Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide 'renewable petroleum'. When genetically altered bugs, are fed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they EXCRETE crude oil WOW!!!

But theres more

With looming shortages and crude oil prices trading at $137 per barrel (hurts to drive your Beema eh?) and hiking further still, it appears this discovery is a god-send. The scientists argue that using genetically modified bugs for bio-fuel production is essentially the same as using natural bacteria to produce ethanol.

The economic advantage is that the bugs excrete a substance that is almost pump-ready, therefore virtually eliminating the energy intensive final processes of distillation. The plan is to have a demonstration-scale plant operational by 2010 and construction of a commercial-scale facility operational in 2011 in the United States.

Post 9/11 we have stood shoulder to shoulder with our Atlantic brethren on various policies and strategies concerning defence, economics, health and education. I am sure this latest bio-fuel revelation will be guzzled up quicker than a BMW X5 4.8litre!

QUESTION: Why don't we invest in something towards creating NEW sources of energy like electric cars [which we already have] instead of this Frankenstein malarky?....The consequences of experimenting with viruses and the cause and effect of that which was Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus, and another one I can't remember should have been a dire lesson to us all. Poor little bugs are well and truly buggered!