tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post5740140211022937738..comments2023-11-03T06:35:48.003-05:00Comments on Shark and Shepherd: Illusory criticismRick Esenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07280070509167910367noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-16973523015373971022008-07-01T09:45:00.000-05:002008-07-01T09:45:00.000-05:00Coffee was 15 cents--a quarter if you purchased fr...<I>Coffee was 15 cents--a quarter if you purchased from a vending machine.</I><BR/><BR/>I didn't start drinking coffee until I started working in construction, which was more like 23 years ago.<BR/><BR/>I don't know much, but I do know something about the construction game and trust me, there are many ways for owners to harm contractors, but simply informing a contractor that you're reconsidering the process by which you're going to evaluate future bids ain't one of them.illusory tenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08524761974822871419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-46989285014247400902008-07-01T09:36:00.000-05:002008-07-01T09:36:00.000-05:00And yanking $200MM of put-in-place construction co...<I>And yanking $200MM of put-in-place construction contracts is not "harm or loss"?</I><BR/><BR/>One more time: <BR/><BR/>Does anybody have any evidence that Epic Systems "threatened" to pull JP Cullen's contract for Buildings H & K?<BR/><BR/>Or that David Cullen's decision to withdraw from WMC was prompted by Epic's "threat" to rescind existing contracts?<BR/><BR/>Or even that Mr. Cullen's decision was informed by the prospect of failing to secure future contracts -- or extras to existing contracts -- with Epic?<BR/><BR/>Anyone? Bueller?illusory tenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08524761974822871419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-63453292024612141752008-07-01T08:41:00.000-05:002008-07-01T08:41:00.000-05:00By the way, 30 years ago, gasoline was $0.40/gal--...By the way, 30 years ago, gasoline was $0.40/gal--the same price as cigarettes/pack at the time.<BR/><BR/>Coffee was 15 cents--a quarter if you purchased from a vending machine.Dad29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08554276286736923821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-26394937706833790732008-07-01T08:39:00.000-05:002008-07-01T08:39:00.000-05:00an intent to inflict harm or lossAnd yanking $200M...<I>an intent to inflict harm or loss</I><BR/><BR/>And yanking $200MM of put-in-place construction contracts is not "harm or loss"?<BR/><BR/>I agree that Epic did not say to Cullen that 'unless you quit WMC, you can pick up your trailer from our site and go home.'Dad29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08554276286736923821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-78377580766672875362008-06-30T23:29:00.000-05:002008-06-30T23:29:00.000-05:00Starbucks? I thought it was Fourbucks.Epic says “...Starbucks? I thought it was Fourbucks.<BR/><BR/>Epic says “… After careful consideration, we made a decision to try to work only with vendors that do not support WMC with its current management. This was not a decision we made lightly, but believe it is the right thing to do.” Isn't this a rather watered-down "threat"? (Reminds me of the recent <A HREF="http://www.bootsandkittens.com" REL="nofollow">food-stamp riot</A>.) Is the problem that Epic is bring frank and open about the factors it weighs when making business decisions, as opposed to, say, other companies that very well may examine whether a company is a member of WMC or which candidates their CEOs supported in the last election?<BR/><BR/>Isn't it possible that most of Epic's vendors are not WMC members? I'll float other possibilities: There exists a <A HREF="http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=22739" REL="nofollow">spectrum of opinion</A> among WMC members. It may be possible that WMC's figureheads and staff aren't accurately representing their membership. For example, as Soglin has pointed out, <A HREF="http://www.waxingamerica.com/2007/12/have-you-seen-t.html" REL="nofollow"> manufacturing members ranked taxes</A> their seventh-most concern. While WMC may have nearly 4,000 members, many of them may not regard it as recreational politics. As one WMC board member put it, tooting his own horn along the way, CEOs already spend 120% of their time on their companies, so WMC's staff steers the bus. What exactly would a WMC course adjustment or management shake-up resemble? Perhaps other WMC members have critical views, but they're afraid of - gasp! - WMC-style smear tactics on their business if they're quoted in the paper.Display Namehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842340986220388709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-21304540857726718462008-06-30T21:13:00.000-05:002008-06-30T21:13:00.000-05:00Threat, dear old Dad, is a term of art meaning, an...Threat, dear old Dad, is a term of art meaning, an intent to inflict harm or loss. Unsuccessful bidders suffer neither. If they do, then either they made a misstep themselves, or else they shouldn't be in business.<BR/><BR/>It's evidence of "threats" and "submissions to those threats" I was asking for, and haven't seen any yet.<BR/><BR/>Thirty years ago speculation and 25 cents would have bought you a cup of coffee, nowadays there is Starbucks.illusory tenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08524761974822871419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-87017251829048163862008-06-30T20:02:00.000-05:002008-06-30T20:02:00.000-05:00From the other thread's combox:All I am inferring ...From the other thread's combox:<BR/><BR/><I>All I am inferring from that is a requirement of evidence for "threat" and "submission to that threat," which you haven't provided</I><BR/><BR/>Thus spake Mr. Foley.<BR/><BR/>Only the wilfully blind and deaf could miss the cause/effect of Epic's statement and Cullen's withdrawal from WMC.<BR/><BR/>30 years ago, I would have believed that there was no connection--rather, that Mr. Cullen had undergone a Damascus-Road conversion.<BR/><BR/>But maybe IT's just a young'un.Dad29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08554276286736923821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-75696379578891643362008-06-30T14:38:00.000-05:002008-06-30T14:38:00.000-05:00I suppose we'll have to wait for the future post t...I suppose we'll have to wait for the future post that explains how WMC's involvement in the Supreme court race strengthened the social fabric and improved the quality of discourse, and how this benefit trickles down on all citizens.Display Namehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842340986220388709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20692053.post-56273901009059202682008-06-30T13:32:00.000-05:002008-06-30T13:32:00.000-05:00Well, perhaps we're both conflating a couple of di...Well, perhaps we're both conflating a couple of distinguishable <A HREF="http://illusorytenant.blogspot.com/2008/06/judith-faulkner-corporate-heroine.html?showComment=1214848260000#c3952640271782297864" REL="nofollow">questions</A> here but I must say I'm loving that post title.<BR/><BR/>By the way, do you think Mr. Cullen reads your blog? If so, may I post my résumé here?illusory tenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08524761974822871419noreply@blogger.com