The problem with all this starts in that very letter. It cites a law, but appears to go beyond the law and try to improperly apply it.  No surprise there in Modern American Legal Tactics.  Take down notices and false copyright claims are the start of any good battle on The Internet.  It’s really easy to press that Flag/Report Button somewhere and not have the person posting the content fight back.  Wikipedia is not taking that approach and they wrote right back to the FBI stating the FBI better check its source material because the citations just don’t line up.

The argument has event got it’s own bit of documentation on the Wikipedia’s entry on the history of The Seal.  The problem of it all, other than exactly how lame it is the FBI would go after Wikpiedia rather than any number organizations with the same content up, is all in their letter. The letter that the FBI delivered claims the use of the emblem is “problematic” and claims nowhere that is unlawful, a critique The Wikimedia Foundation was quick to note in their reproach. Not only did the FBI take a false start, they’ve also altered the language of the law and removed sections in their letter to specifically manipulate how it reads. The deservedly sarcastic retort from Mike Godwin, General Counsel for The Wikimedia Foundation, contains such gems as:

“First, thank you for taking my call Thursday, and congratulations on your imminent retirement after so many years of service. It’s unfortunate that on such an otherwise happy occasion I must inform you that the Bureau’s reading of 18 U.S.C. 701 is both idiosyncratic (made especially so by your strategic redaction of important language) and, more importantly, incorrect. I’m writing you, of course, regarding your recent letter reiterating the Bureau’s invocation of 18 U.S.C. 701 and your demand for removal of the image of the FBI Seal on Wikipedia (images of which are widely available elsewhere, including on the Encyclopedia Britannica website, last I checked).”

And

“Finally, while I sympathize with your footnoted desire to claim that “the plain meaning” of the statute supports your broad view of Section 701’s scope, we note that you specifically removed the language that communicates the plain meaning of “other insignia.” In context, this seems an ironic stroke.”

The Wikipedia’s strike back hasn’t gone without controversy, even on it’s own site with user and editor comments ranging from urging compliance with the FBI to putting up pranks to taunt The Bureau. Despite the FBI’s threat of “Failure to comply may result in further legal action,” not another peep has been heard as news organizations and internet users alike laugh and wonder why our tax dollars were spent on such a frivolous move. There might be some concern for misuse of the image, but with it floating around so many other places on The Internet, including The Online Encyclopedia Brittanica, why attack a site with a legitimate use.

I personally think someone over at The FBI got in a conference room and shot out a real bone-headed idea everyone forgot to shoot down before the meeting ended.  I would love to know how much got spent on this little debacle though. Anyone have any estimates on the cost for The FBI to pull this little stunt?

Thank goodness that’s the end of ongoing oil spills…

Oil is still spilling at the Jebel al-Zayt spill in The Red Sea, which coincidentally started on June 16, 2010, the day after the Deepwater Horizon spill was capped.  Heard about that one?  So 3 ongoing oil spills at this very moment.  If you thought oil spills were a rare occurence, you can take a quick glance at the list of oil spills over at the Wikipedia for just a partial glimpse of how often they really occur.  There are 8 spills noted for this year alone.  Think the last time Exxon Mobil dropped a little of the black stuff in sea was The Exxon Valdez Disaster, which was roughly 6 times smaller than the Deepwater Horizon Spill?  Sorry to say on May 1, 2010, as in this year, just a few months ago, ExxonMobil had a spill roughly equivalent to the Exxon Valdez in The Niger Delta in Nigeria.

Were you aware that Delta in Niger provides 40% of the imported Crude to the United States each year?  Did you think it was the Middle East that was supplying our oil addictions?  Did you know the largest exporter of energy to The United States was Canada?  The Middle East apparently isn’t our Drug Dealer like we think.  Though the mark of oil as a weapon was left there with The Gulf War Oil Spill in 1993.  Don’t forget that The Gulf of Mexico, no stranger to oil spills was already host to The Ixtoc I Spill in 1979, formerly the second or third largest oil spill in history right behindThe Lakeview Gusher of 1910 and The Gulf War Oil Spill.

Ixtoc I lost its record holding spot to The Deepwater Horizon Spill, which may manage to become the largest recorded oil spill in World History.  That’s all history and numbers, what’s the point?  This incident is not isolated or over.  For over 100 years, these disasters have been occurring, most of them without notice by the very people using the products that cause them.  If anything has been proven by this very public disaster, this is not a viable way to continue on.  It is time to make every day beyond this day becoming less dependent on a destructive resource.

I’m tired of learning about how relief wells are drilled and operate instead of learning about how to reduce the very cause of the problem.  Let’s stop talking about the skin cancer and chemo and put on some sunscreen.  Maybe this could be the last time we add to the list of Record Breaking Man Made Disasters.  There’s no good reason it can’t be.

We’re dependent, we’re invested, oil is not going away tomorrow, but there are efforts we can all make to start ridding ourselves of the problem.  Use a reuseable bottle for drinks and reusable bags to shop with.  They are all out there and easy to find.  I love Kleen Kanteens myself because they have a large opening at the top and sturdy construction.  Also, they’re pretty sexy.  When planning a day of errands, make a list and an efficient path.  Save a mile a day of driving.  1 mile of driving avoided by simple planning a day is 365 miles a year.  If 1/3 of the U.S. population does that, with their vehicles that get on average 21 miles per gallon, 1,738,000,000 gallons of fuel saved in a year.  1.7 Billion if you aren’t looking to count zeros.  Not to mention that is roughly $8 billion dollars saved that can go to something else.

What would you do if everyone saved a mile a day and there was an extra $8 Billion to be spent on something else in the American Economy?  What small things do you each day to save yourself a dollar and save the world around you just a little bit?  Reduce our dependence, Protect our environment, Do your small part, and Save your money while you’re at it.

From Bayoulee.com

FaceBook executes a “top kill” on Boycott-BP group. FaceBook apparently is in the barrel for BIG OIL!!! They are a slippery bunch. No notice. No warnings of supposed violation of usage policy. Total disregard for procedure. Sound like BP???

Not only has FaceBook and BP targeted me, they have also targeted anyone close to me. My daughter’s and two close friends’ FaceBook accounts have been removed. ERASED!!!

I am working with my Webmaster to add blog capabilities. Our teams are collaborating day and night to bring you the ability to make your voice heard. I am continuing my efforts to contact FaceBook for an explanation for why we were pulled off. I don’t expect that we will be allowed a forum again on FaceBook. So, we are using all available resources to bring an outlet for your voices. Keep the faith!

Silenced FaceBook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-BP

I have not heard Facebook’s side to this story, and maybe there is some reason for this, but I’m not expecting anything more than a blunder on their part.

Where the need is to be delivering these essentials a few times a week, there are only enough supplies to be handing them out once a week.  The Archdiocese said they were partnering with Feeding America to help change this, but in the short they did not have any volunteer positions we could really help with.  Murphy also indicated the local Jewish Charity alliances were also active but having the same issues, had other programs recently launched such as micro-loans to help families in need. Although we were provided with further recommendations to visit Grand Isle, just south of NOLA, the source of leads we thought we were going to rely on here was mostly a dead end.

So the choice was simple to do what any good journalist does when leads are spare, find bars and start talking.  Bourbon Street is a New Orleans icon and that’s exactly where we headed.  Our initial stop for dinner, La Bayou, wasn’t just a successful with its Big Easy Po Boy and a Hurricane but our waitress asked why myself and my friend Bob were for.  Lead #1, our server Sammy’s husband had applied to work for BP in the cleanup efforts and was interested in talking to anyone about his experience because he had no experience.  He had traveled back from Nashville, TN because BP had informed him there was a position for him, they would pay for his HAZMAT training and get him out in the field soon.

Unfortunately, after Shawn returned to New Orleans and his family, BP stopped answering the phone.  I’m not sure what the whole story is yet, but today I’ll be taking a moment to interview Shawn and find out what the story is.  When I headed down this way, we were told that all the cleanup efforts at the beaches and in contaminated areas were being taken care of by hired workers.  Supposedly you could call in, apply, you would be hired, trained in HAZMAT procedures and paid “$300″ a day to do the dangerous work.  I found that story a little hard to swallow, and it looks like maybe we will have some answers in that account.

The other focus for the day is Grand Isle.  A major tourist and fishing area, Grand Isle is surrounded by oil slick and I’ve received various versions of how much of the area is completely closed to the public and journalists right now.  We’re headed down there to find out for ourselves just what is going on.  Don’t forget, you can become involved through volunteer efforts or donations and I’m interested in any leads you might have to pass along.

Get Involved or Donate:

Restore The Gulf

Catholic Charities

Jewish Charities Micro-Loans

Official Government Volunteer Info

On a whim I’m headed to The coast of the Gulf of Mexico with a friend to find the personal stories and photographs of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. We’re headed out today and plan to start at the most westward point we can find impact and head on into Florida.  It’s going to be an adventure.  Some of it I’m sure will be fun as all road trips are.  Other parts are going to be absolutely heartbreaking.  The impact I’ve seen indirectly is beyond imagination and will change the lives of many American’s for a long time to come.

And that is where A Pirate’s Perspective comes in.  Content inspired by my adventures, a name inspired by my friend, stories and photos inspired by others and a catalyst created by one of what I am sure will be one of the worst environmental disasters of my lifetime.  I tend to go wherever the wind blows me most days and the sails are at full mast.  It’s a turbulent place to start, but storms are where all the great stories seem to find themselves.

-Ready to Sail The High Seas for Eternity