I notice that oftentimes, people referring to petroleum products talk
about dino-this and dino-that as in "dino oil as opposed to synthetic
oil."

Did our teachers give us that preposterous notion?

Was it Essie the dinosaur in the old Esso (before Exxon) promotions?

Was it exposure to oil-company sponsored Disney rides where dinosaurs
became associated with oil?

Is it a red herring to the fact that plants and sunlight ultimately
provide the energy we all use?

I remember specifically being taught that coal and oil are related, and
that coal is made in immense, submerged peat bogs and similar places. I
just don't remember a dinosaur discussion, yet many people use the
term.

If anyone remembers a specific source for this, such a lesson, a book,
a TV program or movie, or just that you heard it from your folks, I'd
be interested to know about it.

Jim