Re: [Paddlewise] Oil spills

From: Paul D. Hamilton <pdhamilton1_at_comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:36:53 -0700
>After giving this issue much serious thought, it occurs that these 
>bacteria are simply too small. What is needed are bacteria on 
>steroids, ie, beefy guys the size of VW beetles. Then you would see 
>the oil disappear faster than it can emerge from the well-head. What 
>say we expose some of these bacteria to some good old-fashioned 
>radioactivity, just like in those sci-fi movies, and then watch them 
>go to work. There could be a problem though if they can't discern 
>between a yummy glob of oil and say, a tasty seakayak, or heaven 
>forbid, a jet-ski.
>
>Brad

I seem to vaguely remember at least once Sci-Fi book where the 
collapse of technology occurs because of exactly Brad's idea-- not 
the radioactive mutant VW bacteria, but that critters genengineered 
to gobble up oil spills got loose and gobbled up *all* the free oil 
in the world.

Then kayaks and bolas will rule, and jet skiers will sit crying on 
their boat anchors. On second thought, maybe that's not *all* bad...

Paul Hamilton
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Received on Mon Jun 21 2010 - 20:51:39 PDT

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