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<DIV>Hi, Marshall. I'm the Jim from New York, the one who grew up in
Indiana and went to I.U., my son went to Notre Dame.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I just recently bought the PACE books and they are very good, not only in
their detail but also because they have lots and lots of photos, better than
Reblitz or the Potter Course. You may have been confused by the photos,
though - there are only five books even though there are six photos (the sixth
is the offering of all five). Hope that makes sense.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I know you've taken some heat from some of the board contributors in the
past and so I'll offer what is just my opinion about that. Please keep in
mind, this is just my opinion from my observations of some of your posts and
replies to them.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Many if not most of the board participants are not just RPT's but also
they are very, very intense about it, having years and years of
experience, training and, therefore, expert opinions. To be sure, many of
them are the leaders of the industry and have worked very hard to reach that
goal. You and I are both only Associates at this point and it'll be years
before we can "hold our own" in a conversation with them about any technical
matters. Some of our comments and questions (yours AND mine) have been
sophomoric and some have been just plain "folksy". I also believe that
some of your comments/replies are intended to get the board to "like" you,
to get you accepted into the group of professional technicians. An
admirable goal but one that will be accomplished by achievement and merit and
experience, not by a fireside chat. This is a social skills kind of thing
and something you should be mindful of. It is not something, however, that
is appropriate for general board posting - privately, sometimes okay but for
everyone to read in a professional forum, inappropriate. Having grown up
in Indiana, I know that "us plain folk from the Midwest" are in fact different
from people in other parts of the country. At least here in New York, it's
part of our "charm" on the one hand and a dangerous liability on the
other. But people from all parts of the country are different - Maine,
Brooklyn, the deep South, etc., etc. but those differences have no place in a
board such as this. I am surrounded by and have worked with many famous
people, none of whom intimidate me in the slightest but to each of whom I owe
and give respect and deference. Maybe an attempt at a joke will
illustrate: What do you call a person who hangs around with RPT's?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>An Associate. We can learn more by "listening" than by
"talking". Just my two cents worth. I think
you'll get a second chance.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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