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When I was younger (much, much younger), I played a pen and paper role-playing game with my friends called Twilight 2000 (absolutely no relationship to the current group of popular vampire novels/movies). The game’s premise revolved around the aftereffects of the world’s nations becoming embroiled in World War III. A central problem that the player’s characters had to address was that all of their machinery ran on oil and gasoline and the fact that the oil fields and refineries were some of the first strategic targets of both sides. So the characters are stranded in Warsaw, Poland with no way of communicating with home base or anyone beyond their own group. They are alone and need to find a way home. In days gone by the mantra used to be that an army travelled on its stomach; you could only go as far as your supply train could stretch. It seems that we have a subtle twist on that premise: an army travels on its gas can.
The recent troubles in the Gulf and all the conversation (and screaming) that they have engendered got me to thinking of that game my friends and I played back in the early 80s. As my train of thought often goes, that led me to thinking about what would happen now if there were no more oil: what exactly does oil contribute to our lives other than the ability to drive 100 miles to a store to buy something I probably don’t really need?
Even if you subscribe to the belief that there is more oil underground than we think, you have to accept the law of conservation of energy in physics, which states that, in a closed system, matter can neither be created nor destroyed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_energy; ed. note: please forgive me for using wikipedia to support an argument, time restraints keep me from going USC’s library). This could also lead to an argument against burning garbage, but I’ll leave that to another article. Regardless of how much oil is underneath our feet, every drop that we use is another drop that cannot be replaced. Unlike the wind or solar energy, there is nothing on, in or under the planet that is creating more oil. Once we’ve used up the last drop, that is it. So, to return to my original question, what does oil contribute to our lives that will force us to change the way we live?
First, here is a quick breakdown of how a barrel of oil is utilized:
One barrel of crude oil makes approximately:
20 gal / 75.70 L: Finished Motor Gasoline
9.2 gal / 34.8 L: Distillate Fuel Oil (both home heating oil and diesel fuel)
4.1 gal / 15.5 L: Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel
2.3 gal / 8.7 L: Residual Fuel Oil (heavy oils used as fuels in industry, marine transportation and for electric power generation
1.9 gal / 7.2 L: Liquefied Refinery Gasses
1.9 gal / 7.2 L: Still Gas
1.8 gal / 6.8 L: Coke
1.3 gal / 4.9 L: Asphalt and Road Oil
1.2 gal / 4.5 L: Petrochemical Feedstocks
0.5 gal / 1.9 L: Lubricants
0.2 gal / 0.76 L: Kerosene
0.3 gal / 1.1 L: Other
Transportation needs utilize 66% of available oil to fuel cars, buses, trucks, and jets. What’s left, 34% of oil, is used for items such as:
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A
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K
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Acetylsalicylic Acid (Vitamins & Aspirin)
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Knitting Needles
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Ammonia
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Anesthetics
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L
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Anti-Freeze
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Lego
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Antihistamines
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Life Jackets
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Antiseptics
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Linoleum
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Artificial Limbs
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Lipstick
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Artificial Turf
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Loudspeakers
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Asphalt For Paving Roads
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LP Records
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Asphalt Highways
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Lubricants For Machinery
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Aspirin
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Luggage
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Automobiles
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Lunch Boxes
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Aviation Fuel For Planes
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Awnings
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M
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Magic Markers
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B
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Medicine Containers
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Baby Aspirin
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Medicines
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Ball Point Pens
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Microfilm
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Ballet Tights
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Milk Jugs
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Balloons
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Model Cars
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Ballpoint Pens
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Mops
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Balls
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Motor Oil
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Bandages
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Motorcycle Helmet
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Band-Aids
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Movie Film
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Basketballs
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Beach Umbrellas
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N
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Bearing Grease
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Nail Polish
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Bicycle Tires
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Nylon
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Bicycles
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Nylon Rope
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Boats
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Nylon Spatulas
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Bowls
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Brake Fluid
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O
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Bubble Wrap
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Oil Filters
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Bubblegum
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Outlet Covers
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C
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P
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Cameras
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Packaging For Cough Syrup & Shampoo
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Candles
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Pain Reliever (Coating for The Stomach)
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Car Battery Cases
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Paint Binder And Solvent
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Car Bodies
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Paint Brushes
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Car Enamel
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Paint Rollers
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Car Seats
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Pajamas
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Car Sound Insulation
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Pantyhose
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Car Tires
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Parachutes
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Carpets
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Pepto-Bismol
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Cassettes
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Percolators
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Caulking
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Perfumes
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Cd Player
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Permanent Press Clothing
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Cds & Dvds
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Pesticides
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Check Book Covers
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Petroleum Jelly
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Child Safety Gates
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Pillows
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Clothes
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Plastic Bags
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Clothesline
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Plastic Hangers
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Clothing
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Plastic Plates
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Cold Cream
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Plastic Wood
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Combs
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Plastic Wrap
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Computer Diskettes
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Plexiglas
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Computers
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Plungers
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Containers
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Plywood Adhesive
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Coolers
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Polyester Clothing
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Copiers
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Portable Radios, CD And MP3 Players
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Cortisone
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Propane For Heat
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Cough Syrup
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Propane Grills
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Crayons
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Protective Coating (Inside Juice Boxes)
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Credit Cards
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Purses
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Curtains
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Putty
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D
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R
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Dashboards
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Refrigerant
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Denture Adhesive
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Refrigerator Linings
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Dentures
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Refrigerators
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Deodorant
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Resealable Bags And Containers
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Detergent
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Roads
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Detergent Containers
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Roller Blades
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Dice
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Roller Skate Wheels
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Diesel Fuel
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Roller Skates
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Dishes
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Roofing
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Dishwasher Parts
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Rubber Cement
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Dishwashing Liquids
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Rubbing Alcohol
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Dog Toys
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Rugs
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Doors
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Dresses
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S
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Drinking Cups
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Safety Glass
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Drinking Bottles
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Safety Glasses
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Dyes
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Salad Bowl
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valign="bottom" width="283"> |
Seats
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E
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Shag Rugs
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Earphones
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Shampoo
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Egg Cartons
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Shaving Cream
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Electric Blankets
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Shoe Polish
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Electrical Tape
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Shoes
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Electricity
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Shopping Bags
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Enamel
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Shower
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Epoxy
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Shower Curtains
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Epoxy Paint
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Shower Doors
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Explosives
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Skis
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Eyeglasses
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Slacks
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Soap
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F
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Soft Contact Lenses
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Fake Fur
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Solvents
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Fan Belts
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Speakers
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Faucet Washers
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Sports Car Bodies
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Fertilizer
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Spray Paint
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Fishing Boots
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Stuffed Animals
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Fishing Line
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Sunglasses
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Fishing Lures
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Surf Boards
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Fishing Rods
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Sweaters
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Flea Collars
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Synthetic Rubber
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Flip Flops/Thongs
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Floor Wax
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T
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Flooring
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Tape Recorders
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Flower Pots
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Teflon Pans
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Folding Doors
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Telephones
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Food Preservatives
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Tennis Rackets
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Food Wrappers
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Tents
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Football Cleats
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Tires
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Football Helmets
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Toilet Seats
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Footballs
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Tool Boxes
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Formica
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Tool Racks
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Freezer Bags
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Toothbrushes
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Frizbee
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Toothpaste
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Toy Model Cars
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G
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Toys
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Garden Hoses
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Transparent Tape
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Gas Ranges
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Trash Bags
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Gasoline
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Tv Cabinets
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Glue
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Typewriter Ribbons
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Glycerin
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Gold Bags
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U
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Golf Balls
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Umbrellas
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Guitar Strings
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Unbreakable Dishes
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Upholstery
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H
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Hair Brushes
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V
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Hair Coloring
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Vacuum Bottles
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Hair Curlers
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Vaporizers
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Hair Spray
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Varnishes
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Hand Lotion
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Vaseline
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Hearing Aids
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VCR & Cassettetapes
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Heart Valves
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Vinyl Siding
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Heat For Houses
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Vinyl Wallpaper
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Heavy-Duty Plastic (Toolbox)
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Vitamin Capsules
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Helmets
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House Paint
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W
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Household Paint
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Watch Bands
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Water Pipes
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I
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Waterproof Coats
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Ice Buckets
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Wax Paper
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Ice Chests
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Weed Killer
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Ice Cube Trays
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Wire Coating
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Ink
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Insect Killer
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Y
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Insect Repellent
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Yarn
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Insecticides
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Z
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Insulation
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Zippers
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J
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Jet Fuel
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Sources:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/infosheets/petroleumproducts.html
http://www.saskschools.ca/~carnduffelem/oilpages/uses.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/11/9-shocking-things-made-fr_n_570796.html#s89011
http://ww2.earthday.net/files/programs/teachers/Penny/Resources/EnergyProductsOil18.pdf
http://www.geography-site.co.uk/pages/citizenship/oil_products.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080807185043AAlPQa3
http://www.anwr.org/features/oiluses.html
http://www.txoga.org/articles/308/1/WHAT-A-BARREL-OF-CRUDE-OIL-MAKES
http://www.energy4me.org/questions/products_from_oil.html
http://www.ranken-energy.com/Products%20from%20Petroleum.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics
http://www.earthsciweek.org/forteachers/2007/productspetroleum_cont.html
http://everydaysimplicity.blogspot.com/2007/06/products-made-from-petroleum-yikes.html
http://iprb.org/products.html
http://petroleumgeology.org/products.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_product
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