Five thousand barrels of oil are pouring into the Gulf of Mexico from a major oil leak more than 5,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, per day.  The potential environmental devastation likely to be caused by this oil spill is being called "unprecedented".  All over the news officials are making statements and pledges to assure the public that everything possible is being done in response to the accident.  Over a thousand personnel and a hundred ships are battling the spill, as well as a small airforce of planes and helicopters being used to monitor the slick and dump tens of thousands of gallons of chemical dispersant on the spill.  But despite all the efforts being made to contain and stop the leak, it is pretty obvious that a quick fix and a total clean up is impossible.  No matter how much money, equipment, technology and effort is thrown at this problem, it is almost guaranteed to end in catastrophic damage to the environment.

I can not believe spring is here. In my head it is still February. This winter seemed to go by so quickly it feels like I missed it altogether. OK, that's not true I remember quite vividly the -35 weather!!