As of yesterday, as reported by the LA Times, engineers were still unable to successfully divert the oil from leaking into the Gulf waters.  BP engineers attempted to insert a 6 inch tube in the busted pipe one mile below the ocean ground using robotic submarines.  If the engineers are successful in further attempts, they could secure nearly 75% of the leaking oil.  Until that happens however, 210,000 gallons of oil is spewing from the rig daily.

NASA image from May 10, 2010BP Chief Executive, Anthony Hayward, promised the public via a British newspaper, "We will fix it. I guarantee it. The only question is I do not know when."

He then went on to imply that the leak (210,000 gallons/day) is really not all that environmentally devastating when put into context of the mere size of the Gulf,

"The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean," he said. "The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume."

The Butterfly Effect comes to mind after hearing Hayward's naive statement.  If the fluttering wings of one butterfly can significantly change world weather patterns potentially resulting in a tornado on the opposite side of the earth, then what effect will millions of gallons of oil have on the world and it's ecosystems?  This is one enormous buttlerfly.

The LA Times article followed Hayward's quote by stating that BP has so far spent $450 million to remedy their spill.  Sounds like a lot of money, but when you put it into context (as Hayward urges the public to do), that's only about 3.21% of BP's 2009 replacement cost profit.

The Shreveport Times has published this easy-to-read and undeniable list of facts regarding the oil spill:

Why It's so Bad:

By the Numbers: