Cameron Says Offer to Help Stop Oil Leak Spurned By BP "Morons"

[highplainsdem]

Source: NBC Miami

Cameron Says Offer to Help Stop Oil Leak Spurned By BP "Morons"
By GREG WILSON
Updated 7:17 AM EDT, Thu, Jun 3, 2010

Mark Fellman Blockbuster king James Cameron's offer to help BP stem the flow of oil from a leaking Gulf of Mexico well was spurned by the oil giant, even though the director says he knows his way around the ocean's depths.

"Over the last few weeks I've watched, as we all have, with growing horror and heartache, watching what's happening in the Gulf and thinking those morons don't know what they're doing," Cameron said at the All Things Digital technology conference.

Cameron, the director of "The Abyss," "Titanic" and "Avatar," has worked extensively with robot submarines and is considered an expert in undersea filming. His comments came a day after he participated in a meeting at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington to "brainstorm" solutions to the oil spill.

Cameron said his offer to help was "graciously" turned away by the British energy company but said he has not spoken to the White House about his offer. So far, methods with names like "top hat," "top kill" and "junk shot" have failed. The first was a 100-ton containment box that was lowered onto the broken pipe but was unexpectedly rendered buoyant by gases rising from 13,000 feet beneath the seabed. The other methods basically involved clogging the pipe with debris including golf balls and old tires. All have flopped.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nbcmiami.com/entertainment/celebrity/Cameron-Says-Offer-to-Help-Stop-Oil-Leak-Spurned-By-BP-Morons-95495584.html

[sendero]

1. You have to admit..

... "junk shot" sounds like a logical ending to a good fucking. Too bad they can't even manage a proper junk shot.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. I'm of two minds about this

On the one hand, it seems like another Hollywood figure styling to be a scientist -- consider psychiatrist Tom Cruise, nuclear physicist Alec Baldwin, and pediatric epidemiologist Jenny McCarthy.

I worked in neurology and brain science for over a decade -- but I'm not a psychiatrist by any stretch of the imagination. My dad was a nuclear ordnance tech in the Army and under an all-branches joint command, intelligent and well-trained, wrote a fair amount of instructional material on exotic weaponry, and had 40 years' experience, but was likewise a few credits short of a Szilard or a Seaborg. My brother and sister-in-law have a profoundly autistic son, but doctors they aren't.

On the other hand, Cameron's technical and engineering work is well-known and top-quality. He's spent thousands of hours with Robert Ballard and the staff of Woods Hole in what amounts to a multidisciplinary grad school level education. But is it enough for him to be considered a bona fide expert? That's a tougher call than with Cruise and/or his colleagues.

Every situation is unique, I guess. After years of "green" posturing, BP's uniqueness will be henceforth known as hypocrisy followed by an "ironic" disaster. Hollywood will certainly follow with one or more movies about the disaster -- that much, they're extremely good at doing.

--d!

[SemperEadem]

7. is there someone else who has just as much if not more underwater experience than Cameron?

Who is that person, then?

Cameron right now is the foremost expert in a field that is quite empty so far. He has extensively documented what he can do in a large, deep body of ocean with robots. Until someone else comes along whose expertise exceeds his, then Cameron's offer should not be discounted or dismissed.

Next to Obama donning a dive suit armed with a bottle of Dawn dishwashing liquid, I don't know what many people expect government to do to stop the leak and disperse the oil plumes.

Perhaps if Cheney wasn't allowed to write energy policy behind closed doors with the complit approval of the msm, the thugs and corpo-dems, none of this would be happening. They all were quite happy with letting cheney and his cohorts do this. They wrote out regulation; they wrote out safety standards; they wrote out how to handle spills. Profits and the bottom line were the only important things.

[truth2power]

41. Actually, you make a very good point...Look at Cheney..

He's sadistic, greedy, and arrogant. Everything he touches, or has ever touched, turns to shit. Yet he's allowed to write energy policy.

So that tells you it's not about expertise. It's about being well-connected to the PTB.

Where BP is concerned, expertise went out the window a long time ago. How long are they going to be allowed to muddle around down there before someone else (Cameron?) is given a try at it?

It's arrogance. Look at Hayward. Every time he opens his mouth he says something even more appalling. Doesn't even have the sense to STFU. Does this inspire confidence?

[Bluenorthwest]

10. The man funds and leads deeps sea exploration and filming

He invents and develops the technology that is used to do such filming. Cameron is used to solving one time, never before seen problems. That is part and parcel of his work.
Take a look at his documentary 'Ghosts of the Abyss'. You will get an idea of what Jim can do and does. It is not all doughnuts around the craft service table.
It is fun for people to scoff at the actual accomplishments and inventions of others, and equate that to having an autistic child, but it is irrational and not connected to the reality of the situation. You and your family, are you patent holders? Have you or any of your family ever done a thing in your fields that no one else has been able to do? Over and over again? I think not.
Cameron does what engineers and researchers wish they could do, wish they could pay for, which they could think of and bring to fruition.
The equating of Cameron to Cruise, and to the parents of autistic kids is just absurd. Absurd. Laughable.

[cliffordu]

29. Excellent reply. Perfect.

[JackRiddler]

66. Agreed. It's a shame his technological genius doesn't translate well into film.

Rimshot.

[pattmarty]

12. Obviously BP's "experts" aren't doing a bang up job. Hell, I am.............

...................not an "expert" in shit, but I could do better than those ass holes. There is not a goddamn thing wrong with anyone voicing an opinion about a disaster as huge as this. Furthermore these BP "experts" look like the fucking Three Stooges and the Obama administration looks like a fucking deer in the headlights. Having said all that, MY opinion on the matter is nationalize BP America and have the government hire real fucking experts from around the world to fix this massive fuckup.

[JackRiddler]

65. Maybe two minds about Cameron, but surely only of one mind about BP...

They didn't give enough of a shit to know how to plan for this predictable contingency in advance. They're a bad actor. They shouldn't be trusted to make the decisions.

Here's a look into their thinking:


"A document obtained by The Daily Beast shows that BP, in a previous fatal disaster, increased worker risk to save money. Are there parallels with the Gulf explosion?

"This is a story about the Three Little Pigs. A lot of dead oil workers. And British Petroleum."

read more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-05-25/shocking-bp-memo-and-the-oil-spill-in-the-gulf/

[soleft]

3. I was just joking yesterday that they should get Cameron to help

[FLPanhandle]

4. Playing with his robot submarines filming undersea hardly qualifies him.

What does he know about the pipes, configuration of the BOP, and the weak points in the system -- Nothing.
What does he know about the pressures from the well and mix of oil/gas -- Nothing.

Frankly, he should be happy they "graciously" turned him away. I'd probably laugh in his face.

BP needs to get REAL experts and scientists more involved.

[patrice]

8. What does anyone know without being able to see it? nt

[FLPanhandle]

16. We've been seeing it. In gruesome detail.

Where in the list of issues is "not being able to see it" been a factor in stopping this?

I've been glued to watching this for weeks now.

[patrice]

18. Re fixing the leak: you're seeing its effects, not the causes and the BP oil-cam on the ocean floor

is clearly (Ha!) not enough.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. Cameron doesn't 'play' with robot submarines.

He has to figure out how to use them in specific ways. That gives him a type of expertise.

In addition, I would bet he could absorb the basic concepts of the problems. Cameron would be an 'out of the box' thinker. They need that.

So far the approaches that BP is trying haven't had any luck. If they knew anything about the BOP, the pressures and other factors, then they ignored them at a huge cost. Frankly, he might call them on some bullshit.

Even if he only says something that sparks an idea from someone else, it would be worth it. It might shake them out of their set approaches and on to one with newer aspects.

[FLPanhandle]

15. Not saying BP has the brain power, its obvious they don't

But there are already experts without going through the effort to get a Hollywood director to "absorb the basic concepts". I want someone who knows intimately the advanced concepts of the problem already. THOSE are the folks the Government and BP should be bringing in.

This shit is now 7 miles from my coast, I want the best minds not the best name.

[Are_grits_groceries]

23. Cameron has a lot more training than you think.

I doubt if some of the scientists with the best minds know all about the systems either.

Having him there to think out of the box with his training would be a plus in my book. Keep to the narrow path of 'experts' and you may miss a very good concept that could be modified.

Many of the people they have brought in have probably been on the same old tracks.

I'd take a team I've suggested over yours any day. Mine wouldn't exclude the people you mention. However, I would be open to some creative additions such as Cameron.

[FLPanhandle]

27. Fine. Setup a separate committee of directors, actors, and other non-experts

Let them have at it. Forward the best ideas along.

I'm not saying there isn't a good idea out there. I'm saying this issue is obviously complex with 7000 psi of oil coming out of damaged set of plumbing. It's getting worse everyday. I want the best minds (not BP's) on this.

[Are_grits_groceries]

30. You obviously ignored who I said I would have on my committee

or you are misrepresenting what I posted.

I stand by my statement.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Robot subs? You are a tad confused.

And 'play' with? I guess you mean design, develop, build and employ in the field, as well as pay for, new, purpose built remote control devices. From his own fleet of subs. Play. Right. Whatever.

[FLPanhandle]

14. The issue isn't that BP doesn't have good enough robot subs

The issue is a damaged BOP on top of a well with 7000PSI of oil/gas coming out of it.

Give me someone who knows about that over someone playing with his robot subs. If I want a robot sub expert, I'd go to the Woods Hole Institue>

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Of course, Cameron has spent thousands of hours at Woods

Hole, and developed, along with them, several deep sea devices. The folks at Woods Hole would not agree with your judgment of their peer and collaborator.
Nothing that is done on deep sea ocean floor qualifies as 'play'. Humans do not travel to nor work at such depths lightly, nor for recreation. A deep sea expedition is a dangerous, complex enterprise. It is not play. Woods Hole does not play around. But they do work with James Cameron.

[FLPanhandle]

21. Then give me the folks at Woods Hole over Cameron anyday.

This is their life and expertise. Those are the folks I want.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. Kiddo, the meeting we are discussing involved Woods Hole

as well as Cameron, and many others who might have some ability and insight into how to solve this disaster caused by the BP Botcher's enormous fuck up.
Not an either/or situation.

[FLPanhandle]

34. If it did, the article doesn't say that.

Nor does it say BP turned down the Woods Hole Institute.

I'll take the WHI folks and if Cameron wants to tag along, fine. But I'd like the full time experts involved.

[wordpix]

69. and is Woods Hole involved in any discussions with BP/Obama?

I would think so, but haven't read anything about it. :shrug:

[patrice]

20. wow.

You're not very good at this.

[FLPanhandle]

22. wow. what an idiotic comment.

You REALLY suck at this.

[patrice]

24. Who in this thread is advocating for cutting of their own nose, or should I say putting out their

own eyes, to spite James Cameron or whomever?

Which one of us is refusing expert assistance?

No less than Mike Pappanntonio seems to have no problem with Cameron's involvement, but I bet you have a reason for why he's wrong and you are right.

You appear to be a spreader of dissent. Are you being paid?

[FLPanhandle]

26. LOL

Paid dissenter is the best you've got. :rofl:

[patrice]

37. No, sweetie, search my user name. I have quite a bit more AND it won't take much anyway against some

one who is arguing against his/her own best interest - arguing AGAINST knowing more about what is going on at the source of the problem.

Oh, and am I supposed to be intimidated by the rofl smilie, guess what, you're the one that looks like an idiot. :rofl:

[FLPanhandle]

40. I'd rather not search for examples of your arguing

So far, I've seen a poor sample of your "wit" :rofl"

[patrice]

44. Respond to the issue: Why would someone argue against something that would help?

Tell us why you are more of an expert on James Cameron than Woods Hole is and, as such a great expert on this whole situation and what is needed and on James Cameron's handicaps, we should take your word, as such a great expert, that we don't need the information Cameron could provide.

[patrice]

45. P.S. All of us are waiting to see your answer to this post.

[patrice]

46. P.P.S. You really do suck at this.

[FLPanhandle]

53. Answer this...

The experts are folks like the Woods Hole Institute. They are the ones who do this full time. They have more experience than Cameron.

So, why wouldn't anyone want the best folks involved? Cameron is a "nice to have". The true experts are the "must haves".

[cliffordu]

32. And yet, yours is the non-existent argument.

You just don't like Cameron, apparently.

Admit it and free yourself!!

:rofl:

[patrice]

35. S/he doesn't like something and in this situation that happens to include the Gulf of Mexico.

[FLPanhandle]

38. I think there are better experts

Maybe they don't carry the name recognition. Is it bad to want the best? Maybe folks that do this full time as their career?

[cliffordu]

43. Look up Hedy Lamar....See what she brought to the table in WWII

that was critical to the allies' victory....

She was just an actress with a weird expertise....

:shrug:

But that's OK -

you're the expert.

Sorry you hated Avatar. He STILL knows as much or more about working at that depth than anyone.

[patrice]

19. There are those who are more interested in the contrary than anything else.

[FLPanhandle]

25. There are those that worship celebrities over real experts

*sigh* I guess this automatic faith in celebrities is to be expected by most.

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. Those that worship 'real experts'

got us in this mess. They didn't question anything. I don't worship Cameron because he is a celebrity. He could be a tech with that training.

[patrice]

33. I guess the automatic hate of anything that isn't what YOU say it should be isn't about solutions.

[Bluenorthwest]

36. Just fyi

The Canadian-born Cameron is considered an expert on underwater filming and remote vehicle technologies.

More than 20 scientists, engineers and technical experts attended the meeting, which also included representatives of the Energy Department, Coast Guard and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Other organizations represented at the gathering included the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; Oceanographic Institute at Harbor Branch, Florida Atlantic University; University of California at Santa Barbara; Nuytco Research Limited; World Wildlife Fund; and the University of California at Berkeley.

[FLPanhandle]

54. The other experts are key.

No one is arguing they aren't. Cameron is a "nice to have".

However, if you read the original linked article, where were the other groups mentioned?

[Ferret Annica]

39. What does BP know about your 'what does' questions?

From the performance of oil industry bozos, I would like his expertise with mini subs dovetailed into the effort.

And if you would unbloviate your closed mine; you would see a teamwork of people with all kinds of specialties would be helpful to fix this disaster.

Here's to a good laugh in your narrow minded face.

[FLPanhandle]

42. Where have I said BP knows how to do this?

I've from the beginning said they are idiots.

They need help from the best minds out there. Not the known names.

[Ferret Annica]

47. You infer oil biz belongs to oily folks

How's about a dose of people who actually have passion for the environment in the picture of a solution, bubba?

This man has great experience with mini subs, shows he is a problem solver with great passions and attention to detail, so what's the beef with him?

You obviously infer the usual oil suspects should be in charge and have their toadies handle this, so you know where you can put your "Where did I.."

[FLPanhandle]

55. If you are inferring, then the problem is you not me.

I have no beef with him. Read this slowly. There are better experts. Why wouldn't we want them?

[Ferret Annica]

61. Because the Experts failed to plan for this scenario

Relying foolishly on a system that failed to stop the oil when this accident happened.

Read this slowly; do the typical Florida 'the lips move when they read' it if you have to:

The experts would have kept this scenario from happening had they been doing their jobs.

The experts would of capped this the first try if they were competent, which includes planning for a capping scenario instead of jury-rigging crap solutions.

Glad the sight of experts excites you so. Bush has more experience as POTUS, let's put him in charge since you are so sure experience is the cure here.

Dang, what you hear from some people.

[FLPanhandle]

62. You are assuming that BP has the experts. I never said they do.

In fact, I call the BP guys idiots.

I want new minds on this thing. Good minds. Expert minds.

I agree with you that we haven't seen an expert yet, however, now is the time for the best and the brightest.

Jeez, what shit a person takes if he questions the fact that a celebrity may not be the absolute best expert to jump into this. Thousands of hours at the Woods Hole Institute learning is less than one year there. Give me the guys who have been doing this full time for 15-20 years.

The time for amateurs is over.

[Ferret Annica]

63. It's time for fresh thinking, and experts tend to be people mentored into that role

by big corporate oil. Cameron's strength is organizing people and making things happen. At his level of operation, it matters less of what he does for a living then in how well he does it.

He would spark innovation and cutting edge efforts to end the problem, and he would bring a passion for the environment the cut and dried out sods you let big oil convince you are experts lack completely.

I remember JFK saying rhetorically to remind him that just because military leaders have their roles does not mean they know how to conduct wars and military operations.

I submit that wisdom he discovered is applicable in terms of how utterly compromised and incompetent oil 'experts' are in doing the job needing to be done here.

[FLPanhandle]

67. He could help spark innovation...

Or he could be a total fuck up since he knows nothing about the plumbing or mix of oil/gas and pressures escaping from an open well.

Given the stakes, I'm just voting for bringing in real external experts.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grahamhgreen]

49. I trust Cameron over the BP criminals any day - they have proven themselves worthless.

[fascisthunter]

56. weird... I'd think anyone with brains would be for all the help BP could get

I mean it's our ocean.... all of us own it not just some greedy oil company.

[RogueBandit]

5. He can shoot better videos

I'd bet he could do a lot better job of getting video up to the surface. That would seem worthwhile at the very least.

[profile this]

58. Maybe

we can get a view of the gusher in 3D. Got that from Colbert!

[boppers]

64. You do know we have bunches of video streams coming in, right?

TV stations aren't broadcasting all the cameras at the same time.

[Zorra]

6. Maybe they're stalling and are trying to save the well, and they don't want anyone to blow the

whistle on them.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. Correct

[harun]

50. I think it is entirely possible they know none of the options they are

trying will work and are just putting on a show until the relief well gets its job done.

[FLPanhandle]

60. That's my fear

Especially living here on the Gulf Coast.

[Stuart G]

51. When we call them morons? Is that too kind??nt

[freebrew]

52. There is a French company that deals with this.

Schlumberger. Why have they not been contacted?
They are the antithesis of Haliburton. They pride themselves to be real experts on deep water drilling.

Why not see if that's true? And let BP pick up their tab.

[FLPanhandle]

59. Really?

I haven't heard of them. Why isn't the US Government getting them involved? God only knows we need some real experts vs. the 3 stooges approach BP has been taking.

[entanglement]

57. Petroleum engineers must be embarrassed! This is like a sci-fi author advising a physicist

on a difficult and challenging problem. Would it work? Unlikely, but probably worth a try if nothing else does - this is not the time for disciplinary or professional walls to stand in the way of a possible solution. At least in terms of vision, people like Arthur C. Clarke were able to better physicists more than once.

[lumberjack_jeff]

68. Now you're talking. Get a couple of those blue avatar guys on the job.

They probably have some neato blue whale things that they train to do shit like this.

:sarcasm: cuz you never know.