Crowing horse: if you don't get your Shrike in time, just let me know, and I will send you mine. Second gen, unused. Not a problem. When I found out bald1's son, Erich, was shipping out with less than optimal edged objects, I sent him an ATAK2. Erich is a USN Corpsman, assigned to the USMC. A brave man, indeed.
Aubrey; your kind words and public apology attest to your honor and sense of fairness. You are indeed a gentleman.
DarkMistress; daughter dearest, when daddy may confide in you the medical problem of a person, which I do rarely, and only if it is important for you to know, you should not publicly state this problem. It is a matter of doctor patient confidentiality.
But the fact remains, when a child of mine was in danger, Kevin performed a near Herculean effort to assist her (this all came down on the last day of KNIFEGNUGEN; everyone was dog [no pun intended] tired), and very ill. This action has made him forever my friend. Please do not raise issues of his generosity or integrity with me. I don't think that Kevin is an unkind or mean person. He is worked nearly to death, and has the misfortune to be controversial.
I have no first hand knowledge of his business practices, but from his posts, I know that he doesn't suffer fools gladly. Yes, his forum lacks the warm fuzzy feeling of the Chris Reeve forum. I think, however, that the Reeve forum owes a great deal of its' ambience to the calming influence of Anne Reeve. With Teryl (Mrs. Mad Dog) contributing to the MD forum, perhaps we will know a gentler, kinder MD forum. (OK, who is gnashing their teeth??)
The fact that Kevin sells knives faster than he can make them speaks for itself. I am on Earl Stewart's list for another ATAK2. I bought my way up to be near the top of the list. This is NOT because I don't expect Mike Turber to return my first gen ATAK2 in good condition (fingers crossed).
I am disturbed by your experience, Michael (chefget); as some may know, you and Nick Blinoff have been the professional chefs who are evaluating the Talonite (r) chef's knife. I know you to be an honest, forthright gentleman. Is there any way that I may offer my good offices and intercede so that you are satisfied? I believe your experience to be atypical, and cannot but help thinking it is due to the artificial medium over which communication is conducted.
Remember, if you will, that I was banned from KFC by Kevin after making faceitous, tongue in cheek remarks about drugging children at KNIFEGNUGEN '98. This was due to my unfamiliarity with the internet's lack of non-verbal cues. Dark Mistress, my daughter, will attest to my, er, peculiar sense of humor. I remember vividly when my mother asked her and her younger sister (when they were about 5 and 6 years old) what their favorite flavor of malted milk (which I whipped up in a blender) was, and they both piped up simultaneously, 'Valium.' I was chagrined, to say the least. For the record, I never drugged my children. Or, I should say, I have never drugged them, yet. I alluded to it, and pretended to do it, but never really did it.
So I know firsthand how the artificial communication of the internet can lead to hard feelings which would be totally avoided if the interaction were face to face. Let me know your feelings on this issue if you would be so kind, Michael.
I await your reply, Walt
