http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/95663699.html

1. Political rants pointing out how Obama and BP failed to address the gulf oil spill appropriately….

Fox News criticizes Obama’s oil spill response in a 46 day timeline

Check out a timeline of Obama’s 5 hour visit to the gulf region

2. Scientifically accurate (?) models built by government agencies like this ERMA model from NOAA…

3. General interest photographic time lines for mass-media distribution…

NewsWeek Oil Spill Photo Documentary

Here’s one perspective:

“Federal Officials and BP Executives are purportedly hampering the efforts of photojournalists who seek access to sites worst-affected by the gulf oil spill tragedy.”

In another view, Good Morning America’s Sam Champion physically dives into the oil plume…. Clear and to the point.

How about this confusing White House Reporters Briefing for an explanation:

“BP has already refused or slow-rolled several administration directives, with no ill effects. They don’t have to give the government the finger. They can just trade memos until the cows come home.”

It seems the network media’s over-hyping combined with BP’s lack of cooperation and the Federal Government’s inability to control the situation has created an ugly tar-bird in its own right.

Namely: What’s going on with the oil spill? Do you know? Who knows?

Are there pelicans covered in crude yet?  Fish-kills? Have any shrimp fishermen suffered economic effects? … Is the Gulf of Mexico awash in recognizable sheens of deadly oil?

It seems that nobody can really explain the goings-on in this situation.

The real question:  Will this sinister event  bringing swelling currents of damaging effects inshore that will be felt by generations to come?

Amazing stuff.  They seem to point to a strange conclusion.

Here’s the link.

However, don’t forget that the United States is still fighting a two-front war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, when you happily climb into your hybrid for a trip to work/the grocery/a peace rally, remember that for millions of soldiers and civilians, Earth Day is just another day in hellish conflict.

Check out this enlightening video of U.S. Soldiers taking sniper fire, calling in an air strike, and killing a compound of civilians in Afghanistan.  It was posted to the New York times three days ago.

Don’t forget that it’s been a combined 9 years since the pre-emptive war policy of the United States has ensured continued access to middle-eastern oil reserves and strategic positioning.

Happy Earth Day!

-MS

Check out my friend Yan Saillard’s upcoming schedule of dive classes.

If you are interested in learning to scuba here in Duluth, check out the “Open Water Diver Phase I” classes starting this Tuesday at Woodland Elementary.

Yes, that’s right, Scuba diving in Duluth, MN through Innerspace Scuba.

As a professional scuba instructor who has taught hundreds of students in Florida and Hawaii, I can recommend the best and safest Florida scuba diving.

For U.S. citizens, air travel to Florida is much less expensive than Mexico or the Caribbean. Florida scuba diving is fantastic, affordable, and very accessible.

1. Miami Beach.

January Flights to Fort Lauderdale Intl. from Chicago are going for $172 on Tripadvisor.com. From New York, they’re $207.

Stay at a funky Miami Beach hotel like the Winter Haven on the Beach.  You’ll be in the Art Deco District with hundreds of restaurants and clubs.  Now rent a car and snorkel the reefs at Key Biscayne National Park. Your costs will be low, and you can rent gear at the park for ten bucks.

2. Key Largo, FL

One hour drive from Miami equals the best reefs South Florida has to offer.  Key Largo caters specifically to divers, with modest hotels, cheap drinks, and a dozen or more dive shops.

Dive beautiful Carysfort Reef, see huge schools of parrotfish at the “Winch Hole” on Molasses Reef, or challenge the 450 foot long Spiegel Grove Wreck.  Go with Allison and Chris at the tech-diving capable Silent World Dive Center. They’ll get you hotel prices for as low as $65 a night.

3. Key West, FL

The famous party town just sunk the S.S. Vandenburg, the world’s second largest artificial reef and it begs to be dived.  The ‘Vandy’ is an ex U.S. Missile Tracking Ship with gargantuan satellite dishes mounted on the deck.  Sweet.

Subtropic Dive Center is your best bet for excellent service and a large, well-equipped dive boat.  Another must-do is the other-wordly snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas islands via Float Plane excursion.

4. Marathon, FL

Spearfishing and wreck diving in Marathon go hand-in-hand.

Dive the signature Marathon Wreck “Thunderbolt,” and see a ship once used to conduct lightning strike tests on the open ocean.  Of the Marathon dive operators, Tilden’s Dive shop has the friendliest and most professional. Go with them.

Want to shoot gamefish?  They are plentiful in the Middle Keys. Hop on a spear charter out of A Deep Blue Dive Shop in Key Colony Beach.  They’ll take you to the famous Marathon Humps where you can take some yummy yellowtails and fat grouper.

One more note; this place is the middle of the Florida Keys, so be prepared for cowboy-type, local antics — especially at “The Hurricane,” or Brass Monkey Saloon after 11 p.m.

5. Venice, FL

The Gulf coast makes up for its lack of reefs with mile-long beaches and….shark tooth diving.

Snorkelers and beginner divers can use hand sifting techniques to find ancient, 4-inch-long Megalodon teeth right off the municipal town beach. Dozens of beachside accomodations are available, and nearby Sarasota offers a fantastic botanical garden with rare Everglades orchids.  I visited in the middle of winter and it was lush and beautiful.

ALEXANDRIA, MINN. – Black Friday 2009: If there’s a time for serious shopping, this is it.

In the Alexandria area, the deals started as early as 3 a.m., and chances are, you probably weren’t awake to see them. Watch the webcast above, or click here for the rest of the web story.

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Great info from Google Touring here on how to make, complex, graphically rich tours for places I am truly familiar with — for example, Florida Keys dive sites and Oahu dive sites too.

A better example of what have in mind appears below.  It’s a map of ecologically sound dive operators from Eco Diving Org.

-MS