It'll be a while before I'm back. Too many scores to settle here not enough bonsai. -D

At any given time, there are at least five to ten active threads about bonsai. How many new threads did we have today? How many people looking for answers? Don't let one thread about "settling scores" dissuade you... after all, this is the most active bonsai forum on the internet. If you want to talk about bonsai, start a thread or answer one.

Joanie

It would be interesting to examine what people's idea of what bonsai is in regards to this forum.

For me, there has not been much bonsai here for about 3 years.

Al

hmmmm BT is what you make it. I make it a place where I talk trees and I am social. I get the most of out of BT because I choose too. If you walk... honestly the only person who loses is you.

It would be better to stay. Effect change by your own contributions. I try to do that every day. As I said, BT is what you make it.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

Your level of bonsai is high, Al. You set the standard. You're like Merrill Lynch... when you speak, people listen.

We all need to remember that things only happen here if people strive to bring topics to the forum. You've done a sterling job, but the burden rests on only a few.

Joanie

That's E.F. Hutton, Joanie.

But I like the Merrill Lynch comparison. They always claimed that

"Merrill Lynch is bullish on America"

Fair enough.I always claimed that

"Al Keppler is bullish** on stilts."

(To bastardize a marvellous expression from Jeremy Bentham.)

Cheers,
Carl

Ah, tonight I was apparently like Mr. Bentham.... present, but not voting.

Ol' Jeremy sure was a stuffed shirt. It was fun until his head fell off.

Joanie

Carl...


You and I are well with one another.... but it ill becomes you to have said that about Al. I am disappointed. And more I will stand by Al and say it's off base. Whatever is muckin around in the other thread, you really should keep it there (which I stopped reading somewhere around post 40 something).

Having had a conversation with Al in a similar vein just the other night, I feel free to say it's in reference to more advanced bonsai artists having things on this forum appropreiate to their level. And I think we can agree that is in case the fact. Which makes Al's comment or position anything but bovine-crap on sticks.

I am thankful for his contributions. I know that they have added to me considerably.

Regards as ever,

Victrinia

Vic,

I think you've badly misinterpretted the tone of this post.

Al and I have history of this sort of banter going back at least three or four years -- back to when, in Al's words, there as actually bonsai here.

Hence the "I've always claimed" in my remark. Looking back, you'll see that I've always claimed anything but that Al is full of nonsense. Like you, I find Al's contributions to be among the most stimulating on here, and I look forward to a new bonsaial1 post with an enthusiasm that I grant to few other members on this site. I proudly display my trees on two Al Keppler stands. I ran a gallery of his stands at the Art of Bonsai recently, and Al just served as a judge for the photo contest that we ran at there. I thought that my claim that I've was so patently ludicrous that no one could possibly think I was serious.

With my best regards,
Carl

Carl,

Phew... I have never been so glad to be wrong. I do most humbly retract my disappointment and subsequent comment.

I was nothing short of suprised. I guess I should of thought it through better considering Al has never refered to you with anything other than a tone of respect in any conversation I have been privy to.

I am sorry to have so badly misunderstood your intentions. Maybe if I had looked at whatever that link was... I would of caught on. I'll make sure I look next time.

Maybe I should just go to bed... the ol' noodle is obviously not functioning correctly. Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate your graciousness within it.

Warm Regards,

Victrinia