Let us talk about our oceans.
I live on an island, 5 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. When my vivid imagination kicks into high gear I think that someday, nobody will be able to live within 60 miles of any ocean. This will be due to the massive water pollution causing a health hazard for anybody breathing in the contaminants from the salt breezes.

Hmmmm...Has anybody ever heard of the Red Tide?
Northeast Florida has been hit with a bout of this angry ocean organism. What is it? Red tide is a naturally-occurring, higher-than-normal concentration of the microscopic algae Karenia brevis (formerly Gymnodinium breve).
This organism produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so that they are paralyzed and cannot breathe. When red tide algae reproduce in dense concentrations it is called a "Bloom" as the ocean sometimes appears red.

Normally, we are just worried about the dead fish. This time the Red Tide Bloom is causing respiratory problems in all of us humans. Not just people with lung problems. I am a healthy adult and I have developed a 'red tide cough' along with others. The Doctors say it is just a nuisance...it does go away once you leave the beach or come into an air conditioned house. But I live at the beach...I am still coughing at times. 'Hello, is this thing on'?

I wonder if our recent heavy rains for the last 3 weeks are a contributing factor? Imagine all of the runoff that pours into the waterways from our towns.

Just a little ocean lesson for today.