XKCD is right...

[elfs]

Omaha didn't like Wednesday's XKCD, "Worst Case Scenarios," in which a scientist berates the press for seeking frission in the idea that the BP Disaster is going to cause the end of the world. As the scientist points out, we are in the midst of the worst-case scenario in the Gulf of Mexico, and the investigation should turn now not from frightening people about how the situation could get worse, but instead telling people what is happening, what is being done to stop it, and what is being done to find and hold responsible those who caused this disaster.

The press's response (in XKCD): "Screw this! Let's as Michael Bay."

Well, it seems they've done the next best thing. They've asked James Cameron. How can the director of Titanic and Pirahana II: The Spawning, possibly be of any help here? He had a film about a disaster, and he did a lot of filming in 10 meters of water for The Abyss. How does any of that help clean up a real disaster two kilometers underneath the sea?

Comments

[blaisepascal]

He was also very involved in the development, deployment, and use of ROVs in deep water to locate and explore the Titanic.

[davidlevine]

In addition, he and his brother developed new breathing equipment used in The Abyss. He's actually got a lot of credibility in this area -- they did things on Titanic and the Titanic documentary Ghosts of the Abyss that had never been done before -- as well as bringing in attention and Hollywood money. So it's not just a stunt; it's a USEFUL stunt.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

I'm amused from my vantage point in Texas that Keith Olbermann mentioned on Countdown that this is supposed to be a bad season for hurricanes...

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

James Cameron is a subject matter expert, twice. Once on deep sea ops (really, ROV work on the Titanic Movie) and once on running really complex high intensity operations (i.e. any oceangoing movie set).

He is also rich enough and arrogant enough to speak truth to power and has no fear of telling the truth if BP is spraying FUD. Anyone else who does deepwater work dependent on oil money has to fear being blackballed if they say something Big Oil is displeased with.

[gromm.livejournal.com]

But did the XKCD strip preceed the interview with James Cameron, or is art imitating life?

Also, this isn't exactly the first time artists have been asked to comment on the news like this. Remember how CNN interviewed Tom Clancy on the 9/11 bombings?

[gromm.livejournal.com]

And it's worth noting that Michael Bay's interview the XKCD strip had more science content than anything Michael Bay could come up with.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember. Hollywood stars go in front of Congress all the time in the name of their favorite activist moment.

I think the other comments, about how Cameron has a developed reputation as a subject matter expert in these fields are much more trenchant and on-target.