Earl, thanks for the correction. Chicken Shit is perhaps too strong a word. But the implied (with a smiley yet) "shut the F up" suggestion by GM is not going down right in anybody's neigborhood. I'm not going to be pushed out for making a very reasonable and polite suggestion.

I first came to this forum back in '03 maybe? I'm not sure. But it was a kinder and gentler place then. Now it seems to have become a hideout for a few self proclaimed experts who's rude comments don't add to the general knowledge. Some people want to tear down, some people want to build up.

I came out of a corporate structure where rank was ignored. I've personally attended roundtables that included the Chief Engineering Vice President of Aleyeska Pipeline Service Company amongst others, where my warnings and advice vis' a vis' work procedures on multi-million dollar valve changouts were treated with as much respect as the contract design engineer. I've come out ahead on most of those discussions primarily because of a penchant for caution when it comes "the rush to judgement"; and a profound understanding of the systems approach to process control. "My well known mantra in Alyeska circles was "Wait a minute, let's think about this for a minute".

Top down management is a no-no at Arco and now BP as it is becoming in most multi-nationals. People with sharp elbows don't last long in this world, and the current crisis in the Gulf (mark my words) will probably boil down to warnings ignored and schedules pushed.

There is no question that I'm not near as well versed in acoustic matters as nearly everyone here. I came for some advice and some of it has been answered with less than civil response. Some folks can't be bothered to mentor the newcomer. They want to belittle him instead. The forum has a collective conscience. It needs to look at itself.

I think you should have a conversation with Bill H yourself. He's available. Finally, if re-magnetizing 60 year old drivers requires a different approach for success, I don't think it should be optional.