# 38 The Back Scratching Tango

The Mineral Management Service, is part of the Interior Department, of the US government, which permits and regulates drilling projects for the oil and gas industries. For many years they have turned a blind eye to the oil and gas giants, when it comes to safety, clean up scenarios and environmental concerns, in exchange for favors. Often times the inspection reports were allowed to be written by the oil companies themselves in pencil only later to be traced in pen by the MMS staff. BP's off shore deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico was treated with the same casual nonchalance. Taken on the word of the BP employees that there was no problem with tapping the well, 5000 feet below on the ocean floor, should an accident occur, the MMS granted the permits to drill.

And as they say, the rest is history..

This piece is about back scratching in a harmonies dance of self-serving greed.

# 37 Baseball Size Hail

Climate Change, is defined by its extreme weather patterns. The deluge of rain exceeding 18" in some parts of the country has caused ruinous flooding to some of our most famous cities, Nashville and Oklahoma City to name a few. Mile wide tornadoes and hail the size of baseballs have been pounding Oklahoma and Texas in recent days.

This piece is about hail and tornadoes. The largest of the round hanging circles are actually the size of baseballs just to give you a sense of how huge this hail actually was. A tornado and dark purple storm clouds are in the center of the piece.

# 36 Run Away Technology

The four story 90 ton container dome that was suppose to fit nicely over the raging oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has failed. It seems that 5000 feet down the temperatures are close to freezing and the variables are unknown. All the fail safe procedures that were suppose to correct a catastrophic disaster scenario have failed. The BP folks are looking for any help they can get to stop the leak. Low tech golf balls and pieces of tire stuffed in the broken pipe are now a top consideration. Meanwhile over three million gallons of crude oil are blanketing the waters of the Gulf, with 210,000 more gallons being added daily. It is coming ashore in spite of a herculean effort on the part of the government and the local coastal communities trying desperately to save their livelihoods.

This latest piece is about the oil leak in the deep blue/purple water above the ground /stick with a mask like face of Mother Earth below.

"DRILL BABY DRILL!!"

As of tonight Sunday, May 2, 2010, the oil spill which is growing by 210,000 gallons of crude oil a day has reached the shores of Louisiana. This catastrophic spill which is now larger than the state of Rhode Island, is bound to threaten the environment and economy of four of our gulf states for many months or perhaps years to come. The collapsed Deep water Horizon Rig, is owned by the British Petroleum Co. which is now responsible for this terrible spill. The technology of being able to pull oil up to the surface from 5,000 feet below on the ocean floor was a feat worth celebrating. The only problem is that now the safety (eleven lives thought to be lost,) and ability to correct and repair the damage done to the well head is currently unachievable. It appears we are at the mercy of our advanced technology.

The wood in this piece reminded me of a heron with bowed head, and the gels that circle him are the blues of the ocean currents and the browns and oranges of the oil spill.