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Thanks, Print. I now know more than I ever wanted to about patents, LOL. Very detailed description...
drj
DK, it pretty much sums up what I saw when it was demo'd at my local Fry's Electronics. They had a PC hooked up to around 4 of the X-10 cameras, so you could switch from camera to camera and see whatever each camera was showing. Since I didn't see it installed I can't comment on any comparison with what the review said about that. I can say that the description of the video quality was right on. When I took a look at it, it was with an open mind, as I have used X-10 products for around 12 years. Also after all of Ken Cooks touting I was also curious... The picture was generally useless, as far as identifying a person goes, when I backed away from the camera more than about 3 feet. And this was in a well lighted retail situation. They were trying to sell this stuff, so I am assuming they would have it set up as good as possible... They also made an attempt at some basic concealment of the required battery packs and wires.
Bottom line, the article didn't suprise me as far as it's description of the performance was concerned. I was suprised about the difficult installation and configuration. On the whole, the other X-10 products I have sued were easy to set up and use. I guess video going 'wireless' to a pc is just a 'different animal'...
drj
Yeah, DK. I pointed out to Ken C. that I have used X-10 technology for years now to automatically or remotely turn lights and other devices on or off, even dim lights, and it is great for that. Not for carrying video though...
Like I said before to Ken Cook when I looked at it, the X-10 is a lame product. The 'conlusion' of the review of the product previously posted by 'wolfman' sums it all up:
Conclusion
The X10 wireless camera system disappointed us. While sparse documentation is relatively common with computer accessories, our main concerns were the cumbersome wires of this supposedly "wireless" system, overall very poor video quality, and the instability of the X10 software.
On the upside, online ordering was quick and easy, and tech support was generally effective. We gave the X10 wireless camera system a 2 out of 10 rating.
Ken, next time why don't you actually test a product before you try recomending it...
drj
Sorry KC, I own no boat... (wish I could afford one though). More idle specualtion on your part, eh? As for a 15 foot range in the dark (if that's true), that should still suffice for most needs and is 15 feet more than X-10. Like I said before, anything over a few feet on X-10 is seriously lacking in detail, even in good lighting. There is a GOOD REASON why X-10 costs less... Oh, and don't forget to figure in the annual cost of batteries for your X-10 system into the cost... not to mention the hassle of changing them constantly.
"Ta Ta"? Really...
Paulmk, I agree. I have used X-10 products in my home for close to 15 years to do things like turn outside lights on and off via an X-10 timer and it's a great technology for that. But I've looked at these X-10 camera products Ken is so hot on in my local Fry's Electronics store and they are lame. They had a demo system set up and while it seemed to work well as long as the picture was of someone standing right in front of the camera (1 to 2 feet away), the further back you got the worse the picture. Also there was the fact that each of the cameras required batteries or an adapter with access to power, there is NO capability to see in the dark, etc...
Bottom line, X-10 is ok if the subject matter will be very close, there is power near where you want the camera positioned (or you have stock in a battery manufaturer and don't mind supporting your company, LOL), there is no need for seeing in the dark, etc.
drj
FG, the add in the Skymall catalog is exactly the same as the one on the website. I didn't take the issue with me when leaving the plane so I can't scan it in for you. I did leave a bright red page marker stuck to the page sith an arrow pointing to the Secureview add so the next passenger would be sure to notice it though...
drj
SECUREVIEW IN SKYMALL
Hi all, been traveling for around 3 weeks so don't know if any else has posted this yet. When I travel I make it a point to go through the Skymall catalog to check for Secureview. Finally, today I noticed the catalog edition had changed and low and behold on page 108 there was Secureview (one of 4 items on the page). It had a description and a picture showing the bulb camera, a TV, and the wall unit. Pictured on the TV screen was a baby in crib (nice touch). It was being offered in an outdoor or indoor version for $399.00 - I don't remember seeing anything stating it can work in total darkness, however (serious omission). Things finally appear to be happening...
I will post this again on Monday because quite a few people don't check the boards on the weekend...
drj
Pretty sad use of your 'one post a day' KC... better switch back to your other alias and see if you can do better.
Geez... next thing you know SI BOB will insist that he be Chairman and Director for this thread - what a joke
Bob, don't forget to compare video quality in making your decision. Notice how ken cook never mentions THAT...
OT - CM64, I agree. I too am in the field, Linksys is what I use at home also...
Cassio, BB is right. A few months ago, I converted to broadband Internet access through my local cable company. At the same time I installed the firewall software mentioned by Bill from Zonelabs. I quickly discovered that I would revieve 4-6 port scans on average every time I was online for a couple hours. The firewall blocked them.
On a side note, I recently installed a 'cable router' with a built-in 4-port switch so I can network other computers in my home to my cable connection and to each other. It does NAT (network address translation) which hides the addresses 'inside' my network from the 'outside' (Internet). Since setting this up, I have not had a single 'hit' come through the router that Zone Alarm has had to block...a very nice side benefit.
I strongly urge all who connect to the Internet to at least install the firewall software...
I definately agree that they need to come out with their 'own' estimate, whatever it turns out to be...
Print, I agree with most of your points, although I'm not clear on why the marine products need to top out at only 12-15 mil.
As for the new management restating the prior estimates, it is possible that they don't have a problem with them and are therefore sticking with them. If this IS the case it might be a good idea for them, in order to more effectively leave the past controversy regarding prior management forcasts behind, to issue a statement confirming the prior projections. They would then 'own' them and be under more of an obligation to meet them...
I am with Ender and others on this. I don't post often (lack of time) and while I am still holding shares, I am leary. I don't want to see anything out of the company unless its hard, backable numbers or news that can be backed up with proof. At this point, any PR announcing contracts or sales is going to have to be accompanied by a joint PR from the other half of the deal to be believable. (Some may even want to see the contract on the website, LOL!)
The most important things for the company to do right now is to gear up for production and actually make some sales that are recognized in a fashion that is commonly accepted in the accounting world. Everything must be done by the book from now on to regain credibility. The other thing that is most important, as ender pointed out, is for the company to submit all of the required paperwork with the SEC - ON TIME AND WITH NO COMPLICATIONS.
As far as the CEO question, I believe it would help at this point to bring a new one in, but only if the new one is squeeky clean, has no prior affiliation with the company, and has the experience. If Rich is determined to not go this route, then he needs to produce the deliverables I mentioned above on time and by the book.
These are my JMHO, I will go back to lurking for now...
Regards and good luck to all.
DJ
srsnetworker, I completely agree. C'mon, Rich... show us the 'money'...
I agree. Why list it under McBride? Hope you are right though.
Just so everyone knows... FG on SI
http://www.siliconinvestor.com/stocktalk/msg.gsp?msgid=15042110
Here you go, SM
http://www.insidetruth.com/reports_sevu.htm
dk, I agree. This has come about mainly because the opportunity was presented by the PR's that never seem to come true. I think what is needed is an accounting of what is really happening in terms of contracts, production facilities, etc. Not just a PR this time either, as their credibility is suspect within the investment community at this point. The PR needs to be backed up by proof in the form of confirming PR's by the other parties involved, auditor statements, actual contracts, etc. - whatever's available.
JMHO, of course, but I suspect I'm not the ONLY one who would welcome this...
This report is pretty damning. Anyone have any comments?
Are we going to hear from the company?
Hmmm - thanks to whoever just panicked and sold. I just had a partial fill of an order I've had sitting out there at 7 1/2 just in case... somebody taking this talk of a WLDI-SEVU merger seriously or what?
Hmm - so far the market doesn't think so...
Hope you're right about next week.
VYTL Earnings Report...
Thursday November 9, 12:37 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Viatel, Inc.
Viatel Reports Solid Third Quarter 2000 Results; Company Secures Second
Leasing Facility Valued at $50 Million
NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Viatel, Inc. (Nasdaq: VYTL - news) -- the builder-owner-operator of Europe's most
advanced, multi-conduit, continuously upgradeable fiber optic broadband network; and, the region's premier provider of
cross-border, broadband-based solutions to end-users -- today announced third quarter 2000 results.(1)
Revenue for the quarter increased by 151% to $200.5 million compared to $80.0 million in the third quarter of 1999. Gross margin
improved to 28% from 26% for the corresponding quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA(2), defined as EBITDA(3) plus the
non-cash cost of capacity sold, non-cash stock related compensation and the cash portion of the change in deferred revenue, was
$6.6 million for the quarter.
``This was a solid quarter for Viatel,'' commented Michael J. Mahoney, Viatel's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ``More
importantly, we continued the strategic repositioning of the Company that we began last quarter. We are concentrating our efforts
on improving the quality of our revenue mix by focusing on the high-margin, high-growth segments of our business -- Enterprise
and Broadband Solutions.''
Viatel also announced that it had secured a second leasing facility for $50.0 million with one of its equipment vendors. When
combined with the 170.6 million euros capital leasing facility it recently announced, Viatel now has an additional $200 million
available, to be used primarily for success-based capital expenditures supporting its network expansion and broadening its
advanced services offerings.
Mahoney added, ``We are also nearing completion of the construction of our 10,400 route kilometer Pan-European multi-duct
network and the Yellow Submarine trans-Atlantic cable that is being constructed in partnership with Level 3 and Global Crossing.
When combined with the seven metropolitan fiber networks we will begin lighting in early 2001, no company is better positioned
than Viatel to provide building-to-building, cross-border connectivity and the value-added services that customers are increasingly
demanding.
``This quarter's announced contracts -- with AOL and TyCom -- further demonstrate our strength and prowess. These tier-one
customer wins also support our long-held assertion that network quality is critical and validate our strategic decision to build the
most advanced network on the European continent.''
``Whether you look at our state-of-the-art assets, our extensive advanced service offerings, or our growing list of tier-one
customers, it's clear that we have what it takes to compete in the high-end IP and optical technology-based services arena in
Europe.
``And that's exactly what our vendors are saying in providing us with leasing facilities. We view their facilities as testaments to
what we, as a company, have already achieved as well as strong endorsements of where we are going. In these times of limited
access to capital, especially for participants in the telecom marketplace, having vendors' support and credit should send a strong
signal to the marketplace about Viatel's long-term viability.''
Revenue from advanced services, including IP-VPNs, frame relay, ATM and Internet access, was $24.6 million in the quarter,
compared to $1.9 million in the third quarter of 1999 and $23.9 million in the second quarter 2000. Revenue from capacity sales
was $41.4 million compared to $25.1 million in the third quarter last year and $41.6 million in the second quarter 2000. The
Company's firm backlog for capacity sales, broadband products and related services totals more than $200 million.
Revenue from communications services, which includes basic services (consisting of long distance, 800 service, conference calling
and carrier services) and advanced services increased 190% to $159.2 million compared to $55.0 million in the same quarter in
1999 and $161.5 million in the second quarter 2000.
Sales, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter were $78.0 million, or 39% of revenue, compared to $23.5 million,
or 29% of revenue, for the corresponding period in 1999. This increase was primarily the result of the Company's decision to focus
on its European Enterprise business units necessitating continued investments in its sales force, branding, and product development,
and from the Company's acquisitions. EBITDA for the quarter was ($21.7) million compared to ($2.7) million for the comparable
quarter in 1999.
Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $155.9 million, or ($3.09) per share, for the third quarter of 2000, compared to
$48.2 million, or ($1.48) per share, for the third quarter of 1999. Substantially all of the increase in the Company's net loss for the
quarter was due to increased interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense associated with our network infrastructure
initiatives, and goodwill and other intangibles associated with the Company's acquisitions.
At September 30, 2000, the Company had gross property, plant and equipment of $1.5 billion. It also had $579.6 million of cash,
cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash securing letters of credit for network construction. The Company expects gross
property, plant and equipment to approximate $1.7 billion by year-end.
About Viatel: Viatel, Inc. is an All Distance, All Services(TM) telecommunications provider. The Company provides local and
long-distance, voice and data, bandwidth and Web-centric solutions to end-users, including corporations, ISPs, ASPs and other
carriers in Western Europe and North America.
For more information about Viatel and the products and services that it offers, visit http://www.viatel.com.
Certain matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including construction
risks and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's registration statements and reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including those in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
VIATEL, INC.
Unaudited Summary of Consolidated Financial Data
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2000(1) 1999 2000(1) 1999
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Communications
services revenue $159,163 $54,960 $481,278 $151,204
Capacity sales 41,386 25,072 102,983 59,173
Total revenue 200,549 80,032 584,261 210,377
Operating expenses:
Cost of
services & sales 144,225 59,250 416,303 162,858
Selling, general
& administrative 77,996 23,527 215,049 63,380
Depreciation &
amortization 75,746 17,458 215,810 39,039
Restructuring 1,168 -- 5,098 --
Total operating
expenses 299,135 100,235 852,260 265,277
Operating loss (98,586) (20,203) (267,999) (54,900)
Interest income 8,243 7,648 26,402 21,413
Interest expense (55,095) (35,681) (157,689) (97,344)
Net loss (145,438) (48,236) (399,286) (130,831)
Dividends on
convertible
preferred stock (10,507) --- (22,233) (1,341)
Net loss attributable
to common
stockholders $(155,945) $(48,236) $(421,519) $(132,172)
Net loss per
common share
attributable to
common stockholders $(3.09) $(1.48) $(8.48) $(4.85)
Weighted average
common shares
outstanding 50,454 32,608 49,693 27,250
Other Financial Data:
EBITDA(3) $(21,672) $(2,745) $(47,091) $(15,861)
Adjusted EBITDA(2) $6,615 $3,813 $18,778 $3,991
As of September 30,
Balance Sheet Data: 2000 1999
Non-restricted cash, cash
equivalents & marketable
securities and cash
securing letters of credit
for network construction $492,319 $514,473
Restricted cash equivalents &
restricted marketable securities 87,290 168,864
Property & equipment, net 1,336,353 718,669
Convertible/redeemable preferred stock 501,383 --
Long-term liabilities,
including current installments 2,063,488 1,302,859
1. In December 8, 1999 and February 29, 2000, we completed our
acquisitions of Destia Communications, Inc. and AT&T Communications
(UK) Ltd., respectively. As a result, the September 30, 2000
consolidated financial data includes results from Destia for the full
period and AT&T Communications (UK) Ltd. from the respective
acquisition closing date.
2. As used herein, Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus the non-cash
cost of capacity sold, non-cash stock related compensation and the cash
portion of the change in deferred revenue.
3. As used herein, "EBITDA" consists of earnings before interest, income
taxes, restructuring and impairment charges, extraordinary loss,
dividends on convertible preferred stock and depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is a measure commonly used in the
telecommunications industry to analyze companies on the basis of
operating performance. EBITDA is not a measure of financial
performance under generally accepted accounting principles, is not
necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies
and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a
measure of performance nor as an alternative to cash flow as a measure
of liquidity.
SOURCE: Viatel, Inc.
)
Saw this on an RB board. Not sure if it is real, maybe someone who has invested in BIFS and visited the RB board for it will recognize the aliases listed...
Confessions of a Paid Basher
By Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Today I want to come clean about something I feel very badly about. I cannot undo some
of the things I have done, but hopefully this message will prevent other such occurrences
in the future.
I am a paid basher.
Yes, it is true. Today is my last day at this company; I’m moving on to a new job. But
before I go, I want to explain a few things because this just isn’t right and I won’t feel
good about myself until I expose this sham. It’s hurt too many people and I don’t want it
on my conscience anymore. I can no longer live with a lie.
I work for a company called Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein in Stamford, CT.
Basically, it’s a Boiler Room much like the one in the movie of the same name. The
idea behind my group is to bash the price of a company’s stock down low enough to
where the group of investors who retained our company’s services can buy the stock
really cheap and perhaps even take it over all together.
There are approximately 70 people at the company divided into several groups. My
group, consisting of 5 people, is responsible for BIFS. While I probably shouldn’t give
any names of anyone working here now, what the heck, I’m leaving here, so what can
they do – sue me? Ha! I can tell you that GUTTWRENCH was part of my group until he
left last week, as was Richardphx. Others who have been part of this include early
bashers like Epiphonics and Simontaz. You may be interested to know that some
hypsters, such as Amato7 and BIFWATCHER, have also been part of the scam (more
on that later).
There are several companies engaged in the bashing business – ours is not the only
one. However, I can tell you that not every basher in here is a paid basher. Having done
this for two years, I can usually tell who is a paid basher and who is merely someone
having a little fun. While unpaid bashers have a different motive than someone like me,
they can be unwilling accomplices to helping me achieve my ultimate goal and they also
spread rumor and confusion throughout a room, which also helps me.
What is that goal? Well, I am merely a cog in a much larger machine, so my bosses
never really explained the big picture to me, but I’d say essentially, GUTTWRENCH was
right. There are several companies who are quite familiar with SWOMI and who are
deathly afraid of it.
There are three types of bashers here at Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein:
Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. An Advanced-level basher (also known as a
Silver Tongued Devil) would spread false or misleading information about the company.
They would deal in facts, countering every longs post with articles, news reports and
opinion surveys that gave a negative impression about the company.
An Intermediate-level basher (also known as a Serpent) would try to weasel their way
into the confidence of longs and create doubt using rumor or innuendo.
Finally, a Beginner-level basher (also known as a Pitchfork) would attempt to create
confusion in the room by distracting other posters with satire, name calling and
pointless arguments. The idea was to make sure no serious discussion of the stock
could take place. A Pitchfork was usually a basher, but not always. Sometimes, we
would throw in a hypster Pitchfork such as Amato7 or BIFSWATCHER to create the
illusion of an argument going on. What was really funny (in a perverse way, I guess) was
that Amato7 and I sat next to each other, laughing the whole time.
I was a Pitchfork. I was paid a base wage of $12 an hour for my services. I was given a
$1 bonus for every post over 100 per day as well as a monthly bonus of $100 for every
penny the stock had dropped from the previous month. I was also paid a bonus for
bashing on weekends. While this may not sound like much, I made a decent, though
dishonorable, paycheck.
Each of us sat in a small half-cubicle in a cluster with our teammates. Each group
(usually five people) was made of three beginners (two who would bash and one who
would hype), one intermediate and one advanced level basher. Occasionally for some
of the hotter stocks, one of the beginners would be replaced by an intermediate
depending on how much the stock was rising. BIFS was a low-level stock, meaning it
got the 3-1-1 configuration.
Somehow, I get the feeling that JPACK2 may have worked for a basher company or
knows someone who does because the “Basher Handbook” he occasionally posts is
eerily similar to the one we actually use. While not a word-for-word match, I’d say it is
about 90 percent the same. We do have certain rules that we follow.
First, we have to develop a character and stay within that character in order to build a
“following.” My character, “Firebird_1965,” was a sarcastic, obnoxious supporter of free
speech, but only when it came to bashers.
Next, we had to follow certain guidelines on what we could say. We were urged to have
an “answer” to every long’s question, but we were to frame that answer in a way that
ridiculed the questioner for asking such a question. However, we were never to use
profanity or vulgarity because that would cause people to ignore us. We were to make
fun of people, but in a civil way. The idea was to get “play,” i.e. – reaction from other
posters. The more play we got, the more the room would be disrupted. Ignored posters
get no play. One exception would be the hypster – since they were “defending” the
stock against our onslaught, they got a little more leeway. People would side with the
hypster because they thought he was real since he appeared to be on their side, but
was really on ours, setting us up to disrupt the room. Padelcars is quite good at this and
gets paid very well.
I’ve worked on BIFS for about three months now. In addition to the Firebird_1965 alias,
I’ve used a few others on the BIFS and several other boards as well. I stuck with
Firebird_1965 because it was the one that got the most play from other posters.
In closing, I feel absolutely terrible about this. It’s just awful how I’ve been part of a scam
designed to cheat honest, hard-working people out of their investments all for the
benefit of a few wealthy people who already have enough money to last a lifetime.
These greedy people MUST be stopped. That’s why I’m posting this before I leave. I
want to make up for some of the damage I’ve done. I can’t live with this lie anymore. You
can’t imagine how hard it is to look at myself in the mirror each morning knowing my job
is to cheat and lie.
I have to go now, I’m too broken up to continue. I hope this confession can make up for
my sordid deeds; I would urge everyone who reads this to copy and repost it as many
times as you can. Only by shining the light of truth can we drive these rats back into the
darkness from whence they came. Believe me, they don’t want publicity.
I hope all of you can forgive me and save me a seat on that BIFS rocket to the moon. If
this helps, let me leave you with this…
GO BIFS!!!!
With fervent remorse,
Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Saw this on an RB board. Not sure if it is real, maybe someone who has invested in BIFS and visited the RB board for it will recognize the aliases listed...
Confessions of a Paid Basher
By Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Today I want to come clean about something I feel very badly about. I cannot undo some
of the things I have done, but hopefully this message will prevent other such occurrences
in the future.
I am a paid basher.
Yes, it is true. Today is my last day at this company; I’m moving on to a new job. But
before I go, I want to explain a few things because this just isn’t right and I won’t feel
good about myself until I expose this sham. It’s hurt too many people and I don’t want it
on my conscience anymore. I can no longer live with a lie.
I work for a company called Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein in Stamford, CT.
Basically, it’s a Boiler Room much like the one in the movie of the same name. The
idea behind my group is to bash the price of a company’s stock down low enough to
where the group of investors who retained our company’s services can buy the stock
really cheap and perhaps even take it over all together.
There are approximately 70 people at the company divided into several groups. My
group, consisting of 5 people, is responsible for BIFS. While I probably shouldn’t give
any names of anyone working here now, what the heck, I’m leaving here, so what can
they do – sue me? Ha! I can tell you that GUTTWRENCH was part of my group until he
left last week, as was Richardphx. Others who have been part of this include early
bashers like Epiphonics and Simontaz. You may be interested to know that some
hypsters, such as Amato7 and BIFWATCHER, have also been part of the scam (more
on that later).
There are several companies engaged in the bashing business – ours is not the only
one. However, I can tell you that not every basher in here is a paid basher. Having done
this for two years, I can usually tell who is a paid basher and who is merely someone
having a little fun. While unpaid bashers have a different motive than someone like me,
they can be unwilling accomplices to helping me achieve my ultimate goal and they also
spread rumor and confusion throughout a room, which also helps me.
What is that goal? Well, I am merely a cog in a much larger machine, so my bosses
never really explained the big picture to me, but I’d say essentially, GUTTWRENCH was
right. There are several companies who are quite familiar with SWOMI and who are
deathly afraid of it.
There are three types of bashers here at Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein:
Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. An Advanced-level basher (also known as a
Silver Tongued Devil) would spread false or misleading information about the company.
They would deal in facts, countering every longs post with articles, news reports and
opinion surveys that gave a negative impression about the company.
An Intermediate-level basher (also known as a Serpent) would try to weasel their way
into the confidence of longs and create doubt using rumor or innuendo.
Finally, a Beginner-level basher (also known as a Pitchfork) would attempt to create
confusion in the room by distracting other posters with satire, name calling and
pointless arguments. The idea was to make sure no serious discussion of the stock
could take place. A Pitchfork was usually a basher, but not always. Sometimes, we
would throw in a hypster Pitchfork such as Amato7 or BIFSWATCHER to create the
illusion of an argument going on. What was really funny (in a perverse way, I guess) was
that Amato7 and I sat next to each other, laughing the whole time.
I was a Pitchfork. I was paid a base wage of $12 an hour for my services. I was given a
$1 bonus for every post over 100 per day as well as a monthly bonus of $100 for every
penny the stock had dropped from the previous month. I was also paid a bonus for
bashing on weekends. While this may not sound like much, I made a decent, though
dishonorable, paycheck.
Each of us sat in a small half-cubicle in a cluster with our teammates. Each group
(usually five people) was made of three beginners (two who would bash and one who
would hype), one intermediate and one advanced level basher. Occasionally for some
of the hotter stocks, one of the beginners would be replaced by an intermediate
depending on how much the stock was rising. BIFS was a low-level stock, meaning it
got the 3-1-1 configuration.
Somehow, I get the feeling that JPACK2 may have worked for a basher company or
knows someone who does because the “Basher Handbook” he occasionally posts is
eerily similar to the one we actually use. While not a word-for-word match, I’d say it is
about 90 percent the same. We do have certain rules that we follow.
First, we have to develop a character and stay within that character in order to build a
“following.” My character, “Firebird_1965,” was a sarcastic, obnoxious supporter of free
speech, but only when it came to bashers.
Next, we had to follow certain guidelines on what we could say. We were urged to have
an “answer” to every long’s question, but we were to frame that answer in a way that
ridiculed the questioner for asking such a question. However, we were never to use
profanity or vulgarity because that would cause people to ignore us. We were to make
fun of people, but in a civil way. The idea was to get “play,” i.e. – reaction from other
posters. The more play we got, the more the room would be disrupted. Ignored posters
get no play. One exception would be the hypster – since they were “defending” the
stock against our onslaught, they got a little more leeway. People would side with the
hypster because they thought he was real since he appeared to be on their side, but
was really on ours, setting us up to disrupt the room. Padelcars is quite good at this and
gets paid very well.
I’ve worked on BIFS for about three months now. In addition to the Firebird_1965 alias,
I’ve used a few others on the BIFS and several other boards as well. I stuck with
Firebird_1965 because it was the one that got the most play from other posters.
In closing, I feel absolutely terrible about this. It’s just awful how I’ve been part of a scam
designed to cheat honest, hard-working people out of their investments all for the
benefit of a few wealthy people who already have enough money to last a lifetime.
These greedy people MUST be stopped. That’s why I’m posting this before I leave. I
want to make up for some of the damage I’ve done. I can’t live with this lie anymore. You
can’t imagine how hard it is to look at myself in the mirror each morning knowing my job
is to cheat and lie.
I have to go now, I’m too broken up to continue. I hope this confession can make up for
my sordid deeds; I would urge everyone who reads this to copy and repost it as many
times as you can. Only by shining the light of truth can we drive these rats back into the
darkness from whence they came. Believe me, they don’t want publicity.
I hope all of you can forgive me and save me a seat on that BIFS rocket to the moon. If
this helps, let me leave you with this…
GO BIFS!!!!
With fervent remorse,
Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Saw this on an RB board. Not sure if it is real, maybe someone who has invested in BIFS and visited the RB board for it will recognize the aliases listed...
Confessions of a Paid Basher
By Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Today I want to come clean about something I feel very badly about. I cannot undo some
of the things I have done, but hopefully this message will prevent other such occurrences
in the future.
I am a paid basher.
Yes, it is true. Today is my last day at this company; I’m moving on to a new job. But
before I go, I want to explain a few things because this just isn’t right and I won’t feel
good about myself until I expose this sham. It’s hurt too many people and I don’t want it
on my conscience anymore. I can no longer live with a lie.
I work for a company called Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein in Stamford, CT.
Basically, it’s a Boiler Room much like the one in the movie of the same name. The
idea behind my group is to bash the price of a company’s stock down low enough to
where the group of investors who retained our company’s services can buy the stock
really cheap and perhaps even take it over all together.
There are approximately 70 people at the company divided into several groups. My
group, consisting of 5 people, is responsible for BIFS. While I probably shouldn’t give
any names of anyone working here now, what the heck, I’m leaving here, so what can
they do – sue me? Ha! I can tell you that GUTTWRENCH was part of my group until he
left last week, as was Richardphx. Others who have been part of this include early
bashers like Epiphonics and Simontaz. You may be interested to know that some
hypsters, such as Amato7 and BIFWATCHER, have also been part of the scam (more
on that later).
There are several companies engaged in the bashing business – ours is not the only
one. However, I can tell you that not every basher in here is a paid basher. Having done
this for two years, I can usually tell who is a paid basher and who is merely someone
having a little fun. While unpaid bashers have a different motive than someone like me,
they can be unwilling accomplices to helping me achieve my ultimate goal and they also
spread rumor and confusion throughout a room, which also helps me.
What is that goal? Well, I am merely a cog in a much larger machine, so my bosses
never really explained the big picture to me, but I’d say essentially, GUTTWRENCH was
right. There are several companies who are quite familiar with SWOMI and who are
deathly afraid of it.
There are three types of bashers here at Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein:
Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. An Advanced-level basher (also known as a
Silver Tongued Devil) would spread false or misleading information about the company.
They would deal in facts, countering every longs post with articles, news reports and
opinion surveys that gave a negative impression about the company.
An Intermediate-level basher (also known as a Serpent) would try to weasel their way
into the confidence of longs and create doubt using rumor or innuendo.
Finally, a Beginner-level basher (also known as a Pitchfork) would attempt to create
confusion in the room by distracting other posters with satire, name calling and
pointless arguments. The idea was to make sure no serious discussion of the stock
could take place. A Pitchfork was usually a basher, but not always. Sometimes, we
would throw in a hypster Pitchfork such as Amato7 or BIFSWATCHER to create the
illusion of an argument going on. What was really funny (in a perverse way, I guess) was
that Amato7 and I sat next to each other, laughing the whole time.
I was a Pitchfork. I was paid a base wage of $12 an hour for my services. I was given a
$1 bonus for every post over 100 per day as well as a monthly bonus of $100 for every
penny the stock had dropped from the previous month. I was also paid a bonus for
bashing on weekends. While this may not sound like much, I made a decent, though
dishonorable, paycheck.
Each of us sat in a small half-cubicle in a cluster with our teammates. Each group
(usually five people) was made of three beginners (two who would bash and one who
would hype), one intermediate and one advanced level basher. Occasionally for some
of the hotter stocks, one of the beginners would be replaced by an intermediate
depending on how much the stock was rising. BIFS was a low-level stock, meaning it
got the 3-1-1 configuration.
Somehow, I get the feeling that JPACK2 may have worked for a basher company or
knows someone who does because the “Basher Handbook” he occasionally posts is
eerily similar to the one we actually use. While not a word-for-word match, I’d say it is
about 90 percent the same. We do have certain rules that we follow.
First, we have to develop a character and stay within that character in order to build a
“following.” My character, “Firebird_1965,” was a sarcastic, obnoxious supporter of free
speech, but only when it came to bashers.
Next, we had to follow certain guidelines on what we could say. We were urged to have
an “answer” to every long’s question, but we were to frame that answer in a way that
ridiculed the questioner for asking such a question. However, we were never to use
profanity or vulgarity because that would cause people to ignore us. We were to make
fun of people, but in a civil way. The idea was to get “play,” i.e. – reaction from other
posters. The more play we got, the more the room would be disrupted. Ignored posters
get no play. One exception would be the hypster – since they were “defending” the
stock against our onslaught, they got a little more leeway. People would side with the
hypster because they thought he was real since he appeared to be on their side, but
was really on ours, setting us up to disrupt the room. Padelcars is quite good at this and
gets paid very well.
I’ve worked on BIFS for about three months now. In addition to the Firebird_1965 alias,
I’ve used a few others on the BIFS and several other boards as well. I stuck with
Firebird_1965 because it was the one that got the most play from other posters.
In closing, I feel absolutely terrible about this. It’s just awful how I’ve been part of a scam
designed to cheat honest, hard-working people out of their investments all for the
benefit of a few wealthy people who already have enough money to last a lifetime.
These greedy people MUST be stopped. That’s why I’m posting this before I leave. I
want to make up for some of the damage I’ve done. I can’t live with this lie anymore. You
can’t imagine how hard it is to look at myself in the mirror each morning knowing my job
is to cheat and lie.
I have to go now, I’m too broken up to continue. I hope this confession can make up for
my sordid deeds; I would urge everyone who reads this to copy and repost it as many
times as you can. Only by shining the light of truth can we drive these rats back into the
darkness from whence they came. Believe me, they don’t want publicity.
I hope all of you can forgive me and save me a seat on that BIFS rocket to the moon. If
this helps, let me leave you with this…
GO BIFS!!!!
With fervent remorse,
Tom Martin
aka “Steve Tracy”
aka “Firebird_1965”
Great fun, FG. Allows you to do a 'portrait of Dorian Gray' with the candidates. My attempt ended with Bush looking more like Dopey (of Snow White fame) and Gore looking like a perverted elf...
FG: Just happened to notice - CYAA to try a name change... Wonder if this will help? Guess it can't hurt...
A PRE 14A has been released by CYAA http://www.10kwizard.ragingbull.com/fil_submis.asp?iacc=1289891
I bought some TTXI a while back at higher levels. Been trying to average down the last couple days but haven't been able to pick up any yet...
FG, re: your VYTL 'indepth DD post'
Any idea what happened to the rest of the article? It appears to have been cut off mid-sentence. Just curious. Initial research looks good, so I picked up a few shares at 7. Couldn't quite catch it when it briefly dropped below... Haven't heard of 21st Century Investor before. Do they have a good record?
Thanks
FG - if 'good shells are commanding premiums', do you have any idea what is going on with TTXI. It has shown no movement or activity of any kind for a while now... Thanks
I second Dahlias' sentiment FG.
I've always been using Money.Net for quotes - never used RB. Here is a link - http://www.money.net
Welcome, Dahlias
Guess I know where to find NWLL DD now, eh? Now we wait for some NEW PR to send this thing up...
Congratulations on your board. Hope it's a rewarding experience.
Congrats on the new board FG. Coming here I'm finally able to drop the "TIN-" from the front of my ID. I hope you're right about CYAA. Would definately like to see it recover... and unfortunately I'm in NLXI too. In fact, pretty much all of the micros I'm in are under water at this point, with the exception of SEVU and SHPS (was in before it was SHPS). Starting to hear encouraging 'rumblings' from ROBO also...