>
For obvious reasons I will not discuss specifics of Ragan's FoxTalk budget or whether there are competitive issues involved.
>

Please....of course there are competitive issues involved. Hopefully, that is not an unresolved issue for you.

>
The bottom line is that both Mike and I will be there officially representing FoxTalk -- just not as conference attendees.
>

And not as conference exhibitors or sponsors. It woudl seem to me that Devcon, being the launch event for 9, and also, according to Ken's August Letter - this will be the place where at least some post 9 items will be announced, it would be the place to be if at time some point - you will br writing an editorial piece. I understand that you will see and meet many people.

The primary point is this - 1 - your and/or your publisher is not supporting - financially - the main show of the year - for the product you write about. 2 - you can't expect other people to support a show that you or your publisher will not support.

Whatever your other activities may be, you can never say you fully committed to the product or to the community - unless of course you help to support all of the shows in some way. Indeed at one point, the rivialry between Advisor and Pinnacle was pretty fierce. I know at one point, Advisor would not permit its authors to write for other publications. It is a different day and and age now. It seems to me you went out of your way to take a shot by implying the show was not worth attending and/or paying for. As the editor for the only competitor of FPA - I found that more than a little strange - given your pronouncements re: your committment to the community.

John