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Eric Chomko · April 10th 06, 06:01 PM posted to sci.space.policy,sci.space.moderated

Rand Simberg ) wrote:
: On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:20:45 -0400, in a place far, far away,
: (Eric Chomko) made the phosphor on my
: monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that:

: : : Actually, I am making my living right now off a major aerospace firm,
: : : though as a consultant. It's in fact not in my financial interest for
: : : CEV to die, but I still think that it's a misbegotten program.
: :
: : Yeah, you're a consultant to a program you don't believe in. Sort of
: : reminds me of a prude that turns to prostitution.
:
: : Consultants aren't paid to "believe in" programs. They're paid for
: : sound technical advice and services. In fact, what often makes a
: : consultant valuable is their ability to be more objective about a
: : program than those who have a deep stake in it.
:
: I know what a consultant is and what they do!

: Apparently not.

Usually single guys that hope they never get sick. First to go when
budgets are cut. Well paid, but by the hour. Stints can last for days,
weeks, months and sometimes years, but usually they get hired on as
salaried employees if they are around long enough. At least those are the
characteristics of consultants in the IT industry. I suspect it is similar
in aerospace as well.

: It does pay though to have a belief in what you're doing.

: I do have a belief in what I'm doing.

Yeah, the belief is green, always fits and you never have to take it back.