The real life Dude, Jeff Dowd, inspiration for the character in "The Big Lebowski," expands on the idea that movies can show possibilities and solutions and explains why there have been only a few telethons for the oil catastrophe. 

"And the joke is rather sad, That it's all just a little bit of history repeating..." A oil and gas mining platform exploded in the Gulf this morning. The Coast Guard rescued all 13 employess, and after claiming that the no hydrocarbons were spilled,officials now report a mile long "sheen." Officials noted that this a fixed not floating platform reducing risk... sort of...

Jeff Dowd, the inspiration for The Dude in "The Big Lebowski," takes on the economy, war, oil and how movies can help.

After discussing Part 1 of Spike Lee’s documentary If God Willing and The Creek Don’t Rise with Tuesday morning there seemed to be a common theme.

The Big Oozy now has an equivalent to those polite Nigerians that e-mail you about transferring obscene amounts of money. Police nabbed a Westwego man Monday for falsely claiming he could get people a job with oil cleanup crews, and taking their money in the meantime. Cleveland Verner Jr. allegedly scammed 88 people out of $13,000, including one woman whose suspicions were aroused not when she had to pay $150 up front for his services, but when her start date was mysteriously pushed back. Verner blamed the weather for the delay. At least he did his homework and used the same excuses as BP.

Tonight, Spike Lee's followup to his much ballyhooed Doc, "When the Levees Broke" airs. perhaps, the most talked about scene nationally will not be pertaining to flooding or corruption but an appearance by Brad Pitt. Pitt, formerly of LA, now of La, has become NOLA's favorite do-gooder. In the film he throws aside his liberal ways, and declares that the Big Oozy has made him rethink his opposition to the death penalty; BP execs would be his first candidates for execution.

It's been a few days since we saw the Oil Spill topping page A1; so, it must be all over, we can just forget about it. Or not! Jerry Moran of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)  has taken some very depressing photos since the capping to remind us just how much of a problem remains. [VIA]

Federal deciders announced Tuesday that a New Orleans federal judge will oversee all lawsuits connected to the Big Oozy. Even with the inherent potential for sideshows, the selection of Carl Barbier is sure to be looked on as a moral victory for Oozy victims. A panel also considered Houston, which happens to be the stateside home of BP. The selection also represents a crucial turning point in the litigation process, setting up the showdown between Chip Forstall and Morris Bart to see who will make Barbier's best courtroom foil.

By Levi Bruce

Even though everyone claims to hate high fashion, it works. Directly under the nose, it dangles a lifestyle that reamains just out reach. It forces the mind to consider the glamorous, elegant things that are to be coveted, but not had. This is called vanity. When high fashionistas attempt to take on current issues, the result is often a tone deaf compost pile that forces the mind to consider the fresh spew that suddenly appears on the tip of the tongue. This is called profanity.

Maybe, it got lost in the summer heat, written off to the humidity? The one thing we are not talking to much about is not talking too much. Whether, we admit it or not, tension has been running high since Maccondo blew her top. Cheryl Wagner tackles the unspoken in an almost-great article.