The nature of modern life in the developed world requires that each of us act as if we know a lot more about the future than we actually do. We engage in goal setting at the office; save for the education of just-born children and far-off retirements; fill our calendars with tomorrows and tomorrows and tomorrows. Until we find ourselves at the wrong traffic light on the wrong sunny day, and a 950-ton bridge span drops from on high and pancakes our car.