Uh Oh...

I was just watching Rachel Maddow Show clips from last night, and OMG it was so frightening - Stephen Chu, Secretary of Energy, HAS NO CLUE WHAT DRILLING IS APPROVED OR NOT APPROVED UNLESS HE READS IT IN THE PAPER.

I immediately started panicking. What the heck is the Administration doing? Don't they know that in a case like this Interior and Energy should be communicating every single day? Who cares that permits to drill are Interior? They should have a hold on them that is totally binding, and approval of any new ones should be ferried up the line to be approved by the heads! Ugh. This is turning into a horrible disaster. My interpretation of what ought to be done:

1) Send out a "request for volunteers" to all high schools and colleges in the US, and have the government organize the shore cleanup. BP should not be in control of that. They don't care about wildlife, they don't care about Louisiana.

2) Have the government control the on-sea cleanup effort. they should stop BP from spraying any chemicals, and instead organize that cleanup themselves.

3) Sequester BP officials and scientists in a room and have them focus all their attention on capping the spill. The government should say that damages will be calculated after the spill is capped, and set no ceiling on damages. BP would then fight the spill while understanding that the quicker they cap it, the less money they'll be sued for.

If a BP manager or other spokesman comes to the government (aside from interior or energy scientists), the ONLY question should be: Is the spill stopped? If it isn't, THEY SHOULDN'T BE TALKING.

At least the gamma ray mapping of the blow out worked...

I am growing an avocado tree in a cup

I am excited to be venturing into this kindergarten-level experiment in gardening and the growth of seeds. Reactions to the seed in a cup:

My Father: You know, Cara - you are not likely to be here when this tree would be planted, so your mother and I are not going to be responsible for the continued health of this plant.

Me: Ok, well if it dies I'll look sad.

Father: That's acceptable.

My Mother: Oooh! I would love to have an avocado tree.

Two reactions, both wonderfully indicative of their characters.

I am now going to attempt to post a picture of said tree.