There is, in my opinion, a lobby for "preparedness" that moves this type of article.

The thing one must remember is, that the likelihood of such an event occurring is exactly the same at this moment as it is the next, next week, next year. Or, hundred years.

Sometimes we draw conclusions from statistical models that don't bear drawing. But it makes for sensational copy.

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( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory )

as a high-impact, hard-to-predict, and rare event beyond the realm of normal expectations- for example, 9-11 and the rise of the Internet. One can't prepare for a Black Swan except by building robust, nimble systems that can cope with the unexpected and unpredictable. Japan (the Kobe earthquake), Californis (Loma Prieta) and Florida (Hurricane Andrew 1992, multiple hurricanes in 2005) had robust systems. New Orleans (Katrina) and Haiti did not. Oregon will do OK.

I wrote all my undergraduate papers with an old Royal manual typewriter, and I remember well the white dust from the slip of Correcto-Type paper that I would have to insert over the mistyped letter (after back-spacing, of course). And the penalty for typing too quickly toward the end of the paper on a manual typewriter was severe. The paper would start to go askew and you'd have to start typing the page all over again.

I love keyboarding on computers because my fingers can really fly, but you're right that the very ease of writing sometimes makes for sloppy text -- hey, I also remember using those old 5 and one-quarter inch floppy disks (they really were somewhat flexible) to save text back in the late eighties.

In commenting, I do have to force myself to re-read. My instinct (because it often feels more like conversation than writing) is to just send my response without review.

Yep, Michael is one of those guys whom I've learned to trust when he's reporting from or commenting about the Middle East.

Unfortunately, current technology can encourage impatience. When I had to get out the White-Out or the correcting cartridge for the sheet in the typewriter I was more cautious, and thoughtful. I've fallen victim so often to the temptation to hit Send before I should have that now my text editor software always sees the first draft.

I second your observation about Michael's conscientiousness; I trust he'll just tell me what's going on, with no other agenda, no spin filter.