Tony Raven wrote:

> Michael Cash wrote:
> 
>>That old chestnut needs to be retired on a full pension already. The
>>operant expression these days would be the one which makes mention of
>>squeaky wheels and grease.
> 
> 
> In what way is it an old chestnut.  AFAIK the nail that gets hammered is an
> old Japanese saying while the squeaky wheel being greased in an American one
> which has not been adopted into Japanese culture. 

I suspect, although I cannot speak for him, that Michael Cash might have 
been meaning that the latter phrase was indeed more applicable to modern 
Japan. Certainly, we've had good treatment in plenty of ways through our 
squeakiness. But there's also been some pressure to conform and trivial 
petty nonsense we would prefer to do without. On balance, despite the 
problems, we really don't want to leave yet. Fortunately, my wife and I 
happen to have had a big success recently in our research, which should 
mean that the scientific management will want to keep us here, but I do 
not kid myself that they will put up with an unlimited amount of trouble.

I think we'll try the email and maybe putting on training wheels for a 
bit. Then the ball will be very firmly in his court, he can either 
forget the matter or escalate it.

James