Greetings!
The BP gusher appears to have been stopped, and since I’m being told the 200 million plus gallons of oil have been lifted up on angel’s wings there’s nothing to be upset about there anymore. My Government assures me things will be just fine and that 75% of the oil has been collected or dispersed. Understanding the definition of “dispersed” and seeing the research done around the Valdez showing oil concentrations as low as a few parts per billion of sea water is toxic leaves me far from feeling good about things in the Gulf. Knowing that a pitifully small amount of the oil was actually collected causes me to extrapolate that about 75% of the oil remains, most of it hidden by the use of toxic dispersants. This hidden oil, now rendered uncollectible, posses a far greater long-term problem for the Gulf marine environment.
The American public seems to have the collective consciousness of a small child; live in the moment, out of sight out of mind and if mommy or daddy says it is so then it must be. We are now witnessing the power of a multi-national corporation over our media, our government, our people and our environment. When things seem to be just overwhelming it is good to take a break. Taking a moment to smell the roses, be thankful for the good things, and take a break to regroup or find distractions to get away. I offer you popcorn for this purpose.
Yes, popcorn. More specifically, the Popcorn Shorts section of our newsletter, where we put all the interesting stuff that doesn’t really fit anywhere else. You might read the big headline articles each month, but when’s the last time you munched some Popcorn? If you missed it last month you missed learning about the health effects of honey, about the free concerts in Sellwood Park, about the journey of Afghani vets and refugees to the Northwest, and about our $100 Postcard Contest (deadline is August 31). Going back a few months, we’ve had articles on renewable energy, local commercials, local banking, free trees, and oddities about our shop, and much more. This month’s kernels of goodness include the Conservative rewrite of the Bible, TWO updates on the Sellwood Bridge, and a new face on the Portland media scene. Don’t waste your time this summer on politics and things that will affect your life for decades… spend some time munching our Popcorn. You never know what will be in the bag, but I promise you that it will be worth your time!
Make a great day,
Tom
