6 Important Things You Didn't Know We're Running Out Of

[Zephie]

When we talk about a shortage of "resources," most people immediately think "oil." But the only reason oil is the most famous of the dwindling resources is because we feel the spike in prices, since we have to go buy the stuff ourselves on a weekly basis.

But other resources that are key to keeping our society operating are running out just as fast, but much more quietly. Pretty soon, you may turn on CNN to hear about wars being fought over something ridiculous, like ...

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_19048_6-important-things-you-didnt-know-were-running-out-of.html#ixzz1FGSaUBSB

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Once again, Cracked.com has more informative articles than most news sites. Today they provide us with '6 Important Things You Didn't Know We're Running Out Of'. Intro included here, the 6 things are at the link.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. The tequila thing has an error

Blue agave can actually be grown in South Africa. I have a bottle of 100% blue agave tequila in my bar.

[a la izquierda]

8. But it cannot be called tequila.

I can't remember the exact rules on it, but tequila cannot be legally called tequila unless it is grown and produced in very specific areas of Mexico.
;) Just FYI.

[EstimatedProphet]

9. If it's due to a business treaty, it could be that S.Africa isn't a signatory

Same way we used to produce Champagne in the US prior to 2006. We didn't sign the Treaty of Madrid.

[yesphan]

11. Just as

it can't be called "bourbon" unless it's produced in Kentucky.

[ananda]

2. Hmm..

.. overproduction of corn for biofuels seems to be a major culprit.

[Jim Lane]

3. I expected the list to include rare earths

The are seventeen elements that are needed for a wide range of high-tech products. According to , China has taken over the field, now producing about 90% of the world's rare earths. Some chilling excerpts from the USGS document:

In 1999 and 2000, nearly all (more than 90%) of the separated REE used in the United States was imported either directly from China or from countries that imported their plant feed materials from China.

. . . .

United States dependence on imports from China comes at a time when REE have become increasingly important in defense applications, including jet fighter engines and other aircraft components, missile guidance systems, electronic countermeasures, underwater mine detection, antimissile defense, range finding, and space-based satellite power and communication systems.

[Zephie]

4. I think maybe they considered rare earth to be too well known a dying resource

It's beginning to be pretty well publicized. Not as much as the oil shortage, but it's still not as unbelievably weird as helium. (I'm going to start hording that.)

[markpkessinger]

5. I'm surprised copper wasn't on the list n/t

[roguevalley]

6. is helium on there? my computer sux tonight.

[Zephie]

7. Yep, it's #6. I didn't know we had a helium shortage

[lonestarnot]

10. So no more munchkin talk'n then.

:(