Heartbreaking Pix - BP Oil Spill

[Falcon Fanatic]

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/0 ... e_oil.html

[Falconfreak90]

So sad to see this happening. Mrs. Freak and I are heading to Sanibel Island in Sept...can't say what it will be like in 3 months. UGH.

And the BP CEO wants his life back....poor thing. How about all the lives being destroyed in the Gulf Coast?

Just tragic.

[CapitalFalcon]

Everyone can be outraged all they want...But then I hear people bemoan that fact that BP is the closest gas station to them, so they can't boycott. And that crystallizes the problem. Everyone blathers on about how BP should have done this or that, or the government should do this or that, but don't you DARE inconvenience me with having to drive to a different gas station OR charge me more for gasoline...

[BGDrew]

Aren't all BP stations franchises?

[Flipper]

I don't got to BP because most of their stores in Toledo are pig stys....

[Tech83]

Aren't all BP stations franchises?

Not necessarily... originally local business persons could contract with BP (Sohio in the day) to sell their products. But as time has went on, the new facilities you see are company owned. (This is based on what I know from family friends who owned a Sohio in Edison many years ago and from my current service station who is also owned by a good friend - he has a contact with BP for gas only)

I don't got to BP because most of their stores in Toledo are pig stys....

And let's face it - we all prefer the frozen drinks at Speedway

But Capital has a point.... not necessarily about BP, but our dependency on oil. Sustainability is a growing concern in many parts of our economy.

In design and construction - Whether you think its a joke or not - sustainable design is a big thing these days. It is altering our building codes and how we design and construct buildings. LEED will eventually be replaced by the model "Green Building Code" being developed by the International Code Council. The Model Energy Code - which is law - already tells me how many watts per sf I can use in a building. And I can't really use a normal light switch anymore.

But back to Capital's point - we are all pretty upset about the oil spill, but we all still drive down to the "BP" and fill-up. And don't be fooled into thinking that Louisiana wants to stop off-shore drilling. It would absolutely kill their economy. I think we will eventually see oil and energy get connected to national security - which some are trying to do. (Trying not to discuss politics here)

[SaxyIrishTenor]

I stopped going to BP years ago when they pulled their HQ from Cleveland and took a ton of jobs with it, so not going to BP is not a challenge for me. While I understand that my decision to not purchase gas from BP has zero effect on how much the company profits, I feel better about sticking to my guns. It's more about my peace of mind than anything.

With that said, it does not surprise me that a company like BP got themselves into a spot like this and I hope they learn something from it. And I hope it hurts their bottom line.

And while the oil leak is DEVASTATING to the ecosystem and economy of Louisiana, I feel like sometimes we forget that this leak was precipitated by an explosion caused by failure to maintain safety regulations that took 11 human lives. I was frustrated by initial coverage of the leak that almost entirely ignored that fact. The impact of those deaths and of the leak itself will be felt for decades.

BP has hell to pay and I hope it burns.

[Warthog]

Shell, Total or Exxon Mobil is going to end up buying BP. That's my bet.

And I commend all of you for finally recognizing what a horrible company BP is and not patronizing their stores. Feel free to stop at your local Marathon/Speedway instead.

In all seriousness, BP has had an unbelievably bad safety record for YEARS. Remember that explosion in Texas City a few years ago that took several lives? It's their culture and they can't change it. They accept the piddly fines they receive from regulators and go about their business. When OSHA comes in to one of their refineries, finds umpteen MAJOR violations and then issues them a measly fine of a couple hundred thousand dollars, where is the incentive for BP to change anything? Until the authorities step in and actually shut them down, nothing will change despite whatever they say.

(The previous paragraph was not bashing BP because I work for a competitor. Those are the straight and simple facts that are well known in the industry.)

[Pete Segaard]

I would prefer to see continued shallow well drilling as opposed to the deep well as it has a better track record and fixes are much easier at shallow depth. As far as energy/electricity goes I see nothing wrong with mini nukes styled after Navy reactors run by the feds as a way to shore up the US's antique electric grid. This could be used as a crutch in place of natural gas power plants to help sustain the home heating market as Green energy matures. Sorry to get off topic.

[Zom]

Until the authorities step in and actually shut them down...

The last couple of years has shown there isn't a government on this planet that has the b4lls to shut down monopolistic operators, whether banks or otherwise, that cough up oh-so welcome tax revenues and/or pension fund dividends until it is way, way, too late.

Coincidentally, 7 Union Carbide managers responsible for the Bhopal (India) tragedy that has so far cost at least 15,000 lives and disfigured or maimed 100,000 some 25 years ago have just received 2 year prison sentences, pending long appeals. Most of the victims will never see justice for this corporate failure.

The Chinese don't do too well at the front end either, but their summary justice is pretty final when they do get around to it.

[Flipper]

Until the authorities step in and actually shut them down...

The last couple of years has shown there isn't a government on this planet that has the b4lls to shut down monopolistic operators, whether banks or otherwise, that cough up oh-so welcome tax revenues and/or pension fund dividends until it is way, way, too late.

Tell that to the people who worked for Lehman Brothers.... They were allowed to fail and then Barclay's and Nomura Holdings were able to swoop in and get the North American and Asian shells for pennies.

On the topic of pensions....BP dividends account for about 8% of all the income going into British pension funds....so, there are a lot of Brits who don't directly own BP and will never even think of going to the Gulf of Mexico who could see some collateral damage. That's the downside of a global economy...

[Falcon Fanatic]

BP Spills Coffee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM

Just shows how idiotic BP's handling of this mess looks to comedians (and a LOT of us!).