I kind of wonder if it is really secretive on WCG/scientist part or if it is merely a lack of consideration (if that is really the right word ?) for the crunchers need to know. I don't think it is too much to ask for a periodic (30 to 60 day) update from the project scientists which could just be a couple of sentences which let us know we are not operating in some kind of limbo. We know the scientists know how to make a post, because they normally do at the beginning of the project. I know they are busy, but a few minutes a month does not seem like asking too much. I do see the techs all post sporadically when they have something to say, which I appreciate. It would be nice to have the general feel good message from the researchers occasionally. And, yes, I am interested in what they may have to say.
Cheers

I Find it pretty amazing that ibm has donated all this server time and people, yet no one has a clue what is needed, or what is to be done with it. Almost as amazing as HTSB virtually coming to a stop and nobody noticed (except us workers that is)

Am also an ex-IBMer and have some similar thoughts to those already expressed. People just do NOT like being ignored... it's human nature. In several of these forums even a few simple words "We are working on it..." "Understood" or "Thanks" makes such a difference; rather than the all too prevent silence from both WCG and the scientists. By participating in WCG we play an essential part, amongst many, in these projects and can reasonably expect to be informed. However, is is usually the case, there is more to this situation. I enjoyed my productive work at IBM - that is, the work that actually produced something for our customers (or clients as we were supposed to call them). What I didn't like was the substantial amount of "non-productive", boring and too often waste of time that came with it. After 40+ years at IBM happy to be enjoying retirement the way things were going. Policies such as kicking out full-time IBM staff that had a wealth of knowledge and experience (and hence better paid) to replace them with young cheap inexperienced hired contractors, or in too many cases, no-one. This lead to much frustration and wasted time. For example, it got to the point with several systems we used, no-one any longer knew much about them, what they did, and certainly could not fix when they broke. This greatly affected the department I was in.

Often wonder how much of this "overhead" the IBM WCG staff now have put up with and how it affects the time they have to properly look after WCG. Have sympathy for the IBM WCG staff - people who were by fellow IBMers - though of course never met them. I am sure the IBM WCG staff are doing their best and are in the same situation my department was in before I left - not enough people and too much to do - so a lot of it was let slide, simply ignored. It became a matter of priorities and no matter what we did - some-one was going to be unhappy. It was costing IBM real money, but there was nothing we could do at our level. Our functional management (in another country) appeared unconcerned. They seemed only interested in meeting their manpower reduction targets set by mangers above them, who in turn had little to no knowledge of the consequences of their actions - and so on up the chain. IBM is not alone here. Recently having two deal with two large companies am astounded how difficult it has become to get simple problems resolved after your accounts have been messed up by untrained inexperienced staff in another country where labour is cheaper... They get what they pay for...

So to bring this back to be back 'on-topic' - we can bitch, get upset and frustrated, post polite requests or constructive criticism when things don't happen that we personally desire such as the present issues of EOP warnings, inaccurate progress bars, insufficient feedback but we mustn't loose site of the bigger picture. WCG still has worthwhile projects running. Thank-you WCG staff for what you are able to accomplish - it's appreciated. I'm sure you want to keep us all happy and content with a wondrous web-site and plenty of communication. However, if the resouce to do all of it just isn't there - would prefer to see the projects running, work units available and put up with inadequate web-site maintenance and feedback rather than the other way round :-) I am sure IBM wants to spend the minimum money necessary in what essentially is a PR exercise to uphold their "good citizen" policy (or whatever is the latest buzz-word). Those running WCG would have a budget to work within and some difficult choices to make at times.

P.S. Please add my voice to those requesting the scientists be given a kick under the table to jolt them into recognising our concerns... However, we need to recognise they too will be working with the same or similar restrictions - too much to do, little staff, a budget to balance, conflicting priorities and at the same time try to keep everybody happy - an almost impossible task in these present times...

Not trying to excuse anybody here - but we are not always aware or appreciate what other people have to deal with and the challenges they face...

Mr. Ellis +1
Cheers