"They Didn't Make Us So...We Didn't " Retorted BP

I know a little something about offshore drilling. My ex husband worked for Duo-Line which was owned by Rice Engineering. Except my ex husband was not an engineer, he was before coming to West Texas a bass player in a band. He landed a job working with cement for casings and within a couple of years moved up into production and then was made the top guy for flying out to Houston to fix engineering problems.

Yeah, there's gaining experience on the job, but really...someone doing an engineer's job without the degree or experience required? Happens all the time. Duo-Line lost their engineer and didn't bother to replace him. So, honestly, it doesn't surprise me that when safety measures are suggested that BP would retort...well, if they're not required...why?

Minerals Management Service questioned the effectiveness of blowout preventers used in extremely deep waters. Their concerns are now our accident in the Gulf. A backup shutoff device was also suggested, but not required by MMS. Why not required? Because the oil and gas industry boo hooed and cried about it. SO...the MMS backed down. Sounds like to me we need some new people with backbones on the MMS. Don't ya think?

Clean up efforts? Hah... all we got now going on is BP pointing fingers at TransOcean who's pointing fingers at Haliburton. Oh, do you remember me begging all of you to demand that Congress pass the Frac Act? Which would require oil and gas companies to disclose what's in Fraccing fluids? Guess what...the dispersants used to "clean up" the spill...an ancient guarded secret...who's feeling foolish now, huh?

Read more about the why, how and who here.

Wondering When We Won't Worry About the Water

Sweltering summer day, twisting tumultuous trees, wistful unabashed daring toddlers lapping water carelessly from a Mississippi creek. This is a picture of Flint Creek where my Grandma Ann resides. Growing up us children never had to worry or even think twice about drinking the creek water. We were never told by our grandparents, parents, aunts or uncles to not get in the water, drink the water or play with the water. It never occurred to us that anything could ever be harmful in that water, because it never was.

I don't live in Mississippi anymore, I reside way out in West Texas in a little town by the name of Wink. The City of Wink posts notices at the post office and at city hall to boil the water before using. I won't allow my children to drink the tap water or have a swimming pool for fear of what might be in the water. Am I being overly protective? I think not. I recently read an article about the poisoning of Midland water...Midland is only 55 miles west of where I live. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking I need to contact a few of my state representatives and let them know how I feel. During W's presidency, Haliburton got an exemption from having to adhere to the Safe Water Drinking Act. This means that they go unchecked and unnoticed and are basically allowed to dump anything they want into our drinking water.

Just like last time, I found a handy dandy link that with just a few keystrokes, I was able to send an email letter to my state representatives. I also personalized mine a bit, because I like to write. :)