalt were areas soaked with petroleum and with methane hydrate, also spewed from the volcano. This kind of an environment proves attractive to chemical-loving bacteria and tubeworms, although the exact biogeochemical relationship is not yet known.

Methane forms naturally alongside the petroleum underneath the structure, and while petroleum flows have long abated, some residual methane continues to bubble up.

This burst of methane would have caused a rapid increase in the population of methane-eating bacteria, which in turn caused a decrease in oxygen in the water, possibly causing a dead zone, in addition to the large amounts of crude oil released into the environment.

Posted: 1:34:30 PM  

Oil disaster devastated captain who committed suicide

Allen Kruse didn't have much choice but to join the program, his brother said -- he used to make between $5,000 and $6,000 a day chartering his two boats, income that had ceased.

So, he signed his boats up for the BP program, known as "Vessels of Opportunity." He worked for two weeks straight, his family says, but hadn't been paid.

Allen Kruse called the program "madness," they said, and told relatives it was a sham.

His brothers said he told them that cleanup boats were put in the water close to shore, so people would think they were making a difference.

"It's just a dog and pony show," said Marc Kruse. "Send them out. Ride around. Let everybody see them. Bring them back in."

Posted: 9:48:15 AM  

Posted: 9:43:08 AM  

The plans would be announced in the event of a controlled burn of surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico, or if wind or other conditions are expected to take toxic fumes through Tampa Bay.

Posted: 9:22:59 AM  

A s t r o F l a s h ! - 2010 Summer Solstice: June 21, 2010

The seven deadly sins are: anger, envy, gluttony, greed, laziness, lust, and pride. During the Solstice, considering each one of these sins; see if you can see where you judge yourself. Where you judge yourself may indeed be a place where you need to improve yourself, but it is more likely to be a place where old religious paradigms put you on the cross. The cross and the hanging deity, the supposed model for humanity, is not going to help anybody reach their potential, so let's get off of it!

ThnxThomas!

Another nice sync to this is a commercial, on Dutch TV, which points to June 26: it says "the longest day is June 26" ...

Posted: 12:01:31 AM