Please permit me to make an observation that should be as shockingly clear as a lightning bold striking a wet kite line.

The most obvious shortcoming is the lack of an informed opinion from a completely uninvolved expert.

I see and hear only the comments from pundits who either:

Are not the acknowledged masters of the engineering and construction arts;

Or, if having some such credentials, then have interests of gain or loss, either actual or possible future, in the goings on, and outcomes of, of the current situation.

Have ye not learned from history that one cannot possibly get unbiased observations from those involved in, or who may stand to gain or lose by the outcome of, any questionable situation?

Simply find an honest man, skilled in the necessary arts involved, but with no intentions or possibility of risk or reward from the resolution of the questions at hand…and then ask him!

Or would that be too simple and straightforward for such an august and pompous group as that involved in this situation?

Please permit me to make an observation that should be as shockingly clear as a lightning bold striking a wet kite line.

I hope that this helps.    

Use your head, man! Just find an honest man who knows all about this sort of "stuff", but doesn’t have anything to gain or lose on this deal, and who isn’t out to get involved for money, and then ask him what the deal is.

So much to be addressed!!!

First, to Mr. Walkin’:

To paraphrase Brutus in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”: I am not sure If I come to praise you or to bury you.

While I do agree with some of what you say, I neither need you to speak for me, nor to defend me, and I especially do not need you to act as my conscience. I appreciate your confidence in me, and assure you that I have answered with the best that is in me and will continue to try to do so. I will add that one’s head does get quite painful from constant beating against the same wall. If you were aware of all the circumstances, I feel sure that you would understand the need to take an occasional break. Out of compassion for the situation for the circumstances I perceive your chosen username to imply, I will say no more.

*************************

Now, on to Spiderjohn, who I perceive as having chosen to make some of this personal!!!

Sir, I took no side, and in fact made no comment whatsoever on the Sutphin Street matter until my post of 01 Jul 2010 at 6:47pm.

That post was completely farcical, and I clearly (at least I thought it was “clear”) pointed out my intent of humor by preceding my “translation” with the comment:

“Hey!!! As most of you might know by now, I can speak all of those languages (Pompus, Dignified, and Obnoxious)!!! Maybe I can translate for y'all!!!

I'll give it a shot!!!”

I apologize for thinking that people like you would NOT realize that “Pompus, Dignified, and Obnoxious” were NOT three actual foreign languages that required translation into a local dialect of English. As you might say: “My bad!”

Now, if you felt that my attempt at humor fell short and you wanted to give me a “groan” or some similar pan, of course I would not have minded, and would probably have joked about your taste in humor in return. But no, YOU replied thusly:

spiderjohn wrote: I can't decide which version was the most condescending. Actually neither said much of anything.

Well, I am always happy to reply condescendingly WHEN SOMEONE DESERVES IT, so I did in my reply to THAT!!!

“If you can't decide which version was "the most condescending" and you find that "neither said much of anything" then my tongue-in-cheek translation must have been VERY accurate!!!

Thank you for the compliment!!”

Apparently, that wasn’t condescending enough, for you didn’t seem to “get it”. You replied at 02 Jul 2010 at 7:56am thusly:

spiderjohn wrote: No one is claiming corruption or evil, though incompetance, unnecessary work stoppage, affected residence/business hardship and secrecy could be applicable. Same with the assumption that using a real proper name other than a screen name certifies some higher degree of honesty, accuracy or righteousness. I have no experience whatsover with road/curbing construction, and respect the posts here of those with that backround. Your info minus the personality part is very helpful. I have operated a business on Sutphin and approximate to the area for over 50 years, and lived in that area also.Sutphin is a vital connecting roadway, much more-travelled than many realize. There had been no deep roadwork in that area for as long as I can remember(I travel it multiple times every day). IMO the construction experts/planners should have probably anticipated a worst case scenerio as a realistic/likely possibility, and had a back-up plan accordingly. The discovery and subsequent extra funding could have been planned secondarily IF those in charge and approving had taken proper time to thoroughly outline the project. To stop the work, pull all workers and equipment off the job then go through the theatrics and spinning we witnessed would not have happened. Plan B could have been implemented to the surprise of no one. The extra funding and work(already anticipated as worst case) could have gone on un-interrupted. To shut these businesses and impact the hundreds of residents for an extra 3-week minimum(over 2 weeks already) is a serious hardship. Once again, I blame the rush and incomplete planning on un-necessary emergency legislation and an intentional lack of provided information to make an educated and proper decision. Dog in this fight? We ALL have a stake in this project to a varying degree. It is now an on-going mess with nothing happening on dry, pleasant weather working conditions. Bottom line--none of the posturing and egotism displayed here or by Council/Admin has put one worker back on the project yet. Does anyone really expect anything to happen before next Tuesday at the earliest?

Now, I don’t know exactly what in my short statements prompted this rambling, incoherent response, and I thought about replying, but decided to spare you further embarrassment. After all, you did state that you “ have no experience whatsover with road/curbing construction” and then went on to prove it with some of your further ramblings.

I went on to have a wonderful evening with my wife and some friends, and let the subject drop.

You, however, decided to make it personal AGAIN it with YOUR response to Mr. Walkin:

spiderjohn wrote: Whatever, Dead Man. Sure--I care mostly about my situation. Just like I cared about my situation when Yankee was shut down over the fatal sewer situation. I believe that I have mentioned the University/Shafor situation repreatedly here and in my conversations with engineering,admin and Council. Same with the other University water mane break and the I75/122 boondoggle. BTW--no work has been done on Supthin since the meeting last Tuesday despite the promises. Hopefully it will resume today. So--I concern myself with screwed up messes that effect me. Big surprise--isn't that what I should be doing? As for expecting "everyone to take my side", I pretty much play my own game here. Decide for yourself. As for Presta beingconsulted on the road projects--are you serious? You have a strange way of thinking--trying to manipulate others to speak up for what you see as important also. As always, if you have issues, you had better deal with them yourself. Don't you post as "High Speed Rail" also? Gets confusing when the same person posts on a topic using multiple screen names. Yer method--though a clarification would help. Plus--I appreciate what Mr.Adkins has concluded, and how Council immediately bought inro his direction without much serious discussion. I know that you don't care for Mr.Adkins, but that is another of your issues. Hey--great to have interesting points of view here. Room for one more?

Spiderjohn, I don’t know how much you think you know about me, and I don’t know from whom you get your information or how much they think they know about me, but here’s a clue or two or a few:

If they think I’m inexperienced on “HUGE” (and I use "HUGE" sarcastically) jobs like the ones the city gets involved in here in Middletown, then here’s your sign à STUPID!

If they think that I know nothing about the theory and practice of the design and placing of concrete slabs and structures, or about paving in general then here’s your sign à STUPID!

If they think that I have just been some low-level peon on a few little construction projects here and there, then here’s your sign à STUPID!

If YOU think that you have discussed my qualifications with ANY other Middletown resident who has negotiated a project agreement with the General Presidents’ Committee of the AFL-CIO Building and Trades Department, then here’s your sign à STUPID!

Now, I try to be a humble man, and the forgoing may sound brazen. For that I apologize to everyone else!!! However, the record is the record, and it does get a little tiresome constantly hearing the record distorted by those who are ignorant of the facts.