Oil spill apocalypse?

I love the Outer Banks of NC. Here's to hoping it gets spared.

Looks like we'll all have to take a bite of this feces sandwich.

Supposedly the blow out valve being locked open is unprecedented.

Hmmm, looks like the in-law's rental house in Jekyll Island might just get booked solid this year...

Xceler8x wrote: Supposedly the blow out valve being locked open is unprecedented.

Murphy's Law?

RossD wrote:

Xceler8x wrote: Supposedly the blow out valve being locked open is unprecedented.

Murphy's Law?

Maintenance by Haliburton.

Petroleum tainted seafood causes zombism in humans.

Good thing I don't eat seafood.

Blow out valve locked open? Say what??

shadetree30 wrote: Lessee, rig blows up, kills eleven people, and sinks. No one has asked any questions regarding sabotage/terrorism, except apparently ruling it out?

Rush Limbaugh brought that up. His take: the Obama opened the possibility of oil and gas drilling off the east coast, the econazis went into a rage and decided to sabotage the DH to turn public opinion against drilling. I am not a Limbaugh fan nor am I a conspiracy theorist. But after seeing some of the craziness the anti whale crowd pulls along with documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails I would not rule it out. If it turns out that is really what happened I hope the perps get the absolute worst possible punishments thrown at them.

MSNBC's gang nearly had a group coronary over the whole thing.

Jensenman wrote:

shadetree30 wrote: Lessee, rig blows up, kills eleven people, and sinks. No one has asked any questions regarding sabotage/terrorism, except apparently ruling it out?

Rush Limbaugh brought that up. His take: the Obama opened the possibility of oil and gas drilling off the east coast, the econazis went into a rage and decided to sabotage the DH to turn public opinion against drilling. I am not a Limbaugh fan nor am I a conspiracy theorist. But after seeing some of the craziness the anti whale crowd pulls along with documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails I would not rule it out. If it turns out that is really what happened I hope the perps get the absolute worst possible punishments thrown at them. MSNBC's gang nearly had a group coronary over the whole thing.

Conspiracy theories are born every minute.

One interesting reality is that Robert "Pillsbury" Gibbs (aka, WH Press Secretary), is railing against FNC for not "pushing back enough" against conjecture by ex-FEMA honcho Michael Brown.

Brown suggested the administration would use the oil spill to reverse its' controversial decision to progress with off-shore drilling. Gibbs took the issue "way over the top" in a pathetic display to divert attention.

http://www.breitbart.tv/white-house-lays-into-fox-news-reporter-over-guests-comments/

As far as conspiracy-theory, can anyone trust the feds to reveal the "truth" regardless of who is in office?

Jensenman wrote: documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails

Wow. You can see what turns people into anti-environmentalists.

GameboyRMH wrote:

Jensenman wrote: documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails

Wow. You can see what turns people into anti-environmentalists.

that is why whenever I go riding on trails im not familiar with or that dont look liketheyve been ridden recently (mtb or quad), I take a spin down the trail at a S L O W pace first...ive read a few accounts of this stuff online that make that first half hour of painfully slow riding worthwhile.

furcylndrfoury wrote:

Jensenman wrote: documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails

that is why whenever I go riding on trails im not familiar with or that dont look liketheyve been ridden recently (mtb or quad), I take a spin down the trail at a S L O W pace first...ive read a few accounts of this stuff online that make that first half hour of painfully slow riding worthwhile.

This is where my chainmail underwear comes in handy. That, and when operating the meat slicer "hands free".

My family has/had a big beach-house-renting get-all-the-inlaws-outlaws-and-everybody-together vacation planned for June on Santa Rosa beach, over by Pensacola. I'm hoping (not holding out much, though) that this deal doesn't screw that up, but I'm thinking it probably will.

And I'm PISSED, too- we never go anywhere, this is a once-every-5-years kind of thing, and now it's probably not going to happen. The only good news is that we're only half-paid-up on the houses (yep, two of them), and so if we cancel we'll only be out half of the rental fees.

Jake wrote: My family has/had a big beach-house-renting get-all-the-inlaws-outlaws-and-everybody-together vacation planned for June on Santa Rosa beach, over by Pensacola. I'm hoping (not holding out much, though) that this deal doesn't screw that up, but I'm thinking it probably will. And I'm PISSED, too- we never go anywhere, this is a once-every-5-years kind of thing, and now it's probably not going to happen. The only good news is that we're only half-paid-up on the houses (yep, two of them), and so if we cancel we'll only be out half of the rental fees.

You will have the beach all to yourselves and think of the bonfire you can have!

When god gives you AIDS, make lemon-AIDS --Sarah Silverman

Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) was investigated for that in Montana but never actually charged. There are other documented cases, here's one from Australia: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/02/16/11402_news.html

Or try this link just for fun: http://www.mega.nu/ampp/efdm/efdm.html

GameboyRMH wrote:

Jensenman wrote: documented reports of piano wire etc strung across dirt bike trails

Wow. You can see what turns people into anti-environmentalists.

Couple food-for-thought-y things:

Last I heard, Theee Obama basically said "berkeley em. BP caused the problem. It's their job to clean it up" i.e. no Federal aid. I wonder how long it would've been before there were riots in the streets and people screaming "RACIST" had Bush said this. I'm not all "Hey gov't, find new ways to spend my money!" or anything, but the people who are REALLY getting hurt by this are the folks in the middle; hard-working, business owning middle-class folks. I'd be totally okay with some gov't aid for these people. I saw a husband and wife night before last who broke my freaking heart. Papa was a fisherman. Mama ran a small coastal restaurant where they sell the fish. These looked like folks who had worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for god-knows how long. Only thing keeping them alive right now is her husband's "side-business," building and repairing small boats.

Also, watching the news the other night, someone from BP was down there recruiting big-boat owners (fishermen,) to use their boats to help clean up the spill. Apparently, the pay was pretty good. This seemed like a "win-win" to me, and a great idea on BP's part.

They spoke to lots of fishermen who felt the same way...and then spoke to a bunch of ass hats who said "Screw BP, I ain't puttin' no extra wear and tear on my boat to clean up their mess. They need to just write me a check." Mother berkeleyers.

In reply to poopshovel:

Obama said that BP will be responsible for the COST of the clean up, not that the Feds wouldn't step in and help with the clean up.

The BP CEO even agrees that they are the ones responsible and will cover all reasonable claims.

fromeast2west wrote: The BP CEO even agrees that they are the ones responsible and will cover all reasonable claims.

I'll believe that when I see it. I got $5 on BP putting millions of dollars into cleanup, noticing it's not anywhere near done, then saying something along the lines of "well, eh, that's about as good as it's getting- see ya."

Jake wrote:

fromeast2west wrote: The BP CEO even agrees that they are the ones responsible and will cover all reasonable claims.

I'll believe that when I see it. I got $5 on BP putting millions of dollars into cleanup, noticing it's not anywhere near done, then saying something along the lines of "well, eh, that's about as good as it's getting- see ya."

Illogical presumption.

BP would incur the wrath of a grandstanding Congress that salivates for any excuse to impose crippling legislation and fines against eco-abusers.

BP's in it for the duration. But, their stock values will fall and oil prices (in general) will escalate - nobody wins.

Nobody.........

poopshovel wrote: Last I heard, Theee Obama basically said "berkeley em. BP caused the problem. It's their job to clean it up" i.e. no Federal aid. I wonder how long it would've been before there were riots in the streets and people screaming "RACIST" had Bush said this.

I think the Feds are pretty heavily involved: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6430AR20100505?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Here is an article talking more about the blow-out prevention valve.

Warnings on Backup Systems for Oil Rigs Sounded 10 Years Ago

Tom_Spangler wrote:

poopshovel wrote: Last I heard, Theee Obama basically said "berkeley em. BP caused the problem. It's their job to clean it up" i.e. no Federal aid. I wonder how long it would've been before there were riots in the streets and people screaming "RACIST" had Bush said this.

I think the Feds are pretty heavily involved: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6430AR20100505?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Linked article said: "The Environmental Protection Agency will monitor air quality during the burning." "U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is scheduled to visit wildlife refuges in Alabama and Louisiana later on Wednesday to keep the pressure on BP" "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe will travel to the region this week to meet with federal, state and local officials, as well as local business leaders."

Uh. Really? That's "Heavy involvement?" Did I miss something?

That said, my bad (seriously,) I thought I heard him on the news the other day effectively saying that it was BP's problem. Maybe I was dreaming.

In case anybodies wondering (so far) this is actually only the 10th worst oil spill evar. Somewhere around numero uno is when Saddam started pumping metric E36 M3 tons (barrels?) of oil into the Gulf so you crazy 'merikuns couldn't land.

Fun times in searfood ahead...

neon4891 wrote: Fun times in searfood ahead...

They should be easier to fry

Has anyone mentioned that there was a similar accident in mexico 30 years ago (platform burned and sank, 3.5 million barrels of oil spilled, etc)? The way people talk this is something new, its still not good, but its not the next chernobyl or something like some people are saying.