There is an art to reading and sending e-mails and IM’s and talking on the phone at the same time. I know that, but failed miserably at it earlier today. When someone you’re talking to is on a long riff that you briefly tune out for, it’s important always–always–to keep your comments in reply general and non-commital. Never get specific! But today I thought I could get all fancy. I thought I could defy the rules. I thought I was just too good to get caught. When my friend finished talking about the terrible things terrorists have done recently in Iraq, I took my cue from his pause–like any good multi-tasker does–and piped up to note one incident in particular. He was quiet for a moment, and I knew immediately I had blown it. “I just said that two seconds ago,” he said. Thankfully, he was understanding and good-natured about it, but, needless to say, I felt like an idiot, and a rude idiot at that. A useful reminder that it’s always best to listen to people who are talking to you.