Gina;

The following is  more STINGING reality...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject:      Velleman K4000 100Wpc tube amp
From:         André Jute <an...@indigo.ie>
Date:         1997/05/21
Message-ID:   <33834D4D.22FD@indigo.ie>
Newsgroups:   rec.audio.marketplace

[Subscribe to rec.audio.marketplace]
[More Headers]

VELLEMAN K4000 15/100Wrms per channel Class A/B all-tube power
amplifier. Eight EL34 in parallel push-pull. Stainless steel apron and
facia. Handbuilt by Andre Jute and reviewed in over a hundred
newspapers, this is the precise amp on the Internet in the Recommended
Tube Kits site, and in his forthcoming book.

http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/Recommendedtubekits2.html#anchor1594872

Stg 600 or US$1000 plus carriage.

Andre
--

Andre Jute
an...@indigo.ie
Communication Jute

http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

also leads to the pages we support for audiophiles, writers, lovers of
classical music, and environmentalists

Ahem, Bob...I could be considered a redneck by some but you
defy classification.
So, in the best tradition of my redneck heritage I submit
the following:

EAT SHIT AND CHOKE ON IT!

you ignorant asshole...what the fuck leads you to believe we
need you as a lantern of truth and wisdom?

Humbly submitted,

a tooth suckin' redneck

In article <19980311014801.UAA24...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,

I didn't think amoebas had necks.

Jim

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The author is singly responsible for the contents of this
message; they do not reflect any opinion of the organizations
sponsoring this net account.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That dog don't hunt.  Sure it looks absurd now, but then, only you know
what you were drinking back then.  Mike has never been known for
"relentless commercialism." No doubt, Mikey really likes his own
trannies, a lot, maybe even more than is natural for a man to like a
tranny.  But commercialism?  

Actually I never have disagreed with everything you say, I only disagree
with the lies you try to spread about me and my friends.  Very simple,
very easy, stop attacking my friends and you won't hear much from me.
Oh, don't expect me to pretend that I like you.  Your Munchhausen-like
absurdities will always draw comment when I think it appropriate or
fun.  But really, how am I to tell you're joking when you tell the old
story about Stirling Moss taking the Lamborghini test drive for his
decorator, except with you as the star and expect us to treat that
seriously.  Or the Hemi heads you designed for Chrysler using a surplus
punch-card COBOL computer.  Or the 300 employees you have, none of whom
will find anything out for you.

Thanks for recycling my reply for me.  Truth be told, thought I nailed
that pretty well.

How can you call anything associated with your weird little fantasy
world prestigious? What's prestigious about Western Electric giving you
tubes under false pretenses?  
What is prestigious about talking Per Lundahl out of product?  
What is prestigious about claiming to build dozens of amps that never
really existed?
What is prestigious about telling lies about yourself.  
There is no prestige in your game.  None.  

Face it you're about as prestigious as Travis Bickett with a degree and
a keyboard.

Bullshit - you had written your six part tirade, and none of us had
replied.  We all let it go.  All of the victims of your attack, took a
walk on it an let you get away with one.  Nobody said a thing for 6
weeks.  You on the other hand took our forebearance as acceptance and
tried to push the issue.  You are a simple fucking thug playing simple
jailhouse games - if someone tolerates an insult, you give him another
and demand something.  "Gimme a cigarette."

Don't we all wish.

ROn

Leads to pages that shrink as each lie is debunked.

No shit, Ronni? Are you pretending this is private mail sent to LeFevre?

You brag about holding a private investigator's license and after three
years on my arse, that's your "evidence"? A joke you have pulled out of
context?

For the rest of you:

That's a letter I published openly on a public forum (the Joenet) to
ridicule LeFevre for his relentless commercialism. A sarcastic insider's
joke, not a business proposition.

(I also had a bet offlist that I could induce Bales, who disagreed
violently with everything I said, to *agree* with me 200 per cent "or
words to that effect", so I made the joke count twice. Here's the
witless Ronni, Thu, 16 Oct 1997 19:25, falling for the joke *and*
winning me a hundred bucks, still out in public:

fraud whose >dull mind is enslaved by some Japanese amp guru who demands
you build >only the most crude and archaic designs you copy from others.
Oh, >sorry.  You already had an offer like that. ROn.

I'm still swatting two flies with every slap, Ronni. Guess how.)

If you, Ron "Stumblebum" Bales P.I., want to claim the letter is
serious, then clearly LeFevre is being invited to join a prestigious
project. Pretty good going for a small winder who had already spent two
years setting his pals on my tail, wouldn't you say?

So either the letter you quote is a joke played out in full public view
on the humourless LeFevre (and coincidentally on you) or it is proof
positive that I carry no grudges.

Choose!

What it certainly is *not* is any attempt to "extract" goods with
menaces, which is what you were pretending and Gina was stupidly giving
credence to by replying to your letter.

Looks to me like you got your "private eye" licence for five off-brand
cola-bottle tops and two second-class stamps.

****
Don't bother with the "evidence" for your allegations, Gina. It has to
come from the same discredited source: the Bales-LeFevre-Deutschman
Axis. Spare everyone the wasted bandwidth. You're running with a bunch
of hoodlums whose leading thinker, Bales, one wrote publicly that I
shouldn't be given the opportunity to defend myself because I am so
clever I would of course prove there was no evidence. Someone wants to
explain to that thicko that there is no evidence because I did no wrong.

Whatever else appears in this thread and others like it is likely to be
of the same standard of "evidence". I dismiss it with the silent
contempt it deserves.

Flick.

Andre
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

Andre, if you read that paragraph again, you'll note that I'm talking about ANY
reviewer - I'm not pointing a finger at you.  As far as evidence goes, I
realize that I'd have to go digging up shippng manifests and receipts and God
knows what else; I really don't have the time.  As far as asking you goes, that
could be taken as an accusation, so I don't feel I have the right to do that.
Therefore, as I told you, I remain neutral on the subject.  I enjoy reading
your posts and e-mails (the non-incendiary ones).

Please be careful with the headphones.  As Tim Reese pointed out, there is a
potential for hearing damage - I know guys at work who listen to music through
headphones loudly enough for me to hear them across the room and I can picture
their poor little cilias withering under the onslaught!

Gina T.

I wrote the above yesterday.  After reading today's posts, I want to add this:
You seem to cling fiercely to the belief that everyone who's not "fer" you is
"agin" you.  This is is same mentality that gets lynch mobs organised in the
first place.  Just as I object to people telling me to to talk to you, so I
object to your anger that I talk to people you don't like.  I still believe
that a man of your intelligence and experience is capable of better things.
However, I have intelligence and experience of my own, and I WILL NOT - and I
say this to all of you - I WILL NOT BE PRODDED OR GOADED INTO JOINING A PRIVATE
WAR.

The Monroe Doctrine - stupid.  The Domino Theory - stupid.  I have nothing
further to say on this subject.

First you "bless" it, Then You sell it. Slimy.
Al Mitchell
NYC

In article <1d5njn0.2dla96b5jb...@ts02-53.cork.indigo.ie>,
  an...@indigo.ie (=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Andr=E9_Jute?=) wrote:

Silly Andre -- did you really think that I would pass up this delightful
opportunity to expose your various thefts?!  I see you have quit claiming
you're not a liar; congratulations on passing my earlier course, "Recognizing
Lying 101" -- now, onwards to Theft 101....

Some of Andre's most verifiable heists (information content as provided by the
named people):

Andre talked Westrex into sending him a pair of new production 300B tubes,
ostensibly for review.  Upon receiving them, he refused to return them,
claiming "I don't accept loans -- these are mine to keep."  To verify this,
please contact Charles Whitener of Westrex, phone 1-404-874-4400.

Andre cajoled a pair of Lowther drivers from Lowther, again for review, again
refusing to return them after he received them; to verify this, please contact
Diane Hanson of Lowther Loudspeaker Systems, phone 44-181-300-9166.  (He was
unable to convince Lowther to give him the plans for the Fidelio boxes for the
drivers; instead he asked a JoeNet member to violate the Lowther copyright and
pass a copy of the plans along, in exchange for one of Andre's trash novels;
for verification of this, I'd be happy to post the post.)

Andre obtained a S.E.X. kit complete with Magnaquest upgrade transformers for
review from Electronic Tonalities; he refused to return the kit, and instead
traded the half-built (only one channel built) kit to Mirko Kubala for a pair
of C37-treated Lowther drivers.  To verify this, please contact Dan
"Bottlehead" Schmalle of Electronic Tonalities at 1-360-697-1936 or
Bottleh...@prodigy.net.

Andre has cajoled various products from Velleman for review, none of which
were ever returned, and some of which he has tried to sell; contact Mike
Denecker, sales manager of Velleman, phone 1-817-284-7785 to verify this.

The list goes on, but I think this is more than enough to demonstrate a rather
clear pattern; perhaps in a more advanced course we will cover tougher issues,
such as telling the difference between lying and theft (e.g.: is cheating on
taxes lying to the government, or stealing from the government, or both)....

-frank

-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/   Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading

It appears that Mr. Jute has a future as a Democratic Party
fundraiser....

Ross Lipman

rl1...@ix.netcom.com

Checked out Andre's latest review of the Miyabe amp from Triode Supply.

Anybody know if the review sample is up for sale yet?

He is keeping that one. It is the only real amp he owns, the Real McCoy
stuff is total vaporware. I certainly hope it does not develop a transformer
BUZZ...

Bob

On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 13:26:30 -0500, Ross Lipman <rl1...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

Or Rush Limbaugh might hire him to write to ghost-write his
autobiography..

Ned Carlson  Triode Electronics,2225 W Roscoe Chicago, IL, 60618 USA
ph 773-871-7459 fax 773-871-7938
12:30 to 8 PM CT, (1830-0200 UTC) 12:30-5 Sat, Closed Wed & Sun
http://www.triodeel.com
Text file catalogs:Catalog 'Bot at cata...@triodeel.com

<1d5oqjb.wylxdpc3kq...@ts01-55.cork.indigo.ie>...

Mike is one of the least commercial individuals one could ever deal with.
More lies Mr Jute, anything to try and escape from being busted again.

I guess you consider anyone who can see through your scams as stupid.

I don't know the facts of this matter.  

I know that Frank has made a clear and specific allegation against you.

I know by your reply that that Mr. Nealden has seen your web site and
that Mr. Whitener travels a lot.

I assume that Frank's allegation is true since you haven't tried to
refute it.

ROn

Friends

I publish this one with great sadness because Dan Schmalle deserves
better than be forced to choose between his livelihood (he's the
Northwestern distributor for Lefevre's Magnequest Transformers) and the
truth. But I am fed up to the back teeth with these Joenetters coming
here and shitting all over us.

LIE:

Deutschmann's lie (same lie as LeFevre, Bales and Bob C told):

Here's LeFevre spouting the same lie, several times:

LeFevre also claimed several time that he would supply proof. Tired of
waiting, I now provide proof positive of exactly the opposite to what
LeFevre claims, from the mouth of the authority he claimed to be
quoting.

FACT:

These are the highlights, Bottlehead's full post is below my signature:

Andre Jute, Real McCoy Audio: Have you authorized this?

Dan "Bottlehead" Schmalle of Electronic Tonalities: No. I was very
satisfied with the excellent review, and you were never asked to return
the kit.  And I have had a very courteous, professional relationship
with you, Andre. This is why I have remained quiet. What I might have
had to say up to now would be very likely to be taken out of context by
those participating in this battle, and used in a means other than I
initially intended, as we can see in the above post.

I consider both of you [Jute and LeFevre] friends, and the entire
incident seems to me blown out of proportion.

Jute: It is true, isn't it, that I offered to return the built kit to
you if you were willing to pay return carriage? It is true, isn't it,
that you declined?

Bottlehead: Yes and I have explained this to Mike, and he has
acknowledged my explanation.

Comment: LeFevre over and over told us he had written evidence that I
had stolen the SEX kit. He was told by the manufacturer that it was
untrue. LeFevre lied wilfully, repeatedly, while he knew better. His
lieutenants Deutschmann, Bales and Bob C lied about this repeatedly in
public and Michael LeFevre of Magnequest Transformers did not correct
their lie.

Bottlehead: In fact, I have sent a kit to another well known reviewer,
who made no such effort to discuss whether or not he should keep the
kit, and I have seen neither a mention of the kit in ink, nor any return
package from said reviewer, after nine months. By comparison your
efforts to create agreeable terms regarding the disposition of the kit
after the review are commendable.

Comment: Nice to be appreciated but I don't expect any brownie points
for it from the Joenet blow-bys.

I don't know why other people are throwing more fuel on the fire with
misinformation. I can only hope that they recognize they may well be
doing a disservice to some of us who are trying to make a living in this
wacky business. I certainly have not asked any of those who are not
directly involved to participate in this incident in any way.

I would suggest that those not directly involved butt out, and would
suggest that those directly involved let the issue rest.

Jute: It is true, isn't it, that I asked and received your permission
before at my own expense I passed the kit on to Mirko?

Bottlehead: Yes to this also.

Comment: Again, LeFevre lied and lied and lied about this, claiming I
had stolen the kit, claiming he had proof in Bottlehead's mail, which he
claimed to have been given to him to "prove" this. He threatened several
times to publish his "proof".

Bottlehead: I have no first hand knowledge as to the condition of the
items exchanged in the transaction between you and Mirko, and I suggest
that it's probably no one's business but yours and Mirko's.

Comment: Right on! And yours, if you want to ask. But no one ever asked
me. They just ran around spouting malicious assumptions which I
dismissed with the contempt they deserved.

Jute: Did you have any cause to be dissatisfied with my professional
behaviour during our association in connection with the SEX review in
Glass Audio?

Bottlehead: Not at all. Our relationship was very positive, and as I
said, I am very pleased with the review.

Bottlehead: I would request that if this is posted to a public forum, it
be posted in its entirety, to avoid any further confusion from
statements being taken out of context.

Jute: It is below my signature with a single small snip to avoid further
inflammation.

****************

Well, what can I say? Mike lied and lied and lied, claiming I was a
thief and a liar and an incompetent, for weeks on end, promising daily
to produce the written evidence. He counted on intimidating Dan
Schmalle, who is his distributor, to lie for him. I put off asking Dan
my questions as long as possible, but Frank Deutschmann insisted on
riding this to the death.

As I knew Dan would, when he was asked straight up, he told the truth.

Dan Schmalle  is due a very large apology from this newsgroup and from
everyone who wrote a single word to one of these threads, blowing a
single matchstick into a forest fire.

That it should be Frank's and Mike's reputations that die in the flames
Frank stoked up is ironic and just.

Those of you who owe me apologies, consider them sent, received,
accepted and the matter forgotten.

Andre
Sauvitor in modo, fortiter in res
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

From: "Bottlehead" <Bottleh...@prodigy.net>
To: "Andre Jute" <an...@indigo.ie>
Subject: Re: More maladroit Mikey marketing
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 07:32:18 -0000

No. I wish all you people would quit with this garbage. I was very
satisfied with the excellent review, and you were never asked to return
the kit.  And I have had a very courteous, professional relationship
with you Andre. This is why I have remained quiet. What I might have had
to say up to now would be very likely to be taken out of context by
those participating in this battle, and used in a means other than I
initially intended, as we can see in the above post.

From my perspective, your inclination is to stir things up a bit at
times. Also from my perspective, Mike is one to overreact when it comes
to any negative commentary about his product.

Both of these characteristics are estimable qualities on their own, when
tempered with some maturity. Unfortunately, the combination of you two
is oil and water, and this discussion had degenerated long ago to the
point where I have realized my best place is to stay away from it.
I consider both of you friends, and the entire incident seems to me
blown out of proportion.

I spoke with Mike quite a bit, and after he forwarded one post related
to this, I convinced him that it would be best to leave rec.audio, to
defuse a situation which I can only perceive as hurting the
reputations of both of my friends.

Yes and I have explained this to Mike, and he has acknowledged my
explanation. In fact, I have sent a kit to another well known reviewer,
who made no such effort to discuss whether or not he should keep the
kit, and I have seen neither a mention of the kit in ink, nor any return
package from said reviewer, after nine months. By comparison your
efforts to create agreeable terms regarding the disposition of the kit
after the review are commendable.

I don't know why other people are throwing more fuel on the fire with
misinformation. I can only hope that they recognize they may well be
doing a disservice to some of us who are trying to make a living in this
wacky business. I certainly have not asked any of those who are not
directly involved to participate in this incident in any way. But alas I
must admit I am far too naive and unsophisticated to understand what
anyone could possibly perceive to be the positive benefits of flame wars
on the internet.

I would suggest that those not directly involved butt out, and would
suggest that those directly involved let the issue rest.

Yes to this also. I would add that Mirko has purchased an Afterglow kit
from us as well, and has requested information this morning about a
parafeed conversion, so I guess he wasn't completely dissatisfied with
our product. I have no first hand knowledge as to the condition of the
items exchanged in the transaction between you and Mirko, and I suggest
that it's probably no one's business but yours and Mirko's.

...

read more »

Friends

Normally I don't react when the Joenet scum drag in third parties, but
now Deutschmann is so keen to squirt to pus of his sick psyche over us
that he is dragging them in wholesale. As usual, he is lying.

LIE:

Deutschmann's lie (same lie as LeFevre, Bales and Bob C told):

FACT:

 Jim Nealden, Sales Manager, Westrex to Andre Jute, Tue, 10 Mar 1998:

"I have reviewed your website and have no complaints.  I have printed
off a copy and will give it to Charles Whitener to read as well. Feel
free to contact me via email."

Charles Whitener, whom Frank Deutschmann invites you to call, won't even
be in the US until next week. One wonders what makes Deutschmann think
Mr Whitener will take his call. Amazing, the cheek of some people.

Andre
Sauvitor in modo, fortiter in res
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

Friends

Here Frank Deutschmann so urgently needs to show what a big man he is by
dropping the big names of our hobby, that he drags in someone who
doesn't know me, and has never heard of him!

LIE:

Deutschmann's lie:

FACT:

Diane Hanson, Lowther Voight Limited, Sidcup, England, to Andre Jute,
Thursday, 12 Mar 1998:  

Jute, Real McCoy Audio: 1. Is Frank Deutschmann a spokesman for your
company?

Hanson, Lowther Voight: No. Who is he?

Jute: 2. Did you provide him with this information under any pretext?
Are you the "named person" who provided this entirely false information?

Hanson: No. And no.

Jute: 3. Do you know any Frank Deutschmann?

Hanson: We have never even heard of him. Who is he?

Jute:  Deutschmann is a net-stalker. The sort of scum thrown up by
instant communications.

Jute: 4. Have I [Andre Jute] ever asked Lowther Voight Limited or any of
its officers for drivers for review or any other purpose?

Hanson: No, never.

Jute: 5. Have you ever sent me any drivers?

Hanson: No, how could we if you did not ask for any?

Jute: 6. Have I ever been in possession of any property of yours? Or
refused to return any property of yours?

Hanson: No, never. No, never.

Jute: 7. Have I ever asked Lowther Voight Limited or any of its officers
for plans for enclosures for any of your drivers?

Hanson: No, never. This is the first time any of us have ever spoken to
you.

******

Is there any further need for me to comment on Deutschmann's lies?

Frank Deutschmann of 25A Windle Park, Tarrytown, NY  10591,  you are
scum.

Andre
Sauvitor in modo, fortiter in res
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html <fdeut...@blackrock.com>
wrote:

--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

Friends

Remember how Frank Deutschmann made a fortnight's meal of some scare
story about handheld scope just because *I* recommended it? And how,
when it was all over and George Gonzales gave us the definitive word,
all it came down to was a single paragraph about using a shielded probe
that I was already recommending? Here we go with the tainted fruit of
that one:

LIE:

Deutschmann's lie:

FACT:

Velleman Kit NV is a firm with whom I have a pleasant multi-level
relationship stretching back a decade.

Deutschmann's only connection with them is that he went to the back door
begging technical information, which the nice Mike Denecker, of their
technical product staff, supplied, as they supply information on request
to all comers. Their sales manager is actually someone else, just
another of those small details that should be known by those who pretend
to be confidential insiders...

The name of the firm, Velleman *Kit* actually tells you everything you
want to know about Frank's lies. Kit manufacturers do not expect
reviewers to return kits once they have built them. What would they do
with the built kit? It would be a waste of carriage. See also ELECTRONIC
TONALITIES: "LEFEVRE'S LIES" for an insight into a kit manufacturer's
mind.

When I won't respond to the libels of this poor white trash (LeFever,
Deutschmann, Bales, Bob C), they drag in everybody whose name they can
think of, a dozen names so far in this thread. They don't care who they
hurt, all they want is a little attention.

Andre
Sauvitor in modo, fortiter in res
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

Good for you. But why should I need assistance? There are only about
half a dozen or so of them. These losers are strictly cradle-class. They
try their best shot and all we see is their nappy rash. I have them
surrounded.

Well, it would be easy to prove that the Monroe Doctrine, the Kennedy
Katastrophe ("We shall pay any price"-- we did!) and the Domino Theory
lead directly to the emergence of the 6C33 tube into audio. In the end
it is all connected to tubes, if you look close enough.

Andre
We are going back to tubes, aren't we? Now? Whee!
--
Andre Jute  an...@indigo.ie  COMMUNICATION JUTE
--see our pages for music lovers, writers and audiophiles at
http://indigo.ie/~andre/ComJuteF1.html
http://www.foundmark.com/ComJute/ComJuteF1.html

In article <1d5slf7.1ypwsyy1vxl0...@ts01-61.cork.indigo.ie>,

I thought the big names in this hobby were Sprague, Mallory, AB, Amperex,etc?

Sheldon

--
Remove SPAM_BE_GONE. from my address to reply to me.

100% True

Bob

Andre sez:

Here's LeFevre spouting the same lie, several times:

True enough.  This is exactly what I said....and I stick by it.  Every word of
it.  Read it carefully,  word for word, concept for concept....do you see me
saying anywhere that Andre "stole" this kit from the manufacturer?

What I tried to state and will expand on here is....

1)  I asked a question....did you ever pay the manufacturer for his goods.
This, if you chose to answer it, could be answered with a yes or no.

2) Did you convert the property (the kit) for personal gain.  In other words
did you dispose of the kit in a manner which accrued to you other goods or
services of value.  Another way of saying this is, again, did you realize any
pecuinary gain or value in disposing of the property?

3) Regarding Mirko...did you send the kit to him?  Did he send you something of
value (Lowther drivers) in return for them?

4) I state that your a rip off artist...why....because you converted a product
that was provided to you on a professional basis (as a reviewer) for your
peronsal gain.

Perhaps a little context....the kit manufacturer paid for the shipping of the
kit to Ireland out of his own pocket which is conventionally an accepted
practice within the review community.  The costs of shipping this kit and it's
return costs might have amounted to a value nearly equal that of the goods
themselves.  Therefore, the manufacturer chose to say...let it fly...you  keep
the goods.

****MY VIEW**** is that in a professional context the reviewer out of respect
for the manufacturer could have realized the quandry the manufacturer was in
and conducted himself in a wholly professional and ethical manner and
said..."hey when I sell this kit I will return to you the proceeds and pay you
for your goods"....even minus the costs of selling it (say for an ad or so
forth)....

Such a course of action might have also been imposed by the reviewer himself so
that he might always conduct himself to the highest ethical standards and not
benefit from the sale of properties that were entrusted to him for the purposes
of obtaining a professional review.  

The "conversion" of this property   ******under these circumstances*****  
I.e., realizing that there was a professional relationship involving an audio
journalist\reviewer\ critic and a trusting public whom expects honest reviews
free of the taint (or even the hint of) the reviewer being bought off or the
reviewer benefiting from the sale of the reviewed merchandise.  

So this is the basis for my making the statement above...and again I stick by
it wholly.  Andre did, to the best of my knowledge, convert the property to
personal gain and has never paid the manufacturer for his goods.  

There is a high road available, one that a through going honest person might
have taken....that is to compensate the kit manufacturer for the value of his
goods even if such were not demanded or even expected by the manufacturer of
the goods.  

Andre, in my opinion, was very quick to take advantage of this "generosity" by
the kit manufacturer and it smacks of the illicit practices engaged in by an
utterly small minority of professiona reviewers in the ranks of audio
journalism.

I unequivocally stick by my sense that Andre profited unfairly and
unprofessionally.  

***********************************************************

I moreso now than ever am proud of myself for "JUST SAYING NO" to Andre's two
proposals to me to return favorable outcomes for free products from me.

And, on this note, his stint that would he have posted his second shakedown
letter in a public forum except if it were a joke.  That same day I did recieve
from Mr. Jute a private correspondence via email asking for my forgiveness that
the post has gone to Joe-net.  Andre claimed that in was inadvertent (i.e.,
that it was not intended)....

I never responded....you know Andre's famous "I flick you off"....well he got
flicked off by me without the dignity of a reply.

***********************************************************

I am not going to get sucked back into Andre's absolutely sickening web....

if anyone who reads this has any questions regarding this whole Andre thing at
all I would be happy to answer any and all of your questions or queries.....

Mike

LaFevre's response part II.

As regards the damaged transformer.  Note also Andre's silence on this issue
and not one word from the kit manufacturer (in his correspondence to Andre) to
counter the correspondence which has already been posted on this forum
regarding the question of whether or not Andre ever notified anyone of a
damaged trans before he embarked on his silly warfare here on RAT.  

Here the manufacturer states unequivocally that he had never been notified of
any damages by Andre.  *****NEVER******

This whole damn thread has been a masterful andre always upping the
ante.....always going for the  kill.....

Go back to the beginning....Andre claims in a public forum nearly one year
after receiving a trans that it was damaged....

Initially he claims something to the effect that it was relatively minor damage
and that he was not sure if it would have or would not have effected the
operation of the unit.

When questioned as to why he did not file a claim with the shipper he responds
that "he was afraid of getting stung by another bee"....as if a bee could have
survived in a  a tightly packed and sealed shipping container from Phila to
Seattle and then from Seattle to Ireland.  Another poster then also indicates
that Andre had on another forum claimed that the bees came out of a
MagneTek\Triad box.  Personally.....I dont buy the bee story.

Then he says he has proof and posts what some folks have said is a clearly
doctored "date stamped" photo.  The nature of the bends in the trans photo
suggests that the damage may not have been from shipping.  Note that the foot
has a compound bend (in the shape of the letter Z nearly) and a twist in it.
If a foot is going to bend in shipping it is going to bend pretty much straight
up or straight down...it is a suspect claim.

Then he further wants to up the ante and suggest that the manufacturer sent the
product out (to him) knowing full well that it was damaged.

Then he posts an article to his website called something like "how to read an
audiophile review"....now we are back to the old days of reviews being
published in "coded" language....he suggests that the comments he made in his
original published article cannot be taken at "published value" that there were
many statements made implicity and that one must read btwn the lines of his
published review to get his true intent.  This is unfailingly unprofessional
and an absolute rip off to the readers of that magazine.  The author's duty is
to publish the first time what his real impressions and evalutions are.....not
to offer a "coded" revision of his article after it has been published....and
only after he gets into a flamefest with the subject (or partial subject
thereof) of his review.  This tactic pinpoints the lack of professionalism of
the author in my opinion.

Then he suggests that the review will stay up as punishment.....and makes
grandiose claims about how 1.2 million people visit his website.... and how his
site is the "most powerful audio medium in the world".....the voice of a
meglomaniac.

So as Henry Pasternack suggests in another post Andre might well indeed be the
master of manipulation......but this quality (or lack thereof) is separate and
distinct of the many difficult issues that have come out in this thread.

I say......if a guy keeps upping the ante and making new claims of further
damage each and every time his old claims are shot down....then I would begin
to question his credibility and, yes, even his veracity.

For instance....he claims that his second shakedown letter to me was a joke.
That proof of this is that he published it on Joenet.  Imagine all the
congressman who got *stung* in Abscam.....shown on camera putting bribery funds
in their pockets saying "hey....it was only a joke"  or " I just wanted to see
if the lobbyist was really crooked or not".  Andre, a mature adult, a
professional author should have and did know better.  "Jokes" is a poor
defense.  

Again, poor judgement, poor credibility, massive amounts of manipulation.....

*************************************************************************** **

No one should take as decisive the *alleged* conversation btwn Andre and say
the folks at Lowther(as just one example)....wherein Andre claims that they
report that nothing ever happened btwn them....

Remember most companies will shun the spotlight when it is wholly
negative....they do not want to become embroiled in a great
controversy.....notice how many companies will not even prosecute for internal
fraud or theft because their is a certain embarrassment in publicly coming
forth and admitting that such could happen to them.  They have nothing to win
by going public and some negatives if they do.

*************************************************************************** **

Now back to my self imposed exile from this thread.

Mike

: I publish this one with great sadness because Dan Schmalle deserves
: better than be forced to choose between his livelihood (he's the
: Northwestern distributor for Lefevre's Magnequest Transformers) and the
: truth.

   It looks as though Dan Schmalle knows better than to get embroiled
in usenet flame wars.  It's not in his interest to alienate either his
suppliers or journalists who have favorably reviewed his products.  He
is doing exactly the right thing, which is calling for an end to this
silliness, and trying to avoid getting caught up in it himself.

   As always, we would like to return to the simple facts of this
situation as they pertain to MagneQuest and leave out all of the
incredibly convoluted and bizarre accusations and recriminations.
So, to review once again:

   Michael supplied a pair of transformers to Dan Schmalle.  By
the time the transformers got to Andre in Europe, one of them had
suffered superficial shipping damage.  Instead of spending two
minutes to repair the damage, or notifying the kit manufacturer
to obtain a replacement, Andre went on to perform a subjective
review of the stereo amplifier with only one channel operating.
Subsequently, he published a scathing attack on the quality of
MagneQuest products and on Michael LaFevre's professional and
personal integrity.

   If ever there was a case of making a mountain out of a mole-
hill, this has to be a classic example.  If you were so concerned
about your reputation, or about dragging innocent bystanders into
the fray, you would long ago have taken bona fide steps to end
this dispute.

-Henry

--
ATTENTION! Reply to h...@nortel.ca (hen...@nortel.ca won't work).