Click to save the rainforest (#52 - Down but not out)

clicked

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Clicking in for ehBeth and me!

ww

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It sure is quiet in the Rainforest today...hope everyone is just busy.

danon...you may want to take a look at these:

Quote:

Oil Slick Stains South Sound

POSTED: 4:56 pm PDT October 14, 2004
UPDATED: 5:13 pm PDT October 14, 2004

TACOMA, Wash. -- An oil spill stained a stretch of Tacoma's Commencement Bay and spread to beaches on nearby Vashon and Maury islands on Thursday.

State Department of Ecology investigators said they did not immediately know the source or type of oil that spilled or how far it had spread.

Some oil was seen in the Gig Harbor area late Thursday, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/3823218/detail.html

Quote:

Large Oil Spill In Puget Sound

October 14, 2004
By KOMO Staff & News Services

TACOMA - An oil spill stained a stretch of Tacoma's Commencement Bay and spread to beaches on nearby Vashon and Maury islands on Thursday.

State Department of Ecology investigators said the spill involved hundreds, and possibly thousands of gallons. They did not immediately know the source or type of oil that spilled or how far it had spread.

Spill responders from the department and the U.S. Coast Guard were sent to Dalco Passage, between the south end of Vashon Island and Tacoma's Point Defiance, after someone on a tug boat reported thick black oil in the water, Ecology spokeswoman Mary Ellen Voss said.
http://www.komotv.com/stories/33514.htm

Quote:

Mystery Oil Spill Spreads Across Puget Sound

05:28 PM PDT on Thursday, October 14, 2004

By JIM KLOCKOW / KING5.com

A widening slick of ship fuel painted the water from Tacoma's Commencement Bay to Vashon Island with an enormous sheen Thursday.

What was initially reported as an acre spill by early evening stretched from Vashon Island to the Narrows Bridge and beyond in Tacoma.

The source of the fuel has not yet been determined, but laboratory tests revealed it to be "bunker C" or ship engine fuel.

"The bad thing about bunker C is it's persistent. It's thick. It's heavy. It'll stay around for a long time," said Ron Holcomb, with the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Holcomb said the fuel's stickiness makes it a threat to wildlife, causing it to stick to birds' feathers.
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_101404WABoilslickJK.30591b16.html

Quote:

Mysterious oil spill threatens South Sound beaches

SUSAN GORDON; The News Tribune
Thursday, October 14th, 2004 12:01 AM (PDT)
Tacoma, WA

A giant oil spill of unknown origin threatens beaches and wildlife across the Sound Sound, authorities said.
Someone on a tug boat between Vashon Island and Point Defiance reported the spill to the state Department of Ecology's emergency hotline about 1:30 a.m., officials said.

"It's a true mystery spill," said Ron Holcomb, a member of the Ecology Department's spill response team.

By midafternoon, the spill extended from the Tacoma Narrows, north into Colvos Passage, across the south sides of Vashon and Maury isslands and across Commencement Bay to Browns Point.

The oil appears to be bunker fuel used to power ships, he said.

Spill response teams have begun to lay out equipment to soak up oil.

To report birds in distress, call 1-800-2BIRD. State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials warned people not to try to rescue birds themselves or step in the oil.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/4112950p-3879056c.html

It's pretty bad and already there have been many birds found with oil on them.

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I have a cousin, Linda, who lives on Whidby(?) Island.Is that any place near Puget Sound?

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Hi, jeanbean...

Whidby Island is in Puget Sound, although it's in the very northern end of it. This oil spil seems to be more in the central and southern parts of Puget Sound - at least for now, anway.

Here's a link to a map of the Puget Sound area. You should be able to see Whidby Island in about the center of the map. The oil spill is located south of it down where you see Tacoma.

http://mappoint.msn.com/(soelfeeysoe0xy554xbxmver)/map.aspx?L=USA&C=48.15341%2c-122.54993&A=222.16667&P=|8DE4|&TI=Whidbey+Island+(island(s))%2c+Washington%2c+United+States

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Matrix---
Thanks a lot for explaining the geography of the coast to me.

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jeanbean...

You're welcome. Whidby Island is a really beautiful place.

I zoomed in on the map a little bit so you can get a better idea of exactly where the oil spill is. Hope it works! Didn't work so I'm trying again. Okay, this one should work. (In case you're interested, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge - the one that fell into the water during an earthquake years ago is that stretch of yellow roadway - #16 - that goes across the "little" strip of water that is located between University Place and Gig Harbor.) Piffka lives in Gig Harbor, and I believe that danon said he lived there for a while several years ago.

http://mappoint.msn.com/(nuqmyajjnajl44n132olydj0)/map.aspx?L=USA&C=47.41489%2c-122.44650&A=93.16667&P=|882D|&TI=Vashon+Island+(island(s))%2c+Washington%2c+United+States

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That area of water that is located straight out from the name "Tacoma" on the map is Commencement Bay. That area across to Vashon Island Maury Island to the right of Vashon, were all hit hard by the spill.

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Matrix,
That's terrible news - I hate to see the Sound area subjected to things like these spills. We must concentrate on alternate fuels for vehicles and use the remaining oil reserves for other things.

Yes - I lived on the water N of Gig Harbor from '76 to '90. Then moved to W Seattle for about 5 yrs before relocating to Texas.

I will be late checking in tomorrow - early doctors appt for colonoscopy. It's an every two year thing. But, it seems like the last one was only weeks ago - where does the time go?

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Hi, danon...

My sympathies re your appointment tomorrow. Hope all goes well (no pun intended...well, maybe a little one. Smile

) Two years - remember, time flies when you're having "fun"! Laughing

Yeah, isn't a shame about the spill? It will probably be up around this area, too, and it really makes me sick...Browns Point, Dash Point, Redondo, the islands. There are so many little beaches around here...I really hate to think of them all covered in oil. What a mess! Did you take a look at the slide shows that are on the KIRO and KING sites? It's really quite amazing how large the spill actually is.

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Matrix, terrible news. If it isn't one thing...

Haven't heard much about the oil spill <not surprising> Tahoe fighting
massive arson fire - air quality horrific from higher elevations affecting the bay area also.

Today staying home <have the flu - yuk>

Danon, good luck today.

Matrix, you're a gem, thanks. Haven't seen a news report yet about the oil spill <although haven't been watching much tv lately either>.
what a terrible disaster for the enviornment! Again!

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Hello,

All clicked.....

Matrix,
The anesthesiologist's (here in Texas) son lives in Seattle. Of all things!!! Small world. I sure hope they stop the spread and get it cleaned up fast. The life in the waters of the Sound are quite varied and unusual - a facinating place.

Oh, by the way...... I will tell you like I told a proctologist working on me years ago ('86) - "Don't make me the butt of your joke." lol big grin!!! That's a true story - the guy was joking around and mentioned something about the stopper he had just inserted (you know where). I couldn't resist!!! It HAD to be said. He MADE me say it!!!! (G)

Stradee,
Thanks.. Stay warm and drink lots of hot tea.

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Hi, everyone...

Just clicked for pwayfarer and myself. She will be back shortly, but her mouse isn't cooperating with her so she's going to kick it out and is waiting for a new one to arrive.

Stradee...
I'm so sorry to hear you've caught the flu. I'd seen on a website that I visit often during this time of the year FluWatch.com that the flu had already arrived in CA a while ago. Hope you only have a mild case of it and are feeling better really soon.

hey, danon...
Glad everything came out alright. :wink:
We need you and your jokes around here! Laughing

Updated news on the oil spil in Puget Sound can be found at the following links. It's now come ashore on the beaches around Redondo and Federal Way, and on the news last night and this morning you could see the birds paddling in and the seals swiming around the oil. Sad

21 Miles Of Beach Stained By Oil Spill

October 15, 2004
By KOMO Staff & News Services

VASHON ISLAND - An unexplained oil spill has stained some 21 miles of beaches from Commencement Bay in Tacoma to the southern parts of nearby Vashon and Maury islands, polluting an ecologically rich area of ducks and other marine life.
http://www.komotv.com/stories/33527.htm

Miles of Shoreline Fouled After Mystery Spill

12:34 PM PDT on Friday, October 15, 2004
From KING5.com, KING Staff and Wire Reports
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_101504WABoilslickLJ.3462a192.html

Oil Spill Cleanup Resumes

POSTED: 5:57 am PDT October 15, 2004
UPDATED: 12:14 pm PDT October 15, 2004
KIRO TV.com
http://www.kirotv.com/news/3823826/detail.html

Oil Spill Blackens Sound

SUSAN GORDON, CRAIG HILL AND JOHN GILLIE
The Tacoma News Tribune
Friday, October 15th, 2004 12:01 AM (PDT)

Clean up of a mysterious oil spill that threatens beaches and wildlife across the South Sound is likely to last for weeks and cost a fortune, authorities said Thursday.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/4114477p-3879056c.html

Spill Soils South Sound
Mystery ship sought; state response time criticized

By LISA STIFFLER, ERIC NALDER AND CLAUDIA ROWE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTERS
Friday, October 15, 2004

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/195405_oilspill15.html
photos - http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=52240
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/photo.asp?PhotoID=52241

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Flu season *is* in California. I had it last week. Stradee, drink your water, take lots of vitamin C and feel better soon!!

Matrix: the oil spills are awful, it's so sad to see the wildlife in the aftermath.

Danon: What can I say?? All's well, that ends well.
Chin up.

Clicks for ehBeth and me. Cool

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Thanks, wordworker! the rainforest and I thank you!

I'm still on the road - won't be home til sometime Monday.
Trying to catch up on the reading here while I have some puter access- but I think there are about 10 pages in this thread alone!

Today's road trip was here

Setanta and I and the dogs have been having a great time here in Eastern Ontario. Today, the dogs and I had a great time running in the sand dunes. Found some great fossils - and a great bakery!

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Thanks Matrix, Danon and woodworker for your kind words and good advise. Hoping ya all stay healthy for the duration of the flu season.
woodworker, glad you're feeling better now.

Danon, glad your checkup successful :wink:

Matrix, thanks for the news! Still haven't heard anyting from our local stations about the spill. Gosh, the poor animals!

ehBeth, sounds great! Have a safe trip home.

nynite everyone...

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Hey, ehBeth...

It's good to see you here! Things haven't been the same without you. The pictures of Sandbanks Provencial Park were beautiful, so thanks for giving us a peek at what you've been up to. Tell Setanta hi, and give the doggies a hug from all of us (Zazu says hi, too!). Hope you continue to have a great time!

Hi, wordworker...

There are nasty things going around up here, but the flu hasn't arrived, yet...at least it hasn't been reported to any of the health departments in WA, but I'm sure it won't be long before somebody sneezes on somebody else and it gets here. Hope you're starting to feel better!

The oil spill has already spread north to Alki Point in Seattle, one of the most popular and beautiful places to watch the sunset from in the entire city.

The downtown area of Seattle is often photographed from Alki Point:
http://www.nwlink.com/~stevball/art/Downtown_from_Alki_web.jpg

Here's a picture I found of Alki at sunset:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/46832153/46832813AZzgAJ

Here's an overview of Alki:
http://www.bouwman.com/seattle/AlkiPoint.html
http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=112

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Can you swim there?

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Hey, Stradee...

I didn't see you there...I feel so bad that you're sick.

The spill is covering more and more of Puget Sound by the hour and the spokespeople from the DOE say that it could take a couple of weeks before the true extent of the damage is realized. Many parts of the coastline in Puget Sound are bird/animal sanctuaries so there is great concern for them and all the creatures who live below the water. They say that this kind of oil is extremely difficult to clean up...but there are hundreds of workers and volunteers out there trying their best to do just that.

I've been following the fires in CA on the news and they're horrible. My mom was going to be in the Tahoe area during the past couple of weeks and I don't know if she's left there yet or not - she went with one of her sisters and a close friend. I'll have to see if she saw anything while she was there when she gets back.

Hope you sleep well and feel a bit better tomorrow.

P.S.
Just heard a report re the oil spill come across on one of the cable news channels. Finally! LOL!

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jeanbean...

At Alki? Yeah, you can swim there, but the water is usually pretty cold (it does warm up a tiny bit in the summer, though)...

and, Alki is extremely popular for scuba diving.

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Click to save the rainforest (#52 - Down but not out)

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