200,000 Gallons A Day

[momcat]

After almost 50 days, nothing seems to be getting any better. It's obvious that BP doesn't know what they're doing yet they continue to minimize the extent of this disaster. While BP plays trial and error, massive amounts of oil continue to leak into the Gulf and irreparably damage fragile ecosystems.

So many things have gone wrong. I have a hard time believing technology to at least partially resolve the situation doesn't exist. Technology has intruded into so much of our daily lives, why isn't it being used for something good for a change?

President Obama could have jumped on this right from the start. When this first started, why did he not call a meeting of engineers, oil company experts, environmental experts, and other scientists to accurately assess the full extent of the disaster and develop a plan to effectively deal with this?

So many residents along the Gulf Coast have lost their livelihoods along with their way of life, protective barrier islands are disappearing because plant life is destroyed, wildlife are dying. All this because BP chose greed over safety and corporate responsibility.

On a personal level, the worst part is the feeling of absolute helplessness. All I can offer to the fine folks along the Gulf Coast who have already lost so much are my prayers.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

One news report this morning said that it's mostly gas that's coming out of the hole now, not oil. So, that's supposed to be a good thing?

[RICHARD]

One news report this morning said that it's mostly gas that's coming out of the hole now, not oil. So, that's supposed to be a good thing?

Actually yes,

I have been in bed with a "gas leak" before.

When the 'oil' spills? That's a different story.

[lizbud]

After almost 50 days, nothing seems to be getting any better. It's obvious that BP doesn't know what they're doing yet they continue to minimize the extent of this disaster. While BP plays trial and error, massive amounts of oil continue to leak into the Gulf and irreparably damage fragile ecosystems.

So many things have gone wrong. I have a hard time believing technology to at least partially resolve the situation doesn't exist. Technology has intruded into so much of our daily lives, why isn't it being used for something good for a change?

President Obama could have jumped on this right from the start. When this first started, why did he not call a meeting of engineers, oil company experts, environmental experts, and other scientists to accurately assess the full extent of the disaster and develop a plan to effectively deal with this?

So many residents along the Gulf Coast have lost their livelihoods along with their way of life, protective barrier islands are disappearing because plant life is destroyed, wildlife are dying. All this because BP chose greed over safety and corporate responsibility.

On a personal level, the worst part is the feeling of absolute helplessness. All I can offer to the fine folks along the Gulf Coast who have already lost so much are my prayers.

Excellent post. I agree with your assessment of the Gov response. I think
officials actually believed BP's PR BS.They believed the company had a fall
back plan to control the leak.

[lizbud]

One news report this morning said that it's mostly gas that's coming out of the hole now, not oil. So, that's supposed to be a good thing?

Here's a live video feed of the oil gushing out. The black stuff looks
like crude oil, not just natural gas.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/...oil-spill.html

[RICHARD]

Excellent post. I agree with your assessment of the Gov response. I think
officials actually believed BP's PR BS.They believed the company had a fall
back plan to control the leak.

Here's a little tidbit for you all..

The Exxon Valdez accident was in an area that pretty screwed up to get to.

Cold oil don't move as quickly.

Plus, the currents will help dilute the oil faster.

I remember guys on the clips that were helping clean up by picking up rocks and cleaning them individually.


Not really good stuff to worry about in the first place, but more positive than having to do it in Alaskan weather/areas.

It's a bad situation, but doesn't anyone think positively anymore?

It's all common sense and I laugh, get angry and turn the channel when some IDIOT with more schooling that I have cannot look at the problem at hand and say something that doesn't call for the end of the world.

It's a messed up deal, but we will overcome it.

------------

Now? remember when someone starts b!tch!ng about OSD, tell them we can get cheaper oil if we move those platforms a tad closer to shore. That way, when it blows up, we don't lool like idiots in the media.

[lizbud]

Richard,

Do you really think the Exxon Valdez spill is over & done with? I saw a
tv news report that was comparing the two oil spills, and even now,after
21 years, the oil is still on the beaches & in the soil of Alaska. That place
has been changed, it will never be the same,ever. They went on the
beaches & dug with one hand, a few inches below the surface, and there it was.

It's nice to be optimistic, but better to be realistic about the results of
the oil spill & what can be expected to be a long, hard road forward.

[RICHARD]

Richard,

Do you really think the Exxon Valdez spill is over & done with?

Yes,

I said so in my post.

Oh, no...This is what I said....

The Exxon Valdez accident was in an area that pretty screwed up to get to.

Cold oil don't move as quickly.

Plus, the currents will help dilute the oil faster.

I remember guys on the clips that were helping clean up by picking up rocks and cleaning them individually.


Not really good stuff to worry about in the first place, but more positive than having to do it in Alaskan weather/areas.

Thanks.

[momcat]

Do you really think the Exxon Valdez spill is over & done with? I saw a
tv news report that was comparing the two oil spills, and even now,after
21 years, the oil is still on the beaches & in the soil of Alaska. That place
has been changed, it will never be the same,ever. They went on the
beaches & dug with one hand, a few inches below the surface, and there it was.

It's nice to be optimistic, but better to be realistic about the results of
the oil spill & what can be expected to be a long, hard road forward.

Hi Lizbud, Sounds like we both saw the same news report about the Exon Valdez. That area is still dealing with the aftermath of the spill. The amount of oil in those handsful of sand is really incredible and it doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. My son just got back yesterday from China and he said the current leak in the Gulf is big news over there too. I'm not at all confident that we'll see Alaska and the Gulf completely recover in our lifetimes.

[RICHARD]

James Cameron was called for his suggestions on how to stop the leak.

He's going to make a 3-d movie and make money

Moron.

[lizbud]

Here is a young 11yr old girl from Islip, NY who is willing to help all she can.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37620887/ns/us_news-giving/

[momcat]

There was a newsclip today that says the UK is not happy about what they call "Britan Bashing" over the Gulf disaster. When the CEO of BP meets with President Obama later this week, he plans to make an offer: BP will hold back on their dividends if the US starts being nicer to them.

According to this clip, Britain really thinks we're making this out to be much worse than it actually is. Easy for them to say, they don't have to cope with the impact of so many job losses and envionmental devastation.

A British official actually said keeping BP a strong and successful company is in the best interest of Britain AND the United States!

[Catty1]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/11/oil...uggestion.box/


Government opens suggestion box for ideas to deal with oil spill
From Larry Shaughnessy , CNN Pentagon Producer
June 11, 2010 7:52 p.m. EDT

New London, Connecticut (CNN) -- There's no shortage of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico and no shortage of ideas on how to deal with it.

BP, which owns the exploded rig causing the oil leak, has solicited ideas itself, via a phone number listed to submit alternative response technology, services, products or ideas for the oil spill. But after hearing complaints that BP was not responding to solicitations, the government decided to open its own suggestion box.

"There were complaints that come to us that replies hadn't been given back, that suggestions hadn't been responded to in a timely manner," said Capt. Matthew Sisson of the US Coast Guard. "In that sense its time for us to help out."

BP's Mark Proegler told CNN the company is working with the Coast Guard to sort through the ideas that are pouring in.

"We're receiving over 5,000 suggestions a day," Proegler said. BP assesses the ideas along with the Coast Guard and others.

Sisson's regular job is commander of the Coast Guard's Research and Development Center. On top of all his ordinary duties, he has a new number one priority: to oversee the Coast Guard's effort to gather and disseminate ideas about dealing with the oil spill. His office wants to hear from anybody with an idea. It can be an idea for stopping the leak, cleaning up the coastline or saving the oil-covered wildlife.

And they promise a response in less than a day.

For Sisson, it's more than just another duty in his long career in the U.S. Coast Guard.

"I consider New Orleans my home. The Gulf is the most wonderful place in the world to me and I have never seen it like this," Sisson told CNN.

That's why he is adament that there are no bad ideas. "Some idea is out there that someone hasn't seen yet that might be helpful to the cause."

He does admit he doesn't understand some of the ideas he's seen.

"We had a suggestion to use sonic-solar technology to use anti-matter," Sisson said.

So what is that?

"We are looking into it. I couldn't tell you myself," Sisson admits.

Still Sisson makes it clear, "There are no wacky ideas."

After the Coast Guard gets the idea, it figures out which agency might be the best able to analyze the idea to see if it can really help. For example, if someone has an idea for a chemical that can help make the oil harmless, the idea would be sent to the EPA, which overseas any such techniques. Or if someone has an plan for saving oil-covered birds, the idea might be forward to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As of late this week, the Coast Guard has received more than 400 ideas, mostly through the website www.fbo.gov.

It expects to be fielding calls, emails and website submissions for weeks or months to come.

[Puckstop31]

A British official actually said keeping BP a strong and successful company is in the best interest of Britain AND the United States!

You have said a lot of silly things in this thread. I can't ignore this one.

Tell me... How is making BP die a good thing? The petroleum industry is one of very few that are actually growing and creating REAL jobs.

YES, BP made mistakes and they should pay for them.... Last I have seen, they are, on their own. You seem to have missed the fact that the oil companies are the only ones who have any idea what to do. Did you also miss that the first idea they had, one that works all over the world, is to burn the oil that makes it to the surface? It absolutley minimizes the impact on the shore. Of course, our "experts" in government denied them this. WTF to they know about cleaning up a oil spill? Other than, of course, SUE!!! INVESTIGATE.

The sophmoric, grade school "they were BAD... spank them" stuff is.... Amusing.

Did you ever wonder why BP and others drill in these risky spots when there are other sources much easier to get at?

/rant

[Lady's Human]

Hi Lizbud, Sounds like we both saw the same news report about the Exon Valdez. That area is still dealing with the aftermath of the spill. The amount of oil in those handsful of sand is really incredible and it doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. My son just got back yesterday from China and he said the current leak in the Gulf is big news over there too. I'm not at all confident that we'll see Alaska and the Gulf completely recover in our lifetimes.

News in China commenting on an oil spill in the US?

Oh, the irony.