Just Change The Channel

2.5 Million Gallons Of Oil Per Day

An undersea robot, operated by British Petroleum and doing Things, "bumped" into the cap which BP had (very expensively) placed over their broken, gushing oil leak a mile below the surface of the Gulf Of Mexico, knocking the cap all higgeldy-piggeldy.

Before the cap was placed, the open pipe was allowing 2.5 million gallons of crude oil (that's 45,456 barrels per day at 55 gallons per barrel -- c'mon, people; do the math) under extreme pressure, its source being more than six miles below the surface of the ocean, to pour into the Gulf.

After the cap had been placed some two weeks ago, the device allowed BP to siphon off some of that 45,000 barrels, but not a great deal -- the flow of oil into the ocean was cut by about a third.

Now, we're back to 2.5 million gallons per day, again. But that's not the horrific part.


Obligatory Leavening Cute Small Animal Photo In Middle Of Oil Rant

The Horror is that in America's last remaining flagship newspaper, the New York Times, this little set of factoids doesn't even rate a headline. It's buried in the back pages of their online edition. In the business section.

Most comments made by media, political or environmental figures about this disaster that I've read or heard tell us that the full costs and effects of this "spill" may not be known for decades. Meanwhile, for teevee and print media, and everyone who doesn't live on The Gulf, it's all part of the daily landscape now, and can be ignored: Yep; oil's still gushin' out down there; oh, well -- hey; looky here -- I can buy a box set of 'MacGuyver' DVDs now...


Nine Out Of Ten Gorts Say, Your Civilization's Priorities Suck --
And The Tenth Gort Wants To Reduce Earth To Radioactive Slag

Just because it isn't a pair of collapsing skyscrapers or an alien spacecraft landing on the Washington Mall doesn't mean it should be buried below the fold with advertisements for hemorrhoid treatment creams.

But, I'm only a Dog, and no one listens to me.

UPDATE: BP now says that the robot "bumped" a vent on the cap, and that the cap itself had to be removed to effect repairs. The cap has now been replaced and is again diverting a few less gallons more oil.

Well, then everything's all right. Whew. I thought for a moment we had a real crisis on our hands.

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