Here's an eye-opening little factoid that might get some people thinking, even at this late date -- Food in the United States travels an average of 1,300 miles from farm to market shelf. Now think: every mile of that trip depends on oil and computers in one of the most complex, yet efficient, distribution systems in history.

Hopin' for a one, preppin' for a ten.

Cash

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), November 17, 1999

Answers

The whole thing stands to be depressing. Just depressing from start to finish. I've really enjoyed the world famous local grocery stores with their vast display of specialty beers to little jars of pickled baby corn. Toliet paper with little flowers, gourmet foods as a norm, bins full of cheese varieties, every twist of bread imaginable, spit chickens ready to go, deserts everywhere, all the fruit and produce from the world over, fine meats, vast sprawls of soup varieties, fine tobacco products, liquers, sprawls and bins of seafood, and so forth.

I'll really miss it. I am not one who took it all for granted.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 17, 1999.

How long is the supply line for Viagra? Older men want to know.

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), November 17, 1999.

I doubt Viagra will be on very many minds ITSHTF, it certainly won't be on mine. Think water and ammo and lots of it.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 18, 1999.