Wind shifts, scale of oil spill multiplied in Gulf tragedy
The tragedy that modern technology had guaranteed could never happen again is taking a turn for the worse. Estimates of oil leaking from the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico have risen from 1,000 barrels a day to 5,000 barrels a day, with some indications that the flow may even be much greater. It may takes months to seal the rig, meaning the total spill could easily exceed the total released in the infamous Exxon Valdez incident.
The weather, which had been keeping the growing slick offshore, is reversing course as well.
Here’s the latest update from NOAA, posted just last night:
– Winds are forecast to become strong (20+ kts) and blow from the southeast starting tomorrow and continuing through the weekend, which will continue to push surface oil towards shore
– NOAA oil-spill trajectory analyses indicate that oil continues to move towards shore.
– 100,000’ of oil-containment booms (or floating barriers) have been deployed as a precaution to protect sensitive areas in the Louisiana area.
– The effects of oil on sensitive habitats and shorelines in four states (LA, MS, AL, and FL) are being evaluated should oil from the incident make landfall in appreciable quantities
– NOAA’s Assessment and Restoration Division is evaluating concerns about potential injuries of oil and dispersants to fishes, human use of fisheries, marine mammals, turtles, and sensitive resources.
And inevitably, it seems, there’s the “for want a nail” angle. Most of you may remember, at least vaguely, the old sing-song reminder. It goes like this:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Well, here’s the same song, rewritten for this occasion by the Wall Street Journal:
The oil well spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico didn’t have a remote-control shut-off switch used in two other major oil-producing nations as last-resort protection against underwater spills.
The lack of the device, called an acoustic switch, could amplify concerns over the environmental impact of offshore drilling after the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig, hired by oil giant BP PLC, last week…
U.S. regulators don’t mandate use of the remote-control device on offshore rigs, and the Deepwater Horizon didn’t have one. With a remote control, a crew can attempt to trigger an underwater valve that shuts down the well even if the oil rig itself is damaged or evacuated.
The efficacy of the devices is unclear. Major offshore oil-well blowouts are rare, and it remained unclear Wednesday evening whether acoustic switches have ever been put to the test in a real-world accident. When wells do surge out of control, the primary shut-off systems almost always work. Remote control systems such as the acoustic switch, which have been tested in simulations, are intended as a last resort.
Nevertheless, regulators in two major oil-producing countries, Norway and Brazil, in effect require them. Norway has had acoustic triggers on almost every offshore rig since 1993.
The U.S. considered requiring a remote-controlled shut-off mechanism several years ago, but drilling companies questioned its cost and effectiveness, according to the agency overseeing offshore drilling. The agency, the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service, says it decided the remote device wasn’t needed because rigs had other back-up plans to cut off a well….
An acoustic trigger costs about $500,000, industry officials said. The Deepwater Horizon had a replacement cost of about $560 million, and BP says it is spending $6 million a day to battle the oil spill. On Wednesday, crews set fire to part of the oil spill in an attempt to limit environmental damage.
UPDATE: Here’s the latest NOAA map depicting both the size and location of the spill. It certainly looks ominous.
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217 comments Add your comment
ME, Me, me
April 29th, 2010
9:04 am
Sad.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
9:06 am
Penny-wise, pound-foolish.
But… they’re in it to maximize profits for their shareholders. Regulators are in it to look out for our interests. Which they will do, if given the authority.
off topic this early, but a note will suffice: Jay – how went the presentation? When Lucko got his award, did Ralston also get a Golden Garterbelt?
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:08 am
Just as soon as President Obama said, “OK, let’s drill”, this rig catches fire, sinks and starts spewing oil…Hhhmmm…Where was Cheney while this was going on?
Scout
April 29th, 2010
9:08 am
It goes with the territory and it will get cleaned up. What are you going to do to stop those volcanos and earthquakes ?
BTW: The wonderful world of Islam ……….
Headline: “Women With Suntans Will Be Arrested, Iran Police Chief Warns”
I wonder when N.O.W. is going over to demonstrate?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
April 29th, 2010
9:15 am
Well, picky, picky, picky. So the spill is alot bigger than they thought. And so they didn’t use a shut-off valve. So what? Instead of needing to pump the oil, it’s right there on the water, just waiting to be picked up. We need alot more wells like that. Instead of paying thru the nose to get the oil from overseas, we can just send our ships out and scoop it up right there.
Drill, baby, drill! I can’t hardly wait till the oil is right there on all the beaches. Heck, some of us could go and scoop it up and sell it to the oil cos. I figure about 4 bucks per gallon would be about right. Revenge is sweet.
Have a good day everybody.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
9:17 am
“U.S. regulators don’t mandate use of the remote-control device on offshore rigs, and the Deepwater Horizon didn’t have one.”
but … but … but … the free market sez that companies will ALWAYS do what’s right, Jay!!
Jackie
April 29th, 2010
9:18 am
Is this an example of the law of unintended consequences?
One would have to ask what happens if the same accident were to occur to a rig that is located off the East coast in the powerful Gulf Stream?
mike
April 29th, 2010
9:20 am
LOL. No surprise that Convert puts forth his silly list of straw men instead of actually responding to the arguments made by the right. Nobody ever confused small minded bigots with great (or competent) thinkers.
Keep on applying ignorant stereotypes to people who don’t share your narrow minded views. That’s what “tolerant” and “intellectual” folks do, right?
professional skeptic
April 29th, 2010
9:21 am
For want of an adequate disaster containment and recovery plan…
More regulation, please!
getalife
April 29th, 2010
9:23 am
Spill, baby, spill.
Come on down and clean up your mess cons.
professional skeptic
April 29th, 2010
9:24 am
What’s the response from all the Republican governors whose coasts are about to beocome the stuff of a Frontline documentary…
Less gubmint oversight? Less regulation?
professional skeptic
April 29th, 2010
9:27 am
Hey Convert… another upside to this: Maybe the oil will kill off all them pesky mussels off the Florida coast, so we won’t have to share Lake Lanier’s water with them anymore.
Mike "Hussein" Smith
April 29th, 2010
9:27 am
That’s a good one, Norm. You’ve moved Cheney toward the top of my suspect list.
Scout, I guess God will take care of BP’s money-grubbing in his own sweet time, but that area of the Gulf already suffers ‘dead zones’ and this is likely to spread that disaster. Here’s what USA Today reported in 2007 — at the time, 18 years after the fact — about the Exxon Valdez. By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
“ANCHORAGE — Oil from the massive Exxon Valdez spill, which coated 1,200 miles of Alaskan coast when the tanker ran aground in March 1989, continues to threaten the damaged ecosystem there long after experts believed it would dissipate.” So much for nonchalance.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin....
April 29th, 2010
9:31 am
Blah, blah, blah, no mention of the burn efforts by the Coast Guard makes for an extremely biased blog topic, so what’s new, just askin…..
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
9:32 am
um … because burning it means it’s not leaking anymore???
why, whiner, you simply boggle the mind with your … ummm … “logic” …
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:35 am
NUKE THE SLICK! Get yer bumper stickers here…
DOGGONE/STUPID
April 29th, 2010
9:36 am
We need a comprehensive reform for oil spills.
Elvis Costello
April 29th, 2010
9:37 am
Accidents will happen
We only hit and run
He used to be your victim
Now you’re not the only one
Accidents will happen
We only hit and run
I dont want to hear it
Cause I know what Ive done
professional skeptic
April 29th, 2010
9:37 am
Oh, so the Coast Guard is responsible for cleaning this up? If so, then this is yet another example of privatizing profits, publicizing the risk, and sticking the taxpayer with the bill for disasters.
Admittedly, I don’t know the full story here. Would the oil co’s involved have to reimburse the federal & state governments for assistance with clean up costs?
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:37 am
BRING BACK THE HORSE! Bumper stickers, I gots ‘em all…
Outhouse GoKart
April 29th, 2010
9:40 am
If this were a fish oil or a cod liver oil spill I would venture to guess our pro tax progressives wouldnt be quite so “up in arms”.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
9:40 am
A damn shame. Those lives lost and now this.
“The tragedy that modern technology had guaranteed could never happen again…”
GUARANTEED?
I’d be *exceptionally* interested in who exactly made this guarantee.
Accidents do happen in any great endeavor, but what is both typical and dismaying is the cavalier lip service by the irresponsible, ecology hating right wing. Birds and fish? Who gives a flying ____ about them? A clean ocean? A nice idea but rather quaint in the age of money trumps everything.
And comparing this man made disaster to volcanoes and earthquakes??? (Nothing to see here, move on.) Utter nonsense.
Too bad this forum hosted by a damn good man, and this gawdawful mess is the impetus for me posting this monster of a sweet song…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd40N72hIM4
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
9:40 am
“BRING BACK THE HORSE!”
Normal…you DO know what the job of “street sweepers” was, don’t you?
Navin Johnson
April 29th, 2010
9:41 am
“These cans are defective.
He hates these cans
MOOOORRREE CANS!!!”
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
9:41 am
skeptic – 9:37 – well said … however, the fat lady isn’t even in costume, yet … forget about singing …
I’m sure that the Feds will pursue the owners of the rig for damages
thomas
April 29th, 2010
9:42 am
getalife
April 29th, 2010
9:23 am
Nice intellegent comment!
But when did president Obama become one of the CONS?
You have been keeping up with the news lately right? You do know his position on this? Hint: he ain’t against it, or maybe he’s just for the votes.
But nice to see you keeping things honest.
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:43 am
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
9:40 am
Eh, it’s a job….
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
9:43 am
“I’m sure that the Feds will pursue the owners of the rig for damages”
And if they do, it’ll be tied up in the courts for 20 years
Mick
April 29th, 2010
9:44 am
I guess there’s a lot of oil down there if that much is being spewed every day. You would think that these oil conglomerates would have some safety devices to back-up a failure or disaster.
FrankLeeDarling
April 29th, 2010
9:44 am
As a former resident of the gulf coast ,I find this depressing,this is exactly why the majority of Fla. residents, repub or dem are opposed to drilling off the Fla. coast.
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:44 am
FLY HINDENBERG! FLY METHANE! Bumper stickers R us…
Outhouse GoKart
April 29th, 2010
9:47 am
“The U.S. considered requiring a remote-controlled shut-off mechanism several years ago, but drilling companies questioned its cost and effectiveness, according to the agency overseeing offshore drilling. The agency, the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service, says it decided the remote device wasn’t needed because rigs had other back-up plans to cut off a well….”
Another example of our Captiol hill representatives (Dems & Reps) behaving like jackasses. Perhaps assessing a huge fine on the members who approved the non-usage of this acoustic shutoff valve might be one route. Our own govt is guilty of environmental terrorism.
THROW THE BUMS OUT…ALL OF THEM!!
Keep up the good fight!
April 29th, 2010
9:48 am
Always great to see the consistency of the Repugs/Tea Party — drill baby drill….produce jobs. “It goes with the territory”….”simply business”….. except when it hits the coasts and puts fisheries and the fishing industry out of business, when tourism falls off because the beaches are closed, when government has to spend tax dollars cleaning up the mess, Oh and when these people lose their jobs, apparently because they are “lazy”, no “entitlements” for them. When their children become homeless, no assistant. “Trickle down” capitalism works to protect corporations but the “trickle down” effect from these corporate disasters are non-existent, right? There are noooo consequences. Smaller governments can do better against the Exxon’s and BP’s millions. No significant fines. Less regulations so that these companies can make more profit at the expense of others.
Yes, it is much more important that Exxon and BP not have to spend money on an “unproven” valve.
Outhouse GoKart
April 29th, 2010
9:49 am
Perhaps some of this oil could be saved and funneled to the illegal aliens as some sort of a hair tonic. We could tax it heavily and require its usage…a bit of payback for the free Hcare they are receiving.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
9:51 am
President Carter and many, many, many others have tried to teach the ignorant fools to change their backasswards ways.
But no! We’re America dammit! And we do what we want and everybody and everything else be damned!
And just to prove it we’re gonna go out and buy a BIG BIG vehicle (probably to compensate for a tiny ____ and minds) and guzzle as much gas as we possibly can.
Sacrifice? Vision? Honor? Basic respect for the earth?
Nah…
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
9:52 am
OGK – “If this were a fish oil or a cod liver oil spill I would venture to guess our pro tax progressives wouldnt be quite so “up in arms”.”
if it were a cod liver oil spill, there’d be riots in the street over the resulting TP shortage …
Doggone – “And if they do, it’ll be tied up in the courts for 20 years” … only to have the fines reduced by Big Business’s BFF, the Supreme Court
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
9:54 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkYx–x9wa0
Normal
April 29th, 2010
9:54 am
Let’s start making electricity by putting wind mills in Congress…
FrankLeeDarling
April 29th, 2010
9:54 am
wow Amvet I almost didn’t recognize Daryl without the big hair and shoulder pads,cool jam.
Gator Joe
April 29th, 2010
9:55 am
Jay:
How ironic that the Governors of the Gulf states which may be affected by this oil spill are all Republicans. First, they will scream for Federal Government assistance, and next they will call for increased regulation of the offshore oil and gas industry. Could this be the beginning of the end of “Drill Baby Drill”? I wonder how many “minor” leaks and spills this industry has covered up or hidden in the past?
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
9:58 am
“only to have the fines reduced by Big Business’s BFF, the Supreme Court”
That too
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
9:59 am
so far, isn’t Crist the only one who’s said ,”gee … maybe this isn’t such a hot idea after all” … or have I missed Haley Barbour, Jindal and the rest recanting …
Keep up the good fight!
April 29th, 2010
9:59 am
Normal….wouldn’t we get better results by composting what the Republicans put out daily?
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:02 am
The only thing Haley Barbour recants on is “gee, maybe I shouldn’t have had that second plate of BBQ”
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
Welcome to the Gulf’s world renowned black sands beaches. Come on down and stick around a while.
kayaker 71
April 29th, 2010
10:03 am
I’ve worked on several of these rigs before. They are a diaster waiting to happen, even the ones on land. The reason why experienced roughnecks make upwards of 100K/yr. Blowout preventers take up only some of the slack but it’s difficult to get a broken one to work when it’s 5k ft below the surface. This has the unfortunate possibility of being as being as big or bigger than Exon Valdez.
Disgusted
April 29th, 2010
10:05 am
No biggie. I’m sure that Outhouse, Dusty, and all the other “Drill, baby, drill” advocates will volunteer to take a few months off to help clean up this mess. After all, it’s certainly a freak. They’ve been telling us for months about how “modern technology” has made oil spills almost impossible.
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:05 am
BP is involved in this mess and they were involved in leaks up in Alaska as well. BP must be an acronym for “Burst Pipes”.
Byron Mathison Kerr
April 29th, 2010
10:08 am
The usual AJC blog idiots are really outdoing themselves on this topic — true colors for sure!
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:10 am
Not to worry, we have a socialist solution to the problem Blowin’ in the winds. We like to call it “Hurricane Season.” It helps to distribute such abundances to the masses in a very cost effective manner.
Chris
April 29th, 2010
10:11 am
Seeing what post Katrina did for gas prices, I can’t wait to pay $100 for each fill up. Not to mention what this is going to do to our coast lines and animal life.
Where’s BP during all of this?
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
keep up 9:48
[[Always great to see the consistency of the Repugs/Tea Party]]
40-50% of Tea Partiers are Independent or Democrats.
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2010/04/51-of-tea-partiers-are-either.html
and
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls/90541-survey-four-in-10-tea-party-members-dem-or-indie
I know, I know…. the survey’s flawed… or people lie… or they aren’t really Democrats or Independents… or… anything that challenges the stereotypes.
Gator Joe,
[[First, they will scream for Federal Government assistance, and next they will call for increased regulation of the offshore oil and gas industry.]]
Actually, it’s just the opposite. For some of the states, anyway.
———————————-
[[“only to have the fines reduced by Big Business’s BFF, the Supreme Court”]]
Only when the Court decides against the way one wants it to decide -
Morning, Bosch
Recovered from the ‘toon yet?
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:13 am
Is this going to make gas prices even higher? It is waaaaaay to close to $3 a gallon down here in Florida.
What you think it would do to my car to put some of the leaked oil in it?
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:14 am
So…. has Pres Obama reversed himself on offshore drilling (again) yet?
Then there’s that pesky nuke power issue…..
Jay
April 29th, 2010
10:15 am
I just updated the post with NOAA’s latest map depicting the location and size of the spill. It is not a pretty picture.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:16 am
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:14 am
Why obviously he has Paul,
Go look through the comments, this Oil spill is the fault of the republicans and the republicans only! No democrat has or ever WOULD be in favor of any type of drilling for oil.
Its only the conns or conned fault.
Geez keep up!
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:18 am
blah blah blah free market. blah blah blah no need for regulation. blah blah blah free market will determine safety precautions. blah blah blah disband OSHA. blah blah blah small government blah blah blah not the governments duty to regulate business. blah blah blah too much regulation sends jobs over seas. blah blah blah tax cuts for corporations so they can afford to stay here. blah blah blah Ayn Rand. blah blah blah drill baby drill. blah blah blah do away with U.S. Minerals Management Service. blah blah blah waste of taxpayer’s money.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
10:19 am
Chris – 10:11 – that had more to do with refineries shutting down than low supply of crude.
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
“The usual AJC blog idiots ”
Welcome BMK! Looks like you’ll fit right in.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:20 am
thomas
But it’s DIFFICULT to keep up without a program!
Seriously, this illustrates that although the chance of an accident may be low, when it does happen, it’s a whopper with a huge impact.
So, it the answer to shut down gulf rigs? Or to press on with not changes and chalk this up to the cost of doing business? Or to press on, with retrofits of remote shutoffs and other technologies and increase regulatory oversight to further reduce chances of recurrence?
I vote for the latter.
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:21 am
The answer my friends is Pedal Power. Hey! Did you think I was gonna say that the answer was blowing in the wind. Nah! That’s Dylan’s message. Pedal Power is the message that I’m peddling. It has mass appeal. Something for Democrats and Republicans. Democrats love it because it provides a heart healthy, calorie burning multi-faceted solution to so many problems at one time. Republicans love it because it reminds them of Reagan and his trickle down philosophy.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:22 am
G’morning, jewcowboy!
Feeling a bit blah today?
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:23 am
I just updated the post with NOAA’s latest map depicting the location and size of the spill. It is not a pretty picture.
Not to worry. I’ve forwarded a copy to Shawn Hannity. He’ll have it lookin’ good in no time.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:26 am
Hi ya’ Paul! I’ve got a couple more hypnosis sessions and I should be back to normal.
Snort.
Did they ever find those missing oil workers?
Byron Mathison Kerr
April 29th, 2010
10:26 am
To Doggone/GA @ 10:20 am:
The bit dog hollers.
Disgusted
April 29th, 2010
10:27 am
Republicans love it because it reminds them of Reagan and his trickle
downon philosophy.FYT.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:27 am
jewcowboy @ 10:18 –
Yeah, that’s about how I hear it. Kind of like the grown ups in the Charlie Brown cartoons.
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
10:27 am
“The bit dog hollers”
See? Right at home.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:28 am
Bosch
I don’t think so. Poor guys, poor families. No recovery of remains makes closure really difficult for some.
kayaker 71
April 29th, 2010
10:28 am
The Dept of Energy, with it’s 32B/yr budget established long ago as the answer to our energy dependence has been a complete bust, whether or not run by Repubs or Demos. As long as our gluttonous appetite for oil persists, we risk the danger of these catastrophic events to our environment. We have enough natural gas in this country to run all of the domestic vehicles for another 100yrs. Pickens’s plan for windpower and the use of natural gas for transportation would cost the taxpayer hundreds of Billions of dollars. How’s that for a stimulus that has more of a possibility of working than the one we are struggling under now?
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
Paul,
“Then there’s that pesky nuke power issue…..”
Point/Counter-point
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7S_XWuKpHc
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
Paul,
“No recovery of remains makes closure really difficult for some.”
And probably no life insurance.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
jewcowboy,
Wow! That must be the Rosetta Stone for speaking Republican!
They have certainly mastered the art of talking a great dea,l but saying nothing of consequence…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyQETQA9inY
Normal
April 29th, 2010
10:31 am
Bosch,
back to normal? What’s that supposed to mean? Back to normal? I am Normal! I am, I am, I am…just ask my shrink!
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:33 am
Paul,
I agree in theory with what you said. I do feel safety regulations are in order. However my experience with government ordered regulation usually leads to their being chosen winners and losers. That is not right either.
If the government must get involved I would be one to propose more incentives for new design and safer rig development. To do this the country would need to pool our best and smartest from the sciences. Have monetary incentives to create competition and innovation, with the goal being innovative, productive, less intrusive and SAFE oil rigs.
Unless we stop driving our cars (which ain’t gonna happen) then we will need oil to power them. Cause I do not see us giving up driving until the replacement for oil as an energy source has been discovered and can be obtained for as little cost as oil.
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:35 am
kayaker 71,
“As long as our gluttonous appetite for oil persists, we risk the danger of these catastrophic events to our environment. ”
Thank goodness this administration is doing things to ween us off oil:
Wind:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1475ef3a-5327-11df-813e-00144feab49a.html
and Pedals:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/transportation-department-embraces-bikes-and-business-groups-cry-foul/
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:35 am
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:30 am
Not that it is going to be ENOUGH, but one would assume that since they did suffer the accident while working, different types of Workers Comp. would pay for some of the benefits.
NOT ENOUGH, but some.
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
10:36 am
“Cause I do not see us giving up driving until the replacement for oil as an energy source has been discovered and can be obtained for as little cost as oil.”
This doesn’t quite mesh up. A new source of oil will not make us “give up” driving…it will make it able to continue, just with a new energy source. Personally, I’ve got my eye on those compressed air-powered cars in France.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:37 am
Normal,
It’s all relative.
retiredds
April 29th, 2010
10:37 am
I have this picture in my mind of Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Dick Cheney, et. al. on a boat with mops cleaning up the mess they claimed could not happen. Under the picture is the caption, “drill baby drill”.
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:37 am
If the government must get involved I would be one to propose more incentives for new design and safer rig development
This calls for a tax break.
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:38 am
Bosch,
Here is something for your hypnosis sessions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9PZizBDBZw
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:39 am
thomas,
Some is not good enough. If those families do not receive full death benefits, then the insurance companies should burn in hell – at least, the way I see it, but then again, I don’t believe in hell – oh hell! Well, they’ll have really, really bad karma.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:40 am
Why, jewcowboy, you miserable slut!
Bosch
I rather think that, given the circumstances, the insurance companies’ll pay. Can you imagine the public outcry if it came out they wouldn’t?
thomas
[[more incentives for new design and safer rig development.]]
That’s an interesting idea. Rather like what the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) does – provides seed or research money and/or announces a broad goal, then lets private industry submit their ideas – with the winner likely getting a big contract.
‘course, the other option for an operation that isn’t governmental (as is the case with Defense) is to make the penalties for an ‘accident’ so bloody expensive (fines) that the green eyeshade and ‘profits = bonus’ crowd thinks it’s a slam-dunk decision.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:40 am
jewcowboy,
Holy crap! That was cool!
Normal
April 29th, 2010
10:40 am
for the long run…
Mandate using synthetic oils as lubricants and save fossil oil for fuel until technology takes up the slack with alternatives.
But for now mandate that all rigs be retro fitted with a safety valve.
Why is it that profit always seems to overcome common sense?
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:41 am
thomas,
“If the government must get involved I would be one to propose more incentives for new design and safer rig development. ”
The incentive is called profit…
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:42 am
Paul,
“I rather think that, given the circumstances, the insurance companies’ll pay. Can you imagine the public outcry if it came out they wouldn’t?”
Let’s hope so, but then again, there were the folks after Katrina who didn’t get their insurance because their houses were destroyed by wind instead of water or some such nonsense. Insurance companies hire minions of Satan to keep them from paying.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:42 am
Actually No,
I was more getting at scientist, which would be recieving research and development grants. Production and results would be directly tied to future grants recieved. There was a time when Americans used Science to solve problems and allowed our intellegence to fuel the fastes and greates economic expansion the world has ever known.
Lets use our minds and hard work to “fuel” another economic boom.
But if you consider a grant as a tax break then I guess tax breaks will be in order.
Is PELL grant a tax break too?
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
10:42 am
This wouldn’t have happened if we had been allowed to drill in ANWR!
The only silver lining I can imagine to come out of this clusterf&ck is that perhaps this will FINALLY awaken the McCarthyites to the fact that doing the Jethro Tull (Living in the Past) comes at one helluva price.
Yeah, I know, who the hell am I kidding…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eoy91sYdQPE
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
10:42 am
“course, the other option for an operation that isn’t governmental (as is the case with Defense) is to make the penalties for an ‘accident’ so bloody expensive (fines) that the green eyeshade and ‘profits = bonus’ crowd thinks it’s a slam-dunk decision”
See my comment above about being in court for 20 years
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:43 am
Normal,
“Why is it that profit always seems to overcome common sense?”
Duh! Because common sense doesn’t buy vacation homes in Europe and big ass diamonds for their wives (and girlfriends – and boyfriends) and such.
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
10:43 am
Can you imagine the public outcry if it came out they wouldn’t?
Yeah, because insurance companies were so shamed by stories during the health care debate.
BP Damage Control
April 29th, 2010
10:43 am
It’s a small leak when you compare it to the amount of oil that seeps out from between the cracks and crevices… over the entire planet for the last thousand years. Trust me. This is nothing. Inconsequential. Trivial. A drop in the bucket.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:44 am
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:39 am
I would think they will pay in full. But is full pay really what is owed to these families. Money can’t buy life.
But they will pay to make sure the families don’t say……………….
Anything that is.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
10:44 am
“I rather think that, given the circumstances, the insurance companies’ll pay.”
Paul, don’t you know anything?
Corporations don’t pay for insurance!
They simply pass the costs onto you and me. (sarc on those who say the same about taxes…)
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:45 am
I think I saw one a horseman, I actually agree with Scalia:
“Declaring that the rough-and-tumble of democracy is not for the faint-hearted, what Scalia referred to as the “touchy, feely” sensitivity of some political activists, the Justice said “you can’t run a democracy” with political activity behind a First Amendment shroud. “You are asking us to enter into a whole new field,” Scalia told James Bopp Jr., the lawyer for Washington State signers of an anti-gay rights petition. Politics, the Justice went on, “takes a certain amount of civic courage. The First Amendment does not protect you from civic discourse — or even from nasty phone calls.”
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
10:46 am
thomas,
“But is full pay really what is owed to these families.”
Yes.
@@
April 29th, 2010
10:46 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal regulators did not need this week’s explosion aboard a state-of-the-art rig to know the offshore drilling industry needed new safety rules: Dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries over the last several years had already convinced them that changes were needed.
The U.S. Minerals and Management Service is developing regulations aimed at preventing human error, which it identified as a factor in many of the more than 1,400 offshore oil drilling accidents between 2001 and 2007.
Maybe a little health care for the environment given the more obvious risks. What say you, Mr. President?
Opponents of President Barack Obama’s plan for more offshore drilling, particularly off the East Coast, say the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon should be taken as a warning to slow the fervor to “drill, baby drill.”
“I would hope it would serve as another wake-up call on this issue that there is no such thing as safe oil drilling,” said Sara Wan, a member of the California Coastal Commission, a state regulatory agency. “Once that oil starts leaking in the ocean, that damage is irreversible. You just look at what happened with Exxon-Valdez — they’re still feeling the effects of it. There’s no real way to clean it up.”
Obama showed no sign of budging Friday. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president still believes increasing domestic oil production can be done safely, securely and without harming the environment.
“I don’t honestly think it opens up a whole new series of questions, because, you know, in all honesty I doubt this is the first accident that has happened and I doubt it will be the last,” Gibbs said.
Oh, really….this administration is in the pocket of BIG OIL!
Last I heard Goldman Sachs was the biggest trader of energy derivatives.
The environmental impact is bad enough. After that comes the human impact, impact on the fishing industry, and the economic impact on us all.
My best wishes go out to all involved….my heart-felt condolences to the families who lost loved ones.
What a mess.
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:47 am
Paul,
“Why, jewcowboy, you miserable slut!”
Or am I a “slore”?
http://dlisted.com/node/37057
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:47 am
I can see that I need to head off to the nursery and pick me up one of those Pell Grant trees. How old does it have to be before it starts bearing fruit.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:47 am
Kamchak
It’s rather interesting – people hear of a general tragedy, feel sympathy but also feel like it’s too bit go do anything about. But… make it an individual, or a small group, or a few highlighted from a larger tragedy and people will donate time and money and work like they can make a difference.
It’s the psychology of why politicians trot out “and in the gallery is Melvin K. Fonebone, who…”
It personalizes a larger issue.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:48 am
TaxPayer
18 years.
But the costs before that will eat your lunch -
Normal
April 29th, 2010
10:49 am
I’m surprised no one has said it’s Bush’s fault…so I will…
IT’S BUSH’S FAULT!!! There! I feel better now…where’s my prozac?
thomas
April 29th, 2010
10:49 am
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
10:41 am
Yes it is profit. But with new designs and development the oil companies would make more of a profit.
But I am more speaking of scientist not dependant upon the oil company. Mainly independant research and development types. Who would then sell their grant backed product to the OIL companies.
But i am sorry if there was confusion about who would recieve grants. If oil companies want to hire science types to develope rigs to recieve a grant whatis the harm? The goal is to make the drills more safe, for workers, oceans life and us.
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
10:50 am
Paul
There were many stories of individuals denied coverage during the HC debate. Didn’t seem to matter.
getalife
April 29th, 2010
10:51 am
The libs attacked Gore on this issue but a con judge will lower BP’s fine again.
If it hit Florida white beaches, the cons would care.
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:52 am
Well, it is Bush’s fault but you know how sensitive the conservative Republicans on here can be when anyone brings that up. We would not want to hurt their feelings. In fact, If I were still working in corporate America, I’d probably already be signed up for sensitivity training by now.
Normal
April 29th, 2010
10:54 am
@@,
If the new rigs were equipped with the safety equipment they need, then I could go for more drilling. What this is, is a wake up call on corporations putting profit over safety and now we see what that got us.
BP should be made to absorb the complete cost of this folly. Then other owners of rigs might rethink the safety part…
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:55 am
AmVet 10:44
Oh yeah…. I forgot….
jewcowboy 10:47
A new word in our lexicon?
The guy gave a gracious answer… right up to slore.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
10:57 am
Kamchak
Which was the point of the ‘personal case’ vs the ‘general disaster’ case.
I do know in Texas the state agencies did get involved and although the insurance companies mounted mighty legal defenses, eventually most of their resistance was broken.
Then, when it came time for the state to approve the insurance companies’ rates…. I don’t think the companies thought ahead to that little eventuality.
Smithfield Farmers Association
April 29th, 2010
10:57 am
If it hit Florida white beaches, the cons would care.
That depends more on whether you are referring to the “white sands” beaches or the “other white meat” beaches. Bunch of porkers. Some of them have laid around on the beach for so long, their skin even looks like fried pork rinds.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:01 am
TaxPayer
April 29th, 2010
10:47 am
well since you want to be a smart @ss let me educate you since you obviously don’t care to educate yourself.
PELL GRANT is at maximum rewarded for $2675 per semester and now summers are included as passed by President Obama. So thats 2675×3=8025
Now a person can recieve full PELL as long as they are enrolled in atleast 6 credit hours. Thats usually 2 classes. Which means a person would have to go to class either 2 days a week for 2 and 1/2 hours each day. Or they could go 3 days a week for an hour and 40 minutes a day. A semester is 18weeks, so thats over $29/hr for each semester.
So not exactly a money tree, but is a much higher paying job than the average. You can go look up the formula for Expected Family Contribution, but basicall you could make around 32,000-35,000 a year and be eligable for FULL PELL all 2675 per semester.
So if you want go enroll in your local community college and get that free 8k.
Anything else you need to know about financial aide let me know because it is obvious you are void of much informationin the area. But also feel free to continue with arrogant comments with poor attempts at humor.
Oh how i love the ignorant, especially those who don’t know they are.
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:02 am
Which was the point of the ‘personal case’ vs the ‘general disaster’ case.
I guess that, now as then, it’s up to the insurance companies to convince us that this isn’t a disaster.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:03 am
Kam – the rig suffered from a pre-existing condition
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:04 am
Oh how i love the ignorant, especially those who don’t know they are.
Someone here is full of self-love.
Mick
April 29th, 2010
11:04 am
Where is the good news these days? Too bad we can’t just reboot the whole fam dam thing and install an upgrade – Earth 2.0
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:05 am
Kamchak
And they get paid a lot for trying, don’t they?
thomas
What got me was, even though my kids were well into adulthood – well into it – MY income was considered in the formula. Even though they weren’t considered exemptions on my tax return.
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:06 am
USinUK
Yes—of course.
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
11:06 am
thomas,
“PELL GRANT is at maximum rewarded for $2675 per semester and now summers are included as passed by President Obama. So thats 2675×3=8025″
If you have a link for this I would appreciate it? Every thing I look up says things similar to this:
“The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have not previously earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. The amount of the award is based on the students’ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and their enrollment status. Students are eligible for a full-time award when they are enrolled in a minimum of twelve credit hours per semester; they receive a prorated award when they are enrolled in fewer than twelve credit hours per semester. To qualify, you must demonstrate exceptional need. The maximum annual award for 2009-2010 is $5,350.”
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:06 am
USinUK
Dang, that was GOOD!
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:07 am
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:04 am
No, but I usually avoid comments like PELL Money tree when it is obvious that I do not understand the PELL system at all.
Has nothing to do with an appreciation of myself or not. I can love ignorant people and still be one myself. But If i need a translation of my stated words i will call you right on up to tell everyone what I really want to convey
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:08 am
Kamchak
And they get paid a lot for trying, don’t they?
No–the insurance companies pay Frank Luntz.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:08 am
thomas,
Curious about something. Are Pell Grant recipients able to get those more than 4 years? And 6 hours?
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
11:09 am
Mick,
“Too bad we can’t just reboot the whole fam dam thing and install an upgrade – Earth 2.0″
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojydNb3Lrrs
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
11:09 am
“Rescuers work to reach 2 trapped miners in Kentucky”
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/29/kentucky.miners/index.html?hpt=T2
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:09 am
How’s my fellow baker-man, Paul doing??? this weekend I’m baking up a mess o’ scones for the MIL (complete with homemade lemon curd … mmmm) …
did you ever get around to making the oatmeal wheat bread recipe??
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:14 am
But If i need a translation of my stated words i will call you right on up to tell everyone what I really want to convey
Well…if not me then you need to call someone.
Mr. Snarky
April 29th, 2010
11:15 am
So the cost benefit analysis regarding the remote-control shut-off switch said it wasn’t worth it eh?
Let’s rerun those numbers now, what do you say?
Soothsayer
April 29th, 2010
11:16 am
What a fustercluck!
pat
April 29th, 2010
11:16 am
Somebody should cork that hole and clean the spill….
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:16 am
Jewcowboy,
PELL grant has been extended to also cover summers now! Go look that up, president obama did that this year. And exactly what would an additional 2675 added on top of your stated 5350 be? Ooooh I know 8025.
Also I cannot give you a site to show you Estimated Family contribution, as this is a government site that calculates the EFC. It uses factors, such as number of residents in home, income, tax status, and many other factors all filled out on ones FAFSA.
About your 12 hour comment. It must have been a while since you were in school because the students today have figured out how to con the system.
All one has to do is enroll in 12 hours a student can drop those hours during the drop/add period and not count as attmepted credit hours. As long as they are enrolled in 6 hours a check WILL be cut for them.
Go to a financial aide office and ask about this. Believe me if you want I don’t care, but as someone who deals with financial aide almost everyday (I’m a college basketball coach) and wife who works in a financial aide office (associate director) I assure you this inofrmation is accurate. It is the website you went to that needs to be updated.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:18 am
gosh, pat … ya think?
Mr. Snarky
April 29th, 2010
11:19 am
“fustercluck”…apt…and I’ll have to steal that one.
Soothsayer
April 29th, 2010
11:20 am
Work crews burned off oil on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico just 20 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast yesterday, in an effort to keep as much oil as possible from moving shoreward and fouling the beaches of the Gulf Coast. Relatively good weather, with moderate southeast winds of 10 – 15 knots, aided the efforts, and work crews were also able to use skimmers and dispersants to remove and thin the oil spill from the April 20 explosion and sinking of the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon. For now, it appears that the fires are not large enough to generate air pollution capable of causing health problems for those living downwind, according to the latest graphics from NOAA’s Hazard Mapping System Fire and Smoke Product.
The prevailing winds this time of year are from the southwest which will soon return as the high pressure core causing the southeasterly flow moves east. Then, look out Fla panhandle beaches.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:23 am
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:08 am
Tose who recieve PELL grant can get the grant up to a number of attempted credit hours. Once the number of attempted credit hours has been passed they do not recieve PELL any longer. So if the student didn’t exceed that number after 4 years they could continue to recieve the award. And yes a student can recieve PELL to cover more than 6 hours, they have $2675 per semester. With most stae colleges and universities (not the larger UGA’s UF’s of the college world) each credit hour will run anywhere from $80-$200. So for 6 the maximum cost wuld be 1200, leaving 1475 for spending money. With a FULL load 12 hours it would cost 2400, leaving the student with an excess of over 200 bucks.
Don’t get me wrong i am by no means an expert, but am a lil knowledgable in this area. Don’t have all the answers, but more than the average bear.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:23 am
jewcowboy and thomas,
If they drop out of class, they have to repay depending on when they dropped out. And if they are enrolled more than 6 or less than 9 it’s half of the grant. Less than 6 its 25%, and they are only eligible for 16 full time semesters. So, if they don’t do full time (more than 12 hours) they won’t finish an undergrad in 4 years. For 2010-2011 school year it’s $2775/semester. So anywho……
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:24 am
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:14 am
Any suggestions of who to call, as you failed with your first attempt and i do not want to be misunderstood?
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:25 am
UsinUK
The oatmeal bread’s tasty. Not heavy at all. (Just don’t try it with Scottish steel-cut oats…)
No worries, I didn’t.
You’re making your own lemon curd? Nice! My favorite so far is by Thursday Cottage, which I get at a British Emporium.
And, just for reference… I like my Cuisinart stand mixer MUCH better than the Kitchenaid.
StJ
April 29th, 2010
11:25 am
The sinking of the Titanic had to happen before ships were required to carry lifeboats for everyone aboard. Meaningful regulation is always reactive instead of proactive.
I suspect that this accident will finally prompt the government to require additional safety equipment aboard oil rigs. I would think some oil companies are seriously considering spending the money now just to avoid the future lawsuits that will be forthcoming.
Seriously, an estimated $1 billion cleanup for lack of a $500,000 valve?
Rightwing Troll
April 29th, 2010
11:26 am
Great! BP is losing billions on this and Jay is touting the need for more regulation and taxes… What about the poor shareholders at BP Jay, what about them?
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
11:27 am
thomas,
“Believe me if you want I don’t care, but as someone who deals with financial aide almost everyday (I’m a college basketball coach) and wife who works in a financial aide office (associate director) I assure you this inofrmation is accurate.”
It is not that I don’t believe you, but everything I’ve run across indicates something entirely different. This is from the Federal Gov’t site about pell grants:
“How much can I get?
The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2009-10 award year (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) is $5,350. For the 2010-11 award year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011), the maximum award is $5,550. The amount you get, though, will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. Note: The maximum award amount is given for any Pell Grant eligible student whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept.11, 2001. You must be under 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time in college at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.”
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp?tab=funding
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:28 am
thomas – “Don’t get me wrong i am by no means an expert”
I think the phrase you’re looking for is “I don’t work in a financial aide office … but I sleep with someone who does”
Rightwing Troll
April 29th, 2010
11:29 am
So, the choice is a bonus for the CEO or a $500,000.00 valve to prevent evironmental disaster? (and the inevitable economic disaster that will begin to play out when this is used as a reason to shoot gas prices to 3.50/ gal or better, resulting in “record” profits for the 2 and 3rd quarters for big oil…)
Well shoot, that’s a no-brainer, that CEO will trickle down on all the rest of us, so he, nay all of US, need him to get that bonus…
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:30 am
Paul – HA! I made that mistake one time, too!!! nope … good old Quaker Old Fashioned … works like a charm
as far as lemon curd – it is the easiest thing in the world to make! once you make your own, you’ll never go back to a jar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/07/nigel-slater-lemon-curd-recipes
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
11:31 am
Any suggestions of who to call, as you failed with your first attempt and i do not want to be misunderstood?
Certainment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FT4FprxDg
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:31 am
StJ – the Titanic also led to the requirement that all boats have someone manning the radio at all times …
LeeH1
April 29th, 2010
11:33 am
I, too, am anxiously waiting to see what the Republican state governors will do if the oil comes ashore. Will the Tea Baggers call for the governor’s heads if they ask for federal government asisstance, or request higher state taxes to pay for the emergency clean-up, or to borrow against future taxes to clean their beaches?
If I were a Tea Bagger, I would insist that the only money used in any of the clean-up would come from a lawsuit against all the oil companies responible for the mess. And that the state join in the many individual suits to make sure they pay up on time. Excuse me, but if the oil companies have profits in excess of $4 Billion a quarter, they can pay for cleaning up all of Louisiana and Florida out of just a few weeks profit.
Or is that lawsuit and accountability off the table, since the oil companies are the incestuous friends of the Republicans.
Remember “Drill, Baby, Drill!” How’s that drilly thing workin’ out for ya?
Soothsayer
April 29th, 2010
11:34 am
Paul & USinUK: have you two ever thought about exchanging e-mail addresses? Just saying.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:34 am
Paul – “And, just for reference… I like my Cuisinart stand mixer MUCH better than the Kitchenaid.”
i’m still reeling from this bit of culinary blasphemy …
but, when it comes to the oatmeal wheat bread, I always made it by hand – it’s such a soft dough, it was actually a treat to work with …
come to think of it, other than pizza dough, I usually do like to make all doughs by hand rather than the mixer – (especially my hot agnostic buns!)
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:34 am
USinUK,
@ 11:31
I watched this show on the Titanic the other night and I learned something new – the radio operator was so busy sending messages for all the first class passengers, that he didn’t get the warning signals, and kept sending messages after the ship hit the iceberg and didn’t send an SOS signal in time. Dang! Live with that karma – not sure if he lived or not, can’t remember.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:35 am
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:23 am
Bosch, you are not exactly correct in your assertion of repayment. If a student begins in 6-9 hours they will only recieve a portion. However if they drop below 9 as long as they remain in 6 hours the money does not have to be paid back.
Your 2775 is correct as well, just talked to the wife it goes up this year. So thats 8325.
But ya know what they say…….. you may think it sucks if you make too much money to qualify for pell, but….. do you really want to be in a position to qualify for pell?
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:35 am
Sooth – meh … it’s Thursday … too soon to talk about music, but just the right time to talk about food
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:35 am
If that radio operator did survive, with that karma over his head, he probably came back as ocean sludge.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:38 am
Soothsayer
Nope. Interrupts the flow.
USinUK
With a name like “Nigel” you know it’s gotta be good.
And, you’ve provided the mystery thought of the day: how do you tell which parts of your body are religious, which parts are secular and which part are agnostic?
“(especially my hot agnostic buns!)”
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:38 am
thomas,
I checked my son’s school’s site. That’s pretty much what it said too. But if they only take 6-9 hours per semester they get half – and they won’t finish in four years – so it might be a good gig for a while, but if they don’t finish – it’s pretty much all for naught.
“do you really want to be in a position to qualify for pell?”
And what really sucks are those people who just barely OVER qualify for pell – it still sucks for them. Even more!
SOUTHERN ATL
April 29th, 2010
11:38 am
Hopefully a MIRACLE will happen and the winds will shift and blow the oil further away from the coast…
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:39 am
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:28 am
Shes 38 weeks pregnant, so not these days.
But seriously you would be surprised how much I do end up working in financial aide when it comes to scholarships and getting walk-ons to join the team without having any scholarships left.
Wouldn’t think I have to go to a FA seminar each year huh?
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
11:39 am
thomas,
“ou may think it sucks if you make too much money to qualify for pell, but….. do you really want to be in a position to qualify for pell?”
Granted is was a while ago, but I was turned down for a Pell Grant b/c my parents made to much. Even though they were not supporting me or contributing to my education, I had to count their earnings. I had no contact with my father, so they told me I had to get copies of his tax returns from the IRS.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:39 am
Soothsayer
Some here have joined in such conversations, others have referenced them (in a good way). So if it’s not your cup of tea like some of the other off-topic conversations, well, sorry ’bout that.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:42 am
thomas – way to go!!! good luck as you head towards the finish line … fingers crossed for all 3 of you
you mean you guys don’t just hand out scholarships like they’re free phone cards – you actually have to do (gasp!!) paperwork???
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:43 am
thomas,
Does your school still give athletic scholarships? I know alot of smaller schools (not your NCAA Division 1 schools) are opting out of that. Just wondering how that affects recruitment.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:44 am
Paul – “And, you’ve provided the mystery thought of the day: how do you tell which parts of your body are religious, which parts are secular and which part are agnostic?”
religious: earlobes, cuz they’re hole-y!!
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
11:45 am
Fonebone?
Paul, I’ll thank you very much to leave your proclivities out of this conversation…
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:46 am
Bosch – 11:34 … wow … talk about misplaced priorities … (but, then, if you think you’re on an unskinkable ship … )
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:46 am
thomas,
Yeah, you are in the “Oh honey, I’m so sorry, what? What did I do? [ducks from flying shoe] – Oh, here, wha? Now, stop crying, come here, lay down and I’ll rub your feet [because they are the size of soccer balls and there's nothing more to do except brace yourself for a slap to the head]” mode. And congrats.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:47 am
thomas
Congrats! Your life is about to change in ways you cannot imagine.
Some free advice? Worth exactly what it costs? Tell your bride about the advantages of bre@st feeding for the baby’s immune system. Then, when little baby Fenmore wakes at 2 am, just tell your wife, “well, sure I’d get up to change him, but he’s hungry, too, which means you’d have to get up anyhow, and having two of us get up is just so darn inefficient….”
And, Walmart carries a real good line of soft, expandable ear plugs!
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:48 am
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:38 am
from what i have been told the 6 to 9 rule is at the discretion of the college/university.
In times of budget crisis this is an area schools have tried to recoup money for the state, especially those reporting budget shortfalls for the previous fiscal year.
Do you think someone who is trying to con the system is really concerned with graduation. the wife gets cussed out daily for taking away FA of a student who has exceeded the attempted credit hours.
I know the cutt-off sucks, hell my wife works in FA and we are just above the cuttoff for any money. Its on a sliding scale so check you may be eligiable for SOME money. But again, be thankful that you make enough to not qualify……. think what the alternative is.
Exhaust all options though check into your son’s schools foundation scholarships these are usually not advertised and are given to those who ask. The one thing I have learned working in colleges and universities is that if a person truely wants to go to school money is not the impossible part. Hstle look and scrap and there are some odd scholarships available.
We have 1 for female students who are over 5′10″ and not an athlete. Thats the actual description. Was started and endowed by an alumni who was a tall female and i guess wanted to help other tall girls.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:49 am
Paul @ 11:47,
That so doesn’t work. Plus, that just means more slaps to the head.
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:50 am
AmVet
Proclivities?!!?
Didn’t you grow up reading MAD magazine?
thomas
April 29th, 2010
11:50 am
Bosch, and if they pass at least 1 class with the 6-9 rule they won’t request the money back either.
Its weird but we all know the gov’t has some issues with watse. But i guess the politicians all know it is money well wasted to keep them in office.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin....
April 29th, 2010
11:52 am
Well, well, and here I thought man and global warming had already wiped this out-
At midday Wednesday, the edge of the spill was 23 miles (37 km) off the Louisiana coast, near fragile estuaries and swamps teeming with birds and other wildlife.
You know, I do think it is safe to say the these goony little environmental terrorist liberals are praying today, just as hard as they possibly can without being too serious about it, haha, for the oil slick to hit land and kill anything everything within a thousand miles of it.
Know what I mean?
They are that sick in the head, just sayin….
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
11:53 am
I would say Elizabeth Warren is probably one of the best people for the SCOTUS, though I would rather have her as President:
“Every day that goes by without a clear set of rules in place to guide our economy into the future is a day that costs us money. Every credit card, payday loan, car loan and check overdraft that hides another fee or another bizarre interest calculation in the fine print costs American families. Every Too Big to Fail that takes on a little more risk, or leverages up just a little more, or that sucks capital away from another business that doesn’t have a government guarantee at no charge costs American families. Every lousy product sold to a family, to a retirement fund, or to a local township costs American families.
We cannot rebuild a strong and reliable economy without new rules. We need those rules now. Not next month, not in six months, not in a year. Now.” ~ Elizabeth Warren
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
11:53 am
Paul – 11:47 – and your wife let you live to tell the tale??? now, that’s love!
Paul
April 29th, 2010
11:54 am
Bosch
[[Plus, that just means more slaps to the head.]]
Well, yeah, I had an ulterior motive….
thomas!!
and…. when it’s time for diaper duty, just tell her that you have it on good authority that the hormones released during childbirth cause a reduction in the olfactory system’s effectiveness, and since she can’t smell dirty diapers nearly as much as you can, that the changing should be done by…. (now’s the time to duck) -
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin....
April 29th, 2010
11:55 am
Um, let’s try that again…geez.
Well, well, and here I thought man and global warming had already wiped this out-
At midday Wednesday, the edge of the spill was 23 miles (37 km) off the Louisiana coast, near fragile estuaries and swamps teeming with birds and other wildlife.
You know, I do think it is safe to say that these goony little environmental terrorist liberals are praying today, just as hard as they possibly can without being too serious about it, haha, for the oil slick to hit land and kill anything and everything within a thousand miles.
Know what I mean?
They are that sick in the head, just sayin….
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:55 am
thomas,
But if they fail a class it counts towards their GPA which they have to maintain – but there are so many ifs and this that it’s pointless to debate. I know there is waste and there are those conning the system, but there are also alot of kids it helps. So, that’s the important thing.
That “tall girl” scholarship fund is pretty funny – you have a very creative Alumni Association – or Development Office.
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:57 am
Paul,
I think thomas has a kid already – but you are just giving him out right dangerous advice – she’ll smack him WITH the dirty diaper – in the face. Now, you behave!
Doggone/GA
April 29th, 2010
11:59 am
“which means you’d have to get up anyhow, and having two of us get up is just so darn inefficient”
Supposed to be true story (can’t remember where I heard it): Couple gets pregnant, and agrees that while the mother will obviously have to be the one to feed the baby, they can take turns getting up to get the baby and then take him back to his crib.
One night, baby’s hungry, husband is so sound asleep that even though it’s his night to get up, wife takes pity on him and goes to get the baby. After the baby is fed, she is now sleepy and figures he can at least take the baby back.
So she nudges him and says “Honey, take the baby back to bed” and the husband gets up, picks up the cat off the foot of the bed, throws him in the closet, shuts the door and goes back to bed.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
12:01 pm
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
11:43 am
About schoalrships, yes we do still have ours. Same amount of fulls as before. Fundraising and weekend meals is where the economy has hurt us. But we survive. We just have to recruit a couple of local (in state) kids each year as we recruit over the south east, and boosters like to see some local kids.
Paul/Bosch,
This is the 2nd and last. Both boys (I only produce y chromosomes) and yes i do get home now and cater to her and hope to not anger the belly beast. As you both know pride and dignity are powerless against the fear from an enragged pregnant woman.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
12:04 pm
Paul, who my age didn’t love Mad Magazine?!!
And here’s a little surprise, for those of you who voted for the greatest anti-environmentalist in US history…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGD1S5vHVUs
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
12:05 pm
thomas,
“This is the 2nd and last. Both boys (I only produce y chromosomes)”
Don’t be so sure – we thought that too, but my daughter had way other plans.
“As you both know pride and dignity are powerless against the fear from an enragged pregnant woman.”
Truer words were never written. May the Force be with you (all).
Doggone,
Funny story!
And with that — I am OFF to eat something ’cause I’m starving. Starving!!
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
12:06 pm
…fear from an enragged pregnant woman.
But that poor woman some clothes!
Kamchak
April 29th, 2010
12:07 pm
“Buy” that poor woman some clothes.
jefferson
April 29th, 2010
12:10 pm
It is 5000 barrels (42 gal/barrel) a day leak, not 5000 gallons,
Drill baby drill, don’t worry about a spill.
thomas
April 29th, 2010
12:11 pm
Bosch/Paul,
As much as i am gone recruiting I try to chang a diaper here and there. She has told me with this one my main job is to keep the other one occupied and safe when she is changing baby.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin....
April 29th, 2010
12:11 pm
PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Now, what we’re doing, I want to be clear, we’re not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that’s fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.”
Little socialist tinpot wannabe-
Obamas report $5.5 million in income on 2009 tax return
Damn, I didn’t beat Limbaugh….
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
12:12 pm
thomas – what’s the age difference?
getalife
April 29th, 2010
12:12 pm
I suggest BP to start hiring to clean up this mess.
Need thousands.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
12:14 pm
so … let’s see … $5.5 million vs:
“in 2007, Blankfein earned a total compensation of $53,965,418, which included a base salary of $600,000, a cash bonus of $26,985,474, stocks granted of $15,542,756 and options granted of $10,453,031.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Blankfein
theyeshaveit
April 29th, 2010
12:16 pm
thomas, I have worked with Financial Aid officers who were indeed expert in the regulations covering student loans and Pell grants. It has been a few a years, and I know that some things have changed this year, but I do recall that all schools had to report attendance, hence your suggestion that clever students have been gaming the system does not hold up. If your hours in the classroom have changed since you enrolled, the registrar report this to the financial aid officer and the financial aid officer is obligated to report t he change to the authorities.
And the information that jewcowboy reported regarding eligibility is correct. No person who previously earned a degree is eligible for a Pell Grant. The operant expression in the student financial aid world is, “Financial aid is available to those who qualify.” – no more no less.
USinUK
April 29th, 2010
12:17 pm
I’m off to go get covered in bees!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-tl6GBOBo
have a good evening!!
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
12:18 pm
I was walking in Buckhead the other day along Peachtree, and there was a pregnant woman next to me walking in the same direction. I’m wearing a fedora and a bowtie, she’s wearing a bright pink shirt, is about 5’ 4” and has blonde hair and several Toys R’ Us bags. Kind of hard to miss us.
As we start walking in front of a driveway of one of the office towers, a big pickup truck with a guy on a cell phone blows past the stop sign and into the crosswalk to stop. Had we been in the crosswalk 2 seconds sooner, he would have hit both of us.
I’m pissed b/c I almost got hit and start walking to the driver’s side, I’m not even halfway there, and the pregnant woman is screaming at the guy. He gets out, and is about 6’ 2”, and starts yelling at her. She’s up in his face (or chest really) calling him all sorts of foul names…and he puts his hand on her to move her back. She backhands him across his face so hard I can hear it above the traffic.
She starts walking away screaming over her shoulder the whole time. The guy just looks at me, and says, “Jesus. Don’t mess with the preggers.” Then gets back in his truck and pulls into traffic.
Very wise advice.
Outhouse GoKart
April 29th, 2010
12:18 pm
I think they will have it all cleaned up in a few more days. A little patience please.
Rightwing Troll
April 29th, 2010
12:21 pm
First the tawdry fantasies about Barney Frank in leather, now you wish to beat Rush Limbaugh too???
sick…
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
12:22 pm
If this is the usual lie-filled corporate storyline, it will turn out that the guestimates of 200,000 (originally 40,000) gallons per day spilled will be WAY low.
Drill baby drill…
Outhouse GoKart
April 29th, 2010
12:24 pm
“PRESIDENT OBAMA: “Now, what we’re doing, I want to be clear, we’re not trying to push financial reform because we begrudge success that’s fairly earned. I mean, I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.”
And what point is that Mr Ahole. Tell us…when is enough, enough? Typical Dems thought patterns…”its ok for me to be rich but I will let you know when you have enough”.
KMA obama
Normal
April 29th, 2010
12:24 pm
Limbaugh? OOHHH! I thought he said Limp Bough…
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin....
April 29th, 2010
12:25 pm
Eye thought so-
DETROIT (AP) – A federal judge challenged prosecutors Wednesday to show that nine members of a Michigan militia accused of plotting war against the government had done more than just talk and should remain locked up.
Liberals, they will persecute innocent free born white Americans but let millions of murderous savages run wild in Arizona, just sayin….
Normal
April 29th, 2010
12:33 pm
“millions of murderous savages run wild in Arizona”
…must be more Republicans there than I thought…
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
12:35 pm
BP has been nominated for an award for it’s environmental record:
http://www.climategreenwash.org/bp
I wonder if that $200M it paid Olgilfy and Mathers to create that “green” image was worth it.
AmVet
April 29th, 2010
12:40 pm
Yeah!
WE the people get to pay for the US military to help the already massively subsidized oil company to clean up the disaster.
The FREE MARKET at it’s best!
Bosch
April 29th, 2010
12:44 pm
jewcowboy! Wow! Damn – yeah, never mess with a pregnant woman. I’m surprised the dude made it out with all his limbs (ALL his limbs) intact.
Fedora? Really? You’re just too cool!
Paul
April 29th, 2010
12:44 pm
.
Bosch 11L57
Okay… spoilsport….
Doggone/GA
That story is hilarious – and entirely plausible
AmVet 12:04
O….M….G………….
I still remember some of the poems. One, in particular, seems to apply to some of our fellow bloggers.
(To the tune of Rock of Ages)
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
While the bombers thunder past
Shelter me from burn and blast
And I know all men are brothers
But let the fallout, fall on others.”
Jewcowboy 12:18
I was cheering for that woman. Local cops had a traffic enforcement day here not too long ago – ticketing cars that stopped past the stop line or stop sign at intersections. Lots irate, indignant letters to the editor (probably the same ones who repeat on the immigrant issue “but we’re a nation of laws that must be enforced”).
Paul
April 29th, 2010
12:46 pm
Bosch
Cool?
Ahem…. I’ve whittled down my collection, but I still have three really nice fedoras, still. One from Harrods !
jewcowboy
April 29th, 2010
12:49 pm
Paul,
“but I still have three really nice fedoras, still. One from Harrods”
I knew there was a reason I liked you
Jess
April 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
Three points:
1] BP still says 1000 barrels. The government says 5000. Both have a vested interest. The truth is somewhere in the middle.
2] this is the first measurable oil spill due to oil production in the gulf in almost forty years. There has been on average 1500 rigs operating in the gulf this entire period. Tell me another industry with a record like this.
3] During this same forty year period there have been numerous tanker accidents resulting in measurable spills. The alternative to producing our own oil is to bring it in on tankers. How does this make sense?
Hmmm
April 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
Could the Govt have blown it up? A little odd President Obama says we need to drill, which goes against everything he has said, then all of a sudden one blows up. Good way for President Obama to say no drilling until it can be safe.
Zannn
April 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
Please sign up to assit on this website. It takes less time than posting on here and will get us further!
http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov
Richard Hamilton
April 30th, 2010
8:28 am
Once again we have government regulation that doesn’t regulate anything. Did everyone see how many hours the SEC investigators spent watching porn on their computers? Let’s see watch porn or do your job? Hmmmm…I guess that’s why you get people like Madoff or Banks taking unnecessary risks.
This is unfortunate, but accidents happen. There hasn’t been a major oil rig accident here in like 40 years. It was bound to happen. I guess we are going to stop drilling for oil now because people are upset. We should shut down the mines so miners don’t get hurt, maybe we can stop all the airlines because planes crash and kill people. Shut down the nuclear reactors, we could have an accident.
Interesting Observation
April 30th, 2010
8:35 am
Will someone please remind Whiner to take his meds? Whiner’s family, thought committing him/her lately?
The Church of the Latter Day Dude
April 30th, 2010
8:37 am
I did not watch my buddies die face down in the muck in Vietnam for this, man.
Ah, *ck it, let’s go bowling man.
Message From Louisiana
April 30th, 2010
8:45 am
Heck of a job, there, Barry! You really showed Louisiana how much more you care about us than W did. Yup, heck of a job, Mr. President.
JDM
April 30th, 2010
8:51 am
The Acoustic switch has never been used, and no one knows if it works.
PMC
April 30th, 2010
8:51 am
Leave it to BP to screw it up. If there’s a safety device available they don’t have it.
Paddy O
April 30th, 2010
9:10 am
Where is the outrage at Obama & his admins utter ineptitude for addressing this disaster? It is far worse than what katrina did. Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O Hare needs to be courtmartialed for deriliction of duty. Are you trying to tell me Navy divers can’t go that deep and shut off the dam well head? How friggin stupid are we? I just feel terrible for the impact on ocean animals.
Test
May 3rd, 2010
5:28 pm
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