What I thought I knew before the oil rig explosion !!

I thought that big oil companies had evolved into a responsible business. Taking precautions to ensure a safe environment so as not to lose public trust.

I thought the MMS was watching out for our interests, making sure the oil companies towed the line.

I thought the government had more control and expertise, pertaining to the oil field companies.

I thought the president had the power to invoke emergency decisions over catastrophic disasters.

I thought the Coast Guard was a responsible and modern arm of the Armed Forces.

                                             What I really knew ?
Very little it turns out.

I worked on the marine, supply side, of the oil field operations. Even back then when I was working in that capacity, everyone that was doing the actual work in the oil field, knew the lack of safety enforcement. Unless it was for the convenience of the oil company.

I knew the Jones Act, was antiquated, needing to brought up to date. I also knew that the majority of United States citizens had never heard of the Jones Act. Why would they? It normally only effects mariners.

I knew apathy had crept back into our mindset, it is a quiet form of a non existing concern, I saw it every where. When there was not a big out cry over the state of economy and the factors that caused it.
When the government was printing money, just to hand it over to big business. When laws were passed with disregard for the outcome or results for their passage. Every day in the news, people have been more concerned about the next "american idol" than they have for the well being of their livelihood and the state of the nation.

Now I know, I am just as much at fault as any one else. I hope I am learning to be more aware of what is going on with the government. I have learned that with just the click of the mouse I can be there watching, seeing for myself, on a daily basis what these elected officials are or are not doing.

What I thought before the oil rig explosion........What I know now......wow worlds apart.

Last year my home, was a three bedroom ranch, in your neighborhood,
I sat in the office next to yours,
I attended your church every Sunday.
I sang in the choir.
My son played soccer with your son,
my daughter sold you cookies once.
I mowed you lawn, I carried you groceries to your car,
You gave me a tip.

I live in the park by day,
sleep under the bridge at night.
What you throw away, I pick up and use.
When you walk by, I whisper a prayer,
that you never reach this place I am in.

I raise the food that you buy at the store.
I make the soap that you use in your washer.
I make the clothes that your children wear.
I deliver the paper, that you use to get.

I fought for your freedom,
I fought for your rights,
I fought for your children,
I fought for you future,
I am fighting still.

I am the voice of the sea,
I am the conscious of the land,
I am the eyes of the press,
I am the ears of those hearing the news,
I am the one that shook your hand.

I sing, I dance, I cry, I laugh,
I miss you,
I need you,
I want you back,
Oh spirit of love ,
where have you been?
When will you return?
I am here.

Pelicans and porpoise play in poison

the people plead to the politicians

the oil oozes onward

daily dieing, 

dirty deeds divulged

crude constantly climbing

rushing upward from the sea bed

fishermen flounder finding fools

and silent  sand on the sea shore

solutions seemingly secret

the phantom fuel keeps rising

foreign friends with fleets

held helpless at bay

still

the pelicans and porpoise play in poison

the people plead to politicians

fishermen still finding fools

on silent sandy shores

the salt in the sea from

the tears trickled

by sailors no longer sailing the sea

they know

still 

the pelicans and porpoise play in poison 

the people plead to politicians

fishermen finding fools

on silent sandy shores

plug the damn hole

kick some ass

too late now

to save the marsh grass

the grass that is lost will never come back

dead pelicans will never fly

dead porpoise that will never play

is there a solution or just another lost day

on day 57

There were Eleven

Bob Byford: it is a quick flash, a heartbeat, a turn of the wind, the blink of an eye, we take for granted. A moment is lost,the fire dies out, the sun sets, the tide rushes from the shore, heart break sets in, tears begin to flow, from a window of memory we reach.Eleven souls now rest in the sea, they ride the crest of the next wave, they lay on the sea bed, they ride on a pelicans wings. You, are their only shout for justice, the sea never judges, it never forgets, it is very unforgiving. This morning the memories flood in, the sea smell is tainted, the beaches are covered by the foul folly that has been committed. I hear Eleven voices calling , remember me, remember my family, and pray for our sea

haitis' song

i saw the tears in your eyes
i felt your heart beat in the rubble
when you sang your song
i sang along
you have had a rough go
and you thought we didnt know
you thought we wouldnt care
but in your trouble you find us there
not too funny what has come your way
not even a place left for the children to play
tent cities are the sky scrapers you see there now
small reminders of how it never was
cardboard and plastic
concrete and mud
all come crashing down in a moment
i see your tears
i feel your heart beat in the rubble
when you sing your song
i sing along

Delton gets together a few close friends for a brainstorming session, a very diverse group, friends he has known for various reasons.


Dell, a lawyer that he went to school with. They have been friends since middle school and know how the other one thinks. Dell keeps Delton in line when he begins to stray.


James, a past business partner, from when Delton was building houses. The most trust worthy, when it came to business, that Delton had ever met, or knew.


Tommy, owner of several night clubs, knew the ins and outs, and was well informed on current government dealings. Delton relied on him for inside contacts, as Tommy had many, although they were not all to be trusted.


Clarence, this was Deltons insurance man, he could give all the information that he would need for shaping the insurance program he had in mind.


This is the group, that Delton has assembled, individually, to bounce ideas off of in the past and he has always been very pleased with the group. This however is much larger of an undertaking, this is why he brought them all together at this discussion.


Clarence arrives first, "hey Delton whats up, Jeannie told me you had an idea, and needed a little insurance advice. Is everything alright? Are you thinking of upgrading your life insurance?


Delton." no Clarence, nothing that complicated, much worse, (he chuckles) I have this idea and I want to wait until I get all you guys together and kind of, just bounce it around. I have Dell. James and Tommy coming too.


Clarence, " not Tommy, why in the hell are you dealing with him? Haven't you learned your lesson dealing with him, hell, last time he cost you several grand. Remember that?"


Delton,"yeah I do, but you don't know everything involved, Tommy had told me that his friend, the one that was going to build the truck stop, had a very checkered past. It was my decision to not listen to my gut, I guess, I had dollar signs in my head, anyway it clouded my thinking, That's in the past, I learned my lesson, lets just move on."


Clarence, "ok, Delton it's your ball game, what ever you do, is fine with me, I'll just listen to this thing, and whatever help I can give I will. Sound good?"


Delton, "yep, that's what I wanted to hear, let's just try to stay on the same page here. I really believe you will like this, and if it's half as good as I think it is, we can all make a good chunk of change."


Dell arrives and walks onto the front porch.
"hey guys, the gang all here" (slightly laughing)"Clarence I haven't seen you for a while, how's the fanily, and insurance biz."


Clarence, " all is well, except I know you cheap skate attorneys, always need more insurance." (laughs)


Dell, "and how is your will, maybe I need to look at that."


Delton,"ok you two enough, about past wives. (laughs)  I need you two to get clear headed before Tommy and James get here, this may take a while."


James and Tommy arrive together. Entering the front door, talking and smiling.


Tommy and Clarence, glare at each other for a second.


Delton." glad to see you guys, these two have been boring me to tears, and I really am excited to see what ya'll think of my idea, hopefully with everyones help, we can all make a little money."


The guys all get quiet and look at each other, each looks as puzzled as the other.

A Little Inetrlude Sneak preview

I have decided to take a little break.

I have also decided to do a little sneak preview here.

Most of you, have been following me for a while.

I will share here the story that I am writing for a screen play purpose, any and all suggestions and comment will be truly appreciated.

Screen plays are written in a much different fomat and is really foreign to me, I am suppose to be receiving soon the soft ware that converts it for me.

I hope you enjoy this story line.

Thanks.

Bob

ps. realize this is a rough draft

The story you are about to read has copy rights, in place, and pending protection for intellectual property:

The Year Is 2015- Nothing set in stone The opening scene:

.

The character exits the court house, there are crowds of people amassed at the bottom of the long set of stairs. 

Some people cheering, some are booing and hissing,

Some have hate signs, some have love signs, but there are thousands of people.

The man descends the stairs not waving or in any way acknowledging the crowd, He is whisked into a waiting limo and drives away.

Now the story begins.

Fade back to:

The year is 2009, December 21.

The man is sitting on his front porch reading the paper, and spots an article about impending doom.

He waits for his friend that delivers the mail, he shows him the story.

His friend relates to him that he is more than aware of all of this news and hoopla, as he has been delivering all of these survival books for weeks, that are all related to surviving this impending doom that is coming in the year of 2012.

He tells him that there has even been a movie that was recently released, all types of TV shows, books about how all these scientist, scholars, preachers, rabbis, historians, and on and on, are all relating the end of the world has been designated as of December21,2012.

He has never heard any of this before.

It gets him to thinking about a similar event that happened in 1999, about the Y2K thing and all the money that was made from this non-eventful scenario.

Fear sells, and he wants to cash in, but how?

He research's diligently for several months, contacts many of the doomsday experts, then devises his plan.

He will introduce a survival insurance program, that will be expressly designed as a program for 20012, survival,  guaranteed.

He will build vehicles, similar to the shuttle craft, some for passengers, some for food, some for building supplies, some for fuel, etc...etc.

He will sell different packages for different people and the closer it gets to the doomsday date the higher the price.

The package will include rights for safe passage, living quarters, food, and fuel.

There are even packages that will include special space available for personal affects.

He gets all the builders of these shuttle craft together, procures the property for launching, builds warehouses.

Then starts recruiting people that have the money to back his venture.

The advertisement campaign is over whelmed with interest, The money flows in like a flood.

People are literally going crazy to become passengers and clients.

He makes trillions of dollars.

As the date nears for doomsday there is a frenzy, and he is being referred to as a modern day Noah.

How he got there:

Research is very important for the implementation of a successful plan.

Delton is a man of limited resources, but a wealth of imagination and ambition.

He realizes that there are only a few times in the length of a mans live, that presents itself with an opportunity to grab the brass ring. This he feels is his time.

The Mayans had written a calendar that was remarkably accurate, it fore told of many happenings, was further advanced than any found in existence. It fore told of eclipses, the coming of the Spaniards, and many other documented events.

This calendar ends in the year 2012.

Nostradamus, predicts "the great king of terror from the sky", this coincides with mars moving closer to earth, and the discovery of a planet of comets.


Edagar Cayce, another well known teller of prophecies,"the sleeping prophet",
predicts of a polar shift, between 2007 and 2012.


The Hopi Indians, talk of a third world that is destroyed by mother nature, this coincides with, Cayce, Nostradomus, and the Mayans.


The Oracles, all around the world many of the ancient oracles, Greek and Chinese, all talk of then end of time.


The encoded bible supposedly point out the destruction of the earth with a comet.


N.A.S.A., predicts solar flare and a polar shift, coinciding with the year 2012.


The Egyptians, have what is called "the orion" prophecies wit a hidden code found in the pyramids, that coincide with the Myan calendar.




Delton, after researching all of these predictions, prophecies, and coincidences, comes to the conclusion of mass hysteria.
Fear sells, he thinks, and this is a perfect formula for success, as he reflects on 1999 and the Y2K, events.


So, How to cash in, with out anyone getting hurt?
Can I make money from all of this, and still keep everyone happy?






this is just the first installation
more later...........or as they say
to be continued