Les, despite your recent hostility I have no interest in a beef with you, or anyone else on the board frankly. It's not, nor ever has been, the reason why I post.
FTR, I consider myself pretty average as a poster. I try to get a good one-liner in from time to time, post good songs and occasionally try to bring something interesting to the table. I can't hold a candle to some of the great ones around here, and never claimed to.
The one thing that I always try to do though is keep the bullshit to a minimum. I endeavor to be honest in my posts and honest in my dealings on the board. Always. I state what I believe and will never hesitate to admit when I am wrong. It's just the way I am, here and IRL.
The only reason I even posted my opinion in this thread is because I was requested to on multiple occasions. I had no independent interest in mediating this conflict, but other's felt differently. Even searles, who felt that I really hated him, wanted to hear what I thought.
This is why I offered my take, not because I inserted myself into this conflict or feel like my opinion is any more valid or correct than anyone else's. I specifically used the term arbiter because Vegas put me up as an option and I wanted searles specific acceptance or denial of me before I gave my take.