couple of notes...i wonder if Japan was actually "within a week" of running out of gas, or was that just a psyop like the diesel scares? They certainly had enough gas to fill a zillion planes to fly across the ocean..

as far as WC athletes dropping, I doubt it. The reason why US athletes aren't dropping is that the teams are large commercial operations, with close government contacts. The athletes that are dropping in the eastern hemisphere is that the teams are much more independent. As far as I know, no athletes from the big commercial leagues in the big countries (say, Premier Leagues and its peers in other euro countries) have fallen. The WC players are largely chosen from these same leagues, so they are mostly "in the clear".

Otherwise, keep laughing and I will laugh with you. Imagine that human civilisation will be destpyed by a gay comedian and an extra from "Austin Powers" that sounds like "Fearless Leader" from the Bullwinkle cartoons (which should be a treasure trove of memes should anyone remember Bullwinkle). Talking about ending with a whimper and not a bang!