Informed consumerism

The massive, ongoing, Gulf of Mexico oil leak gives one much pause for thought. It threatens livelihoods and reminds us how beholden we are to the black gold for such things as getting from point A to point B.

One 42-gallon barrel of oil makes 19.4 gallons of gasoline. But, for a little more food for thought, the rest of that barrel goes into making other items, including:

<ul> <li>Ammonia</li> <li>Antifreeze</li> <li>Artificial limbs</li> <li>Aspirin</li> <li>Bandages</li> <li>Carpets</li> <li>Caulking</li> <li>Crayons</li> <li>Dentures</li> <li>Dice</li> <li>Film</li> <li>Fishing line</li> <li>Glasses</li> <li>Guitar strings</li> <li>Heart valves</li> <li>Helmets</li> <li>Ice chests</li> <li>Paint</li> <li>Paint brushes</li> <li>Panty hose</li> <li>Roller skates</li> <li>Shower curtains</li> <li>Soft contact lenses</li> <li>Sunglasses</li> <li>Tires</li> <li>Toys</li> <li>Trash bags</li> <li>Umbrellas</li> <li>Vitamin capsules</li> </ul>

For more things made from oil, go to: http://green.yahoo.com and search the site for the terms oil and products.