Today's MAVEN article

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Everyone:

Wonderful article today on Bob Newell's award winning MAVEN . Thanks Bob for this article and the photos, link, information, interview. Everyone should take a close look today at the MAVEN. The 'on line' museum benefits everyone !

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation

[tommyc]

Dont throw all the toys out of the pram John.

[tommyc]

I never mentioned Chinook!!.............hmmmmmmmmm if i could just get you to stay on the subject,that would be the cook of the decade......... lol. seems theres not much hope for the pupils you teach...............

[Alan Millhone]

Many years ago Tom Wiswell spent a week in my Belpre home. I had asked him about something and finally he said he always tried to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. His admonition holds true to about anything. I look at the best of the 'on line museum ' . As ACF President I have learned to not be 'thin skinned ' . I endorse and appreciate what the founder and helpers of the Checker on line museum are doing to preserve and share Checker items for all to see. I could spend the rest of my life 'splitting hairs' . To me that is not productive and I will not become a part of that if possible. I also have not appointed anyone to be the ACF's literary person. Not a bad idea though

In conclusion, don't assume that since I openly endorse the on line museum I also embrace every other comment that is made in any post or article. Many of you read tooooooooooooooo much into what a person says in a post.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation

[Alan Millhone]

Hello John:

I would not mind seeing the entire email thread sometime. Many like to have their own ' Bully Pulpit ' to bloviate from if given the opportunity. Now everyone---- from what I just said , many will think I am down on Jay or Josh,etc. Not really, till I see and review all emails in question. I like what Bill O'Reilly says about 'just the facts' and not idle conjecture or baseless accusations.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation

[Dennis Cayton]

Greetings:

Personally, I regard the Online Museum Of Checkers History (OMOCH) website to be an internet treasure, one which I can revisit time and time again with pleasure, and see something new every single time.

Best Wishes,

Dennis Cayton

[chipschap]

Before publishing the story about OMOCH, I did not know that Ryan Pronk specifically was the subject of Jay's comment. Note that in the article no names are given, and I would have asked Jay to remove a specific name had he provided one, but he didn't. I publish interviews as I receive them, making only changes mutually agreed upon with the interviewee. If I feel something is libelous or otherwise unpublishable, and the interviewee won't consent to a change, then I simply don't publish the interview at all. This has happened at times.

In this specific instance, I had a brief email discussion with Alan Millhone well in advance, letting him know that there would likely be some controversy. Jay's "court jester" comment was certainly edgy but I felt it fell within the limits of publishability, again given that a specific name was not stated. While my Checker Maven columns are generally quite neutral, I'm not afraid to print opinions.

On balance, I feel OMOCH offers a fantastic experience for the checkerist, and Jay puts tremendous effort into the site. That's why I wanted to feature it, in the interests of further promoting checkers. Our sport is hardly without controversy and this is quite far from the most egregious example. It is unfortunate when controversy crosses over into animosity, but this is neither the first nor last time for that.

By the way, I don't find anti-American sentiment, at least not in any obvious form, at OMOCH. Jay and I definitely share at least one thing, and that's patriotism and an abiding love for this land (critics please note that this is not at all the same thing as thinking America is always right). America has given me everything I have and I will defend her until my last day on earth.

I offered Ryan the opportunity to write a response, to be published verbatim at the bottom of the column, but he declined. He has decided to move on, as I believe we all should.

Bob Newell
Checker Maven Editor

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Here is what we can do ...

Several years ago, Mr. Pronk at age 15 or 16, took an interview with me after end of historical match with Ron King in 2003 and posted it on Kingzone site (this domain is for sale now). I propose to give a new inteview to Ryan after end of my upcoming 3-moves WCM 2009 with Ron King, and post it on the excellent Bob Newell The Checker Maven site

Indeed, this could be done only if Bob and Ryan agree to do this. And of course, we can do this disregard match result I also promise Jay to send him some match photos for museum and maybe scoresheets scans.

Regards,

Alex

[chipschap]

Alex, if Ryan agrees I would be delighted and honored to publish a new interview. Of course I'd like to have a newer photo to go along with it

Bob Newell

[MostFamousDane]

Hello John:

I like what Bill O'Reilly says about 'just the facts' and not idle conjecture or baseless accusations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJjNVVwRCY