Aherm.  So as I was saying.  What the hell was I saying?  Did I say channeling?  But I didn't... I mean... where is Jerome when we need him anyway?

So I guess speaking of Rome/dark ages and Europe/plague and "resets" sort of put me in mind of patterns, Migeru, and your response that these should be included in the calculations rather than treated as outliers put me in mind of You Know Who.  But in a good way!  

If we could mathematically predict patterns of group behavior, I'm sure you'd be up to the task!  And possibly DoDo.  And Jerome could explain it all to us.  Unless this is being taken as an insult (which I sincerely do not intend) in which case none of it has anything to do with anything or anybody here and I'm unreservedly apologetic for mentioning it.

Help!  Paging... who's a famous, non-insult-invoking diplomat?!?  This is all asdf's fault somehow!  I'm almost sure of it...

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes