> I wasn't trying to identify anyone as dumb, just that a "how to" book 
> would be helpful to a lot of people entering the dark tunnel of
> the approvals world with it's secret language and hidden trap
> doors.  ;  )   ; ) 


The problem is that this book needs to be a loose-leaf binder.  I've been
fortunate in
having been provided with the generous gift of several of these loose leaf
binders.

They were excellent they day I received them.  I particularly can recommned
even now, the John Horrocks book, or the CDs he produced.   Other excellent
material is available from Edward Fitzgerald.  However, even the authors
are no longer able to keep the information updated.  Edward's "TICS"
publication makes an admirable attempt.   However, everytime he publishes
it, some event 
has already overtaken something or other he reported on.  

Seminars are even more problematic.  Everytime I'm asked to come and speak
somwhere, the organizers are asking me for a copy of my speech 6 weeks
before the event, so they can include that material in the book that comes
with the seminar. By now I am inclined to respond with, I don't know what
will be current 2 months from now, and any speaker who can prepare his talk
2 months ahead, is probably not knowledgeable enough to be on your panel.

Last October I was in Brussel at a conference and was most impressed by the
capabilities of the Chief Scientific Officer of SUN Microsystems.  I was
sitting next to him and he was taking notes on his lap-top, in English if
the speaker spoke English, in French if the speaker spoke French, in German
if the speaker spoke German.   I sat next to him all morning and he kept
taking notes and tossing his material around on his lap-top.   At 13:30 he
got up and gave a presentation, projecting from his lap top.  He quoted
from that morning's American, French and German newspapers and quoted from
the speeches given that morning.  It was a performance the likes of which
I've never seen before.  I'm not suggesting that everybody needs to be that
up-to-date, all of the time, but it is getting there.

May you live in interesting times.

:) ;) :)

Vic

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