Tar balls: good or bad?

As the oil spill in the Gulf gets worse, it gets crazier too.

The latest twist is reports of 8-inch (!) tar balls on a Louisiana beach.

Nearby, a biologist found about “25 nickel-sized tar balls per square foot.”

Wow; that’s a lot of crude.

But when it balls up, at least it’s easier to clean up.

Sort of, of course. It’s still incredibly icky and gooey, but at least it’s not floating in the Gulf or evaporating into the air we breathe.

BP should offer a bounty for every tar ball that Gulf residents can turn in. Let’s say a buck a pound just to make it worthwhile.

Then in could refine that goo into gasoline, which of course was the original plan.

Too difficult? Too costly?

Not at all. Simply tell BP execs that unless they make this deal, coastal residents will be legally allowed to throw said tar balls at them any time they want.

I have a feeling that might make them more agreeable – and more motivated to plug this leak once and for all so the final cleanup can begin.