I prefer to think of it as imagining what *could* happen. I mean, look how people went crazy over the mere thought of a petrol shortage... ..and that ain't gonna kill you. At some point we are going to have a big epidemic of something nasty - it's happened through history, and it'll happen again. There isn't any point worrying about it, because we won't be able to stop it. The reason why I so liked DG's post was because it was written so matter of factly, and having seen some of the stuff coming out of New Orleans, all too believeable. But then - I just like speculative fiction... I for one shall be having very cheap chicken to eat tonight. Panics are good for me and my bank balance.