Largest US Oil Spill

By Jim Bredeson

The sinking and subsequent gushing oil spill caused by the Deep Water Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico is certainly the oil spill of the day. It is extremely damaging and the news just keeps pounding it down our throat.
The pictures are dramatic, but it is not the biggest oil spill we have had in the U.S. As a matter of fact it isn't even close and probably doesn't even have the ability to be.
The title of the biggest oil spill in America goes to the Lakeview Gusher in 1909. This was a spectacular gusher that spewed out as much as 90,000 barrels of oil per day at one point. The worst part is, it went on and on for about 18 months. That's right, it was so powerful that work crews did not have the technology or the ability to stop it for around 1 and a half years.
It took the Lakeview Oil Company over 2 months to drill the well, and with all the derricks already producing everyone knew there was a lot of oil in the ground. When they got down to just past the 2,400 foot mark, they found it for sure. It was so strong that it blew all the pipes out of the ground and shot oil hundreds of feet in the air.
The blowout was so large that a black mist of oil could be seen from miles away and workers had to create a containment wall to stop the river of crude. Eventually this containment turned into a literal lake of oil.
During the 18 months this gusher ran out of control it dumped a staggering 9 million barrels of oil on the ground.
They finally got it under control and capped when the pressure dropped down to a manageable level in September of 1911.

If your are concerned about your children's future or other family issues then Jim can help. This is the LINK to his primary passion. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bredeson

BP Oil Spill Could Cost Florida Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs

By Tricia Mills

The Gulf Coast oil spill is a disaster in Florida, possibly costing nearly 200,000 jobs and completely eliminating some ten billion dollars in spending. This from research conducted by the University of Central Florida. This data assumes that the coastal counties affected by the spill area will lose around half of their normal tourism and jobs associated with visitors and tourists, from the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness. This has a huge impact on the entire state of Florida says Nationally Recognized Attorney, Emery Ledger.
If the number of half of the tourism lost seems high, its not. Many communities are already experiencing a significant drop in tourism and that could be just the beginning depending upon the effects of the oil spill long term. However, even with a conservative estimate of only about ten percent of tourism monies lost, which include leisure jobs and spending, Florida would still be out nearly 40,000 jobs and lose around $2.2 billion dollars in spending, which some companies rely on. In fact some businesses in Florida rely on the tourist season for their whole year of profits. The lawyers at Law Offices of Ledger & Associates is investigating BP's liability and offer a free detailed evaluation of your injury claim.
One concern that some experts have is that the economy in Florida is already on shaky ground, as the economy has not particularly good to businesses that rely on tourists to make their money, as more and more people decide to vacation at home or skip their trips to other areas of the country altogether. Some believe that this is devastating for the economy, as it was predicted that it would take the Florida tourist areas one or two years to recover from the recession, but now they have to deal with an oil spill keeping tourists away on top of that. Those most affected should contact an attorney who will assist them in making a claim. A claim does not necessarily mean that a lawsuit is going to filed by an Accident Attorney rather the threat of litigation will often result in a settlement out of court. Your attorney will take care of the entire claim so you can focus on your life's recovery.
Normally the tourism industry in the Gulf of Mexico communities creates about 269,000 jobs and annual spending is about $12.4 billion dollars. But now thousands of stores, restaurants, tourist shops and other companies are closing which puts tens of thousands out of work and costs the business owners large amounts of money. This is a problem for these people, who were simply unlucky enough to be living in the Gulf Coast when the BP oil spill hit, and the Florida economy may take years to recover now that the oil spill problems are added to the already difficult economy.
The BP oil spill does not just affect those at the forefront of the disaster, but has a far reaching affect to nearly everyone in the Gulf Coast communities. As town are no longer able to attract tourism and business close, BP is costing tens of thousands of people their livelihoods and their businesses.

Tricia Mills is an online writer. She write articles of any topics. She treats her work very special as something that inspires her. It is the best way that she could express her emotions. Moreover, she really likes to write articles about the importance of a Lawyer and an Attorney to the lives of an injured victims in an accident cases and personal injuries as a result of others negligence.

Gulf Oil Spill - The Small People, If Paris Had Not Been a Prince

By Jeremy Reece

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is heartbreaking to witness and so many of us are overwhelmingly saddened as we watch the terrible tragedy that has struck the people along the Gulf Coast. Watching this underwater, volcano-like well spew millions of gallons of oil, day after day, is painful to us all. But not nearly as painful and horrible as it is for the large number of people whose lives are being savaged by this horrific man-caused disaster. Not only saddened, but a person cannot help but be angry and underwhelmed by the responses to the problems, and the lack of help for the residents affected by this disaster.
Would anybody be surprised if they found out Gulf residents are feeling unloved and ignored, like the proverbial red-headed step child? It appears there is nothing like a deep sea oil disaster to really let you know just how important or unimportant you are on planet Earth. As this sea based Chernobyl disaster, known as the Gulf oil spill continues, it is painfully obvious that politicians and corporate leaders are about as inept and incompetent as we have always thought they were. Unless it is their skin in the game they appear rather lackadaisical at best.
How about the entertainment industry, Hollywood and all the beautiful people. Where are the celebrity filled concerts, the all day star studded telethons? Is the "going green" crowd all out of the country for summer vacations? Why don't the big time television host and hostesses have at least an occasional appearance by people from the Gulf? They could share firsthand, their heart wrenching stories with the rest of America. Or perhaps, "Today live from Pensacola (or Mobile), it's the aaaaa show." But instead it is the same routine of A-list people, making the rounds promoting their latest movie, television series and/or career makeovers.
The answer is found in the movie about the Trojan War, called "Troy" with Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. In "Troy", a royal entourage from the city of Troy visits the city of Sparta to make peace with them. Unfortunately the Queen of Sparta, Helen, falls in love with a Prince of Troy named Paris(Orlando Bloom). She then hides aboard the ship and sneaks off to Troy with Paris. Agamemnon, a cunning Greek king and never one to let a good crisis go to waste, sees this as the perfect opportunity to raise a large Greek army and go conquer the wealthy city of Troy.
When the Trojans return to Troy, the king and queen of Troy are overjoyed at the beautiful bride their son has brought home. But before they can say tar ball, the plot thickens and they find out Helen is also a Spartan queen and about ten thousand Greeks are coming to take her back to Sparta, and burn Troy to the ground. Immediately the king issues an order for every able bodied male to come and defend Troy. The fact that it was someone of importance, and not one of the "small people", that brought Helen to Troy, is why the king decided to go to war. He could just as easily sent Helen back to her Greek husband and let them work out their marital issues.
Let's suppose, there was a sailor named Nobodytous(pronounced Nobody-to-us), among the Trojan entourage that went to Sparta. Let's rewrite the story a bit and have Helen fall in love with Nobodytous. She returns with him to Troy. The king and queen are so happy for their loyal servant Nobodytous, when they see his beautiful bride. Until the plot un-thickens and they learn the part about Helen being a Spartan queen and the ten thousand approaching Greek warriors. "You did what?" they scream, and they have the royal guards begin beating Helen and Nobodytous for bringing such danger to Troy. They immediately send soldiers to bring in every relative of Nobodytous. They put Nobodytous, Helen, all his relatives, lots and lots of goats, cattle, horses and gold, on ships bound for Greece. Problem solved with no delays.
Do you see the point? This disaster has been going on for two months. If things don't change we will have a land locked Gulf Coast, because the Gulf of Mexico is our Dead Sea. Would we still have geniuses sitting around scratching their heads, searching Wikidpedia for solutions if the spill was off the coast of Martha's Vineyard or Malibu Beach instead of Gulf Shores, Alabama? I sincerely doubt it!

For my full opinion of the Gulf Oil Spill and the official response please refer to: Great Big Stupid World Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Reece

Get Your Financial House in Order - A Lesson From the BP Oil Spill

By Taren Coleman

In recent weeks, the British Petroleum (BP) oil disaster in the Gulf has consumed our attention, tugged at our heart strings and elevated our social consciousness.
Perhaps just as disturbing as the images of the oil gushing into open waters is the seemingly haphazard approach BP has taken in trying to contain this disaster. Their "contingency" plan was obviously flawed and because of that the direct and indirect collateral damage may take years to realize.
So, what does the Gulf oil spill have to do with your financial life? Figuratively speaking, it can serve as an example to us, a lesson to be re-learned: Risk is real and it should be managed, not ignored.
Our financial lives are subject to known and unforeseen risks every day. And, although we can't eliminate risk altogether, we can and should build our own air-tight contingency plan to reduce the impact or minimize the damage.
Here are a few risk-reducing strategies to help protect you and your family:
**Organize Your Family Records
Where are all of your important papers?
Your vital documents include personal and financial records such as marriage certificates, birth/death records, insurance policies, tax returns, wills, property records, passports, etc.
Compiling all of these essential life documents in a central location - like a personal records organizer - can save you and your family time, money and unnecessary stress. These important records may be needed for filing insurance claims, obtaining benefits, receiving medical treatment or carrying out legal instructions in case of emergency, death or disability.
It's important to take an inventory of all of your records. Create a master list of all of the originals and make sure there are copies of each. Keep your originals secured in a safety deposit box or fireproof lockbox at home. Provide a copy of your master list and documents to a family member and/or attorney.
**Review Beneficiary Designations
Are the people currently listed as beneficiaries on your various financial accounts appropriate for your needs and wishes?
The beneficiary designation outlines to whom your assets will be distributed upon your death. (Regardless of whether or not you have a will, beneficiary designations are required for legal contracts including insurance policies and retirement accounts.)
With life sometimes moving at the speed of light, family changes occur - birth, illness, death, marriage or divorce - and sometimes we forget to update our important legal documents. Review your bank and brokerage accounts, retirement plans and insurance policies to ensure your beneficiary designations are up-to-date. Any changes to your designations must be in writing to your financial institutions.
**Review Your Insurance Coverage
Do you have enough insurance?
You need to know you and your family are protected before something happens.
Financial catastrophe may come in many different forms - the destruction of your property (think tornado, flood), the inability to work because of injury or illness, or the death of the family breadwinner.
Review your current insurance policies- life, disability, long term care, auto, homeowners and umbrella. Are the coverage amounts adequate to protect your family, not just for today, but for the long term? If you only carry coverage through your employer, consider personal policies to keep you protected if you change jobs.
If you need help determining proper insurance amounts talk to your agent or visit the website lifehappens.org for descriptions, calculators and more.
**Update Your Estate Plan Documents
Do your loved ones know your wishes in the event you can't speak for yourself or you pass away?
Everyone has an estate. Your estate planning documents provide instructions for the disposition of your assets upon death, establish guardianship for your children and/or appoint someone to represent you if you become incapacitated. If you don't do the planning yourself, the state in which you live will essentially do the planning for you - according to state law.
Your documents should be reviewed regularly and each time there are critical life changes: retirement; moving to another state; marriage; divorce; new children; death of a spouse, etc.
In addition to a will, basic estate planning documents include medical directives such as:
Living will: You specify treatment you want to receive if you cannot speak for yourself.
Durable healthcare power of attorney: You appoint someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you cannot.
Estate planning does not have to be a daunting task. There are online resources that are helpful for getting started. Please consult a legal professional for specific advice.
Who pays the price when you or those closest to you fail to adequately manage risk?
We can't predict the future, but we can take the time now to prepare our personal "contingency" plan for the many financial risks swirling around us that we cannot control.
Take some time this summer to get your financial house in order and learn a lesson from the BP oil disaster: A little planning now can make a big difference later.

Taren Coleman is the founder of Coleman Financial Group. She specializes in retirement income planning and is dedicated to helping you Build Confidence in Your Financial Future. For more information visit http://www.colemanfinancialgroup.com
Coleman Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through H. Beck, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. H.Beck, Inc. and Coleman Financial Group are not affiliated.

Safety Gloves and Chemical Clean Ups - What the Gulf Oil Spill Indicates For Safety Gear Usage

By Irene Test

At this point, the results and aftermath of the recent Gulf oil spill are devastating for the communities along the coastline and for the ecosystem in the ocean. Nevertheless, the cleanup efforts for the spill have indicated recently the importance of safety gear, particularly safety gloves and other protective clothing. Oil spills have not been studied in depth, and, as recent news stories have indicated, those cleaning up the residue of the oil along the coastline have experienced unusual symptoms.
Any oil being pumped contains a combination of itself and chemical dispersants, such as carcinogen benzene. Being exposed to these chemicals, particularly if workers are not using safety equipment, could be hazardous. In fact, 400 complaints have been logged by poison control centers in the Gulf region from those exposed to the oil. Additionally, heat stroke and related injuries have increased, especially from workers wearing full-body safety equipment.
Workers not wearing full safety gear could be a factor in the amount of poison control cases. Because the effects of oil and oil spills have not been studied in depth, few are aware of the immediate and long-term side effects of being exposed to chemicals like benzene. Benzene, in particular, irritates skin upon contact, and wearing fully protective safety gloves is an option for reducing immediate chemical-related injuries.
Not all safety gloves are ideal for handling chemicals, however. Safety gloves are divided into two categories: one for hand protection against punctures and abrasions and one for protection against chemicals. Certain types, such as PVC, are designed to be oil resistant and offer basic protection against chemicals. Butyl gloves, on the other hand, are designed specifically for chemical handling. These are known for having the highest permeation resistance to gas and water and are often used in chemical handling and haz mat work.