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Bank of America's Securities Division May Face SEC Civil Action
Los Angeles Times (subscription) - 18 hours ago
Bank of America Corp. said Friday that its securities arm might face civil action by the Securities and Exchange Commission because of alleged record-keeping violations during an investigation of "certain trading activities" in the unit's San Francisco ...
Stock Market Ratings by StockPickReport.com for Harken Energy Corp., Diamonds Trust, Electronic Arts Inc., 3com Corp., Check Point Software Tech.
SHREVEPORT, La., Jan 3, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- StockPickReport.Com (IARD#119079) http://www.stockpickreport.com/?src=bwtop makes these short-term stock recommendations:
Harken Energy Corp. (AMEX:HEC) - BUY http://www.stockpickreport.com/rating.php?sym=hec
Diamonds Trust (AMEX:DIA) - WEAK BUY http://www.stockpickreport.com/rating.php?sym=dia
Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:ERTS) - WEAK BUY http://www.stockpickreport.com/rating.php?sym=erts
3com Corp. (Nasdaq:COMS) - WEAK BUY http://www.stockpickreport.com/rating.php?sym=coms
Check Point Software Tech. (Nasdaq:CHKP) - BUY http://www.stockpickreport.com/rating.php?sym=chkp
If you'd like a complete list of all of our STRONG BUY stocks, visit: http://www.stockpickreport.com/creative/hilopr.asp?src=PR
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SOURCE: StockPickReport.Com
StockPickReport.Com, Shreveport
Don Harrold, 318-219-2368
info@stockpickreport.com
http://www.stockpickreport.com/index.htm
http://www.newsalert.com/bin/clipstry?StoryId=Cp_zmubKbmdaZyJi3nt&TopicName=Harken%20Energy%20Co....
Parmalat Founder's Gesture From Jail
Tanzi Says He Would Give Up Assets
By Peter S. Goodman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, January 4, 2004; Page A13
MILAN, Jan. 3 -- The jailed founder of Parmalat SpA, the Italian food and dairy giant embroiled in one of the largest corporate scandals in history, told prosecutors Saturday that he was willing to surrender personal assets and his stake in the company to the firm's new overseers.
Calisto Tanzi made the gesture as prosecutors here and in the nearby city of Parma continued their investigation into the disappearance of more than $8 billion from the now-insolvent enterprise he founded more than 40 years ago. Tanzi's family firm, Coloniale SpA, owns about 51 percent of Parmalat's shares.
Tanzi's lawyer, Fabio Belloni, confirmed the offer late Saturday, calling it "a gesture of good faith." But it was quickly dismissed by a source close to the company's new chairman, Enrico Bondi, as a hollow bid for sympathy . Bondi, a specialist in rescuing troubled companies, is investigating the scope of the fraud, while seeking a return of whatever funds can be found.
"These are useless gestures that will give little comfort to the shareholders, bondholders, employees and other stakeholders who have been hung out to dry in the scandal," the source said. "Offering probably worthless assets and private yachts is no help to anybody."
Also Saturday, Reuters reported that prosecutors in Parma have joined their counterparts in New York to investigate Parmalat's dealings in financial markets in the United States. According to the report, the joint investigation follows a search launched by New York police in the home and office of Gian Paolo Zini, a lawyer who has worked for Parmalat for years and has been identified by several senior executives as a key player in the scandal, according to interrogation transcripts.
The Reuters report, which was attributed to Italian judicial sources, could not be independently confirmed. Tanzi's lawyer said he knew no more than "what I read in the news." A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney's office neither confirmed nor denied the launching of a joint investigation, according to Reuters.
The report raised the prospect of greater U.S. involvement in the Parmalat scandal. Milan prosecutors are already collaborating with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which last week sued Parmalat in federal court in New York, asserting that the company bilked U.S. investors through sales of about $1.5 billion worth of bonds without fully disclosing its debts.
As prosecutors continued to interrogate the principal figures in the scandal on Saturday, the source close to Bondi said prosecutors have issued letters seeking information from major banks with which Parmalat has done business over the years, including Bank of America, Citibank, Morgan Stanley and J.P Morgan Chase.
None of those banks have been accused of impropriety, the source said, but have rather been approached as potential sources of information into the fraud's workings.
Parmalat executives have acknowledged that about $4.9 billion they previously said had been held at Bank of America does not exist.
That disclosure last month greatly intensified the scandal, leading to the arrest of Tanzi and seven other executives, several of whom have told prosecutors that they participated in forging letters to create the appearance of assets, then destroyed documents once the investigation began, according to interrogation transcripts. Two outside auditors from the accounting firm Grant Thornton SpA have also been arrested.
Special correspondent A.H. Maines contributed to this report.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52612-2004Jan3.html
from Susie924: "....I will keep you on ignore only now I will also block PM's from you....."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I wonder if she's also going to attempt to have my "..Hillary's Insider's Commodities Trading Club Card.." and "..N.O.W.." subscription revoked also...!?!
I'm simply heart broken (..can everybody tell..).
John
Interesting POV from someone who never seems to post anything of value here........ Perhaps you should open and read the contents of the Breaking News iBox before going off on someone over baseless hash.
Happy New Year.
John
"....
Also, Breaking world/national news is very welcome...."
I post a considerable amount of stock news here, and the general news articles I post usually have both political and market fallout..... You certainly have the option of putting me on ignore, if the "..BIG PICTURE.." bothers you.
Feel free to provide some interesting posts. Unless bystanding and freeloading is your t-h-a-n-g.....
Have a nice day.
John
Hi,
HNY...!!! You've been promoted to Assistant on this board (..unless you choose not to accept..).
See your iHub MailBox.
John
Nice....!!!
SEC to work in Italy on role of banks
By Paul Betts in Milan and Tony Barber in Rome
Published: January 3 2004 4:00 / Last Updated: January 3 2004 4:00
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is to work with Italian magistrates and step up investigations into the role of international and Italian banks in financing Parmalat's expansion in the past few years, judicial sources and people close to the company said yesterday.
The inquiries will form part of a widening probe into the scandal at the insolvent food group, whose former chief executive, Calisto Tanzi, is to undergo further interrogation today at the Milan prison where he has been held since December 27.
Fausto Tonna and Luciano Del Soldato, two of Mr Tanzi's former chief financial officers, were questioned by a Parma judge yesterday, two days after they were arrested along with five others on suspicion of falsifying Parmalat's accounts.
The two men, who have not been formally charged, told Pietro Rogato, the judge, that it was Mr Tanzi who controlled Parmalat, and that they had merely carried out instructions, according to judicial sources.
The SEC, which sent an investigator to Italy this week, is particularly interested in the US banks.
International banks placed 80 per cent of the €7.8bn ($10bn) worth of bonds issued by Parmalat since 1997. JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley accounted for about 40 per cent of the total.
The US regulator is also beginning to study ways of preventing a repeat of the Parmalat scandal. It is considering imposing the same rigorous requirements for US banks doing business outside Europe as those introduced in the US after the Enron and other big corporate scandals, according to people close to the Italian magistrates and Parmalat.
Guido Piffer, one of the Milan magistrates, yesterday said investigations were needed to clarify "the role of the credit institutions which granted the group credits despite a precarious market situation".
At the same time, Citigroup, one of the US banks most exposed to the Parmalat affair, is proposing to act as go-between in any future negotiations with Enrico Bondi, Parmalat's government-appointed administrator, and the international banking community that did business with Parmalat, a Milan banker disclosed.
Between 1997 and 2002, Bank of America was the most active in organising private placements for Parmalat in the US market, sponsoring more than $500m worth of transactions, followed by JP Morgan Chase, which sponsored over $120m worth in private placements.
Meanwhile, doctors examined Mr Tanzi after his lawyers asked magistrates to consider granting their client house arrest pending his formal indictment because of his heart condition. Mr Tanzi was denied house arrest by one judge earlier this week.
A heart specialist sent by the Tanzi family to supervise the examination by the two court-appointed doctors, said the 65-year-old Parmalat founder was "worn out".
SEC to work in Italy on role of banks
By Paul Betts in Milan and Tony Barber in Rome
Published: January 3 2004 4:00 / Last Updated: January 3 2004 4:00
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is to work with Italian magistrates and step up investigations into the role of international and Italian banks in financing Parmalat's expansion in the past few years, judicial sources and people close to the company said yesterday.
The inquiries will form part of a widening probe into the scandal at the insolvent food group, whose former chief executive, Calisto Tanzi, is to undergo further interrogation today at the Milan prison where he has been held since December 27.
Fausto Tonna and Luciano Del Soldato, two of Mr Tanzi's former chief financial officers, were questioned by a Parma judge yesterday, two days after they were arrested along with five others on suspicion of falsifying Parmalat's accounts.
The two men, who have not been formally charged, told Pietro Rogato, the judge, that it was Mr Tanzi who controlled Parmalat, and that they had merely carried out instructions, according to judicial sources.
The SEC, which sent an investigator to Italy this week, is particularly interested in the US banks.
International banks placed 80 per cent of the €7.8bn ($10bn) worth of bonds issued by Parmalat since 1997. JP Morgan Chase, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley accounted for about 40 per cent of the total.
The US regulator is also beginning to study ways of preventing a repeat of the Parmalat scandal. It is considering imposing the same rigorous requirements for US banks doing business outside Europe as those introduced in the US after the Enron and other big corporate scandals, according to people close to the Italian magistrates and Parmalat.
Guido Piffer, one of the Milan magistrates, yesterday said investigations were needed to clarify "the role of the credit institutions which granted the group credits despite a precarious market situation".
At the same time, Citigroup, one of the US banks most exposed to the Parmalat affair, is proposing to act as go-between in any future negotiations with Enrico Bondi, Parmalat's government-appointed administrator, and the international banking community that did business with Parmalat, a Milan banker disclosed.
Between 1997 and 2002, Bank of America was the most active in organising private placements for Parmalat in the US market, sponsoring more than $500m worth of transactions, followed by JP Morgan Chase, which sponsored over $120m worth in private placements.
Meanwhile, doctors examined Mr Tanzi after his lawyers asked magistrates to consider granting their client house arrest pending his formal indictment because of his heart condition. Mr Tanzi was denied house arrest by one judge earlier this week.
A heart specialist sent by the Tanzi family to supervise the examination by the two court-appointed doctors, said the 65-year-old Parmalat founder was "worn out".
O/T: Wake up call for pacifists....., the EU and the UN want to control the WORLD and protect their underhanded deals with slimers like Saddass Hussein...!!!
'EU could have averted war'
02/01/2004 17:51 - (SA)
Rome - A politically united Europe could have prevented the war on Iraq, according to European Union Commission President Romano Prodi, quoted in an interview published on Friday in the Italian daily La Repubblica.
"If Europe had been present and united, I believe, we would not have seen the war on Iraq," Prodi said, adding "Then we would have managed to find a solution to preserve the peace."
Prodi also strongly criticized Italy's handling of the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2003.
The government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlsuconi failed in matters such as the debate on the new European constitution and the row over the stability pact, he said.
Prodi, who was Italian Prime Minister between 1996 and 1998, is politically opposed to Berlusconi, and recently suggested a list of centre-left parties to candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.
Prodi, regarded by observers as the only hopeful candidate against Berlusconi in Italy, did not comment on recent media speculations whether he would run against Berlusconi in the next Italian elections. - Sapa-dpa
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1465062,00.html
******************************
I wonder how many of our left-wing American brothers and sisters are interested in having French, German or Latin become our national language; and perhaps having Jacques Chirac for Secretary of State when N.O.W. nominates Hillary to her desired position of Reich's Chancellor for Life...?!?
John
Wake up call for Demoncrat pacifists....., the EU and the UN want to control the WORLD and protect their underhanded deals with slimers like Saddass Hussein...!!!
'EU could have averted war'
02/01/2004 17:51 - (SA)
Rome - A politically united Europe could have prevented the war on Iraq, according to European Union Commission President Romano Prodi, quoted in an interview published on Friday in the Italian daily La Repubblica.
"If Europe had been present and united, I believe, we would not have seen the war on Iraq," Prodi said, adding "Then we would have managed to find a solution to preserve the peace."
Prodi also strongly criticized Italy's handling of the rotating EU presidency in the second half of 2003.
The government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlsuconi failed in matters such as the debate on the new European constitution and the row over the stability pact, he said.
Prodi, who was Italian Prime Minister between 1996 and 1998, is politically opposed to Berlusconi, and recently suggested a list of centre-left parties to candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.
Prodi, regarded by observers as the only hopeful candidate against Berlusconi in Italy, did not comment on recent media speculations whether he would run against Berlusconi in the next Italian elections. - Sapa-dpa
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1465062,00.html
******************************
I wonder how many of our left-wing limpo American brothers and sisters are interested in having French or Italian become our national language; and perhaps having Jacques Chirac for Secretary of State when N.O.W. nominates Hillary to her desired position of Reich's Chancellor for Life...?!?
"...GOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo GDubya..."!!!
John
Dopey ol' Osama Lama DingDong must be singing those broke & busted "..Please don't open my bag, Mr. Customs Man.." blues these days...!!!
More drugs seized in Gulf - U.S.
Friday, January 2, 2004 Posted: 2:08 PM EST (1908 GMT)
(CNN) -- U.S. forces say they have confiscated nearly 3,000 pounds of hashish and detained 15 people in the northern Persian Gulf.
The seizure is the third interception of boats bearing drugs in the last two weeks by coalition sea forces.
U.S. Central Command said the seizure resulted from interrogations of crew members in the first two anti-drug operations.
Thursday's seizure took place in the northern Persian Gulf in the area of operations covered by the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, according to a statement from Central Command.
"Many terror organizations have been assessed to use drug money to fund their operations," said Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr., Commander of the Naval Forces in Central Command and the 5th Fleet.
"It is easy to see how al Qaeda could use this money making network to fund their operations."
On December 15, USS Decatur detained a dhow and its 12 crew members, seizing nearly $10 million in hashish, and five days later, USS Philippine Sea detained two dhows and their 21 crew members, seizing 95 pounds of heroin and 50 to 100 pounds of methamphetamines.
USS Peleliu, USS Port Royal and USS Germantown -- along with elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit -- handled Thursday's seizure, Central Command said, after an Australian P-3 located and tracked the dhow.
The 2,800 pounds of drugs seized were worth about $11 million, Central Command said.
The crew members were aboard U.S. ships awaiting further questioning.
Central Command said 10 of the 33 crew members seized in December had been transferred to an "undisclosed facility" for more questioning after their initial interrogations "revealed possible al Qaeda affiliations deemed noteworthy enough to pursue further."
The other 23 have been handed over to officials of an undisclosed country in the region, Central Command said.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/02/drug.seizure/
Dopey ol' Osama Lama DingDong must be singing those broke & busted "..Please don't open my bag, Mr. Customs Man.." blues these days...!!!
More drugs seized in Gulf - U.S.
Friday, January 2, 2004 Posted: 2:08 PM EST (1908 GMT)
(CNN) -- U.S. forces say they have confiscated nearly 3,000 pounds of hashish and detained 15 people in the northern Persian Gulf.
The seizure is the third interception of boats bearing drugs in the last two weeks by coalition sea forces.
U.S. Central Command said the seizure resulted from interrogations of crew members in the first two anti-drug operations.
Thursday's seizure took place in the northern Persian Gulf in the area of operations covered by the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, according to a statement from Central Command.
"Many terror organizations have been assessed to use drug money to fund their operations," said Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr., Commander of the Naval Forces in Central Command and the 5th Fleet.
"It is easy to see how al Qaeda could use this money making network to fund their operations."
On December 15, USS Decatur detained a dhow and its 12 crew members, seizing nearly $10 million in hashish, and five days later, USS Philippine Sea detained two dhows and their 21 crew members, seizing 95 pounds of heroin and 50 to 100 pounds of methamphetamines.
USS Peleliu, USS Port Royal and USS Germantown -- along with elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit -- handled Thursday's seizure, Central Command said, after an Australian P-3 located and tracked the dhow.
The 2,800 pounds of drugs seized were worth about $11 million, Central Command said.
The crew members were aboard U.S. ships awaiting further questioning.
Central Command said 10 of the 33 crew members seized in December had been transferred to an "undisclosed facility" for more questioning after their initial interrogations "revealed possible al Qaeda affiliations deemed noteworthy enough to pursue further."
The other 23 have been handed over to officials of an undisclosed country in the region, Central Command said.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/02/drug.seizure/
ATNG Announces Initial Sales and Shipments of Revolutionary Nutraceutical Products
Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers
FENTON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2004--ATNG Inc.
(OTCBB:ATNG) announced today that initial orders of the Fatigue
Pack(TM) have been shipped. The Blue Kiwi call center (866-KIWILIFE or
866-549-4543) is now fully operational, including the ability to
accept credit cards. The nationwide media campaign has been launched
and will accelerate in 2004. Initial weekly contest winners have also
been announced on the Blue Kiwi web site, www.bluekiwilife.com.
"We are very excited to announce sales and shipments of the
Fatigue Pack," says Jim Barger, President and CEO, Blue Kiwi Inc.
"Twelve years of research and development by Dr. L.E. Lindner produced
this revolutionary product that provides a safe and effective solution
to enhance well-being while reducing energy loss and fatigue,"
continues Barger.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Blue Kiwi is expected to be
operating at a profit within the first 6 months after product launch.
The outlook for continued revenue growth and profits is conservatively
optimistic. Blue Kiwi will leverage the extensive media program of
parent company ATNG to drive market awareness and sales.
ABOUT ATNG
ATNG has several acquisitions of profitable or soon to be
profitable companies in the works. Our web site provides a
communication link to those interested in our progress.
Web site: www.atnginfo.com Contact information: ir@atnginfo.com
CONTACT: ATNG Inc.
Robert Simpson, 810-714-2978
ir@atnginfo.com
It appears that the lumbering "...World Class Limp Thingy.." ( aka: the UN ) is now going to be out begging for assistance in their "...oh my, there's a problem.." knee-jerk reaction to the Iranian earthquake crisis......
UN to Appeal for Funds for Iran Quake Survivors
James Martone Cairo 02 Jan 2004, 16:16 UTC
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=E0D392B2-8B90-4D08-88F0CA594CF4B846
Gee, I wonder who they expect to put the "..dollar short - day late.." strong-arm on that for.......
John :-0
.
Baghdad mosque raid yields arms cache
Friday 02 January 2004, 21:28 Makka Time, 18:28 GMT
US soldiers have seized a large cache of weapons in a raid on a Sunni mosque in southwestern Baghdad.
The occupation forces' deputy director of operations, Brigadier General Mark Kimmit said on Friday 32 people were arrested in the operation on Thursday, including foreign nationals.
Three packages of TNT explosives, a 60 mm mortar tube, eight improvised grenades, bomb-making equipment, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 11 assault rifles and two bags of gunpowder were among the weapons recovered in the raid, he told reporters.
Kimmit said 32 people were arrested in the raid on the mosque, which he said was believed to have been used for "terror activities".
"Over the last several months, the First Armoured Division in Baghdad has received numerous reports from local Iraqis that the Al-Tubul mosque had been used for criminal and terrorist activities," he said.
"The Al-Tubul mosque was believed to have been a hub of anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi activities, with various cells using the mosque as a meeting location and weapons cache," Kimmitt said.
He was referring to the Um al-Tubul mosque, renamed Ibn Taimiya, where a leading Sunni cleric was detained.
The raid on the mosque has angered local Muslims.
Other attacks
Separately, a fuel convoy was attacked on Friday afternoon west of Ramadi, 100 kilometres west of the capital, with a homemade bomb, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, wounding three people, said Kimmitt.
He said two of the wounded remain hospitalised and one was released.
Also on Friday, a US army patrol was attacked on the southern outskirts of Baghdad with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire at noon.
Kimmitt said the soldiers' Humvee burst into flames and flipped over and that there were casualties. He did not provide further details.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D31AF78F-BFDB-4C14-8D31-6FB08F8972C2.htm
Baghdad mosque raid yields arms cache
Friday 02 January 2004, 21:28 Makka Time, 18:28 GMT
US soldiers have seized a large cache of weapons in a raid on a Sunni mosque in southwestern Baghdad.
The occupation forces' deputy director of operations, Brigadier General Mark Kimmit said on Friday 32 people were arrested in the operation on Thursday, including foreign nationals.
Three packages of TNT explosives, a 60 mm mortar tube, eight improvised grenades, bomb-making equipment, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 11 assault rifles and two bags of gunpowder were among the weapons recovered in the raid, he told reporters.
Kimmit said 32 people were arrested in the raid on the mosque, which he said was believed to have been used for "terror activities".
"Over the last several months, the First Armoured Division in Baghdad has received numerous reports from local Iraqis that the Al-Tubul mosque had been used for criminal and terrorist activities," he said.
"The Al-Tubul mosque was believed to have been a hub of anti-coalition and anti-Iraqi activities, with various cells using the mosque as a meeting location and weapons cache," Kimmitt said.
He was referring to the Um al-Tubul mosque, renamed Ibn Taimiya, where a leading Sunni cleric was detained.
The raid on the mosque has angered local Muslims.
Other attacks
Separately, a fuel convoy was attacked on Friday afternoon west of Ramadi, 100 kilometres west of the capital, with a homemade bomb, small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, wounding three people, said Kimmitt.
He said two of the wounded remain hospitalised and one was released.
Also on Friday, a US army patrol was attacked on the southern outskirts of Baghdad with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire at noon.
Kimmitt said the soldiers' Humvee burst into flames and flipped over and that there were casualties. He did not provide further details.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D31AF78F-BFDB-4C14-8D31-6FB08F8972C2.htm
Norwegian police have arrested the founder of the Iraqi Islamic militant group Ansar al-Islam on fresh charges.
Mullah Krekar, an Iraqi Kurd, was arrested at his home in Oslo, where he has had refugee status since 1991.
US officials suspect that Ansar al-Islam has ties to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and Mullah Krekar was also detained briefly last year.
His lawyer is quoted as saying the new charges relate to a plot to murder rivals in Iraq during 2000-2001.
Public prosecutor Erling Grimstad, quoted by the Associated Press, said the new charges were based on an investigation that started in February and were not terror-related.
Mullah Krekar has repeatedly denied links with al-Qaeda, although he has called Bin Laden "a good Muslim".
US aircraft targeted Ansar's camps in northern Iraq during the war and US officials have linked the group to the insurgency against coalition forces occupying Iraq.
Mr Grimstad said police would ask an Oslo court on Saturday to order that Mr Krekar be detained for four weeks while they prepare a case against him.
Norway is seeking to expel Mullah Krekar, who was deported from the Netherlands in January 2003.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3363745.stm
tpk,
As may readily be seem, our gurgling Goldbrick from RavingBullschmidt has no concept of what "O/T" means, or when to utilize the the appropriate designator for same. Perhaps that is why it takes him so many OFF TOPIC, SPAM or BASH posts attempt to sputter his sputum on whatever board he chooses to temporarily infect.
Hope you had a great New Year's, the football was certainly enjoyable.
John
FYI: Basalt Fiber: http://www.albarrie.com/Filtration/fil-basalt.html
Basalt is one helluva hard material. Galliard Cut in the Panama Canal had to be balasted through a mountain of the stuff now referred to as Contractor's Hill. http://www.wheelsup.com/panama.html
John
RNKE -Roanoke Technology Corp. to Withhold 50 Million Shares to Reduce Float for Shareholder Benefit
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2004--Roanoke
Technology Corp. (OTCBB:RNKE) announced that the issuance of a block
of 50,000,000 shares of stock, within the active "float" of the
company, has been suspended indefinitely to reduce the amount of
shares in the float; this should make shorting Roanoke Tech stock more
difficult.
This should also benefit loyal shareholders as it is expected to
reduce the "shorting" of shares that, as previously reported, has been
fairly prevalent.
RNKE CEO Mr. David Smith commented "We would like our loyal
shareholders to know that these 50,000,000 and that the company will
continue to be vigilant and take appropriate action to protect
shareholder interest as and when necessary."
CONTACT: Roanoke Technology Corp.
David L. Smith, 252-537-9222
KEYWORD: NORTH CAROLINA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE HARDWARE
SOURCE: Roanoke Technology Corp.
Nice bump in the price this morning..................
John
Recalling the old jibe, "...the next time you have an emergency - call a Hippie.." - it looks like the wacko, yayhoo Ayatolla's maybe the next geopolitical gaggle - since the French - to join the "..limp thingy.." brigade....!!
Tehran mood darkens as doomsday quake fear spreads
By Parinoosh Arami
TEHRAN (Reuters) - The Bam earthquake has sent shockwaves of fear rippling through Tehran with chilling visions of what may happen to the capital if the 'big one' hits.
Sitting on a major fault line, Tehran was rocked by a powerful quake in 1830, which killed tens of thousands. Scientists monitoring small daily tremors say it is only a matter of time before disaster strikes the city of 12 million.
"It scares the living daylights out of me to see what happened to Bam and think about what's in store for us when a big quake like that hits Tehran," said Reza, 22, a photographer.
The loss of 30,000 lives in Bam -- a third of its population -- has darkened the mood in Tehran, casting a pall over its normally resilient populace. Sombre music filling radio and television airwaves only adds to a sense of gloom.
Experts say a quake as strong as in Bam, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, would mean doomsday. Death toll estimates range from 400,000 to a million or more.
"People are worried," said Shirzad Bozorgmehr, 59, managing editor of Iran News daily who lived through earthquakes in California for 25 years before returning 10 years ago.
"I know people in apartment buildings who all of a sudden are looking to buy land to build on so they can be sure their house will be earthquake proof," he added.
The daunting realisation that Tehran buildings are in such poor shape and that contractors often ignore regulations with impunity has sent shivers down many spines, especially in upscale north Tehran where the fault line crosses the city.
NO TIME TO WASTE
"I'm afraid my house wasn't built well enough to protect my family from earthquakes," said Mohammad Ali Azarabadi, 60, a physician. "I will have it reinforced. Bam showed us all that the quake wasn't the problem. Shoddy building is the problem."
Bahaeddin Adab, member of parliament's construction committee, said a study by Japanese scientists concluded an earthquake of 7 on the Richter scale would destroy Tehran, as one that magnitude did in 1830 when 45,000 in the region died.
"There's a lot of anxiety and even panic out there after Bam," he told Reuters. "We have no time to waste. We should demolish fragile buildings. Unsafe building must stop now."
A casual glance at some ramshackle architecture causes dread even among untrained eyes and makes engineers cringe.
Mehran Amiri, a civil engineer, said strict regulations to prevent structural failure have been in place for seven years, but are ignored as contractors put profits before safety.
"Schools, hospitals and state buildings must be checked and made earthquake-resistant," he said.
A Tehran newspaper, Sharq, reported only five of the 32 fire stations were built to withstand a strong quake. Bahram Akasheh, professor of geophysics at Tehran University, said a strong tremor would destroy 80 percent of the city's buildings.
But Touraj, a Tehran businessman, said he wasn't worried.
"It's just nonsense, all this panic about an earthquake in Tehran. No one can predict it. Fear of a quake is like fear of death. You can't live if you only worry about dying."
A GED in Jihad just doesn't quite cut it when dealing with high-energy Chemistry....
Suspected Kashmiri militant killed by own bomb, 6 bystanders injured
Related News »
• Thousands die as Asia's forgotten wars slog into new year
• Kashmir explosion kills woman, official arrested over rebel links
• After month of Kashmir ceasefire, no respite in anti-India rebellion
SRINAGAR, India : In a violent start to the new year, a suspected militant was killed in India's Kashmir on Thursday after his own bomb exploded. "....DOOOOOOOH..."!!!
Six bystanders sustained injuries. Police said four of them were in serious condition.
The suspected militant was carrying explosives on his bicycle when they went off in the downtown area of Srinagar.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/64460/1/.html
A GED in Jihad just doesn't quite cut it when dealing with high-energy Chemistry....
Suspected Kashmiri militant killed by own bomb, 6 bystanders injured
Related News »
• Thousands die as Asia's forgotten wars slog into new year
• Kashmir explosion kills woman, official arrested over rebel links
• After month of Kashmir ceasefire, no respite in anti-India rebellion
SRINAGAR, India : In a violent start to the new year, a suspected militant was killed in India's Kashmir on Thursday after his own bomb exploded. "....DOOOOOOOH..."!!!
Six bystanders sustained injuries. Police said four of them were in serious condition.
The suspected militant was carrying explosives on his bicycle when they went off in the downtown area of Srinagar.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/64460/1/.html
"...Happy New Year to all our stocksuckers from beautiful Palm Springs.....
QBID wishes to ring in the new year with the announcement of a new and very unique product for the gag industry. Fast on the heels of the terrifically successful Pride Cola comes the latest corporate offering: "...POOP-OLA..."!!!
Provided in convenient six packs, and compressed into a typical 12-ounce cola cans, QBID will provide guaranteed-fresh Monday-morning "..weekend anchovie-pizza farts.." by none other than Feahwuss Fwankie himself. Carry at least one can where ever you go for those unexpected personal and gag emergencies in life. You'll be the life of the party...!!!
Should you be locked in the back of a police car, attending a Hillary Rally, or attacked by several hooligans from Gold's Gym - just whip out you handy-dandy can of "...POOP-OLA..." - and let 'em have it...!!!
Be the first on your block to own your personal six pack of "...POOP-OLA..."!!! Only $29.95 plus S&H per six pack, or $79.95 plus S&H per case, FOB your front door. Dial (888)-POOPOLA right now, QBID operators are standing by.....
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
WARNING: The Surgeon General recommends that you wear a US Military M1A1 all-agents gas mask, or be able to hold your breath for more than 6 minutes while running at full speed, while using this product.
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ps: The first 1000 orders will receive a QBID stock certificate for 100,000 shares with their shipment.
"...Happy New Year from Palm Springs.....................
QBID rings in the new year with this announcement of a new and unique product for the gag industry. Fast on the heels of the terrifically successful Pride Cola comes their latest offering: "...POOP-OLA..."!!!
Provided in convenient six packs, and compressed into a typical 12-ounce cola cans, QBID will provide guaranteed-fresh Monday-morning "..weekend pizza farts.." by none other than Feahwuss Fwankie himself. Carry at least one can where ever you go for those unexpected personal and gag emergencies in life. You'll be the life of the party...!!!
Should you be locked in the back of a police car, attending a Hillary Rally, or attacked by several hooligans from Gold's Gym - just whip out you handy-dandy can of "...POOP-OLA..."/b> - and let 'em have it...!!!
Be the first on your block to own your personal six pack of "...POOP-OLA..."!!! Only, $29.95 plus S&H per six pack, or $79.95 plus S&H per case FOB your front door. Dial (888)-POOPOLA right now, QBID operators are standing by.....
WARNING: The Surgeon General recommends that you wear a US Military M1A1 all-agents gas mask, or be able to hold your breath for more than 6 minutes, while using this product.
ps: The first 1000 orders will receive a QBID stock certificate for 100,000 shares with their order.
.
Company Profile
GoAmerica was founded in 1996 as a provider of innovative wireless data solutions for corporate customers. The company is currently focused on providing a broad mix of communications products and services to consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing, through its Wynd Communications subsidiary.
Today, the Company's services enable people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate more effectively through wireless messaging across an array of integrated means including: text-telephone devices ("TTYs"), e-mail, fax, alphanumeric pager, and voice telephones. These wireless services are device and network independent.
The Company markets its services indirectly through relationships with dealers and channel partners and directly through telesales, event sales and the company's online shopping site: Deafwireless Superstore (http://www.deafwireless.com).
GoAmerica's broader vision is to enhance the quality of life of people who are deaf or hard of hearing by being their premier provider of innovative communication services.
Market Focus
According to the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, there are an estimated 28 million consumers in the United States who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (http://www.asha.org). The Company estimates that approximately 1 million of these 28 million people are profoundly deaf and unable to benefit from voice-based communications technologies. Of the 28 million people with hearing loss, not all are ideally suited for the company’s wireless services, however as the product mix of the company expands to include other forms of communications technology, the company's addressable market will expand further.
A majority of the Company's target customer base has historically relied primarily on a TTY to make and receive calls both at home and at work. TTY devices have been in use in the U.S. since 1964, offering connectivity to landline telephone services. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 gave rise to the formation of Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), which are third-party translation services that enable non-deaf consumers to communicate with deaf users of TTY devices. Two significant technology developments in the Telecommunications Relay Services area make this an attractive expansion area for GoAmerica; namely the evolution of Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay) and Video Relay. Both of these new technologies are changing the way deaf Americans communicate and has created an opportunity to tap into this market of federally reimbursable services.
With its brand leadership in a well defined niche, the company is poised for growth. Additionally, delving further into Telecommunications Relay Services and reaching the broader hard of hearing market with new services, will provide the company with new sources of revenue.
Letter from the CEO
December 19, 2003
As you may know by now, our company has the good fortune of being on the verge of a fresh start . This letter is a “thank-you” to those who made this opportunity possible and a glimpse at what we hope to do at GoAmerica and Wynd in the future.
Our Customers: Many of you have stuck with us through thick and thin and for that we are grateful. We know that there have been periods of time during which your service experience may not have met your needs. Despite the extensive efforts of our staff, our historical resource constraints made meaningful improvements in this area virtually impossible. However I assure you, your service experience will improve remarkably as we implement plans that will better enable us to meet your needs and ours. We intend to earn your business again and again by instituting new procedures and activating new tools. Our new relationship with CSD is only the beginning of such improvements. We appreciate your business and hope to serve you for years to come.
Our Shareholders: The performance of GoAmerica stock has been generally disappointing and many of you have endured periodic uncertainty about the longevity of the business and our general strategy. Hopefully you now have a better sense of what your company's plans are for the future. We aspire to reward your faith and to be more responsive to your questions as your business grows and develops in the coming years.
Our Partners and Suppliers: We can only understate our appreciation for your support during our difficult times and are grateful to those who cooperated with us as we sought new financing, making our new opportunities possible. We are committed to being a good business partner and doing our best to maintain excellent relationships with you as together we serve our customers. We will continue to lean on you to help us be the premier company in our market and we welcome the opportunity to grow our business with each of you.
Our Employees: The teamwork that got us to this point has been tremendous. I understand that this new opportunity is bittersweet for some of you -- having the satisfaction of achieving this milestone, yet realizing that significant changes are imminent due to our consolidation plans. We are a company in transition, but we also have a clearer purpose and intend this to be a place where you can prosper and grow professionally.
This past year we have appropriately invested a great deal of management's attention on the rebuilding process. I assure you that we will apply the same vigor to enhancing our operation and executing plans that will allow our company to grow, prosper and fulfill its vision.
We thank you for your support and wish you the very best during this holiday season.
With gratitude and respect,
Dan Luis
Chief Executive Officer
GoAmerica, Inc.
Dec 23 2003 InvestSource Inc.: InvestSource AM Market Alerts: ELIN, GOAM, AAPL, CBJ, PENN
Dec 19 2003 Wynd Launches First Phase of Its Extensive Customer Service Improvement Plan Relationship with CSD to Enable Expanded Support Hours, Quicker and More Efficient Issue Resolution, Superior Customer Service
Dec 19 2003 GoAmerica Unveils Strategic Direction New Financing to Enable Broader Efforts in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Markets
JDP,
I don't follow RNKE much anymore, but the recent news tends to indicate some positive moves toward long term success.
John
Looks like you got your wish...!!
John
USPL 0.26 +.06 ( +30.00%) 0.24 0.29 1,095,362
.
PACC is hot today..........
Pacel Announces HQ Relocation
MANASSAS, Va., Dec 30, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Pacel Corporation (OTCBB: PACC),
has announced that it is finalizing the move of its corporate headquarters
operations to its Charlotte, North Carolina operations center effective January
1, 2004. This furthers the Company's program of consolidation of all
administrative and operating functions into a single location for corporate
activities as well as operations acquired in 2003 to improve efficiencies and
reduce costs.
These actions include a work force reduction, reductions of leased space and
other initiatives, which, when combined with other consolidation efficiencies
should provide an estimated $250,000 of annual administrative savings. The
Company will continue to staff its regional offices with sales, risk management
and client service personnel while focusing all of its administrative activities
in its Charlotte location. The Company currently maintains regional offices in
Dallas, Texas and Jacksonville, Florida.
"These actions will enable the Company to more effectively address the needs of
our business, strengthening our organization and decreasing costs across the
organization. A result of recognized redundancies present between the Company's
locations, these changes were made to leverage existing technology
infrastructures and personnel experience. I believe that these actions will
sharpen our focus and position Pacel for a solid performance in 2004 and
beyond," reported David Calkins, Chairman and CEO of Pacel.
Pacel Corporation is a leading provider of Human Resources Outsourcing solutions
to small and medium-sized businesses in the United States. The company is
currently pursuing the development of its HRO business through new accounts
derived from strategic marketing initiatives and those accounts acquired through
acquisition.
SOURCE: Pacel Corporation
CONTACT: KBK Ventures, Inc., Houston
Investor Relations:
David Bromberg, 713/624-7110
Pacel Announces New CEO & CFO
MANASSAS, Va., Dec 22, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Pacel Corp. (OTCBB: PACC)
announced today that it has appointed W. Revel Bellamy to the position of
President and Chief Executive Officer and Timothy L. Maness to the position of
Chief Financial Officer. Both gentlemen had formerly been officers of Asmara,
Inc., a North Carolina based Professional Employer Organization ("PEO") that was
acquired earlier this year by The Resourcing Solutions Group, Inc., a
majority-owned subsidiary of Pacel Corp. Each brings significant business
experience as well as expertise in the PEO and Human Resources Outsourcing
("HRO") to bear in their new roles with the Company.
W. Revel Bellamy founded Asmara in 1998 after over 20+ years of experience in
successfully building and running a large commercial construction company. Mr.
Bellamy has been a business owner and employer for 28 years and knows first-hand
the problems business owners face in managing the employee spectrum. He also has
a superb grasp of risk management, a key element in being successful in the PEO
industry. Mr. Bellamy will assume responsibility for the strategic direction of
the company.
Mr. Bellamy began using the services of a PEO eleven years ago and founded
Asmara, Inc. four years ago. "Owners wake up and realize they are an employer,
but don't know how to operate efficiently and be in compliance. Our commitment
to our clients can be seen in the caliber of people we hire. We're dedicated to
building a quality organization that delivers a premium level of service to our
clients," stated Mr. Bellamy, who currently resides in the Charlotte, North
Carolina area.
Timothy L. Maness joined Asmara in May 2002 after spending three years with an
early stage internet brokerage firm as a Chief Financial Officer. Before that,
Mr. Maness spent five years with Broadway & Seymour, Inc., a publicly traded
software concern focused on the financial services industry, in several senior
capacities. Mr. Maness is a senior financial executive with over 18 years
experience in managing and directing the financial activities of business
organizations. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the
University of North Carolina in Charlotte in 1984 and has been licensed as a
Certified Public Accountant in North Carolina since January 1991. He is a member
of the North Carolina association of Certified Public Accountants as well as the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
He currently devotes his time to managing all financial, administrative, and
operational activities of the Company. Mr. Maness currently resides in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Chairman of the Board, Dave Calkins stated, "Through our numerous acquisitions
we have been able to gather a talented group of individuals with fresh
perspectives on the future growth path of the firm. This management team is
uniquely suited to drive our aggressive pursuit of large sectors of the
marketplace. Their years of experience, proven track record, and undying
determination will prove to be one of Pacel's most significant assets."
SOURCE: Pacel Corp.
CONTACT: KBK Ventures, Inc., Houston
Investor Relations:
David Bromberg, 713/624-7110
Not exactly the most recommended Frequent Flyer Program.........
Man's body found in wheel well of British Airways flight
December 31, 2003, 11:33 AM EST
NEW YORK -- The medical examiner planned to do an autopsy Wednesday on the body of a man found in the wheel well of a plane that landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport from London's Heathrow Airport.
Port Authority police found the body on British Airways Flight 177 after the aircraft landed at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
No identification was found on the man, believed to be in his 30s. John Lampl, a British Airways spokesman, said Wednesday that company officials are awaiting the autopsy results, which hopefully will tell them how long the man had been dead to determine if he boarded the plane in London, or at an earlier destination.
Last week, the body of a man in his 20s was found in the wheel well of a flight to Kennedy Airport from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Port Authority spokesman Tony Ciavolella said the agency does not keep statistics on how many people try to stow away on planes coming to the New York area, but said it does not happen very often.
Not exactly the most recommended Frequent Flyer Program.........
Man's body found in wheel well of British Airways flight
December 31, 2003, 11:33 AM EST
NEW YORK -- The medical examiner planned to do an autopsy Wednesday on the body of a man found in the wheel well of a plane that landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport from London's Heathrow Airport.
Port Authority police found the body on British Airways Flight 177 after the aircraft landed at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
No identification was found on the man, believed to be in his 30s. John Lampl, a British Airways spokesman, said Wednesday that company officials are awaiting the autopsy results, which hopefully will tell them how long the man had been dead to determine if he boarded the plane in London, or at an earlier destination.
Last week, the body of a man in his 20s was found in the wheel well of a flight to Kennedy Airport from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Port Authority spokesman Tony Ciavolella said the agency does not keep statistics on how many people try to stow away on planes coming to the New York area, but said it does not happen very often.
Eight more arrested in Parmalat scandal
Italian police round up more company officials, accountants
MILAN (AP) — Acting on eight new arrest warrants today in the Parmalat scandal, police detained more former company officials as well as outside auditors for allegedly fraudulent bankruptcy, a judicial official said.
Separately, an official from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed suit against Parmalat for "grossly overstating its assets" to U.S. investors, met today with prosecutors in Milan to discuss how to proceed, a judicial source said.
Another official said prosecutors and the SEC would now look at potential ways to work together in the investigation.
The company, which once was a model of Italian industry but has now filed for bankruptcy protection, has acknowledged a multibillion-dollar hole in its balance sheet. Parmalat's jailed founder, Calisto Tanzi, has admitted to prosecutors that he shifted $620 million US from company coffers to loss-making travel businesses controlled by his family.
Tanzi's lawyer, Fabio Belloni, said none of the missing money had been for his client's personal use and it had been diverted to keep the business afloat.
"It was an attempt to keep going forward, to close certain deals, and give the push to earn in a little way. That's the argument," Belloni said as he arrived at Milan's courthouse for a meeting with prosecutors.
"It wasn't that he put money in his pocket," he said. "The little treasures (or perks) were never there."
Among those named in the new arrest warrants were Parmalat's former chief financial officer Fausto Tonna, as well as another top former financial official, Luciano Del Soldato, according to a judicial official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In addition, two officials with Grant Thornton, Parmalat's auditor from 1990 to 1999, were also named in the warrant, the official said. A Milan judge has accused branch president Lorenzo Penca, and partner Maurizio Bianchi of having falsely certified Parmalat's balance sheets and of having suggested ways for the company to commit fraud.
Grant Thornton has denied the men had anything to do with any illegal behaviour and says they were in fact "victims" of Parmalat's fraud.
"At the moment, I can't comment on the report and we are trying to ascertain the facts," said Nan Williams, spokeswoman for Grant Thornton International.
The others named in the warrants were Gianpaolo Zini, an outside Parmalat lawyer, and Parmalat officials Gianfranco Bocchi, Claudio Pessina and Giovanni Bonici, the judicial official said.
The official said he believed all eight people named in the new warrant were in custody. There was no confirmation from Bologna's financial police, though, who were co-ordinating the roundup.
The warrants were issued by Parma prosecutors who suspect them of criminal association leading to fraudulent bankruptcy and false accounting.
Those same charges have been levelled against Tanzi, who has been in Milan's San Vittore prison since Saturday.
On Tuesday, a judge confirmed his arrest based on the Parma accusations. Tanzi, who founded the dairy company in 1961, has also been accused by Milan prosecutors of market rigging and making false statements to auditors.
Judge Guido Salvini ordered Tanzi to remain in prison pending formal indictment, saying he might try to tamper with evidence or flee if he were freed. Salvini also called Tanzi's statements claiming to have had no knowledge of any falsification of Parmalat documents "improbable."
Salvini also quoted Tanzi as having admitted that over the years, he directed his officials to divert upwards of $620 million from Parmalat's coffers to travel companies controlled by his family.
Salvini also accused auditors Bianchi and Penca of falsely certifying Parmalat's balance sheets and of having suggested the ``fictitious operations necessary to achieve the fraudulent aims of the group."
In particular, Salvini said the auditors omitted revealing the ``irregular situation" of two Parmalat offshore companies, Curcastle and Zilpa. And he said the two also hatched the idea to create the Cayman Islands-based Bonalt subsidiary at the centre of Parmalat's bankruptcy.
Parmalat was declared insolvent and placed under the supervision of turnaround expert Enzo Bondi after it was revealed that Bonlat didn't have the $4.9 billion it had claimed was in a Bank of America account.
The case has been compared to the collapse of U.S. energy trader Enron because both companies had bewildering networks of related companies — in Parmalat's case, some 200 subsidiaries.
The SEC, which has alleged Parmalat engaged "in one of the largest and most brazen corporate financial frauds in history," is seeking civil penalties and repayment of any ill-gotten gains with interest for U.S. investors, who hold some $1.5 billion in its bonds and notes.
Salvini said in his order that Tanzi had diverted and hid about $1 billion of Parmalat's wealth "in favor of himself and his companies that were extraneous to the group."