Many of us do know the identity of Mark's JDA souce. He is a middle level executive who is listed on the JDA website. He does attend all the official meetings. He has been with the JDA since it was formed.
During the period around awards I had several phone conversations with him on the JDA phone line.
He was reasonably well informed and he is intelligent.
Perhaps expectations trump current realities at the JDA, too.
I believe that when Mark tried to contact his source in September of 2009 that person was on the Deepwater Pathfinder with other JDZ personnel. Mark expected to hear some news the next week when they were back at the JDZ offices, but only got generalities, drilling going well, geoligists happy with what they are seeing, etc.