It seems that BP has had a rare moment of success in their floundering attempt to stop the worst oil leak in U.S. history. After yet another setback yesterday, technicians have managed to cut the riser pipe so that they can cap the remaining pipe with a new dome. The bad news is that with the riser sheared off, oil is now gushing without obstruction into the ocean, and the leak could now be as much as 20 percent greater.
Yesterday the saw cut halfway though the riser pipe before it stopped being effective; one anonymous technician tells the Times "it appeared that the saw had been dulled by material inside the riser—including, perhaps, some of the objects pumped into the well during the failed 'top kill' procedure last week." Junk shot FTW! Today they used a shear instead of the finer diamond-laced wire saw, which resulted in a jagged cut, meaning that the containment cap will fit less snugly. Adm. Thad W. Allen called it a "significant step forward" but added, "We’ll have to see when we get the containment cap on it just how effective it is." Good point, Thad.
Meanwhile, our greatest hope for relief has been spurned. It seems James Cameron just doesn't have Kevin Costner's cachet and he says that his offer to help solve the problem was "graciously" rejected by BP. And in other celebrity backseat driving news, Spike Lee was on "AC 360°" last night urging Obama to get pissed. "One time, go off!" director Spike Lee urged the unflappable president. "If there's any one time to go off, this is it, because this is a disaster." Obama will appear on Larry King Live tonight to talk about the spill, and will visit the Gulf region once again tomorrow, marking his third trip since the oil rig exploded April 20th.
And speaking of getting pissed, cyclists in LA are outraged after video surfaced showing an LAPD officer trying to kick bikers riding in a Critical Mass ride protesting the spill. It's no Officer Pogan Vs. cyclist Long, but it's always interesting to watch cops take down the guy videotaping them. Viddy below:
