[altair]

PHB = Pointy Haired Bosses == tech manager types. Have you ever read Dilbert?

[Nervous Tick]

>> Have you ever read Dilbert?

Yeah, and I see it not only as good humor but as a literal manual to the inner workings of Ameritech.

Per my freepmail to you, I actually figured it out for myself after I thought about it a little.

When I worked in the Valley, my own employees used to call me that. Jokingly (...I think.) ;-)

[Paco]

The US manufacturing industry has destroyed itself by outsourcing manufacturing to realize short-term profits. While profitability has increased it comes at the expense of greatly diminshed manufacturing capability AND the transfer of intellectual property to foreign companies.

We've simply succeeded in training our competition how to beat us and they don't need us anymore. They have the manufacturing AND know-how to build, improve and sell what used to be ours.