Jeff,

Thank you for your apology, though it was unsolicited, and certainly unnecessary.

Here is my point....and with this, I will end my role in this banter. (I hear the cheering in the background.)

In May, you were "angry".

In June, you were "bitter".

In July, you felt "betrayed".

Now, in August, you are none of the above, though maybe on occasion.

In January 2004, you felt very differently.

As you have so aptly pointed out, "Things change." Circumstances evolve, the unknown is revealed, the unexpected occurs, "stuff" happens.

You seem to be a very straight-forward guy, wishing no one ill. It makes perfectly good sense to you that you would change as circumstances change, and that your friends would understand those changes. You were "bitter" but now you're not. You were excited about the "potential" but now you say "show me".

This is the way life is, and it seems perfectly reasonable to you that others would understand that things change, and it makes sense that you need to "roll with the punches" that life throws your way.

All I am asking, my friend, is that you judge others by the same standard by which you wish to be judged.

Paul Metzinger is, I believe, also a man of integrity who wishes no one ill. In my opinion, he is doing his best to run a company under circumstances that are difficult (at best) and make it successful for the benefit of all that have invested in it. He has a vision for the future. Sometimes, as life has handed him the unexpected, the vision has had to be re-focused. Such is life. It is what we all do. Things change, people are dishonest with us, the unanticipated happens, and we adjust our plan. For the most part, when that happens we cut each ther slack and hope others will do the same for us.

We can expect to be forgiven only as we are willing to forgive others. It seems to be a cardinal rule of life.

I am not asking you to be a cheerleader. I'm a little more in touch with reality than that. I am only asking that you double check the inventory for baggage....anger, bitterness, feelings of betrayal, and then throw them overboard and move on. I ask this not for my benefit, nor for the benefit of others, but in hope that some of your anguish would be relieved.

Regards,

-zties