"It is obvious people are responding emotionally and without due consideration".

It does appear that you have a very good point in this statement. But it may well be that the Generalized Thinking behind many posts on the matter have reason backing up the Generalizations. Thus, those stating "Yes" or "No" could do a better job of connecting their suggested choice to their reasoning as it pertains specifically to SPQ. Use of other experiences should make connections to the Specifics of this Situations to assist ALL in better discerning what the best course of action may well be.

"Has anyone thought that this move is part of an effort to bring parity to the sp so as to facilitate a merger? "

As for this segment of your post, if this is in fact a consideration that is behind the proposition then we should have been informed that such is the case. As opposed to questions or in addition to asking the right questions, perhaps it will also serve ALL Share Holders well to look at the specific SPQ situation in the FULL CONTEXT of ALL SPQ's relationships and also with respect to the prevailing Market Conditions. Prevailing Market Conditions meaning the Big Picture conditions Globally, and then in turn as this is affecting and playing itself out in the Commodities Markets and consequently the influence in the Junior Explorer Sector.

It is increasingly apparent that we need the Average Retail Investor to come back out of the closet and help revive the sector by jumping into the best of the Exploration Sector. When that happens SPQ should be in the Vanguard along with most of the other Explorers already having the Goods in the Ground along the "Ring of Fire". To this end, I will be talking up the area again tonight and expect I will be able to renew confidence and maybe even assist several fence sitters make the plunge.

This is the time of year that this type of BBQ party discussions should be occurring and as in many past years, "the early bird gets the worm"!

Old Joe