Growing low-oxygen zones in oceans worry scientists

By LES BLUMENTHAL

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Lower levels of oxygen in the Earth’s oceans, particularly off the United States’ Pacific Northwest coast, could be another sign of fundamental changes linked to global climate change, scientists say.

They warn that the oceans’ complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted.

In some spots off Washington state and Oregon, the almost complete absence of oxygen has left piles of Dungeness crab carcasses littering the ocean floor, killed off 25-year-old sea stars, crippled colonies of sea anemones and produced mats of potentially noxious bacteria that thrive in such conditions.

Areas of hypoxia, or low oxygen, have long existed in the deep ocean. These areas – in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans – appear to be spreading, however, covering more square miles, creeping toward the surface and in some places, such as the Pacific Northwest, encroaching on the continental shelf within sight of the coastline.

“The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking,” said Gregory Johnson, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle.

In some spots, such as off the Southern California coast, oxygen levels have dropped roughly 20 percent over the past 25 years. Elsewhere, scientists say, oxygen levels might have declined by one-third over 50 years.

“The real surprise is how this has become the new norm,” said Jack Barth, an oceanography professor at Oregon State University. “We are seeing it year after year.”

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY E_E, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DORIAN AND THE “BRAIN”

e-e, wedding anniversay 2/13/10. congratulations.

i don’t recall either dorian or the “BRAIN“‘s birthdays, but they are both aquarian airheads.

These scores tell me I didn’t answer right

I feel gyped on this O.C.E.A.N. personality test.

Some tweaking required to get my readout looking readable.

Openness to Experience/Intellect: High scorers tend to be original, creative, curious, complex; Low scorers tend to be conventional, down to earth, narrow interests, uncreative.

You typically don’t seek out new experiences. (Your percentile: 59)

Well, I’m working on that at least. That’s what the whole Freethinkers thing is about. Get out, do something different and meet new people.

Conscientiousness: High scorers tend to be reliable, well-organized, self-disciplined, careful; Low scorers tend to be disorganized, undependable, negligent.

You tend to do things somewhat haphazardly. (Your percentile: 35)

Yeah, I’ll buy that.

Extraversion: High scorers tend to be sociable, friendly, fun loving, talkative; Low scorers tend to be introverted, reserved, inhibited, quiet.

You tend to shy away from social situations. (Your percentile: 27)

And again, I’m working on it. I do spend too much time alone.

Agreeableness: High scorers tend to be good natured, sympathetic, forgiving, courteous; Low scorers tend to be critical, rude, harsh, callous.

You find it easy to express irritation with others. (Your percentile: 38)

This is the one that bugs me, but more because it’s true, I suppose. But I am good natured and courteous and I do have sympathy and some capacity of forgiveness. Just not enough, apparently.

Neuroticism: High scorers tend to be nervous, high-strung, insecure, worrying; Low scorers tend to be calm, relaxed, secure, hardy.

You are generally relaxed. (Your percentile: 37)

In this case a low score seems to be good. Awesome.

I’ve done better tests, but this was at least a quick one.

“The Vengeance of God” – According to Pastor Drake

~~ it’s all about imprecatory prayer. it’s okay to pray for somebody’s misfortune if it supports the vengeance of God. he says he is praying for obama to die because he (obama) does not come to Jesus. according to pastor drake, he knows where he’s going when he dies because he “has a personal relationship with Jesus”. he says he knows “the will of God”. the man should shut up because the feds will be coming to his door. d9

A Forgotten Contribution

Julie Jacobson

Rosa Parks’ name is known round the world, but what about Claudette Colvin? On March 2, 1955, nine months before Parks famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., a skinny, 15-year-old schoolgirl was yanked by both wrists and dragged off a very similar bus.

LGBT Rights Are Civil Rights!

Robin Tyler, left, with her partner, Diane Olson. Tyler views "Milk" as a galvanizing force in the fight over Proposition 8. (By Reed Saxon -- Associated Press)

EXPAND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT TO PROHIBIT LGBT DISCRIMINATION JOIN THE POWER!

On January 22nd, 2009, The Power launched a nationwide petition to expand the Civil Rights Act.

The Power is commited to continuing to engage in targeted grass roots actions advancing marriage equality in New York, and to pursuing the cause of LGBT equality nationwide.

THE POWER IS YOURS because you are THE POWER. JOIN THE POWER in holding political leaders accountable to support equality for LGBT people, not on some arbitrary and convenient schedule, but right now.

THE POWER works to unleash every individual’s power to engage in direct political action that creates change in the cause of LGBT civil rights. We operate under the premise that every individual can make a difference, given the tools and information to do so. By tailoring pointed actions that everyone can do even with the busiest of schedules, The Power mobilizes large numbers of people to apply sustained pressure on leaders to advance the cause of LGBT equality.

More than anything we believe Now Is Our Time.  – Jeffrey Campagna

What would you do?

Suppose you’re on a game show, and you’re given the choice of three doors. Behind one door is a car, behind the others, goats.

Caveman: “NY Post Blatant Racism?”

Too bad the leadership of the New York Post didn’t follow the lead of the president in admitting that an editorial cartoon they ran Feb. 18th 2009 by Sean Delonas was offensive, careless and racist.

If you haven’t seen the editorial in question, it shouldn’t take you long to figure out that the subtle message was clear: comparing President Obama to a chimpanzee.