Add section on scanning and shredding.

1 files changed, 16 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/files.mdwn b/files.mdwn
index 6a9ee94..a2922ab 100644
--- a/files.mdwn
+++ b/files.mdwn
@@ -106,9 +106,20 @@ archive, but not change them.
 Scanners and shredders
 ----------------------
 
-* scan everything in your paper archive
-* shred everything you can, but keep things for which originals are
-  important (you may need originals for tax or legal purposes, or
-  warranty receipts)
-* digital files are so much easier to deal with...
+Paper is big and heavy and hard to grep through. Scanning everything
+you put into your paper archive makes it possible to carry it with
+you in your laptop, and often makes it much faster to find a particular
+item, particularly if you can get OCR to work so that your scans result
+in text rather than images. Further, you can more easily make backups
+of your digital documents than of your physical ones.
+
+Scanning everything also often gives you the option of shredding or
+recycling stuff you don't actually need in hardcopy. This is even
+better, since it allows you to reduce the size of your physical archive.
+That, in turn, means it takes up less space (reducing living costs,
+since you can have a smaller home), and makes it easier to move.
+
+However, before you shred, be sure you do not need the physical copy.
+In some countries, tax authorities require the original physical
+document or receipt, for example.