The villagers don't want to hear that they are being played, Colonel. It's nothing personal.

Round up all the readers of your column, get them fired up, sending e-mails, threatening to quit, all that, and then wait for the call to come back. The internet allows the gambit to be played worldwide.

If SSM doesn't play, someone else will, if there's any value seen in it.

Out there doing it best I can.