perhaps, Amos, but I sure would hate to live in this place if we get twice the population BEFORE we figger out how to feed 'em and get 'em enough kilowatts to run their computers....and I'm not sure I'd like to be the one who trys to explain that there ain't ROOM at the beach, or in Yellowstone Park...or that they can't drive cars 2 days a well because there is no room on the highway and in the parking lots.

Figuring out the theoretical maximum carrying capacity is an interesting exercise, but it is like kids trying to guess how loud they can get in the back seat before Dad reaches back and smacks 'em!

Years ago, Wally Hickle was Secretary of the Interior, and he was asked something about population and crowding...and he said something like..."well, I just flew back to Washington from Alaska...and there is PLENTY of land...I could look out of the airplane window ans SEE the empty space!" .....*sigh*...and that's aboutas far as many people are willing to go in their depth of analysis. Lord preserve us from Wally Hickles in charge of the future!