Why I have Decided to Avoid Crowds in all Circumstances

Shanghai has already rung in the New Year. According to a report on the Al Jazeera English Web site, things got so festive that at least 35 people have been killed and another 42 injured in a stampede. This comes from a country that has at least the image of knowing how to deal with unruly crowds. What could I expect in my home town, which cannot even keep the lights on at night on major streets?