... (though titled "My Opinions") were not statements of opinion, but statements of fact:

>> However, everyone seems to forget that Mel was not expelled from
>> the Club because of the sale of the fake brass cores.

That is a statement of fact, not an opinion. It is wrong. The report specifically says he was expelled for selling a fake brass core to Dean Porter without proper disclosure.

>> That could not be proven ... beyond a reasonable doubt,
>> there were no receipts or independent 3rd party observations.

That is a statement of fact, not an opinion. It is wrong. "Receipts" were not needed because Mel admitted selling the chip to Dean. And there was a "3rd party observation" -- see my post to Norm Botoshe on this specific issue at:

http://www.thechipboard.com/cgi-bin/tcb/tcb.pl?read=242602

>> The board was not even sure that what Mel did with the Brass Cores
>> was in violation of the Code of Ethics.

That is a statement of fact, not an opinion. It is wrong. They threw him out of the club for what he did and made it quite clear that they thought he "was in violation of the Code of Ethics".

>> Mel was expelled because he refused to cooperate with the
>> Board's investigation of the Brass Core issue.

That is a statement of fact, not an opinion. It is wrong. The second basis for his expulsion was that he lied during the investigation, not that he refused to cooperate with the Board.

It is apparent that you won't answer my questions because you cannot.

>> In fact, my opinions were formed even before the report was ever published.

Ah, I get it. Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.

>> I am entitled to my opinions just as everyone else is.

No doubt ...

>> I tend to express my opinions when I believe
>> there is some value to others in sharing them.

... but there isn't much value to your opinions when they are not based on facts, or when they are based on facts which you refuse to share with the rest of us. Let me put it this way, on what facts do you base the "opinions" which you have stated (which facts are unknown to the rest of us and which are otherwise refuted by the contents of the brass core report)?

Which report, BTW, states with 100% accuracy what the principals say happened.

>> When I have to disagree, I try to do it without being disagreeable.

Laudable goal. Not always achievable.

>> Jim, I will not say that you are WRONG WRONG WRONG. You stated your
>> opinions, you are entitled to do so. Please extend that courtesy to others.

As I told you by email, any time I make a factual statement which is WRONG WRONG WRONG, feel free to say so. On the other hand, I will never say your opinions are wrong. Opinions can never be "right" or "wrong". They can only be "shared" or "not shared". It is apparent that in this situation, our opinions are the latter.

However, when you make statements of fact which are incorrect and -- as in this case -- which impugn the integrity of both my investigation and the ultimate decision of the board, I am going to tell you that you are WRONG.

Even if you find it disagreeable.

Apparently I wasted my time yesterday trying to ameliorate this with you.

I need Gene's fork.

----- jim o\-S