And it's true that the resurgence of patriarchal succession in one company does not spell doom for all reform.

CNN: A NOVICE AT THE WHEEL

And, if you are tickled as much by curiosity as snobbery, the potted histories of families do reveal intriguing patterns that spell warnings of doom or suggest tendencies to excellence.

ECONOMIST: M��lords, ladies and gentlemen

Even a movement of 10 percent could spell doom for Giuliani if he becomes the nominee.

CNN: Commentary: Will evangelicals choose Giuliani over faith?

Even if Apotex does bring a version of Paxil to market, that may not spell doom for the Paxil franchise.

FORBES: GlaxoSmithKline Gets Kicked, Plods Forward

It was merely a downturn in domestic 3D ticket sales, for just a handful of films suffering a relatively small dip, but some media responded with extreme assumptions that some kind of public backlash against 3D was taking place and would spell doom for the cinematic format.

FORBES: 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' Brings 3D Back From The Dead

But in austerity Britain, with real incomes falling, pensions imploding and the prospect of more woe to come, a vote along those lines could spell electoral (or selectoral) doom.

BBC: MPs set to shrink from proposals to reform their expenses