Very important article

We live in a world where we are at the whim of large systems.  These systems are almost always poorly designed, most often they weren't designed at all they evolved accidentally.  These large and vital systems are rarely tested to see how they can break down or catapult the world into a disaster because of simple error or malfunction.

If your savings were nearly wiped out the year before last, or last week; if you were paying $4.00 for gasoline and couldn't run your car to commute and make a mortgage payment at the same time, if your plane was in a near miss, if your taxes have been rising while the available jobs have been shrinking, if you are surrounded by people who believe the world is near Armageddon because of CO2 the gas that makes life possible.... you are the victim of systemic failures.

The most interesting analysis of the swine flu imaginary pandemic, a case of a large system gone berserk, you will love this article in Der Spiegel.