Stopping the BP Gusher/Blowout

[Turbineguy]

In my Engineering Management course I discuss the topic of giving presentations. The reason is that sometimes you have to talk Management out of doing something really stupid and self-destructive.

Like using an atomic bomb to close an oil well.

Although I must admit, the resulting tsunami would clean up all that kitschy touristy stuff along the coast.

[Syrinx]

1. unfortunately, most of the "kitschy" stuff is long gone

Long-ago replaced with soul-less concrete and steel condo high-rises.

The destruction of so many livelihoods and lives saddens me profoundly. The livelihoods of people, and the lives of so many precious wild creatures.

It's a disaster of biblical proportions. And it's not even reached a climax yet. I'm sad. This is a disaster that will continue to grow, and it was all caused by the relentless pursuit of the dollar -- and pound.

[RandomThoughts]

2. I have a question

I noticed a pattern, people don't say what they think, but allude to it with words that could be interpreted as meaning many things.

So for instance, it seems people don't just say what they think, but say things in a way that gives them plausible deniability of saying something. And that is exactly what game playing is. That is a huge part of those that play games, saying something without having to say they are saying it. I could be wrong about you doing that, so to be sure, are you capable of explaining what art on that coast you think is kitschy.

If not, do you mean something else?

[Turbineguy]

4. You are too subtle for me.

Although the operative word was "tsunami".

[RandomThoughts]

5. My post was saying that you were being to subtle.

And asking what you meant by your post regarding the art style.

Could you explain that?

[Turbineguy]

8. It was just

a comment about tourist places in general. Not meaning to denigrate the area or those who live there in any way.

[RandomThoughts]

11. I didn't think you were denigrating, I had never heard that word before

Kitsch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch

And although it could apply to tourist shops, it has so much more meaning in that article I found the usage of that word interesting. Is that word common in usage? Like I said, never heard of it before, and am curious if you can remember where you first learned that word. Was it in a story or book, a play or movie, school?

[Turbineguy]

12. It's one of those German derivatives I grew up with

like 'shlager' and "uberhaupt"

[dipsydoodle]

3. Nuking it is stupid idea anyway

but I'm not sure it would result in a tsunami. It would however release a truly gross amount of methane from the nitrate layer.

[TomCADem]

6. Will The Media Will Cite Failure To Nuke As A Refusal Of Help?

Remember Jake trapper noting how the Obama administration had not implemented all suggested ideas or accepted all offers of help? The Russians apparently have nuked their oil wells.

Of course, there is the danger that a large explosion (nuclear or conventional) merely widens the hole between the oil reservoir and the ocean.

[dipsydoodle]

7. that oil field actually covers c. 25,000 sq miles

and a widened hole would probably be completely impossible to subsequently seal. I'm not altogether sure that the stories about the Russians are infact true.

[rzemanfl]

9. Then how did they put out that gas flame? Have a little kid

blow on it for his birthday?

[dipsydoodle]

10. It's not an underground lake

It's a series of rock layers impregnated with gas and oil in horizontal fissures, obviously currently under very high pressure, in a ratio of c. 10:1. It's also just happens to be the second largest known field on the planet - not sure but I think Saudi has the biggest.