The following two articles are only related by the fact that they both involve eating.

Where Has All The Oil Gone?

As the Deepwater Horizon spill fades under the weight of more current economic news, it’s interesting to go back to the “incredible shrinking” oil slick. The hole was plugged, but the prognosis for cleaning up the surface oil and the reports of globs of oil and massive oil plumes drifting ominously beneath the surface was anything but encouraging. Apocalyptic mythology and threats of Armageddon cost jobs, lowered property values and devastated tourism. It was a mess.

Then magically the oil seemed to disappear. News reports searched for an explanation as to where the oil had gone. But it isn’t magic. The media failed to account for the dilution of the oil when it hit the Atlantic and furthermore the reports of huge plumes of oil beneath the surface proved to highly exaggerated and contrary to the laws of physics. Oil is lighter than water and rises above water. Media hysteria is nothing new.

But there is another interesting reason for the fact that 75% of the oil was gone by early August. The Gulf has the ability to break down oil on its own. The Gulf is a rich ecological smorgasbord of natural oil seeps, oil-eating bacteria and marine life that eats the bacteria and other marine life that eats the marine life that eats the bacteria and on it goes.

In addition to the normal process, scientists have discovered a new microbe closely related to a well known petroleum-degrading microbe known as Oceanospirillales that operates deep the ocean waters. This new version loves oil like Italians love pasta. It thrives in deep cold water where temperatures have been recorded at 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit). Scientists were initially concerned that these little oil gobblers would use up oxygen in the water, creating a “dead zone” where other marine life could not survive. But that does not appear to be the case. The eating frenzy continues and life flourishes.

So, again, Mother Nature cleans up after us.

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In Search of Grub Dealers


Speaking of eating, how about this: The UN is considering strategies to cut levels of meat consumption worldwide as part of its commitment to stamp out famine and cut down on greenhouse gasses. The UN claims that cows and pigs and other livestock require too much space and fodder to be an energy-efficient food source as the population increases. So the UN Food & Agriculture Organization is urging us to eat bugs.

Is that a foreign concept? I’ve eaten a few bugs in my life, mostly when riding a motorcycle and I had a cousin who once ate a spider during a psychotic episode where he morphed into a chameleon.

John the Baptist lived on locusts and honey and the 1st-century Roman author, Pliny, wrote that beetle larvae, raised on a mixture of flour and wine, was considered a great treat among toga-wearers. The UN recommendation of grubs, bugs, scorpions and giant ants will no doubt help us lose weight, if nothing else. It’s evidently high in protein.

An authentic package of giant toasted ants states that these special treats have a “nutty, bacon-like taste, with an earthy, spicy kick.” For that taste combination how about cashews, Canadian bacon, top soil and Tabasco sauce instead? Forget the top soil.

It’s estimated that 80% of the world’s population devour the creeping and crawling creatures found under rocks. Since our country is moving into third world status at an alarming rate, grub dealers and ant farmers may corner the food market someday. In the meantime I’ll stick with steak and ravioli.