I almost fell out of my chair last night when I saw this. After all this time with virtually no talk about the seafloor and officials not even mentioning the existence of a mud log, the integrity of the casing and seafloor is an issue. Three months later, the "spill" is now a volcano. Was it a slip, or has the media finally been given the OK to start gradually leaking bits and pieces of information that illustrates the true gravity of the situation?
Even James Carville, seemingly out there demanding answers, has failed to ask the right questions. The landing page for his website boasts, "The man who has devised the most dramatic political victories of our generation". That is neither here nor there, just interesting.
When will people be fed up with being feed vital information about their world?
More importantly, what can be done about it?
To answer the first question, I fear never. So complacent are the masses with modern conveniences that they can't see beyond the end of their collective nose. I'm not so sure they can be blamed, we have all been lulled into a dreamstate where virtual worlds are the new reality and real life is a nuisance to be escaped. Paint colors are now "virtual", we don't talk to our loved ones, we text or Facebook them. Something can't be true unless spewed out on the nightly news - the place where you are least likely to find truth.
The second question is more difficult. Sadly, I don't think much can be done about it. Alternate news sources and discussion boards are great, and we should support that. But, beyond that I think we just need to be more aware. As I learned in Film School, be an active observer. Think about what you are being told. Don't believe everything you are told. Remember history and all it's lessons about government and human nature.
I will give Anderson Cooper a bit of credit, just a little. We can argue all day about the integrity of journalism today, but at least he is reporting nightly form the area. It was actually an anomaly that I saw the beginning of the program last night-I need to have a few news-free hours before bedtime or I'll never sleep.
Either way, I think things are going to get a bit more interesting...