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Wednesday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed May 12, 2010 at 07:44:51 PM EST
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I'm just getting online today. Time management is becoming a serious issue, I've definitely got to learn some new tricks because I am not ready to give up blogging.

Sorry for my absence, I'll try to do better.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Wednesday Night Open Thread | 52 comments (52 topical)

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    Gulf Spill - I'm worried about that junk shot. (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:02:20 PM EST
    The junk shot has only been tried once before, and in shallower waters (although I've seen no indication as to how successful that was). Evidently, if the junk shot fails, it could make the current geyser 12 times worse. So, if they resort to something that risky it will be a clear indication that they expect the current unchecked spill to reach biblical proportions.

    BP 'may stem oil with golf balls and tyres', from the BBC:

    BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles said..."They're going to take a bunch of debris, shredded up tyres, golf balls and things like that, and under very high pressure shoot it into the blowout preventer itself and see if they can clog it up and stop the leak...plug it up, not much different to the way you might plug up a toilet". However, experts have warned that any further damage to the blowout preventer - a huge valve system meant to turn the oil off - could see it shooting out at 12 times the current rate.

    What else could go wrong with that, I wonder.

    Maybe they should shoot it (5.00 / 0) (#2)
    by ruffian on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:14:49 PM EST
    With the big plastic island from the Pacific.

    What a freaking nightmare.

    Parent

    Send that idea into BP, seriously. (none / 0) (#6)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:41:18 PM EST
    They're so out of their depth (har) with this, they'd probably welcome the input. Harnessing that island of garbage for the "junk shot" is as plausible as anything they've come up with thus far.

    Parent
    It's so crazy it just might work (none / 0) (#9)
    by ruffian on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:09:57 PM EST
    Maybe the oil would attach itself to the plastic. It is all petroleum based, right? really, it is no nuttier than these other ideas. Can't float it through the Panama canal though to get to the oil. there had to be a flaw.

    Parent
    At the very least (none / 0) (#10)
    by ruffian on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:11:44 PM EST
    The island of plastic on top of the floating oil slick would get some much deserved media attention.

    Parent
    The government should (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by JamesTX on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:46:01 PM EST
    seize the well and give it to the first company that can contain the oil -- liability free. If capitalism is all it's cracked up to be, that should solve the problem fairly quickly. Of course, I know nothing about the profit margins on oil wells, so it might not be such a good deal.

    Parent
    It appears nobody can contain this spill. (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:14:17 PM EST
    It's a first. Meaning, there has never been a prior accident of this nature, or this magnitude, at this depth.

    Here's a good indication of the level of desperation: BP said in a press conference they are open to ideas as to how to contain and clean up the spill.

    Fu@k private enterprise. This is something that requires a government initiative on par with the Manhattan Project -- it took 5-6 years to develop the atomic bomb. If President Obama gets real proactive real fast, this might get done a lot sooner. Then he could send the entire bill to BP.

    Parent

    I think the (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by JamesTX on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:08:54 PM EST
    relief well will work. There is a limit to the damage, but it would be better to get it done sooner.

    I think the issue and efforts now are aimed at just getting control of where the oil goes, not stopping it. Wells are a lot more technical than just holes in the ground. I suspect most of the ideas pouring in from the public are useless because they don't understand how wells are constructed and how they work. There is more to it than just putting a stopper in at the top. If the inner workings of the well are damaged, it will just blow out again through a different path. If they mess with the damaged equipment at the sea bed, it might increase the flow. I suspect that's why they are drilling the relief well post haste. They're not sure what is going on below the surface, and the relief well is the ultimate solution. BP's calls for advice are not calls for ideas from people like me! They are looking for a special kind of expert consultant, I suspect, which may be a sign of good business-as-usual sense.

    I agree this is a problem that the government must get involved in. My comment was veiled sarcasm. I'm not a fan of the raw capitalist theory that has driven popular thought for the last three decades.

    Parent

    I think they're looking for input from (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by observed on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:19:26 PM EST
    creationists, AGW-deniers and Tea Partiers.

    Parent
    I guess there is no (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by JamesTX on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:45:50 PM EST
    problem from the creationist perspective. That stuff shooting out of the ocean floor hasn't been dead long enough to be too terribly toxic! Road kill.

    Parent
    I was thinking about ideas like: (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by observed on Thu May 13, 2010 at 02:38:00 AM EST
    1. Lower  the corporate taxes which are stifling innovation. If the US didn't have the highest taxes in the world, this wouldn't have happened.

    2. Flat tax.

    3. Become energy independent by opening up off shore drilling. The reason we dont' have solutions for this problem is that we dont' have ENOUGH offshore drilling.

    4. Stop illegal immigration. If the brown people weren't using so much of our oil, this wouldn't have happened.

    5. Stop teaching evolution in schools. It's because we don't have enough biblical science that this happened.

    6. Mandate offshore exploration and drilling for oil of California's most environmentally "sensitive" coastline.
    We all though that "ecology" is just a commie word for taking away our god-given right to oil.
    They choose the lands with the most oil and mineral resources for these designations----check out Allahpundit and FatherDaughterTeabaggers blog.

    7) Punch a liberal. It will make you feel better, and it will stop him from giving HIS stupid suggestions to BP.

    Parent

    Lordy, hardly anybody bothers to (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 11:30:02 PM EST
    veil their sarcasm around here. So, thank you James.

    This story from AOL provides a summary of the methods being floated to date, along with their attendant risks -- BP's Backup Plans: From 'Hot Taps' to 'Junk Shots'. As for the relief wells, as you may know, they will be drilled into the same deposit of oil and gas that caused the blowout at the original well, which presents a substantial risk of additional blowouts.

    The drilling process, which could take anywhere between two and three months, is not without its own potential for mishaps: Bloomberg Businessweek notes that either relief well could suffer a blowout like the one that caused the Deepwater Horizon explosion, potentially releasing "as much as 240,000 additional barrels of oil a day into the ocean [according to BP estimates]... almost 50 percent more than the company's worst-case estimate for the first well."

    Two weeks ago, BP announced that it had begun to drill a relief well a half-mile away from the leak and positioned to intercept it at 13,000 feet below the seabed. The company is also scheduled to begin work on a second relief well later this week. Once completed, the wells would then be filled with tons of cement, with the aim of permanently sealing the leak.

    Somebody in the news today was calling this our Chernobyl. What a ghastly thought.

    Parent

    But, in constructing (none / 0) (#28)
    by JamesTX on Thu May 13, 2010 at 01:15:54 AM EST
    the relief well, let's bet they won't make the same mistakes again! They won't overlook bad test results and loose control of the pressures. And I bet the blowout preventer might be a little more functional?

    Parent
    He can send a bill of attainder to (none / 0) (#13)
    by observed on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:20:33 PM EST
    BP, with my blessing.

    Parent
    Durbin (none / 0) (#15)
    by mmc9431 on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:47:27 PM EST
    I received an e-mail from Senator Durbin on making sure that BP pays total costs on damages. He mentioned that they still hadn't paid for the Valdez.

    My feelings are that we are going to pay, not BP. It won't be tax dollars but it will be everytime you buy gas! I don't think that even BP has enough money for what this is going to cost.

    Parent

    Exxon still owes the government $92 million for (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:02:07 PM EST
    the Exxon Valdez Spill -- 21 years ago.

    Here's a link to a good interview from Democracy Now about the current Gulf Spill; the senate hearings; and the continuing environmental impact from Exxon Valdez.

    Come to think of it, why is this being called, simply, the "Gulf Spill"? Why not call it the BP Spill, or the BP Gulf Spill.

    Parent

    They ought to plug up that leak... (5.00 / 3) (#24)
    by desertswine on Wed May 12, 2010 at 11:59:16 PM EST
    with BP executives.

    Parent
    That wouldn't be fair to the hole. (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:19:47 AM EST


    Parent
    Yet (none / 0) (#41)
    by mmc9431 on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:38:09 PM EST
    The spill hasn't shaken the support for drilling according to a recent survey.

    I'm constantly amazed at the attention span of many of our fellow citizens. Also the lack of foresight that have astounds me.

    In our instant gratification society, why worry about the future? Just make sure you get your's now.

    Parent

    Feingold's first ad is out (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Cream City on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:52:13 PM EST
    -- at least the first that I've seen -- and it's good.  I hold hope that he beats the beer baron.

    But the ad would suggest that Feingold may not be inviting Obama to come campaign in Wisconsin . . . because the Senator boasts about how he voted against the big bailouts, and as I recall, Obama when a Senator voted for them?  So it could get awkward, I suppose.

    But the ad will work in the state, I think.  So I'm hoping for more, with the largest war chest yet raised by Feingold.  He will need it.

    Feingold for next POTUS. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:19:28 PM EST
    I like him; Cream City likes him; Squeaky even likes him. He's a winner!

    Parent
    I like him on a lot of issues (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by Cream City on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:31:08 AM EST
    but I've still got issues with his promise -- to me, when I asked, and publicly -- to not vote for . . . exactly the health insurance bill that we got.

    And there have been other issues over the years.  But as always, the opponent looks awful.  So, if his campaign is awful, and the Senator is a sure thing again, we'll see what happens come November.  I am determined to no longer vote for Dems just because they're Dems -- and to no longer vote in all races if not really needed.  

    It's fun to be an Independent now and to vote for third-party candidates as a wake-up call to Dems, and especially after some of the disgraceful actions of the White House in our gubernatorial race.

    Parent

    Just saw a great PBS (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by kenosharick on Wed May 12, 2010 at 09:30:56 PM EST
    documentary on American Masters: "The Doors: When You're Strange." See it if you get a chance- In my opinion Morrison is the hottest (and one of the most talented) men who ever lived.

    No argument here. (none / 0) (#19)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:23:53 PM EST
    The other night jeralyn linked to this Disappear video from INXS. Imo, Michael Hutchence bears a close resemblance to Jim Morrison.

    I really like the INXS song Suicide Blonde.

    In fact, I don't feel like myself unless my hair is within two shades of Suicide Blonde.
     

    Parent

    August 12, 1967, Forest Hills Stadium (none / 0) (#20)
    by Peter G on Wed May 12, 2010 at 10:45:15 PM EST
    The Doors opened for Simon & Garfunkel.  One of the greatest things I ever saw, although many of the (other) suburban teenagers in the audience booed, because the Doors weren't like their beloved S&G at all.  They played four songs, lasting 30 minutes total.  That night was later described by Ray Manzarek as their worst performance ever.

    Parent
    Morrison had a sexy voice (none / 0) (#42)
    by mmc9431 on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:43:16 PM EST
    Well that is kind of an interesting mix! I like them both but I'm not sure they would work that well together. I like peanut butter and I also like steak! Just not together.

    Parent
    Saw most of the doc, and give it (none / 0) (#40)
    by brodie on Thu May 13, 2010 at 10:46:53 AM EST
    3.5/4 stars.  A dark but very talented group of 3 musicians and one poet-singer with issues involving his Navy admiral father fighting in VN and with a preference for gloomy symbolist poetry.

    The Doors get major artistic integrity credit for their (or Morrison's) decision on the Ed Sullivan Show to stick with their original edgy lyrics, while the Rolling Stones trimmed their sails when ordered.  Both groups were never invited back, but the Doors at least scored one for the musical artists.  Not so much integrity though with the other 3 group members' decision to sell out for cash on the car comm'l and their song LMF, which Morrison to his great credit nixed when he found out about it.

    Some songs in the doc I hadn't heard in many years -- especially of note, the haunting tune "Crystal Ship" -- and they actually had quite a few quality hits for a group that was so edgy and clearly on the dark side.

    Too bad there was no one in the group or management who was sober and influential enough to keep Morrison from sliding over the edge.

    I hadn't been aware of the story about the disgraceful in-your-face open display by Mick Jagger and JM's girlfriend in the front row at one Doors' concert.  What a weasel that Jagger, it would appear.  

    Parent

    Hey, Rick -- I meant to ask (none / 0) (#47)
    by Cream City on Thu May 13, 2010 at 03:55:38 PM EST
    as a followup to some comment I saw from you yesterday . . . but then the day got away from me, as days do these days. . . .

    You're moving to another state in a few months, so -- might this be because of graduation?  ABD status?  Some significant stage in life, it seems.  So congratulations are in order for ???

    Parent

    Learn something everyday file... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by kdog on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:24:50 AM EST
    I had no clue about this dark day in our history, 25 years ago today the Philly police literally dropped a bomb on a bunch of squatters...seems kinda relevant today what with all the foreclosures and abandonments being a goldmine for squatters, and the authorities being as or more brutal than ever...could it happen again?

    kdog, I heard this morning that this (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by ruffian on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:28:59 AM EST
    is Law Enforcement Appreciation Week. How dare you bring the MOVE incident up on such an occasion!

    Parent
    Well... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by kdog on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:44:36 AM EST
    who doesn't appreciate a jackboot to the face, a bomb dropped on their humble home, a tasing...it's all out of love, for our own good:)

    Parent
    If you miss the festivities, (none / 0) (#52)
    by jondee on Fri May 14, 2010 at 04:38:47 PM EST
    you can always tune into any one of a few television channels to see ruggedly handsome, but surprisingly sensitive and vulnerable, cops and district attorneys "take out the trash" by rounding up the utter and complete sociopaths who lurk around every corner and in every alley way of this besieged nation of ours..

     

    Parent

    MOVE wasn't a "bunch of squatters". (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu May 13, 2010 at 02:21:51 PM EST
    At the time, MOVE (not an an acronym) was known as a black-liberation group, based in Philly.

    Here is a link to a series of 25th 'anniversary' stories about MOVE and the bombing of the MOVE residence on May 13, 1985. From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Osage's Lingering Loss. Excerpts:

    On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police fired 10,000 bullets into the MOVE rowhouse that held seven adults and six children. [Police knew about the children inside.]

    During a 10-hour siege, firemen poured millions of gallons of water on the house.

    Then police dropped a bomb that set the house and a whole city block on fire.

    Then firemen stood by for a full hour and allowed the fire to burn down the house and 60 other homes.

    One adult and one child escaped from the MOVE house -- six adults and five children died in the fire. 250 people were left homeless.

    The block remains a wasteland to this day.

    I remember when this happened, all too well.

    Parent

    Thanks Foxhole... (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by kdog on Thu May 13, 2010 at 02:28:45 PM EST
    I look forward to giving this proper attention later and reading up on it...never heard of this whole affair, or MOVE, before today.

    Parent
    Welcome... (none / 0) (#46)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Thu May 13, 2010 at 02:42:33 PM EST
    There's supposed to be a link to video footage of the events someplace in one of those five MOVE stories. I couldn't find it though. Link us up if you come across it old boy.

    Parent
    MOVE was pretty out there... (none / 0) (#50)
    by kdog on Fri May 14, 2010 at 09:16:51 AM EST
    I've got a soft spot for society drop-out fringe groups...but I can understand not wanting to live with rats and cockroaches.

    In hindsight though, it seems the other residents of the block mighta been better off trying to come to an understanding with MOVE...we see all the good siding with the city of Philly got them.  My "be careful what you ask for when you drop a dime" theory at work.

    What a shameful sordid affair.

    I didn't have any luck with any quality footage either, aside from some clips of the massive blaze caused by the offensive.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#51)
    by squeaky on Fri May 14, 2010 at 03:10:22 PM EST
    A tough one, but considering the abject racism, particularly by the Philly police at the time, and the extreme and insane act of dropping a f'ing bomb on a house full of people, children,...  My sympathy is with MOVE.

    Parent
    History (none / 0) (#43)
    by mmc9431 on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:56:15 PM EST
    I don't think they teach history anymore. It seems like we keep making the same stupid mistakes over and over again. Or maybe it's like Texas and you just teach the history you create.

    Parent
    Sure, we teach history -- but (none / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Thu May 13, 2010 at 03:58:57 PM EST
    it's not required as much as it used to be.

    And, of course, we can teach and teach and teach it, but how well is it learned?  

    How many earn A's, how many earn C's?

    I happen to be finding out the answer to that right now.  After all, we don't "give" grades, we just write 'em down and turn 'em in . . . or, these days, input 'em. :-)

    Parent

    And, as a related question (none / 0) (#49)
    by Cream City on Thu May 13, 2010 at 04:01:22 PM EST
    we always have to wonder how many employers care?  How many here who do hiring ask not just for resumes but for transcripts to see how many A's vs. how many C's (or D's or F's), and in which subjects?  Did that GPA result from A's in pingpong vs. C's in history?  Do employers ask -- and check?  

    Sigh.

    Parent

    Jeralyn I just sent you a blank email (none / 0) (#3)
    by ruffian on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:17:07 PM EST
    by accident. When you get your iPad you may notice that the Home and email buttons on the upper right of the page are dangerously close together for the fat of finger!

    Btw, the rest of the site (none / 0) (#4)
    by ruffian on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:20:08 PM EST
    works great. That is the only thing I have ever had a problem with in my month of testing. All the other buttons have plenty of clearance.

    Parent
    thanks, got the email (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jeralyn on Thu May 13, 2010 at 12:15:53 AM EST
    still waiting on the iPad, should be here any day.

    Parent
    Cool. Next time I will send you (none / 0) (#31)
    by ruffian on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:24:15 AM EST
    some app recommendations instead of a blank mail!

    Parent
    I've watched a couple of films (none / 0) (#5)
    by observed on Wed May 12, 2010 at 08:23:23 PM EST
    of the "evil/bad child" genre that were not bad.
    The Orphan is pretty standard for the genre, but a great performance by the girl and an unusual twist made it worth watching, for me.
    Case 39 has a run of the mill plot, but there are some good scenes, and Renee Zellweger is great.
    More from Mr. Polanski's legal team: (none / 0) (#23)
    by oculus on Wed May 12, 2010 at 11:45:30 PM EST
    AP

    They are actually arguing (none / 0) (#30)
    by jbindc on Thu May 13, 2010 at 07:58:24 AM EST
    That the Swiss don't have the Internet, newspapers, or watch TV??  They really think if the Swiss had "the whole story" then everything would be fine?

    Parent
    lol (none / 0) (#32)
    by squeaky on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:24:16 AM EST
    Well with the internet, teevee, and, newspapers, you seem to have missed the "whole story", or at least the point of contention.

    But you like most Americans want to see a pound of flesh ripped from Polanski's body. Funny idea of justice, I thought we dropped that sort of thing in the 18th century.

    LOS ANGELES -- Roman Polanski's lawyers want a Los Angeles judge to unseal secret testimony by the original prosecutor in the director's 33-year-old sex case.

    In a motion to be filed Thursday, the attorneys say transcripts of testimony by retired Deputy District Attorney Roger Gunson are needed urgently to submit to Swiss authorities pondering whether to extradite Polanski to the United States after decades as a fugitive.

    Gunson testified this year in what is known as a conditional examination. Such proceedings preserve testimony of a witness who might not be available for future hearings.

    The motion says the transcripts will prove the extradition request is based on false and incomplete statements by the Los Angeles district attorney's office.



    Parent
    I understand just fine (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:40:35 AM EST
    The Swiss also know it's out there and so far have not needed it to make their rulings.  This is not a "secret".

    Parent
    Sealed Testimony Is Secret (none / 0) (#37)
    by squeaky on Thu May 13, 2010 at 09:52:10 AM EST
    Knowing it is out there, means nothing. Funny approach to law, and evidence, from a supposed attorney.

    But then again, your lopsided sense of justice appears to be consistent: stack the decks for the prosecution.

    Parent

    Funny (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Thu May 13, 2010 at 10:22:18 AM EST
    All I see in your posts are blah, blah, blah.

    I understand how the process works, but this is Polanski's attorneys desperately trying anything they can, all the while running up the bill, when the end result is likely going to be the same - Polanski will have to return and finally face the music.  This is all theater.

    Parent

    Desperately? (none / 0) (#39)
    by squeaky on Thu May 13, 2010 at 10:38:18 AM EST
    Did not see you complaining when they unsealed the Grand Jury testimony last year. But, apparently when the Defense asks for fair and equal treatment, it is somehow "desperate".

    Quite the double standard, no?

    Parent

    Wednesday Night Open Thread | 52 comments (52 topical)

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