Larry, I'm always heartened by efforts to find a silver lining, and having clear answers to galling questions certainly is a plus. Especially those of us who are fans of Twain despise ambiguity. But I'm not sure everyone will find solace in your second point. Since some are bound to be nervous that we are now so many thousand booms closer to defenselessness, I suggest that the Department of Homeland Anxiety (did I get that right? these bureaucracies confuse me) buy the Trademark to the Frito-Lay Corporation's famous slogan: "Don't worry; we'll make more." Gregg