"THE CONDEMNED MAN LOOKED SO DOGGISHLY SUBMISSIVE, IT REALLY SEEMED AS IF ONE MIGHT ALLOW HIM TO ROAM THE SLOPES FREELY, AND ONLY NEEDED TO WHISTLE WHEN IT WAS THE TIME FOR THE EXECUTION, AND HE WOULD COME."

- FRANZ KAFKA, IN THE PENAL COLONY (ENGLISH TRANSLATION, 1948).

WHAT A MAGNIFICENT AND CLEVER LITTLE STORY.  HUMAN ERROR AND THE DILIGENCE OF THE MACHINE (OR THE DILIGENCE OF THE HUMAN MACHINE?).  THIS SEEMS TO BE A PERSISTENT THREAD IN MY READING.