The topic of this sub-discussion, viz., "opinions are not facts," may well be an oxymoron. The discussion, regardless of its topic, should surely not lose sight of the ball? The game here, not to be idiosyncratic, is beekeeping. The debate over fact vs. opinion is a separate discussion that belongs in the provinces of philosophy or jurisprudence or art or religion or - take your choice. Perhaps I can refer to a British publication, The Economist, which weekly publishes the following: "First published in September 1843 to take part in "a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress." " That, truly, is the difference between opinion and fact. Those with the facts in hand can press forward. The difficulty, always, is that it takes intelligence to recognise the facts that count. Barry Sergeant Kyalami South Africa