Prepare to repel boarders

I'm growing weary of the default setting:

think the worst, it will probably happen,

defend yourself against it at all times.

The burglar permanently stationed near my door,

waiting for the day when I do not 

set the alarm and double lock the door.

(Your insurance will be invalidated.)

The identity thief, keen to sift through my recycling bin

for the one document that may have included 

a vital piece of personal data,

not shredded.

(Your bank account will be emptied.)

The parking attendant gleefully pouncing on my car 

with a ticket for a one minute overstay in a free parking slot.

(Rush back or that will be £60 please.)

Yesterday my mind went blank 

when asked to present my pin number at the checkout.

(Three wrong attempts and your card will be cancelled.)

And now, the hideous hoops that bloggers must jump through

in order to leave a benign comment.

I didn't switch to the new Blogger interface,

so perhaps you are not faced with an illegible string

of skew whiff reversed out letters.

Word verification used to be quite fun,

but not anymore.

Apparently the robots have learnt to read,

and so humans must play catch up.

Well I am throwing caution to the winds.

I'm taking word verification off,

and I'll moderate the little monsters myself.

Matt Daily Telegraph 27/7/2011