So, feeling a little confused by the moratorium? Is the halt good? Bad? Is the halt even in place right now? Did Jindal file the suit? Yeah, we're with you! That's why NoDef was so pleased to read Daily Kingfish's explanation of the affair. Not only does he explain the facts, but he also shows the powers & politics at play behind the rhetoric. A Must Read!!

by Arielle Schecter

The news from the Big Oozy is grimmer today as the AP reports sightings of whale sharks (you know, those giant swimmy things) cruising through and between oil slicks in the Gulf. Whale sharks catch food by diving down nearly a mile below sea level, but first they have to take a deep breath at the ocean surface. As it turns out,  "Taking mouthfuls of thick oil is not conducive to them surviving," according to Eric Hoffmayer of the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Lab. "These animals do not know to stay away from the oil." Stupid whale sharks!

By Kat Stromquist

As the Big Oozy's tentacles probe their way into our coastlines and hearts, BP keeps undermining our long-held belief that “any publicity is good publicity.” The reputation carnage continues this morning with an AP report on the company's shoddy deployment of volunteer forces. The report nails the company for slow processing of assistance offers, failure to train volunteers, and takes a break from shooting the proverbial (oily) fish in a barrel to knock the White House response to international aid. On a more uplifting (har har) spill note, 70 more pelicans were airlifted to Georgia for rescue from the disaster.

by Arielle Schecter

The New Orleans Green Collaborative released a "Declaration of Energy Independence" today, marking the 234th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of our paternalistic yet decidedly anti-colonial nation, the U.S. of A.  The document lists grievances such as environmentally predatory energy policies, and an overreliance on fossil fuels, all of which can be traced back to and blamed on the despotism of King George. That guy really can't catch a break, can he?

Hurricane Alex didn't hit land in Louisiana, but it threw some serious wrenches into the effort to to clean up the Big Oozy. The first named storm of the season grounded cleanup operations yesterday, letting the oil flow freely to land. Also freeing up the crude's path in the wake of the storm were the much-yelled-about sand berms championed by Bobby Jindal. In Cameron, the tide turned back three weeks' worth of Louisiana National guardspeople's work piling sand. A state official said the barriers didn't have enough time to settle in, so they're going to build them again in a little different place and hope it works this time. Despite the holding pattern, the cleanup effort got a jolt from overseas by days' end. The world's largest oil skimmer arrived from Europe. Better late than never...seriously!

From the department, of you-can-not-be-serious... A lawsuit has been filed against BP to stop the controlled burns in the Gulf because apparently, Sea Turtles are effectively corralled andf trapped by the booms then burned alive. We'd like to make some joke (turtle soup, blackened turtle?) but we are too busy smacking our heads against the nearest brick wall.

Buckle your seatbelts, kids! It's time again for Name That Storm! Hailing from the Gulf of Mexico, let's give a big NoDef hand for our latest contestant... Tropical Storm Alllleeeeexxxxxxx! Alex seems on a steady path to Texas. That would be away from us; however, storms are fickle, and oil companies such as, say, BP are taking measures including evacuations. Of course, Billy Nungesser could not help himself, delivering another instant classic. So, let's get ready to ruuuummmble.

Is oil falling from the sky is that just the talk of that guy at the end of the bar with the denim jacket on, you know, that guy. The EPA says "no, impossibe," but others theorize that Corexit has caused a reaction making this all too real. CSM shows some convincing looking video. We miss the good ol' days when the worst that it rained, was men.

Statistically speaking, the fact that your backyard smells like a gas station is normal.

According to federal data recorded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there’s no reason to be concerned about breathing the air on the Gulf Coast. That’s despite the millions of gallons of oil infiltrating the southeast Louisiana coast, and the countless dangerous toxins being released into the air as a result.

BREAKING- Contrary to the opinions of legal experts everywhere (including here) a Federal Judge has blocked the Obama administration's moratorium on exploratory drilling. (AP Reports)