Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Macondo Well, New Orleans

History’s telling me to not get excited about passage of the oil spill fine amendment…

A recent editorial in the New Orleans Times-Picayune celebrated House Passage of an amendment to the transportation bill which mandated 80% of Clean Water Act fines levied against British Petroleum for their catastraphuk be earmarked to the Gulf States who suffered the damages. The editorial called this first step important. It noted how this was the House of Representatives making a public commitment to the Gulf Coast and … Continue reading History’s telling me to not get excited about passage of the oil spill fine amendment…

Drake ToulouseFebruary 19, 2012February 19, 20122 Comments

Apocalypse, but what a charmer, Class War, Democracy, Disenfranchised, LIVE YOUR LIFE

Not my usual subject matter, but sometimes one can’t resist…

So, I keep reading these bits about Madonna, about her freaking out because some fan gave her hydrangeas, as in flowers, and it turns out she hates hydrangeas so she trashed the flowers in front of the fan, and not content to humiliate the person once, she then made a spoof video where she trashed the flowers again so the moment could live on in … Continue reading Not my usual subject matter, but sometimes one can’t resist…

Drake ToulouseSeptember 13, 2011September 13, 2011Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Gulf Coast, Headlines, Macondo Well, Oil Spill

BP does George Orwell proud…

From the National Resources Defense Council’s report on the water quality of the nation’s beaches: “The Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded on April 20th, 2010 killing eleven workers and sparking the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Over the course of two months, approximately 170 million gallons of oil and 200,000 metric tons of methane gas gushed into Gulf Waters, affecting … Continue reading BP does George Orwell proud…

Drake ToulouseJuly 1, 20111 Comment

British Petroleum, Class War, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Macondo Well, Oil Spill, Restore the Wetlands

Economy versus environment…the oil spill fine…

I know I’m cynical, I get it…I admit it, but when you spend any time reading the science and the journals and watching the documentaries about climate change, fracking, even peak oil…hope ceases to really be your specialty… It’s more two parts grim reality, one part enjoy the party while you can. Anyways, this might explain why, when it comes to the money, the between … Continue reading Economy versus environment…the oil spill fine…

Drake ToulouseJune 12, 2011June 12, 2011Leave a comment

Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, British Petroleum, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

A family, not a statistic…

An old fashioned clock, a family heirloom holding its place on a worn fireplace mantle, chimes the ten o’clock hour. The silence the strikes disrupt is loud, louder than the churning waves of the gulf, of the boat motor that once went out into the waters, of the wall-phone ringing… Probably just another creditor. The couple sitting at the table don’t even look up. Answering … Continue reading A family, not a statistic…

Drake ToulouseMarch 19, 2011March 25, 20111 Comment

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

Well Ken, I suppose congratulations are in order?

From the Walton Sun: The Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) announced Monday that more than half of the claims submitted to the organization for losses associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill have been processed. Ken Feinberg, GCCF administrator, reported more than 54 percent of the roughly 256,000 claims submitted since the end of the emergency payment period in November have been processed. “We are … Continue reading Well Ken, I suppose congratulations are in order?

Drake ToulouseMarch 16, 2011March 16, 20114 Comments

British Petroleum, Escrow Account, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

Final Payment Averages Going Down…

In the words of Jeff O’Bryant, a restaurant manager from Miramar Beach Florida, “I received $14,000 in emergency payments and have been offered a measly $7,500 as a final payout. That is supposed to cover losses through 2013? Our losses have cut deep and will be felt for a long time. The $7,500 will cover taxes and a mortgage payment. This won’t nearly be enough … Continue reading Final Payment Averages Going Down…

Drake ToulouseMarch 9, 2011March 9, 20117 Comments

British Petroleum, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

Ken Feinberg sued and so far, turned down

In the past two weeks, Ken Feinberg and the GCCF have made 8100 final payment offers to claimants on the Gulf Coast. So far, only 2.5% of them have been accepted, though claimants have 90 days to decide. That’s about 200 people out of 8100 accepting these offers. Why? Perhaps it might have something to do with the average amount of the offers so far … Continue reading Ken Feinberg sued and so far, turned down

Drake ToulouseMarch 2, 20112 Comments

Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Class War, Control the Information, Democracy, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, LIVE YOUR LIFE, Oil Spill

What does Wisconsin have to do with the Gulf Coast?

In a word? Climate. I’m not talking about environmental climate change, I’m talking about the political climate, the deregulation climate, the climate that continues to sweep through this country and threatens you, the American citizen at your door with not a polite knock, it’s more akin to home invasion, battering rams that splinter the wood with its force until the whole thing smashes in and … Continue reading What does Wisconsin have to do with the Gulf Coast?

Drake ToulouseMarch 1, 2011March 1, 20111 Comment

British Petroleum, Escrow Account, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

People eager to tell Feinberg their opinions on GCCF methodology…

When Feinberg posted the GCCF’s methodology, he opened up a two-week public comment period and requested claimants in the Gulf Coast post their thoughts directly to the website. He pledged to monitor the public feedback and make adjustments to his methodology as necessary, taking into account the concerns of the people most affected by the oil spill and the claims process. A perusal of the … Continue reading People eager to tell Feinberg their opinions on GCCF methodology…

Drake ToulouseFebruary 6, 2011February 6, 20111 Comment