UPDATE: (April 29, 2010) Since yesterday, officials have discovered a third leak in the Gulf of Mexico.  Contrary to the estimated 42,000 gallons of leaked oil per day, a value given yesterday, over 200,000 gallons per day are thought to be emptying into the Gulf’s waters.  If the leak cannot be stopped soon, over 4 million gallons (near 100,000 barrels) could escape before crews can drill a bore hole into the oil-bearing formation to relieve the pressure and, hopefully, stop the well from spewing out oil.

Continue below to read yesterday’s post.

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Last week, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, operated by BP, sank to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico after an explosion which left 11 workers dead and subsequently released a massive amount of oil into the Gulf’s waters threatening not only sea life, but tourism and industry for at least four states.  Currently, over 42,000 gallons of oil per day are leaking from the open well at the sea floor with the cause of the explosion still under investigation.  The following video was recorded on Monday by abc News.  It is a great summary of the events taking place.  However, just today news was  released that the plan to clean up the already “free” oil is to burn it.  It seems that setting fire to the oil slick that has formed over the surface of the Gulf is more cost-effective and simple, definitely more fun, than cleaning up the oil by recovery methods.  I only wish I could have used this excuse to clean my room when I was a kid!