sometimes it isn't. Last Thursday I sent something by FedEx for delivery first thing the following morning -- and it did absolutely, positively have to be there overnight -- and the package arrived Monday. Apparently the package was missorted in L.A., and wasn't properly read as next-day delivery (and, yes, it was very explicitly labeled as such). Arggh. Now naturally mistakes happen even with the most reliable services; it's quite possible that FedEx is extraordinarily reliable, and I happened to run across the extremely rare error. In fact, perhaps my reaction stems precisely from how much we've come to rely on and trust FedEx. Still, arggh.