[ale] EXT2-fs error

[Xenakis]

Returning from a movie, I saw this error message being repeatedly echoed
to the console:

EXT2-fs error (device 03:04): ext2_readdir: bad entry in directory
#12289: rec_len is smaller than minimul - offset=256, inode=16789248,
rec_len=4,name_len=3
set_rtc_mmss: can't update from 58 to 7
[...]

what could be causing this? a failing hard drive?
-- 

           (-Xenakis-)     Linux-Choice of a GNU Generation
           [The Innocent Network]   http://www.innocent.net