If I were to triage my goals going into the annual meeting, the high priorities are the usual: operating results, buybacks, analysis of current businesses (especially BNSF and the energy sectors, but also insurance and smaller operating companies).

But the highest priority was to carefully listen to Greg - what he says, how he says it, things he didn't say.

I went into this morning giving him a one out of three when it came to high-level discussions:
- unimpressed with his comments two year ago: way too much bureaucratic boilerspeak
- considerably more impressed with his comments last year as being more responsive.
- irritated at the annual letter for what I saw as some data massaging ( sutton replies on Hopes, for Greg’s first letter? ) for which I was accused of a math error (accurate) and being "inappropriately harsh" (respectfully disagree)

So, thus far this morning: quite impressed. Objections withdrawn. Greg is assured, careful, cogent, thorough, data at front of mind, no obfuscation/conspicuous omissions as near as I can tell on first reflection.

I'm happier (or at least, less reserved) than I've recently been.

-- sutton
misses the See's candy on stage, though. (At least Ajit brought a Coke)