Thursday, May 21, 2015

SMH

I learned a new acronym this week, SMH (shaking my head) to be used when something is too unreal to even have words.  It occurred to me that I don't shake my head as often as I roll my eyes so I thought RME might be a better acronym for me.  But I didn't come up with a new Facebook or Twitter acronym as it's already being used.
Anyhow, after reading of yesterday's oil spill in Santa Barbara I both SMH and RME.  No matter where they occur, these environmental catastrophes sicken me, but this one hits home.  Santa Barbara is a place I visit often.  I've walked along those beaches on numerous occasions, and to see that tide of oil roll in and out, well, it's just awful.  There is so much wildlife there.  This time of year, the humpbacks and grey whales are in that area just off the coast of Refugio and Gaviota Beaches.  The clean up does seem to be going better than the one off the Gulf, so hopefully the damage won't be as severe - they are still dealing with the after effects of that spill.
SMH RME

16 comments:

  1. DD1 lives in Goleta, and notes that the smell is awful, even a few miles inland. My heart broke when I saw the news this week. We love Santa Barbara and this is terrible.

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    1. Growing up, we had family friends in Goleta and family in Carp, plus a lot of long weekends at UCSB to visit friends who went there. It's a beautiful place. These incidents are always awful, but to know this place so well breaks my heart too.
      Those oil rigs out there have always been a bit leaky too. I remember as a kids going to the beach way back when and coming home with tar on my feet. These pipelines are supposed to be tons safer than what they used to have. Which is saying something.

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  2. A real shame in general, but right before this holiday weekend makes it seem even worse. I hope they can truly get it cleaned up as quickly as the news was stating.

    I'm a head shaker more than an eye roller, so perhaps I need to use that acronym more often.

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    1. SB is a pretty busy place most of the year due to the weather, but there's no doubt that they are entering their high season with school ending soon. I feel bad for both those who have booked hotels or vacation rentals and those who own them over the next few months. That's going to be a terrible place to vacation to right now.
      I often channel my inner-teenager with eye rolls. But really those are geared more towards irritation while the head shake is more about exasperation. :)

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  3. Wow 100,000 gallons is a good lot. Sounds like the pipeline hasn't got flow preventer's and so the blowout leached the crude into the sea. The blowout should've halted the stage pumps as they should be designed to stop once a sudden drop in pressure occurs.
    I don't know what to say that can provide comfort. Perhaps give a few days of the summer to helping with the clean up.

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    1. Yes, that's a good idea. I had thought about going up this weekend, we've got Monday off for Memorial Day. But they are saying to stay away for now. Maybe they'll be ready for volunteers by the time I'm out of school.
      It was reported yesterday that this company has had almost 200 safety and maintenance infractions. These oil companies get so many tax breaks here that they actually get tax refunds rather than paying into the system. It's my feeling that they should have to use that money to make damn sure the equipment is perfect. And if something like this still happens, they should be fined up to the yin yang in order to pay for the state's clean up effort. My taxes are paying for it because theirs aren't.

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    2. Bwahahaha. "My taxes are paying for it" ! I never thought I would read that from you in any serious context. But I get what you mean.

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    3. :) I don't mind that they (meaning my taxes) do, it's just the point of it

      You all had your big referendum vote today (yesterday), no? Any word on the results yet?

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    4. No, no word yet. Very big turn out though. I've a feeling it will be big Y or N not 51-49.
      I'm a yes person. But all the political parties came out in support of a Yes and given the Irish real dislike of being driven to something it may backfire.
      How's the clean up going.

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  4. Jess has 3 collars, black, red and a silver luminous girly one. I've just told her to dress herself and she chose the black one today. And she tends to pick a different one each morning.
    I'm being EATEN by mosquitoes. First time in Ireland for me. Tips please.

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    1. Yes, a big turn out, I saw that. We can't even get that for a Presidential election let alone a referendum. People feel strongly one way or the other. That's better than apathetic
      Ahhh, that's so cute about Jess and the collars. She chose her little black "dress" today, she's feeling elegant today. ;)
      Ick!!! What's bringing the mosquitos? I react terribly to them - bites turn into huge throbbing welts so I will take Benadryl. It stops the itch but makes me sleepy. Aloe helps with the itch, temporarily. I've also heard that lemon slices, banana peels (the inside), and tea tree oil also help. As for repellent, there is a dry oil made my AVON (Do you have that there?) called Skin So Soft that works really well. A lot of people swear by deet, but it has a lot of scary health warnings. A lot of the home remedies use witch hazel. I also have seen one that uses apple cider vinegar mixed with sage, rosemary, lavender and mint.

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  5. Early tallies from preliminary count is saying 70-30 in favour of Yes. In all 43 constituencies a Yes. And that's pretty blooming amazing.
    I'm delighted. I think people just went how on earth will this affect me.
    We had a lot of US money given to the No side by professional Christians who see thin edges of wedges.
    First country in the world in a plebiscite to discover the right of gay people to found a family. Yay.

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    1. 60 plus % for Yes.

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    2. That's really impressive! I think it's something to be proud of and an example for other countries who use "religion" as a reason to take the rights of others. You had posted about it a few weeks ago and, as I mentioned, I wasn't so sure a vote would get it done, especially being a country so tied to the Catholic Church. I stand corrected. :) It does say a lot when the people make the choice. Those "yes" numbers are really powerful. So cool!
      I'm not sure if it's even reported over there, but there is a "scandal" going on with a reality TV family who has a football's team worth of kids and they are like the Kardashians of the extreme Christians. One of their sons has been charged with molestation allegations, and two of our presidential primary candidates are supporting this guy, one who was quoted yesterday saying that this kid's "transgressions" aren't nearly as bad as what they gays do to each other. Blech! These pockets we have here are what make me think it's not possible to give these people their rights without a heavy hand from the government. With the Left's voter apathy and the extreme Right's turn out on so-called morality issues I don't see it ever being allowed in those certain pockets...even though the polls show that the majority of the country is in support of it.
      Good on you, Ireland! :)

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  6. So sad!
    We have whales beaching themselves here...for unknown reasons :(

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    1. Oh no! I hate to hear that. It's such a weird behavior. I wonder if the two are related?

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