tears of the buddha

The original estimate floated by BP of the amount of oil leaking into the gulf as 5,000 barrels a day went out the window a month ago. We're now looking at 70,000 barrels a day or more and it's been 60 days.

Long time -- 4,200,000 barrels, minimum, and lots of oil-soaked dying pelicans washing up on Louisiana beaches.

Besides the oil, "BP has used two dispersants, Corexit 9500A and Corexit 9527A, so far applying 600,000 gallons on the surface and 55,000 gallons below the sea" (from MSNBC). These toxic chemicals have never been used in anything like these amounts before, and their long-term effects on the marine environment are unknown.

This is the end of the way we've been living, one way or the other.

"The tears of the Buddha are concentrated in the tea."
--Holy Modal Rounders, "Tea Song."

And as the freeway hums the cars go by,
Their headlights roll across the sky
Many miles away, but I can see them
Speeding through the dark.

--Jonathan Coulton, "Shop Vac."

"The feeling grows that we can't do anything right. Will someone please turn off the TV?"
--James Howard Kunstler, earlier today.

Photo by Blue Perez