Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, ever concerned about the needs of his constituents, spent yesterday attending to Louisianans in the grand ol’ state of Texas. He gave a speech. He hawked his book. He did a fund-raiser. Oh, and while Bobby was out of town again… The National Oil Spill Commission declared that Jindal’s great sand berm idea was ineffective to say the least, largely as … Continue reading Bobby’s Bad Day…in Texas
I grew up in the church. My father is a minister which meant I went to church every Sunday, did the whole baptism, confirmation, altar boy thing and when I was twelve, he took a new job at a church populated with a lot of people who had a lot of money. Not all, granted, but enough of them and I remember being about fifteen … Continue reading Nothing Makes a Cynic Like a Wealthy Church…
“The GCCF takes into account evidence of the connection between the asserted loss and the spill, the nature of the claimant’s job or business, and the extent to which the claimant’s job or business is dependent upon injured property or natural resources,” the letter stated. “In weighing these factors, the GCCF has determined that you did not demonstrate that you lost profits or income as … Continue reading In Denial – BP said “Yes,” GCCF told her “No.”
For the 170,000 claimants who’ve already received an emergency payout and are deciding between a final payment or to continue applying for interim payments, Ken Feinberg, arbitrator of the $20 billion dollar BP oil spill fund, has come up with his newest option: the quick payment. This would provide $5000 dollars to individuals and $25,000 dollars to businesses within two weeks, no further documentation needed … Continue reading Next Stop on the Feinberg Exploitation Tour…quick payments, just in time for Christmas
Sometimes, you need a break… Slipknot – Duality “I push my fingers into my eyes. It’s the only thing that slowly stops the ache.” The hidden subtext? Obviously… BP estimates: 2.5-3.9 millions of barrels spilled, the Feds estimate 4.9 million barrels spilled, Crone and Tolstoy, independent scientists estimate 5.2 million barrels spilled. Who gains, who loses. Who has the moneyed agenda? Have a nice day. Continue reading And now, a word from our sponsors…Flow Rate Version
Kenneth Feinberg, the arbitrator of BP’s oil spill fund, has forwarded twelve names to the Justice Department for fraudulently attempting to get money from the claims fund as reported in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Bloomberg. Not only this, his legal team is currently examining 2000 other claims they suspect to be fraudulent. Said Feinberg, “The fund is working closely with the … Continue reading Feinberg fights back in the press…and blows it.
British Petroleum’s CEO, Bob Dudley has provided estimates to the business world and more importantly, to its investors that BP’s share of costs associated with the Deepwater Horizon will not exceed $40 billion dollars when all is said and done. Still trying to reassure his company’s investors, Dudley has even indicated that dividend payments will resume again in the new year. Course, there is a … Continue reading Bob Dudley…what are we playing for?
Bill Reilly, co-chair of the Presidential Commission to investigate the oil spill, released prepared remarks to be given at an oil and gas conference conference in New Orleans writing “There is virtual consensus among all the sophisticated observers of this debacle that three of the leading players in the industry made a series of missteps, miscalculations and miscommunications that were breathtakingly inept and largely preventable.” Oh … Continue reading “Breathtakingly Inept” BP leaves oil on the seafloor
December 15th is looking to be a disappointingly memorable day for citizens of the Gulf Coast. This is the deadline when all emergency claims to BP’s $20 billion fund must be processed and since August 23rd when Kenneth Feinberg took over the fund from British Petroleum, he has denied 173,000 claims including 100,000 in the past seven days alone. Documentation, documentation…documentation.. “The number of denied … Continue reading Feinberg out smoking a cigarette while 100,000 claims denied in ten days
In a disappointing but effective article by Aljazeera, Gulf Coast residents and scientists discuss their trials with the EPA and the NOAA in which they continually try to get the attention of the two agencies to address their ongoing health questions about the toxicity of the oil and the dispersants many believe continue to be used in the Gulf. Time after time the EPA and … Continue reading EPA and NOAA Ignoring Gulf Coast Questions
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 