I'm still waiting to hear Larry's response to how the contracters got the
material and what exactly the second contractor did to remedy the "problem".
Did I miss something?

Best,
Leland

----- Original Message -----
From: Ken Follett <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject: Re: Poor Application of Product at Biltmore Estate


> In a message dated 1/6/00 2:02:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
> >  or inappropriate, depending on who you want to hang for using this shit
in
> >  the first place) material.
>
> Ralph,
>
> I admire anyone for carrying forth a civil conversation about realistic
> problems, or the perception of our problems, without their jumping
immediatly
> to negative accusations. I also admire anyone who can step back, take a
> second look, and admit that they may have been hasty in their statements.
> Both Michael & Pat are expressing what I consider very real problems. I
> admire John Horton for sticking up for himself and having the guts to
carry
> on the investigation and make corrections. I also admire Larry Riddle for
> sticking up for his company, as we all should. I have my own bias toward
> products, but I WANT to hear all sides. We will not hear much of anything
if
> we are stabbing each other over brand names.
>
> I am reminded that one day our lawyer said to never write in a letter that
an
> engineer could kill someone from their foolhardiness, this was the day
after
> I mailed the letter. I still think the engineer was a doddering idiot.
>
> I also am reminded of an early lesson in project management to never
attack
> anyone on a personal level in correspondence, this did not stop me from
> telling the dim-witted procrastinating hardware salesman that I was
preparing
> to come over to his office and bust up his desk with an axe if he did not
> have the )(%U)#(*% doorknob order to us within 24-hrs. This was the OLD
> school of construction management, the kind of thick skinned management
that
> got a lot of the NYC infrastructure & buildings built in the first place.
> When I found out the guy's 3-yr old daughter was terminal I felt like a
shit.
>
> It does not pay well to go out of our way to make enemies in a short life.
> They will find us soon enough, and then we can eat.
>
> ][<en
>