Would this be kinda sorta what Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore loved the smell of in the morning?

Styrofoam is never biodegradable. However, some packing peanuts are now made of extruded wheat paste and brightly colored with food dyes. They generally are more compressible than Styrofoam peanuts and have less rebound after being squished, but since they are made of wheat, completely biodegradable. In fact, they melt and dissolve away completely when exposed to water, being nothing but extruded wheat paste. Styrofoam, on the other hand, is completely impervious to water.

But NOT gasoline.

Ahh...I heard from someone who once needed some that you can get it from paint supply stores or from welding supply shops or from any number of other sources. It appears to have quite a few uses. To drag the thread kicking and screaming back on topic, you can also recycle old aluminium items by grinding them down into powder...

I somehow think that I'm not ready right now to recycle my old styrofoam into N****m--but the Chinese may be.

But tell me, can you think of non-financial, established companies that could be effected by the financial melt-down. We've already mentiond countries that rely on foreign investment. Will coffee growers feel a huge pinch? If so, will coffee-roasting and coffee-grinding machines go down the tubes?

If Australia can't grow Pink Lady apples and make a profit, will that impact tractor companies, sprayer manufacturers or Monsano?

It's just an excercise to help people realize the connectivety necessary in a global economy.

I simply can't be aggressively serious all the time!

Let us see...nonfinancial sector companies that might be negatively effected by an economic down turn?

Oh, yeah...I know. ALL OF THEM!!!

Its an economic downturn, Liz. That means the economy is worsening. People have less disposable income. THey cut back on purchases. That impacts every sector of the economy and only the rarest of niche businesses escape unscathed.

You got it, Law. Not just financials, cars or homes--every sector, from agriculture to zoos. That's the point, isn't it? It's the butterfly effect.

Not sure its the point, Liz. Its sort of like saying you get wet when you swim...why mention it?

Because we spend so much time on it.

And when you invest, you get soaked.

Brush roll, rim shot and 'ting.'

Couldn't resist it.