Please Help the AP better describe BP's Operation of Atlantis Oil Rig

[Xipe Totec]

In the article "BP's Own Probe Finds Safety Issues on Atlantis Rig", a professor valiantly tried to describe what it's like to operate a gigantic offshore drilling rig with flawed or missing documentation.

"Running an oil rig with flawed and missing documentation is like cooking a dinner without a complete recipe, said University of California, Berkeley engineering professor Robert Bea, an oil pipeline expert who has been reviewing the whistle-blower allegations and studied the Gulf blowout."

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=10656440&page=1

He may be a gifted engineer, but his command of descriptive language is somewhat lacking.

He needs our help.

I've assembled nine alternative analogies that the AP might have used, and opened the floor for more alternatives from DU.

So tell us what you think.

Running an oil rig with flawed and missing documentation is like:

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. deep frying a turkey always seemed dangerous (and unnecessary) to me

[Xipe Totec]

2. Perfectly safe as long as you follow proper procedures

Thawed turkey, low oil volume, 325 degrees.

A frozen turkey will explode.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. It is dangerous....but having tasted the results....AMAZING!! absolutely amazing.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. so not a good analogy for BP's operation? lol

[Xipe Totec]

9. Actually, it's my favorite

Perfectly describes the situation:

reasonably safe, if you know what you're doing.

A total disaster if you can't follow instructions.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. I see. :-)

[BrklynLiberal]

11. That is very true...and if you go with option A the results are excellent.

but if you go with option B, you and everyone around you is screwed..big time.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Running an oil rig with flawed and missing documentation IS destroying the Earth's ecosystem

Remove the word "like".

[Xipe Totec]

13. I hear you, I hear you

I feel sad for Louisiana; that is some beautiful country down there.

[Scuba]

5. Is like running a nation where corporations control the media...

...both headed for disaster.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Performing open heart surgery on a human after having studied only the anatomy of the straw man

from the Wizard of Oz

[Xipe Totec]

15. Good one!

Kind of describes the situation with the fake test load on the BOP.

[RKP5637]

8. ...driving a car with no steering wheel. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

12. Going hunting with Deadeye Dick after you tell him torture is unConstitutional and a war crime.

Thanks for the thread, Xipe Totec.

[Xipe Totec]

14. My pleasure!

:hi:

[Xipe Totec]

16. Kick!

[Xipe Totec]

17. Kick for the late Sunday crowd... nt