Due to family health issues I haven't posted for a while but I do read the posts whenever I get a chance, and based on what I've read over the past few weeks I felt it was time to offer my thoughts. Please bear with me as I attempt to put some of these issues into perspective

To those of you who wrote and offerred moral support when my wife was critically ill, thank you. During the past few months I have seen many acts of unselfish kindness and courage. From the father who's young daughter was dying yet took the time to show me the chapel in a very large hospital and stayed with me to share a moment of quiet prayer. To the teenager who had suffered broken hips, brain damage, and was re-learning to speak and walk yet took the time to get out of her bed to offer assistance to my wife when she had difficulty. These are only two acts of unselfish kindness that I witnessed daily during the two months my wife was in hospital. I also see courage daily when I watch my wife deal with the minutae of every day living, in a world that changed dramatically for her on Dec 10. She never complains and meets every challenge with strength and a will of steel because she knows that even though it will take years and with gods help she will overcome

On the issue of Noront , I have been investing in junior miners for over forty years. During that time I have met CEO's, Geologists, CFO's, P&D artists and for lack of a better word "snake oil salesmen". Each of them though from different backgrounds had one thing in common, they all took time to talk to the small shareholder. It was always up to the individual to disseminate what they were saying. Before the internet the only thing we retail investors had going was PDAC the AGM, and Sedar. Whenever possible I made a point of attending as many AGM's as possible because I found that what was documented in the meetings sometimes didn't quite reflect what was being said. In most cases these meetings were held in company offices and the odd time like NOT in larger settings. No matter where they were held it was the opportunity for small shareholders to voice their opinion and hear the management groups. In the end based on what was said you determined if you wanted to continue to invest, hold or sell.

I got really concerned when I read that the CEO's and the BOD of Noront are no longer answering calls from retail investors. Personally I don't want to talk to IR companies, they are only mouthpieces that pass on what they are told to say. I usually lump them in with the last category I mentioned. Over the years I've found that when company executives start to clam up it's time to start to dig a little deeper and determine whether or not to continue to hold.

I'm also concerned with the decision of Noront to cancel the contract with Agoracom. For any company to close the forum on tens of thousands of retail investors is just wrong. Do they really believe that their actions will stop retail investors from questioning them on the actions and status of the company. No matter how small a shareholders position is they have invested their money and they expect to see a return on their investment. Personally I will continue to call and expect answers whenever I see something that negatively impacts on my investment, and I will continue to post on Agoracom. I believe QQ_Girl said it best when she said "we are a community".

Back to my first point, no matter what happens with Noront, it is only an investment, nothing more nothing less. Each of us, hopefully, undertook due diligence before we invested our hard earned dollars. The results of that dd showed that there was an opportunity to make a profit. Whether or not some of us got in early and sold on a run up to $7, then bought in again, or bought in at a high and watched it decline to $0.60 we all have something in common we are still share holders in NOT and believe there is profit to be made. There is nothing to be gained by voicing negative thoughts on NOT all we do when that happens is give credence to NOT's management decision when they cancelled the Agoracom contract. This does not mean we should not have debate or voice our opinions but there is nothing to be gained by making them personal.

Bottom line lets try and keep all of this in perspective there are far greater issues for us to focus our energy on such as family, friends, health and enjoyment of life.

God bless all of you

Joe