I will premiss this message with three things: (1) I currently only hold NOT at this time - I bought into Spider more than 10 years ago but finally became so disgruntled I had to sell out in the last year at a large loss. I appreciate all the hard work Neil and co. did to give us this fine resource but financially could no longer stand behind him.(2) I wish the NOT and Freewest shareholders no ill will. I hope we get everything we deserve (I will come back to this statement) (3)I am a proud Canadian who thinks we can both develop this resource to the benefit of all Canadians(white/black/yellow/purple/or green) and to the benefit of the USA and the rest of the world.

Aside:

From what I have read and correct me if I am wrong. It was the battle of egos/stuborness as much as anything else that caused two great Canadian mining companys in Sudbury not to join forces and a result we (Canada/Sudbury) ended up losing control and now we no longer have the ownwership of one of the greatest resources of all time. How many mines produce for over 100 years+)

So this is where I am concerned - business is business and I have worked with all types. I would hate to see a short sighted business arrangement (Freewest and Cliffs) made at this time that will ultimately not let all NOT and Freewest shareholders receive their due. I believe the NOT management has a plan and will hopefully execute successfully. The FULL details of this plan will not be known to us for months or years

I guess this is where I come back to my earlier statement.

Many years ago when I was starting my career I moved quickly throught the ranks and as many young people do I was hard working, I had brass balls, and was not afraid to do what it took to get things done. People either got on side with what I wanted or I systematically bull dozed over/under or through them.

I often took away business from my competitors and thrived on my success. I would quickly find peoples/companies weaknesses and take advantage to my companies advantage. Back then no one could see it coming.

There was a true gentleman who I really respected whos business I stole from him at an opportunistic time for the company I worked. (Stole meaning our company paid less than $0.10 on the dollar). I thought at he time I was on the morale high ground because I found jobs for displaced workers,etc,etc,etc

He was so gracious about a business I had taken from him for pennies on the dollar and yet he held his head high and said these words. "I truly hope you get what you deserve"

In the years to come I got mine in different ways - FAST FORWARD

I like to say we are smarter now but we are not -just the pawns that make the rich even richer

I know we are all here for the money and want our investment to pay us according the risk we have taken that is a given.

So SANTA here is my Christmas list.

(1) That NOT management (that work for us) and Freewest management (that work for a group that I wish would join us) can come to a fair agreement that both sides benefit from all of the future upside of this GREAT discovery.

(2) If we can't come to a mutually beneficial agreement - Please let both offers fail until we can figure out how to work together.

(3)That at some point everyone gets what they deserve

Kind regards

John