Thursday, June 17, 2010

The question behind the BP oil spill

Ok so as of today, the BP oil crisis has been going on for about 60 days...59 to be exact. There have been countless people speaking out against BP and president Obama for weeks now and we have heard it all: BP should have done this or that, Obama needs to respond faster, how are we going to stop this and so on. I have even heard the Blame it on Bush argument....again.

First, Mr. president, please stop blaming Bush for everything. Its on your watch now, look at your self in the mirror. If the policy was so bad maybe you should have banned last January when you took office.

Now let me pose the biggest question to you that noone is asking. I think we need to start asking this question. Why is it BP who is drilling this well so close to American soil? They are essentially taking oil off our coast (about 50 miles) and shipping it to Europe and other countries. Why? Why wasn't Exxon drilling there to meet our demand in America? Why isnt Shell or Valero drilling there? Why is BRITISH PETROLEUM taking the oil off our coast and shipping it elsewhere? WHY? It really irks me that BP gets to say were doing the best we can to plug the hole and yet all the people on the Gulf Coast continue to suffer. Maybe we should ask Tony Hayward if this happened off the coast of say..... England, would it take this long...My guess is no.

BP has a recent history of blowing off the procedures and training that are one key to emergency management in this industry (though FWIW, I believed BP was better than most of the industry when I was working in it in the early 1990s). And, as the HuffPo reports, some the same companies involved in last week’s accident opposed MMS mandating this kind of procedure and training process just last year. BP and TransOcean have also aggressively opposed new safety regulations proposed last year by a federal agency that oversees offshore drilling — which were prompted by a study that found many accidents in the industry. (http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/04/27/bps-procedural-spills/)

If the above information is true, why are/were they allowed to drill in the Gulf Of Mexico off the American Coast? For years, I have been against Exxon for many things, but I have been asking myself as of late, why wouldn't they be drilling so close to our Gulf Coast (where most of the nations oil Refineries are!). Essentially, they could put the oil in the tanker and ship about 50- 100 miles to a refinery depending how far inland they would have to travel

This is just another question I would liked answered by our major oil companies that could be drilling there. One must ask themselves, Do they really want us independent on oil from the world? Do they? You tell me.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Kobe vs. Lebron

Yes I have returned to the blogging world....I fell off for a while, but now its a year later...The NBA Finals are on, Big Ben isnt the Steelers QB to start the season, and politics....well I have alot to say about politics and the Obama regime. But tonight, Im gonna ring in my updated blog page with some sports.

I have been having this debate with numerous people---friends, colleagues, strangers. Who is the best player in the RIGHT NOW? Kobe or Lebron? Lebron is the self-proclaimed King of the NBA or as we call him...King James. Kobe just wins.

Right now, on June 10, 2010....Kobe is the best player in the NBA. I do not know how people can say Lebron is better....right now. I have heard every argument you can hear about Lebron. I can rebuttal any argument you come up with. My 2 biggest questions I ask people is 1) Did you ever see Kobe give up on his team? 2) Your down 2 with 3 seconds left, who's taking your game winning shot? Every answer to the ladder question has been Kobe...Really? So you wouldnt let the King or the best player in the game take that shot? Why? Perhaps, because he has a weak jump shot. I have heard many responses to my first question as yeah but Kobe's a ball hog. I even heard he gave up on his team because Delonte West fooled around with his mom. Im not sure thats true but if it is why give up on your team. Thats just a ridiculous point! By the way in Game 3 of the finals Tuesday night...Kobes stat line 10-29...29 points 8 assists 7 boards 3 blocks...Yep guess hes a ball hog.

The fact of the matter is if Kobe takes over a game against a good team like the Celtics, the Lakers will win. If Kobe scores 30-35 against the Celtics its over. If Lebron takes over a game, he cant close it out. I know what comes next.

Lebron has noone around him and Kobe has a good team. Well I guess your telling me then that Michael Jordan, the best basketball player ever, is not as good as the King. Jordan was a rookie in 1985 and didnt win a championship until 1991 when Scottie Pippen joined the Bulls. Jordan also played with players such as Kukoc, Rodman, and John Paxson.

Look Im not debating that Lebron is good because he is a great player, but Kobe is better. He has a jump shot. Kobe can shoot anywhere on the court. He can post up, he can fade (which is Jordan-esque), he can dunk, and he can attack the rim. Kobe is just good. He is the closest thing to Jordan we have seen yet....and he only needs 2 more rings to tie Jordan in the championship column....If he does that, do we then still say the King is better than Kobe AND Jordan? What if he passes Jordan in the championships or what if he beats Lebron in the finals? Will Lebron still be better? Thats Ill done...Let the debating begin...Kobe or Lebron.