( – promoted by buhdydharma )
As I previously mentioned, I shall post only images pertaining to underwater life.
Helping me choose these images from my archives, I have my good friend Coconut, a parrot I rescued many years ago.
I therefore will include him in the opening.
Plus I promised Ekaterin I would.
I feel the situation in the gulf is being slowly moved back in the pages of the national newspapers & the gulf is not in the collective minds of the people of the country as a whole.
The pain & suffering to the whole nation will be felt for/in years to come, but the immediate stress is surely being felt among the people directly impacted by this man made catastrophe. Those who live there, breath there & wanted to die in peace there.
These people are our brothers & sisters, sons & daughters, & mothers & fathers.
They are us.
Although many of these specimens imaged are not endemic to the gulf, they are nonetheless part of our planet`s heartbeat, & will ultimately be affected as time goes on, no matter how far our planet`s blood, (the oceans) is pumped to.
I post these to impress upon you, the life forms that many will never have the opportunity to ever see in the wilderness of the unseen.
It bothers me that this was allowed to happen, especially when we can see the devastation we`ve caused on the visible surface of the earth, & which only is a 1/4 part of our pale blue dot.
Another thing that comes to my mind right now, is my anger at the responsible parties to this mess, was temporarily forgotten today, while I attended a funeral for a longtime dear friend.
A funeral!! Damn, I needed a funeral to distract my anger.
But my friend Coconut makes it better albeit only momentarily.
COCONUT for Ekaterin
This Brittle Star`s relatives can grow to be 10 feet across in the Gulf of Mexico.
TUBE FEET, SPINES & OSCICLES
TOP SIDE
SIZE SCALE
(Click to “original” size)
TURBINA PELTATA
COPPER ZOAS
(Deathly poisonous)
XENIA
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING
SPOT THE GOBY
SCARLET CLEANER SHRIMP
BANGAII CARDINALFISH
SIX LINE WRASSE
MUSHROOM LEATHER & LONG SPINED URCHIN
FINGER LEATHER
BULLS-EYE SHRIMP
MY SCREEN SAVER
BRAIN MAZE
TOMATO CLOWNFISH
CLEANER WRASSE
OSCELLARIS
REEF CREST
RABBITFISH
(venomous spines)
TORCH CORAL
GULF GUARDIAN
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All these images can be clicked thru to larger sizes.
Have a safe July 4th, please.
I always endeavor to answer all comments &/or questions, whether or not they may be related to my postings.
Coconut always lifts my spirits, and I love the way he’s looking at us in that photo. One of the best ever!
My heart is broken over the destruction in the Gulf, the poor suffering creatures…and yes, the media moving on to new stories and trying to leave this tragedy behind. We cannot let our anger turn to despair and silence.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Please accept my condolences and cyber-hugs.
And thank you again for sharing Coconut.:)
…your screen saver. Can’t decide which one I like better, but I guess you can tell what my favorite colors are.
BTW: Congratulate Coconut on his choices.
and a poignant reminder of what we are losing, perhaps for the duration of humankind, in the Gulf Region, and perhaps in many other areas of the world, since once the crude enters the Gulf Stream, it could impact many distant areas as well.
I fear that this catastrophic event will ultimately consistute by far the most destructive single assault upon Mother Earth yet caused by the homo sapien species. In past times, major changes in the world were caused by sudden and severe climate changes, such as warm periods or ice ages, but this may be the first caused by a non-natural force.
Millions or maybe hundreds of millions of years from now, once another meteor strike similar to the one 65 million years ago on the Yucatan Peninsula occurs, perhaps someday the earth will have finally rid itself of any evidence that we ever existed, and some kind of pristine balance of nature can again occur, and continue unmolested as long as another creature similar to us never “evolves” again.
please accept my condolences regarding the passing of your friend. I sincerely hope that you can somehow be comforted.
I can’t select a favorite — they are all so beautiful and painful reminders –something we live with daily in our minds and hearts.
Yes, I’ve noticed, too, that the whole catastrophe is beginning to fade from the news — is it because they don’t want us to know what is going on? I would guess that would be the reason. The screw-ups by BP and lack of action to begin cleaning up until over 60 days of the gushing oil is incredible. The excuse given for not using Kevin Costner’s machines in the beginning was because they don’t get up every single drop of oil — can you friggin’ imagine? So, instead, it was better to just let the oil gush unabated for over 60 days??????? MF’s!!!!! And don’t forget the offers of experts from 12 countries, now being considered, but originally refused. All the innocent “life” that has been affected is beyond heart-breaking!
~~~~~
Monsieur Coconut, “Le Sage!” Ils est si beau!
Je regrets que t’as perdu un ami, Knuck!
but ever since seeing “The Road” in a theatre earlier this year, I cannot get it out of my mind. And then the debacle in the Gulf of Mexico occurred.
I wish I could absolutely convince myself that such a world will not materialize within the space of our lifetimes. Any astute words of reassurance would be sincerely welcomed.
Don’t watch this if you already have trouble sleeping at night…
Sweet little thing…