Don't go in the water

The thing about the Gulf gusher is even if you can't see the toxins, and with the tons of dispersants used on the oil, you can't, swimming in the Gulf is risky.

This week, health officials in Escambia County, Fla., which includes Pensacola Beach, reported that about 400 people claimed they felt sick after visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf.

There aren't any existing tests to assess the risk. The local politicians and health boards are under the pressure to try and save the tourist season, so it's in their interest to minimize the safety issues, but the long term effects of the invisible dispersants are unknown. The biggest clue we have is that after 20 years, almost every Exxon Valdez clean-up worker is dead at the average age of 51 years old. Probably safe enough to walk on the beach, but I sure wouldn't go in the water myself. Better to stick to the hotel pool.