Yes and no. AFAIK, hydrogen extracted from petroleum isn't pure enough to be used in a fuel cell. Last time I checked, hydrogen of acceptable purity cost about US $100 per quantity energy equivalent to a gallon of gasoline.

Don't be absurd. In laissez faire capitalism the shipping companies would be free to arm their vessels and hire guards to protect themselves from predation. Due to current international treaties, they cannot do this, thus creating an extremely uneven playing field. What this is instead, is A) Yet another example of the fallacy of unilateral disarmament. B) Yet another example of the fallacy of entrusting the defense of your life, liberty and property to the state. Think of it as a school that will suspend you for fighting should you choose to defend yourself against the bully who wants your lunch money.

The technical term for people like you is "delusional". If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're living the American Dream, a.k.a., you're living beyond your means. And guess what, you don't have the fucking right to live a lifestyle you can't support. Deal with it. You can start by spending the time you normally use to read Slashdot on doing something productive. It's not a basic necessity. Neither is your TV, DVD player, or going out to the pub. I'm sick to death of whiny bastards with an disproportionate sense of entitlement. Then again, asses who can't manage their money are my primary source of revenue. So I shouldn't complain.