May I just ask...

Has anyone heard rumblings or statements from D.C. or anywhere as to inspectors being sent out to check all the other offshore drilling rigs in use as we speak? Seems it might be a good idea to check for vulnerabilities like whatever happened to the one that just blew up.

Anyone working on a bill to tighten regulations on the rigs, to at least include a second shut off valve? (I heard last night, don't remember where, that Brazil has a tough set of regulations that the U.S. should be looking to emulate.)

Seems to me that these would be the right things to do and make the D's look good.

The ugly Bush stain: Guns 'n' parks edition

By GottaLaff

The slimy, scummy, toxic Bush stain spreads to our pristine, quiet, formerly-safe national parks. Someone please explain why this was necessary, and please pass that info on to Nancy Reagan:

People will now be able to carry concealed firearms in some national parks and wildlife refuges.

An Interior Department rule issued Friday allows an individual to carry a loaded weapon in a park or wildlife refuge — but only if the person has a permit for a concealed weapon, and if the state where the park or refuge is located also allows loaded firearms in parks.

The rule overturns a Reagan-era regulation that has restricted loaded guns in parks and wildlife refuges. The previous regulations required that firearms be unloaded and placed somewhere that is not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk. [...]

The National Rifle Association hailed the rule change, which will take effect next month before President-elect Barack Obama takes office. [...]

A group representing park rangers, retirees and conservation organizations said the rule change will lead to confusion for visitors, rangers and other law enforcement agencies.

"Once again, political leaders in the Bush administration have ignored the preferences of the American public by succumbing to political pressure, in this case generated by the National Rifle Association," said Bill Wade, president of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees.

"This regulation will put visitors, employees and precious resources of the National Park System at risk. We will do everything possible to overturn it and return to a commonsense approach to guns in national parks that has been working for decades," Wade said.

The park rule will be published in the Federal Register next week and take effect 30 days later, well before Obama takes office Jan. 20. Overturning the rule could take months or even years, since it would require the new administration to restart the lengthy rule-making process.

I didn't realize those pesky squirrels and chipmunks were so threatening. I'll start packing a sidearm pronto.

Golly, I hope I don't shoot anyone in the face by accident. That would be so embarrassing.