Cheryl, please don't take the responses the wrong way. Everyone I knew liked Kariatana, both on a personal and professional level. He brought *necessary* insights and perspectives into every forum in which he participated. And he and I delighted in our awkward navigation of the Seoul subway system's airport connection. The concern you see is not morbid curiosity. Nobody likes to see a colleague and friend suddenly withdraw, especially when circumstances don't even allow them to give the goodbye personally; one immediately imagines the worst. The simultaneous withdrawl of Kariatana's ALS only added mystery, along with a professional concern that perhaps something that ICANN or At-Large did precipitated the action. It was in that atmosphere that the replies came. And while I can't speak for those who replied, they wrote what I was thinking. In an atmosphere in which we work so closely, such an -- abrupt -- resignation begs for a better closure. As you've stated, what has now been said offers as much closure as exists. Your details about the issues related to the ALS have been most helpful, and IMO certainly address the professional side of what has happened. On the personal side, I will write to Kariatana myself, and it's his choice whether or how to respond. I agree that the situation is closed, but I certainly understand the response you received. We're only human. No need for all the exclamation marks... - Evan