Although I typically charge willy-nilly into updates, initial feedback here left me cautious. I took an ultra-conservative approach. repaired permissions - Time Machine backup - ran software update - (smoked 3 cigarettes while peering at the progress bar) - restarted - 2 startup chimes - installed just fine - repaired permissions - another backup - all systems go - installed Safari update - you know the deal - another permissions repair and another backup.

I'll be damned - NPs.