British Petroleum has released the final results of its thorough, no-stone-left-unturned investigation into the causes of the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and has determined that the company was very much at fault… for believing that the subcontractors it hired were competent in their supposed area of expertise, that is! BP would like you to know that they are genuinely sorry for the unfortunate mess that Halliburton and Transocean caused in your pretty, oil-rich Gulf.
And to think that Halliburton and Transocean had such wonderful references and came so highly recommended! At any rate, BP is terribly embarrased by the whole thing and would like you to know that in the future it will double and triple vet the contractors that it employs, and truly hopes that you will not hold this unfortunate and –given the circumstances– wholly unavoidable tragedy against them. After all, something like this could have happened to any one of us, I think you’ll agree! Let bygones be bygones.

Fred Fox Jr., writer of the immortal (as in zombie) Happy Days “Jump the Shark” episode (officially known as “Hollywood 3”), would like to defend his honor:

Which brings us to the question: Was the “Hollywood 3” episode of “Happy Days” deserving of its fate?

No, it wasn’t. All successful shows eventually start to decline, but this was not “Happy Days'” time. Consider: It was the 91st episode and the fifth season. If this was really the beginning of a downward spiral, why did the show stay on the air for six more seasons and shoot an additional 164 episodes? Why did we rank among the Top 25 in five of those six seasons?

Well, since you ask…

Read more »

“The president of the Big Sky Tea Party Association has been removed from his position and booted from the party after coming under fire for a post he made on his Facebook profile that implied he condones violence against homosexuals.” [Helena Independent Record]

“Mr. Pearcy and other drifters and homeless people were recruited onto the [Arizona] Green Party ballot by a Republican political operative who freely admits that their candidacies may siphon some support from the Democrats.” [NYT, via Political Wire]

“Burn a Koran” pastor tells Petraeus to fuck off.

There’s nothing worth talking about this morning. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I’ve been listening to DiMeola’s stuff again, Return to Forever and just after that era and it’s entrancing stuff, masterful. But none of it haunts you like like his work with DeLucia and McLaughlin. Check it out.