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You betcha gaboracs!! They pulling some shady things for certain!!!! As far as being ion here!!! IMHO and I have a sneaky suspicion, that certain folks are throwing extra $$$ around to make sure sue and I never get outta here, If tat is the case this place will create their own demise!!!! Sad to see things turn out this way!!!
Posted by: CharleyMike
In reply to: kodiak149 who wrote msg# 12289 Date:1/20/2006 8:26:22 AM
Post #of 12290
I think he's waiting for some sign of attitude change that hasn't become obvious yet.
After reading their posts for a long time, I'll give you odds(7-5) it never does.
Pretty smart , when ya wanna be Mike, And You got dat right, My tude has been the same since I been here, I HATE Scammers and scum who run them, THAT WILL NEVER change, sorry, I have morals principals, and integrity!!! Values lost in the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ fever anymore, Folks sell their souls to the devil, and they will always have me at the pant legs, That will not change either!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to IHUB!!! haaaaaaaaaa
Gezzzz Mattu!!!! Didn't you learn nuttin in Business 101??? Competition is a good thing!! haaaaaaaaa Deleting the competitions link, Way to go Donut dewd!!!!
OH that was you grubby!!!
OK Donutdewd!!!! Ya let me and sue outta jail and I will call off the lion!!! Besides Just talked to Phil da bullrider on the phone and he said he is going to come up here and kick ma a$$ GOD knows I don't want dat!!!!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Thanks Paulie!!!!!
Sent By: cosmoworld7 Date: 1/13/2006 12:11:26 PM
how can a poster with over 60,000post and 100memeber marks be in jail? what did you do?
Well cosmoworld, I just called Matts game, and he has a hard time with that, Thanks for the PM!!!
Wiggles has a new girlfriend!!!
For ma friends on IHUB!!!
"Sugar" is a Chinese crested Che wa wa LOL She is a nut just like wiggles and gives him a bite on the nose when she has had enough, WAY to go sugar!! Wiggles needs a lil boss around haaaaaa
And to all my IHUB friends HOWDY!!!!! I am always around, Just play elsewhere!!!! You know how to find me!!!
IMHO Zitface, you and this site are a scam!!!!!! You got a lot to learn boy!!!!!
HMMMMMMMMMMM Log into IHUB and my virus scanner goes off, It appears IHUB tried loading 2 virus on my computer when I came to the site!!!! This your way of dealing with things???? Dont tell me drummerboy does this dirty work for you????? Truly sad!!!!
QUICK < GET IN NOW,!!! The next to goooood to be true gem of a pos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
| First Canadian American Holding Corp. (FCDH)
scamssssssssssssssssss
Securities And Exchange Commission v. eSafetyWorld, Inc. (now known as EZ Auctions and Shipping Inc.) and Raymond Burghard, Civil Action No. CV 05 5851 (United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York) (Judge Hurley)
Securities And Exchange Commission Files Charges in Fraud Involving eSafetyWorld, Inc.
Former CEO and CFO Consent to Injunctions, Officer and Director Bars, and Penalties
On December 15, 2005, the SEC filed two civil injunctive actions in federal district court for the Eastern District of New York related to fraudulent schemes perpetrated at eSafetyWorld, Inc. (now known as EZ Auctions and Shipping Inc.) ("eSafety").
The first complaint alleges that Edward A. Heil and R. Bret Jenkins, respectively eSafety's CEO and CFO at the relevant time, engaged in fraudulent schemes in 2001 involving a false press release, financial fraud, and/or a market manipulation. The complaint alleges that:
During the mailed-anthrax scare, Heil drafted and issued eSafety's October 19, 2001 false press release about a supposed revolutionary anthrax-containment device. The press release caused a one-day price increase of 413% and a volume increase of 57,085%.
Heil devised, and Heil and Jenkins implemented, eSafety's revenue recognition policy for consulting services which was contrary to GAAP. They also failed to restate eSafety's first through third quarter 2001 reports, improperly deferred costs in eSafety's 2001 Form 10-KSB thereby understating net loss, and aided and abetted eSafety's electronic filing violations.
In 2001, in order to manipulate the stock of eSafety, Heil directed the purchase and sale of eSafety stock and transferred $473,288 in eSafety funds to an entity that he controlled and another entity.
Heil executed a false loan agreement and provided eSafety's auditors with a false loan confirmation to conceal the use of monies in the manipulation.
Heil and Jenkins each have agreed to settle the complaint by consenting, on a neither admit nor deny basis, to the entry of an injunction based on the anti-fraud, books and records, internal controls and electronic signature provisions of the federal securities laws. Heil's injunction is based on violations of Sections 10(b) and 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 10b-5, 13b2-1, and 13b2-2 thereunder; and his aiding and abetting violations of Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 13a-1, 13a-13, 12b-20, and 12b-25 thereunder, and Section 232.302 of Regulation S-T. Jenkins' injunction is based on violations of Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act; and his aiding and abetting violations of Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 10b-5, 13a-1, 13a-13, 12b-20, 12b-25, 13b2-1 and 13b2-2 thereunder, and Section 232.302 of Regulation S-T. They each also agreed to a 10-year officer and director bar. Heil will pay a penalty of $60,000 and Jenkins will pay a penalty of $50,000.
In a separate but related action, Heil has offered to settle an administrative proceeding pursuant to Rule 102(e) of the Commission's Rules of Practice by accepting a bar from practicing before the Commission as an accountant with a right to request reinstatement in five years.
In the second federal court action, the Commission alleges that eSafety engaged in each of the fraudulent schemes described above, and that Raymond Burghard aided and abetted eSafety's financial fraud by signing a false loan agreement and a false loan confirmation that he knew would be provided to eSafety's auditors. In so doing, the Commission alleges that Burghard aided and abetted violations of Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act, and Rules 10b-5, 13a-1, 13b2-1, and 13b2-2 thereunder.
The Commission seeks injunctive relief and penalties from eSafety and Burghard.
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr19494.htm
Administrative Proceedings
The list below provides links to notices and orders concerning the institution and/or settlement of administrative proceedings.
Additional Archives
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 Release No. Date Respondents
Fourth Quarter
34-52959 Dec. 15, 2005 Gilbert Bergsman, CPA, and Lee Levinson, CPA
Other Release No.: AAER-2354
34-52956 Dec. 15, 2005 Semiconductor Laser International Corp.
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin.shtml
Alleged Pyramid Scheme Operators Banned from Multi-level Marketing
Federal Trade Commission [Dec 16 2005 12:23AM GMT] $1.5 Million in Consumer Redress Required to Settle FTC Charges The Federal Trade Commission has settled charges against three corporations and their owners and officers that the defendants used deceptive practices to promote their
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x439085243&f=3000000268279
ASX turns the heat on inside traders
The Age [Dec 15 2005 10:26PM GMT] INSIDER trading on the Australian Stock Exchange will be targeted by a new intelligence unit, but the ASX denies the crackdown is a reaction to any high-profile trading scandalshttp://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x439037534&f=3000000268279
New law to rein in money-laundering
Kuwait Times [Dec 15 2005 4:27AM GMT] By Nancy OteifaKUWAIT: On the concluding ceremony of the International Conference on Money Laundering, which was held in the Arab organisation headquarter, Ibrahim Al-Ghanem, Director General of the Customs in Kuwait said, 'In order to curb the menace
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x438623106&f=3000000268275
SEC May Again Pursue Outside Directors
This is not a first--I posted here about a similar case back in August 2003--but it is highly unusual for the SEC to go after a public company's outside directors for financial shenanigans or fraud at the company. Yet that is what the SEC is reportedly doing with respect to three high-profile outside directors (two current, one former) of Hollinger International Inc. who served on the company's audit committee. According to a Bloomberg report discussed here,
the SEC has sent Wells notices to James Thompson, Richard Burt, and Marie-Josee Kravis. Thompson, the chairman of law firm Winston & Strawn, had served as Hollinger's audit committee chairman. He still serves on the board, as does Burt, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany. Kravis, a director of Ford Motor Co. since 1995 (and the wife of buyout icon Henry Kravis), resigned from the Hollinger board in 2003.
The article states that the Hollinger audit committee approved more than $275 million in payments to former Hollinger chairman Conrad Black, his business partners, and to Ravelston Corp., a separate company they controlled.
The report of these Wells calls comes almost simultaneously with comments made yesterday by the SEC's Peter Bresnan, Deputy Director of Enforcement, that the Enforcement Division would be recommending that the SEC bring actions against against outside directors in certain cases currently on the agency's calendar. According to BNA's Securities Law Daily, Bresnan stated on an ABA webcast yesterday that the Enforcement Division
will pursue cases in which the outside director "has taken no care in ensuring the accuracy of the statement [he or she] make[s]." He added, "When they sign something, it has to have some basis."
05:12 PM | Permalink
http://slw.issproxy.com/securities_litigation_blo/2005/12/sec_may_again_p.html
Ex-Hollinger CFO pleads not guilty
John "Jack" Boultbee pleaded not guilty to charges that he defrauded shareholders out of millions.
December 7, 2005: 11:15 AM EST
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CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Hollinger International Inc. Chief Financial Officer John "Jack" Boultbee pleaded not guilty Wednesday to U.S. charges that he defrauded shareholders out of millions of dollars.
Judge Amy St. Eve of the U.S. District Court ordered Boultbee, 62, to post a $1.5 million cash bond and told him he could only travel between the United States and Canada.
He was indicted on the fraud charges last month along with toppled media baron Conrad Black and two others, all of whom also have pleaded not guilty.
Boultbee, who lives in the Vancouver area, had skipped last week's scheduled arraignment on eight mail and wire fraud counts and prosecutors had threatened him with extradition, telling the judge that he had shown disrespect for the U.S. court system.
On Thursday he signed an affidavit waiving his right to contest any future extradition order -- meaning that he could be forced to return to the U.S. court at any time.
Robert Kent, a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago, said additional charges in the case could be filed by next week. He did not say against whom the new charges might be filed.
Judge St. Eve ordered Boultbee, Black and the other defendants to appear at a status hearing in the case on Dec.16 in her court.
Last month's indictments accused Black, Boultbee and the others of pocketing $84 million in non-compete payments made during asset sales from Black's once-sprawling newspaper empire. The other two defendants are former Hollinger attorneys Mark Kipnis and Peter Atkinson.
Black's one-time lieutenant, David Radler was indicted earlier and reached a plea agreement in which he said he would testify against the others in exchange for a 29-month prison term and $250,000 fine.
Each fraud count carries a maximum five-year prison term plus fines and possible restitution.
Boultbee was described in the indictment as Chicago-based Hollinger International's (Research) former accountant who oversaw company finances, including matters related to taxes.
Through Mowitza Holdings Inc. Boultbee also owned nearly 1 percent of Ravelston Corp. Ltd., Black's and Radler's now-insolvent holding company that controlled Hollinger International through Toronto-based Hollinger Inc. Ravelston was also named in an earlier indictment and its representatives have pleaded not guilty.
---------------------------
Conrad Black could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted for defrauding shareholders, click here for more.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/07/news/newsmakers/hollinger.reut/index.htm
STOCK FRAUD'S SILENT ACCOMPLICE
or
"Things I wish I knew before now but everyone neglected to tell me"
"As a shareholder in CYPT.ob [denotes Yahoo user] I have been amazed at the selling pressure on the stock over the past couple weeks. After phoning investor relations I was made aware of your service. After several hours of investigation to find your website it is clear the negative affect your allegations have had on the stock price. Although I don't negate your findings, my issue with your service is that it does not show up on any of the many financial news services that I use nor the search engines that I systematically use to source news on companies that I am invested or plan to invest in. From the inception of your reports on Calypte I have been negatively impacted to the tune of $45,000 +. If your service is truly meant to protect investors (by exposing foul play) & not attracting short sellers, you should make sure your statements are visible to all."
unsolicited email from a concerned investor
WE COULDN'T AGREE MORE!
Public companies that commit fraud in the stock markets have a knowing yet silent accomplice in plain sight yet the market says nothing, investors are in the dark and the SEC is powerless to intervene.
Public companies distribute their press releases to the market and the world by using one of several Press Release/news dissemination services. The largest of these are Business Wire and PR Newswire. In the first few words of the body of every press release you will see the name of the distribution service clearly stated.
These Press Release distributors charge a fee to their clients depending upon the length of the release and upon the level of distribution the client wants. Fees can range from around $100 for a release of limited size and distribution plus wire services to $1,500 and more for broad distribution into newspapers, publications and services globally.
Both private and public companies can publish just about any kind of statement about themselves they want so long as the release isn't completely and blatantly illegal or immoral. All they have to do is sign up for the service and pay the fee. Unfortunately, part of the press release distributors obligation is NOT to check for the accuracy of a company's representations. Since the lies these scoundrels tell are usually about themselves in some regard, it isn't logical to expect these distributors to check every claim for its veracity. Instead these services take great pains to disclaim any responsibility for what is being said by their clients. Heck, they aren't writing the release, just putting them out over the wire. Assuming the proper checks and balances are in place, this process would seem logical and appropriate.
Still, this process creates fertile soil for fraud and, as is always the case, where there is a clear opportunity to rip off investors, the professional criminals along with businessmen of every ilk yet sharing a common shortcoming, the complete lack of moral fibre, are not far behind. It should come as no surprise to anyone then, that many of the 10b-5 violations prosecuted by the SEC are the result of materially false and/or misleading press releases issued by dishonest company officers and unscrupulous stock promoters.
Such is the nature of the financial community and nothing will change that tendency yet, with the proper checks and balances, it can still function for the investing community. We will get to the lack of those all important checks and balances and why the individual investor is still at great and unnecessary risk in just a moment but first, let's continue exploring the process and explore yet another problem built into it.
When press releases are submitted over the "wire" they are captured and displayed by hundreds of internet based quotation systems and financial web pages by virtue of their stock trading symbol. Yet, each individual service or website decides which press release and news services' releases they will capture and display. From almost universal capturing of the primary providers, Business Wire and PR Newswire, to less penetration by the second tier providers like MarketWire and PrimeZone each provider's releases are captured by a differing number of websites.
Only a few websites actually provide the investor with virtually all of the available information linked to the various public companies. Even the most frequented, Yahoo.com and the industry itself at nasdaq.com fall amazingly short of publishing all the news and announcements that are released. Of course, this fact is not prominently displayed and easily found by the user. It is, instead, buried in the terms and conditions or elsewhere in the vast inner reaches of their sites. The two best web sites for publishing most if not all the information that comes out are Wallstreetcity.com and pcquote.com. For this reason, we recommend that all individual investors use one of these sites for all their news and stock information needs. (we are not affiliated with these folks and were not paid to say that either).
This creates a problem for the individual investor who logs on to Yahoo every day to check his/her stocks and is completely unaware of the fact that some relevant news was published about one of his stocks simply because Yahoo had chosen not to capture news from that specific distributor. This can be even more troubling if the investor notices a dramatic change in one of their stock's price yet sees nothing to explain it in the way of news on the quote page (simply because Yahoo didn't carry it) and trusts that, if it was important, it would be there. Big mistake, HUGE! Of course, Yahoo and the rest of the financial sites have well crafted disclaimers as well so you can forget having any luck in passing the blame on to them. After all, you should have been smart enough to spend an hour or so digging around in our fine print and familiarizing yourself with what we don't do for you before you ever trusted us you foolish investor.
Investors have a right to know all the news, developments and information available about their stocks when they log on to their favorite financial web site or be warned most clearly each and every time of the fact that they could be missing essential information.
Additionally, although press release distributors will say they discourage third parties from using stock symbols to link their opinion based promotional materials to a public company's stock by using the company's stock symbol, often times those promotional pieces will also be displayed along with the press releases issued by the companies themselves. Also attached to a company's symbol and available on most quotation systems and financial websites are the "hard" news stories about individual public companies that are published by the mainstream news media such as the DOW Jones NewsWire and Reuters to name but two.
The PR distribution industry is both competitive and matured and, as a result, companies can get the information they choose out to the world, quickly and cost effectively. Everything from simple "disclosure" releases with only the minimum facts as required by law to full blown promotional pieces that extol the virtues of just about any occasion or situation the company is experiencing or that management can dream up, regardless of how feeble the information's relationship is to the truth, can be on the wire within minutes of submitting it to one of these distributors.
Unfortunately for the innocent investors, especially in the world of the Bulletin Board and Pink Sheet stocks, a simple cold call to a company about exploring the possibility of discussing the concept of possibly negotiating a working relationship at some time in the future can magically turn into a "strategic alliance" between the two companies in a press release. A grant application to the government which hasn't even been filed, can suddenly be deemed to be "close to approval". A non-existent and completely fabricated "buy" recommendation, supposedly issued by an established investment house, that was simply conjured up in the devious mind of a stock manipulator can suddenly show up in a press release with all the apparent credibility of a highly respected Merrill Lynch telecommunications analyst's recommendation on a NYSE company. (OK, bad choice for an analogy but you get the point).
Since press releases by companies are not subject to verification of accuracy or truthfulness by the services that distribute them, the investing public has no idea that any of them are anything but reliable and truthful information and only subject to the usual safe harbor provisions which say, "all this might never happen as stated". Sadly it doesn't say, "every word here could just as easily be a big fat lie intended only for the purpose of ripping off the investing public and enriching the promoters and insiders".
It is true that, companies that manipulate their stocks through false or misleading press releases can be, and often are, held accountable by the SEC but, unfortunately, this can often take several years to come to light and that is long after the proverbial horse has left the proverbial barn and all that remains is the pain of loss and the bad taste left in the investor's mouth from another betrayal of trust.
There are only a handful of groups that work to inform the public about scams and rip offs by public companies that use illegal or questionable tactics in promoting their stock. These tactics usually include the publishing of false or misleading press releases. Our-Street.com is one such group. You would think, with so many companies pumping their stock and so few of us exposing them, that we would have our collective hands full just writing enough reports and complaints. Sort of a case of "So much crime- So little time". However, writing and publishing the reports is only a part of the problem because of stock fraud's silent accomplice.
None of the primary or second tier press release distributors, with the exception of M2 PressWire, Europe's largest distributor but a lesser player in the US markets, will allow companies like Our-Street.com to issue a truthful press release through them that sheds a negative light on any public company, whether a customer of theirs or not. We want to applaud the courage of M2 PressWire for being the ONLY distributor we have found to show the courage to actually act as a legitimate news portal and allow both sides to be heard. We respect the fact they recently were called upon to test that courage and, upon reviewing our practices have determined that our releases are accurate and fairly represent newsworthy information and as such have allowed us to continue. Of course M2 PressWire, like the others, do not attest to the accuracy of our releases anymore than they attest to the accuracy of the other releases they distribute. As a result of their courage, we want to recommend them to anyone wishing to distribute news about their company. They also happen to be the most cost effective as well. We suggest everyone check them out and consider giving them some of your business. (this endorsement was not solicited or paid for)
The reasons the other distributors give are as varied as the services themselves. We have been told that "policy prohibits third party releases". Stated simply, this means that a press release must be about your company and cannot be about, and therefore linked to, another. We have been told, "It simply isn't worth it" to have the subject of a release call and yell at us until we give up and pull the release. We have been told that, that the company itself "owns" the symbol and any press release by a third party must be approved by the company before distributing. Of course, the simple fact is that the National Association of Securities Dealers (the NASD) assigns trading symbols to companies in order to facilitate an orderly market and since a pubic company cannot, to our knowledge, sell a symbol, we doubt very much if they own them either. Finally, we have simply been told that the simple and factual press releases we issue are not something they are willing to distribute.
We know the services' refusal to accept the releases published by the small band of watchdogs is not based upon the accuracy of the releases themselves since accuracy is not a concern regarding the thousands of public companies issuing through them every day. Besides, aside from the companies we expose, no one has ever challenged the truthfulness of one of our releases and no one has ever proven that one of our press releases is anything but completely accurate.
We believe that, by distributing press releases for public companies without regard to truthfulness while simultaneously blocking all attempts by those groups who would expose the lies, the industry has virtually eliminated the all-important checks and balances we mentioned earlier and effectively become a willing accomplice and facilitator in the ongoing problem of stock manipulation and fraud. We have written both PR Newswire and Business wire and asked them to comment on this problem. In our email we explained our perception of the problem and closed with these two paragraphs:
"By allowing fraudulent press releases to be distributed
while refusing to distribute press releases exposing these
frauds to the public, it seems as if you are creating an
uneven playing field. Wouldn't you serve the public and
the industry better by allowing both to be distributed
thereby taking a truly neutral position of news portal and
not that of facilitator and protector?
How do you justify providing a service which distributes fraudulent press releases while protecting the criminals against exposure by refusing press releases from companies such as Our-Street.com?"
You will note we do not differentiate between "knowingly" and "unknowingly" distributing these releases since no effort is made to discern between the two. All services recognize that some of the releases they distribute are fraudulent and thusly they "know" that each press release could be fraudulent yet they distribute them anyway. To date, we have not received a response. We will publish them here if we get one but don't hold your breath.
So, why do these companies shy away from distributing releases which expose the lies of the unethical companies? The reasons are not totally clear but we have a theory which we feel is most likely. It is based upon our experience and our conversations with industry types from both sides of the equation. When a company issues a fraudulent or false or misleading press release the only one to complain at the time would be the individual investor and a few watchdog sites like Our-Street.com who are skilled at exposing the well crafted lies of the dishonest corporate executives and unscrupulous stock promoters. None of us have the leverage or resources necessary to intimidate a BusinessWire or PRnewswire into retracting a press release. They simply say, "The only one who can pull a press release is the company that issued it".
On the other hand, when something negative is published about a public company, the press release distributor knows full well, or will quickly find out, that that company or its attorney will probably be on the phone threatening that service with all kinds of unspeakable horrors while using disturbing phrases like "illegal short selling" and "manipulating the stock down". This kind of talk has a tendency to cloud even a rational person's thinking to the point where they forget that the fraudulent and misleading press releases being exposed were themselves designed to manipulate the stock to irrational heights so as to allow people who were given vast quantities of stock to promote those lies could sell their stock while innocent investors are buying the stock based upon those lies.
Simply put, it isn't risky in the least to let public companies publish false or misleading press releases and satisfying customers (releasing what they submit) is an important part of doing business. It does, however, require principal and a willingness to stand for something to take on even one of the few watchdogs as customers knowing that you will have to take some heat for doing the right thing. When you compare the thousands of public companies (the core of their business) against the few watchdogs (unnecessary irritants), allowing them to expose the lies of even a few of those solid paying customers could at the very least prove upsetting and in the worst case, could cost you some business or make you (gasp) have to defend what is right. In business today on both sides of the Atlantic, these qualities are rare indeed.
In conclusion, individual investors today are faced with two significant challenges when it comes to staying informed and on top of their equity investments.
1. The lack of consistent and effective distribution of releases throughout the internet. This requires an awareness of the limitations of ones financial website regarding how much of the relevant information they capture as it is released. CHOOSE YOUR QUOTE SITE CAREFULLY!
2. Trying to discern the truth from the lies within a system that facilitates the distribution of fraudulent, false or misleading press releases while sheltering the perpetrators from those who would expose them. (SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT OUR-STREET.COM)
These two challenges are responsible for untold losses as investors find themselves buying when they wouldn't and not selling when they would, if only they knew the truth, a truth which was out there but unavailable to them because their web site failed to inform them of their limitations or stock fraud's silent accomplice kept the news off the wire and out of sight. Something needs to change if we are ever going to successfully take back Our Street!
NOTE: If you like this editorial, please share it with as many people as you can. The only way things will ever change is if we all become informed and demand a change. If you wish to write someone to complain, write these people or your favorite business news reporter and complain long and loud.
http://www.our-street.com/conspiracy.htm
HEY DERF!!!! ya fuzzy creature!!!! BYTE me haaaaaaaaaaa
Posted by: fung_derf
In reply to: IH Admin [Matt] who wrote msg# 61862 Date:12/15/2005 10:40:48 AM
Post #of 61896
Do you plan to keep the jailhouse as a no fun board? I'm just wondering if I should remove it from my boardmarked list? There's only so many times I can read the whiners from WAVX or the capt. nemo reality tour shpiel before wanting to puke
*************************************************************
Posted by: otherbrotherdarrel
In reply to: GratziPrego who wrote msg# 76173 Date:12/15/2005 11:35:34 AM
Post #of 76184
It does not matter. IHub is for frontloaders and losers. Anything honest or in-between is unwanted.
I almost agree with that!!!!!![/B]
GZFX HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Man they know how to dump shares weeeeeeeeeeee Now lets see who is making the big bucks wit it?????
SCANS AND SCAMS
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SEC FILES FRAUD CHARGES AGAINST RETAIL SKIN CARE CHAIN EXECUTIVES
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed securities fraud charges against three men who fraudulently raised over $11 million from investors in stores of Skin Nuvo International, LLC, a skin care and laser hair removal company that operated in California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest.
The Commission’s complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that, between 2002 and 2004, Nuvo co-founder Jeffrey Schmidt, 45, of Henderson, Nevada, falsely promised dozens of investors profits of 30% to 40% when he knew Nuvo’s business was in precarious financial shape. Nuvo has since filed for bankruptcy.
According to the complaint, Schmidt told investors their investments would finance particular new Nuvo locations, when in reality Schmidt spent the money to prop up the failing business, pay executives (including $680,000 to himself), and pay preexisting investors to maintain an illusion of profitability. Schmidt also provided investors with false income statements showing the retail locations to be substantially more profitable than they actually were.
The complaint further alleges that Nuvo’s former Chief Operating Officer Norman Valine, 39, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a Nuvo co-owner Gary Gelnette, 51, of Concord, California, raised money from new investors even after suspecting that Schmidt may have embezzled funds and falsified financial records. Specifically, the complaint alleges that in late 2004, Gelnette, a former pastor, helped raise $1.35 million from a former parishioner, while Valine reaped $138,000 in commissions by selling Nuvo interests to four additional investors.
The Commission’s complaint alleges that Schmidt, Gelnette and Valine violated Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint also charges Schmidt and Valine with violating Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act. The Commission seeks disgorgement, civil money penalties, and injunctive relief.
SEC Complaint in this matter
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr19493.htm
Stocklemon Updates Housevalues.com (NASDAQ: SOLD)
Who naught suspects is easily deceived." Petrarca Petrarch
Lack of transparency is extremely frustrating when attempting to analyze the sustainability of a business model like that of Housevalues.com (NASDAQ:SOLD). SOLD’s management has consistently withheld the numbers which would support a transparent answer to this critical question. This forces both analysts and Stocklemon to use “voodoo math” to try to determine if Housevalues has actually attracted a customer base.
Stocklemon believes that transparency is a major problem facing Housevalues. They are not being forthright with either: the initial lead, the customer for the lead, or the investment community.
Anecdotal Evidence
The preponderance of agents we’ve spoken to freely express their dislike of Housevalues and its aggressive sales tactics. (Just ask any real estate agent you know.)
Complaints on internet sites reflect a litany of disgust and resentment over manipulative sales tactics, bogus leads, onerous cancellation fees, and ruined credit.
Just read the latest threads on Ripoffreport.com and Real Estate Agent Networking Sites.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff146227.htm
http://www.realtychat.com/forum/search.php?0,search=housevalues,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=30....
The sales tactics of Housevalues have angered agents so much that on December 13, we saw the launch of the website
http://www.housevalueslawsuit.com/
*Let is be known that neither Stocklemon or anyone affiliated with Stocklemon had anything to do with the above site and has no knowledge of who actually registered and is operating the above site. We learned about the website by checking the recent complaints against Housevalues on realtychat.com. Furthermore, Stocklemon has never published or solicited the publication of any postings on any consumer action site against Housevalues or any other company.
Analytical Evidence
The analytical approach is rendered difficult, because the company has notably never released the numbers on:
1. The distribution of “core customers” by length of subscription
2. The distribution of cancelled customers by length of retention
3. The actual amount of revenue received from cancellation fees
4. The number of customers who are released from their contracts without cancellation fees.
Instead of using the CSFB investor conference on December 1st to bring transparency to this critical issue, SOLD’s CFO muddied the water further by abusing one of those infamous “hypothetical statistics”. Stocklemon is aware of SOLD’s version of math that a 6.5% churn rate, applied to a static number over a 12 month timespan, yields a retention rate of 45% -- drop that right in the “interesting but meaningless” bin.
But then by sleight of hand, CFO Zdanowski states it as an actual number – stepping well over the line into what Stocklemon considers as “intentionally misleading”. There is absolutely nothing in SOLD’s entire reporting history that EVER supports a retention rate even remotely approaching 45%.
Here’s what we do know and find quite disturbing.
The total number of new customers added during the last 4 quarters exceeds or equals the entire core customer base. (This eye-popping comparison has in fact been true for all 7 historical quarters the comparison can be computed.)
The number of churned off customers, calculated using the company’s method equals or exceeds the number of customers added 4 quarters prior – for every period over the last 2 years. This supports the conclusion that there is a huge drop-off when the 12-month cancellation fee period expires.
The Thom Weisel analyst admits that SOLD’s method for calculating its churn rate understates the churn. By the Weisel analyst’s method, the churn rate is nearly 7% per month. As Weasel’s last research states
”The company’s calculation may understate churn because it uses the average count for the quarter as its base. It may be more appropriate to use the beginning subscriber count as the base because few of the lost subscribers in a given quarter are likely to have been from among those added in the quarter. If we recalculate churn on that basis, the monthly rate for 3Q05 would be 40bp higher.”
The CFO says you can’t multiply the monthly churn rate by 12 to get an annual rate. The Thomas Weisel analyst agrees with us that you certainly can:
“Monthly churn ranges from 6-7% (70-80% annualized)”.
In order to clear the confusion Stocklemon offers the attached model on Housevalues.com. The attached spreadsheet tracks all SOLD’s key core customer subscription and marketing expense statistics since the company began publishing them.
http://sl.stocklemon.com/ProdImages/SOLD_table.html
It is clear SOLD is adding new customers at an escalating rate. But is this due to building a subscriber base, or hidden by escalating marketing expenses?
Two important data points stand out:
1) Customers lost to churn , compared to new customers.
Row 9 calculates the number of customers churned off each qtr.
Row 11 is an average churn loss for the prior 4 quarters.
Row 15 shows new customers during each quarter.
Row 11 shows the average new customers for 4 quarters, one year prior.
Clearly, from comparing rows 11 and 12, for the last 9 months the company is churning off customers at the rate they were adding them one year prior. This is consistent with the expiration of the cancellation fee period which new customers are contractually obligated to pay if they terminate their service.)
2) Marketing expenses are increasing in absolute and proportional terms – a trend that suggests no efficiency of scale. SOLD has been spending in excess of 50% of gross revenues on marketing expense as its new customer counts grow. But, of more concern, (see Row 24) the average cost per new customer has been rising for the last 4 quarters, indicating that escalating spending on its telesales marketing crew, rather than its retention rate, is responsible for the growth in gross revenues and customer counts.
Both these numbers are consistent with Stocklemon’s conclusion, that SOLD’s business model is not sustainable as the residential real estate bubble loses momentum.
Same Business, presented honestly
Just to show that Stocklemon is not totally Bah Humbug, we will show a real estate lead site that creates no ill-will through deception of its customers. Just look at the business model of Reply.com’s www.realtynow.com and www.agentconnect.com
websites.
In sharp contrast to Housevalues, the above sites demonstrate 3 business practices that in the opinion of Stocklemon make their business more reputable and sustainable than Housevalues.
1. They pre-screen leads before they sell them to agents to make sure they are real people.
2. They do not make agents sign long term contracts.
3. They inform the buyer right up front in bold letters that they are connecting them to a real estate agent, and not leading them to the false belief that they are providing an online property valuation report.
Of course much like every lead generation company Reply.com will have their share of customer complaints, but not locking agents into a 12 month contract and telling the consumer up front that they are being referred to a real estate agent is a good start.
For this, we commend the way Reply.com does business.
Conclusion
Stocklemon continues to believe that the business model of Housevalues.com is truly unsustainable. Through the lack of transparency, SOLD is creating ill will within its customer base, lead system, and now the investment community. Rapid growth in new RE agents during the real estate boom fueled some sales, but those days are gone. And word has gotten around among Real Estate agents, which will require increasing marketing costs per customer to overcome.
Cautious Investing To All.
Disclaimer:
Stocklemon.com does not guarantee in any way that it is providing all of the information that may be available. We recommend that you do your own due diligence before buying or selling any security. At any times the principals of Stocklemon.com might hold a position in any of the securities profiled on the site. Stocklemon.com will not report when a position is initiated or covered. Each investor must make that decision based on his/her judgment of the market.
THE SECURITIES LAW LETTER
The Web's Best Source of Securities Law News
December 2005
Commentary
Appeals Judges Question SEC's Hedge Fund Rule
A divided SEC passed the rule in a 3 to 2 vote last year, citing evidence that the loosely regulated investment pools had become a breeding ground for fraud and trading abuses. But New York fund adviser Phillip Goldstein sued to stop the rule, arguing that the SEC had overstepped its authority and did not provide adequate foundation for the move. During the hearing, the appellate judges asked very critical questions of the SEC. Although questions during oral argument do not necessarily indicate which way a judge is leaning, my personal favorite question, which is actually a statement was "You don't have authority to act simply because you exist.," from Judge Harry T. Edwards. Many commentators had serious questions regarding the rationale for the new rule. Our analysis is in Bureaucracy Without Benefit
Economists Caution Investors on Hidden Risks of Hedge Fund
High fees, inconsistent data, and difficult-to-understand risks are reasons for individual investors to avoid or minimize their investments in hedge funds, caution a group of 32 senior financial economists, including three from Stanford, in a new report.
Mutual Fund Leaders Aim to Restore Trust
Mutual fund leaders came together for an annual conference aimed at restoring investor confidence after a year of scandals in what before had been considered a pristine-clean industry.
Amber Alert: Hedge Fund Seal Of Approval
Hedge funds can now show off their good housekeeping by stamping their efforts with what amounts to a seal of approval from Amber Partners. The Bermuda-based HF operational risk specialist has introduced a new service that will award "Amber-certified status" to any hedge fund that meets its "benchmark of operational quality," according to the firm.
NASD can help analyze fees in your funds
you own a mutual fund or if you're thinking about investing in one, perhaps for the first time, the one thing you absolutely need to do is pay attention to fees and expenses. That's what the experts keep telling us. However, for the novice investor -- and that's what most of us are -- figuring out how to compare the cost of one mutual fund with another can be as difficult as reading Latin. But NASD, the private-sector regulator for the securities industry, has introduced a new and improved mutual fund expense analyzer.
Smith Barney Cuts Pay for Smaller Brokers
According to Registered Rep magazine, Smith Barney plans to trim payouts for lower-end brokers next year, in an effort to counter rising costs and cull underperformers from its ranks. The new pay scale was announced to brokers internally in October and will take effect in January.
Pru Broker Wins $2 Million Wrongful Termination Suit
Bob Ostrowski was awarded $2 million from Prudential for wrongful termination in a New York Stock Exchange arbitration proceeding. The highly respected broker was terminated abruptly by the firm, in what appears to be an overreaction to a customer complaint. The Arbitration Panel awarded him $2 million, and amended his Form U-5.
Churning or Trading?
Trading accounts sometimes look like churned accounts. Here's how to tell the difference.
Enforcement Actions
Boston Money Manager Bradford C. Bleidt Sentenced to Over 11 Years
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that, on December 5, 2005, Bradford C. Bleidt was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $31,734,192.75 based upon his guilty plea to criminal charges brought by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. On July 26, 2005, Bleidt pleaded guilty to 115 counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with a scheme in which he defrauded approximately 125 investors of more than $27 million.
Court Orders Disgorgement, Penalty and Permanent Injunctions Against Ohio Businessman Bradley Smith and His Companies for Securities Fraud
Court Orders Disgorgement, Penalty and Permanent Injunctions Against Ohio Businessman Bradley Smith and His Companies for Securities Fraud. The SEC alleged that Smith and the companies told investors, both orally and in offering and marketing materials provided to investors, that most of the money raised would be used to buy stock in small community banks. Instead, most of the money was spent for other purposes, including to pay expenses for Smith's other businesses, as well as Smith's own personal expenses, including his personal credit card charges, house payments and a car purchase.
INVESTMENT ADVISER SENTENCED TO 24 MONTHS INCARCERATION
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), announced today that on December 5, 2005, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts imposed a sentence of twenty-four months incarceration on Barry J. Goodman for orchestrating an offering fraud that resulted in two investors losing $700,000.
NASDR Notices to Members
05-79 Amendments to Section 4 of Schedule A to the NASD By-Laws Governing Continuing Education Regulatory Element and Qualification Examination Fees
NASD has filed for immediate effectiveness amendments to Section 4 of Schedule A to the NASD By-Laws to increase the Continuing Education Regulatory Element session fee and certain qualification examination fees. These rule changes will become operative on January 1, 2006
05-71 SEC Approves NASD Interpretive Material to Rule 9216 regarding NASD's MRVP
On August 18, 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved amendments to NASD Interpretive Material 9216-2 (IM- 9216-2), regarding NASD's MRVP.1 The new rule text is contained in Attachment A and is effective on November 14, 2005.
05-75 Amendments Regarding Deadlines for Submission of Initial Annual Report under Rule 3012 and Execution of the Initial Annual Certification under Rule 3013 and IM-3013
NASD has filed for immediate effectiveness amendments to NASD Rule 3012 (Supervisory Control System) and Rule 3013 (Annual Certification of Compliance and Supervisory Processes) to extend until April 1, 2006, the date by which members must submit their initial annual report required by Rule 3012 and execute their first annual certification pursuant to Rule 3013 and IM-3013. The rule change became immediately effective on its October 14, 2005 filing date.
05-73 Broker-Dealer, Investment Adviser Firm, Agent and Investment Adviser Representative Renewals for 2006
The 2006 NASD Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Registration Renewal Program will begin on November 21, 2005, when online Preliminary Renewal Statements are made available to all firms on Web CRD/IARD. This annual program simplifies the registration renewal process for more than 27,000 broker-dealer (BD) and investment adviser (IA) firms, and over 700,000 registered representatives and investment adviser representatives with the payment of one amount to NASD by the published deadline. Beginning this year, other regulators may also choose to renew branch registrations via Web CRD/IARD. On November 1, 2005, firms may start submitting post-dated Forms ADV-W via IARD. Beginning November 7, 2005, firms may start submitting post-dated Forms U5, BDW and BR Closing/Withdrawal via Web CRD/IARD.
05-72 SEC Approves Amendments to NASD Rule 3150, Regarding Reporting Requirements for Clearing Firms, and NASD Rule 3230, Regarding Requirements for Clearing Agreements
approved amendments to NASD Rule 3150, regarding reporting requirements for clearing firms, and NASD Rule 3230, regarding requirements for clearing agreements. The amendment is designed to deal with the reporting of "piggyback" firms and to distinguish them from the intermediary firm in the reports.
05-70 Revisions to the Series 4, 6 and 9/10 Examination Programs
NASD has revised the examination programs for the Limited Principal - Registered Options (Series 4), Limited Representative -Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products (Series 6), and Limited Principal - General Securities Sales Supervisor (Series 9/10).1 The changes are reflected in study outlines that are available on the NASD Web site (www.nasd.com). The changes will appear in examinations administered starting on November 30, 2005.
05-69 SEC Approves New Rule 2111 Prohibiting Members from Trading Ahead of Customer Market Orders Under Certain Circumstances
The SEC has approved new Rule 2111, Trading Ahead of Customer Market Orders, which prohibits a firm that accepts and holds a customer market order from trading for its own account at prices that would satisfy the customer market order, unless the firm immediately thereafter executes the customer market order.
News Items
Hedge funds snap back after tough month
After a losing October, better returns for many funds, thanks to the November stock rally
Hedge fund fight bound for appeal
Fund manager contends the SEC doesn't have the power to require fund advisers to register.
American Express Financial Corporation Settles Market Timing Charges
American Express Financial Corporation, now known as Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AEFC) settled allegations that AEFC acted contrary to prospectus disclosures when it allowed certain shareholders to market time the mutual funds it advised, the American Express Funds (AXP Funds) when the AXP Funds' prospectus disclosures expressly prohibited market timing. As part of its settlement with the Commission, AEFC will pay $15 million in disgorgement and civil penalties, all of which will be placed in a Fair Fund for distribution to certain shareholders of the AXP Funds. AEFC also agreed to certain undertakings, including making annual presentations to its Board of Directors and the AXP Funds' Boards of Directors about the adequacy of its policies and procedures on market timing.
American Express Financial Advisors Settles Revenue Sharing Charges
American Express Financial Advisors Inc., now known as Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. settled SEC charges related to allegations that AEFA failed to adequately disclose millions of dollars in revenue sharing payments that it received from a select group of mutual fund companies. As part of its settlement AEFA will pay $30 million in disgorgement and civil penalties. AEFA also agreed to make certain disclosures to its customers about its revenue sharing program. The Order finds that AEFA began receiving substantial revenue sharing payments and directed brokerage commissions from certain mutual fund families for distribution of fund shares starting in 2001. Since that time, affiliates of these mutual fund families have paid AEFA tens of millions of dollars each year in cash and non-cash revenue sharing payments.
NASD Fines Ameriprise Financial Services $12.3 Million for Directed Brokerage Violations
NASD announced today that it has fined Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN, $12.3 million in connection with its receipt of directed brokerage in return for providing preferential treatment to certain mutual fund companies. The conduct at issue occurred when the firm was known as American Express Financial Advisors. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also sanctioned the firm for related conduct.
SEC Charges Millennium Partners, L.P., Israel Englander, and Others for Engaging in Fraudulent Market Timing Scheme
Respondents to Pay over $180 Million in Disgorgement and Penalties
SEC Votes to Propose Rule to Provide Investors with Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to propose for public comment rules that would allow companies and other persons to use the Internet to satisfy proxy material delivery requirements.
NASD Charges Kirlin Securities, Two Individuals in Fraudulent Scheme To Avoid NASDAQ Delisting of Parent Company by Manipulating Stock Price
Co-CEO Also Charged with Forgery to Facilitate Manipulation; Firm, Other Officers Charged with Best Execution Violations
NASD Charges Kirlin With Stock Manipulation
Securities regulator NASD said on Tuesday that it has charged Kirlin Securities Inc., a subsidiary of Kirlin Holding Corp. , and two Kirlin officials with attempting to inflate Kirlin's stock price to avoid having the company be delisted from the Nasdaq.
NASD Fines Ameriprise $500K Over 529s
NASD has fined Ameriprise Financial $500,000 for failure to properly supervise the sale of 529 college savings plans, The Washington Post reports. NASD found that Ameriprise advisers failed to tell clients about the tax deductions they could have claimed by investing in 529s in their home state, and so, it has also ordered it to pay another $750,000 to compensate investors for the savings they would have realized.
NASD Fines State Street Global Markets Record $1.4 Million For Corporate and Municipal Bond Trade Reporting Violations
NASD Fines State Street Global Markets Record $1.4 Million For Corporate and Municipal Bond Trade Reporting Violations. Fine is Largest to Date for Fixed Income Trade Reporting Violations
Bonuses For Equity Derivatives Traders Up Over 10%
Bonuses for equity derivatives traders will be up more than 10% this year, bolstered by an explosion in options and futures trading volume, according to trading executives and recruiters. The surge will push total compensation for derivatives traders well into the seven figure range and well above what most equities traders make. Last year derivative traders' comp was flat. These bonuses could translate into even bigger numbers next year, as investment banks and trading houses are offering guarantees to the best traders to take advantage of the hot market, recruiters and trading executives said. "There are a lot of mandates
Online Publications
NASD November 2005 Disciplinary Actions
AML violations and more…
Recent Court Decisions
Appellate Court Unable to Vacate Arbitration Award With an Insufficient Record
Once again a court has confirmed that if an arbitration proceeding is not transcribed, a reviewing court may not be able to determine from the record whether the arbitral award should be vacated. Brockman v. Tyson, No. 01-03-01335-CV, 2005 WL 2850128 (Tex. App. 2005),
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or comments regarding any of the matters addressed in this issue of The Securities Law Letter, or regarding issues relating to securities arbitration, regulation or litigation, please contact:
Mark J. Astarita, Esq.
Beam & Astarita, LLC
300 Broadacres Drive
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
973-893-0900
astarita@seclaw.com
Discussions regarding these topics, and other securities law related issues are ongoing at The Securities Law Forums, the discussion center at The Securities Law Home Page. Visit the Securities Law Forums at www.seclaw.com
The Securities Law Letter is a monthly publication of The Securities Law Home Page, http://www.seclaw.com, and is available by email. It is for informational purposes only, it does not constitute legal advice, and should not be used as such.
To subscribe, send an email to seclaw2000@yahoo.com with the word subscribe in the subject line. For the HTML version, add "html" in the subject line. The next issue will be in your mailbox.
Copyright 2004, VGIS Communications and Mark J. Astarita.
Fortune: In-Depth Article on SEC Chairman Cox
Fortune has an excellent, in-depth article on SEC Chairman Christopher Cox entitled The Stock Cop. The article provides a detailed view of Chairman Cox and his life experiences, and includes the following description of a framed check that Cox keeps on the wall of his office at the SEC:
That's the message on the wall of his tenth-floor office in the SEC's sun-washed new Washington headquarters, where Cox has assembled a makeshift shrine. It consists of a framed check made out to his grandfather alongside a plaque depicting the notorious Samuel Insull, whose empire of utility companies collapsed in 1929, taking with it the money of countless investors, including Cox's grandfather. Insull's chicanery helped inspire the creation of the federal regulatory apparatus, including the SEC, that sprang up during the Depression. But the lesson here isn't historical as much as it is personal. Cox's grandfather lost $6,000—or $70,000 in today's dollars—and the check was intended to compensate for the loss. It's for $3.36. Cox's message: Investors, I'm on your side.
http://slw.issproxy.com/securities_litigation_blo/2005/12/fortune_indepth.html
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Fortune: In-Depth Article on SEC Chairman Cox:
HAAAAAAAAAAA I like this part,,
Inside the SEC's auditorium, Cox looked out over a crowd of hundreds that included many in-house skeptics. He grinned his white, toothy grin. At 53, he still has the air of a well-scrubbed, mischievous schoolboy. His tone was genial, his manner almost Reaganesque. And then he delivered a rhetorical punch to the solar plexus. The assumption that he'd be a shill for American business, he said, was built on thin air: "Such predictions often have as much factual basis as a WorldCom prospectus." Companies that pit their interest against those of their investors, he vowed, "will find themselves confronted by a relentless and powerful adversary in the Securities and Exchange Commission."
The 4-Digit Man
Talk fast when you're seeking advice from Benjamin Civiletti, Chairman of the Baltimore law firm Venable. Bloomberg reports that Civiletti, a former U.S. attorney general whose practice now focuses on areas including white-collar crime, government regulation, and corporate governance, is the first U.S. lawyer to charge $1,000 an hour.
On the bright side, the round number should make it quite easy to calculate the bill.
http://slw.issproxy.com/securities_litigation_blo/2005/12/the_4digit_man.html
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The 4-Digit Man:
Scans and scams haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I like it!!!!
POS BOTTOM BUSTERS hehe
I really doubt a rise in share price on these tomorrow, but could be some bouncers near term!! IMHO as always and PLEASE dont buy, sell or hold nuttin on something I might say, I do this for fun!!!
This pos has to be close to a bottom or death!!
wooooo LOL
Bounce in here somewhere??? chezzzzz Pi$$ed someone off,,
###############################################################
buy signals,,
double bottom??
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Scams,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Administrative Proceedings
The list below provides links to notices and orders concerning the institution and/or settlement of administrative proceedings.
Additional Archives
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 Release No. Date Respondents
Fourth Quarter
33-8643 Dec. 13, 2005 Freedom Financial, Inc., Freedom Track, Inc., Freedom Financial Group, Inc., Associated Investment Management, Inc., Jon Patrick Pierce, Gary L. Winn
Other Release Nos.: 34-52945; IA-2460
Note: See also Proposed Plan of Disgorgement Distribution as to Respondent Associated Investment Management, Inc.
Click to submit comments on File No. 3-11246
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin.shtml
WRAP - HIH chairman faces court on criminal charges
Advisen FPN [Dec 14 2005 2:14AM GMT] MELBOURNE, Dec 13 AAP - Former HIH Insurance chairman Geoffrey Cohen appeared in court today to face criminal charges for allegedly giving misleading information to shareholders of the failed insurer.http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x438016564&f=3000000268279
TSX Venture Exchange - Cease Trade Order - Triangle Industries Ltd. - TIA
Canoe Money [Dec 14 2005 1:44AM GMT] A Cease Trade Order has been issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission on December 13, 2005 Upon revocation of the Cease Trade Order, the Company's shares will remain suspended until the Company meets TSX Venture Exchange
Triangle Industries suspended by the BCSC
Stockwatch [Dec 14 2005 1:08AM GMT] Triangle Industries suspended by the BCSC 2005-12-13 19:39 ET - Cease Trade/Suspend Company A cease trade order has been issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission against Triangle Industries Ltd.
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437989182&f=3000000268279
No charges planned in alleged pyramid scheme
Daily Herald [Dec 13 2005 11:44PM GMT] SALT LAKE CITY -- No criminal charges are planned in Utah against executives of a supposed charity that allegedly bilked schools in 20 states through a pyramid scheme involving fitness equipment, the Utah attorney general's office said. http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437956125&f=3000000268279
Agrium seeks cease trade of Royster-Clark's rights plan
Stockwatch [Dec 13 2005 10:10PM GMT] AGRIUM ANNOUNCES KEY MILESTONES IN ROYSTER-CLARK OFFER been granted early clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under U.S. antitrust laws pertaining to the purchase of Royster-Clark Ltd. http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437918873&f=3000000268279
Forex Bureaus Perfect the Dark Art of Money Laundering
AllAfrica.com [Dec 13 2005 7:35AM GMT] In the dark of world underhand financial deals, money laundering has been perfected to an art form among a number of foreign exchange bureaus, some shady commercial banks and major retail outlets.http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437598005&f=3000000268275
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WTF a lil politics can't hurt!!
Gooooooood MORNIIIING, IRAQ!
Neutralize Hannity. Draft Steph.
(An Open Letter To The Armed Forces Radio Network)
by Steve Young
December 13, 2005
Holywood, California
Dear Armed Forces Radio Network,
How are you?
I am fine.
Thought you handled the whole hubbub over bringing balance to the
military airwaves quite well. Ed Schultz and Al Franken should shore up
the Limbaugh, Dobson, Dr. Laura parity. At least it will politically.
Then you had to go and add conservative pin-up Hannity. Not that Sean's
presence over on AFRN isn't called for, but bunk checks revealing a
cluster of wallet-size Hannitys could throw "don't ask, don't tell" for
a devastating loop. Some would say that this has created a gorgeous gap,
politically speaking. Obviously, Sean's comeliness would be hard put to
be balanced by the likes of anyone on the left. But there is an even
more egregious void on the military dial (remember dials?). I'm talking
about the pizzazz gap.
And I say that, the gap can be filled quite handsomely, and
pizzazzingly, with...
Stephanie Miller.
If you've kept up with my column, you know that a few weeks ago I had
said that the winsome syndicated talker could be the next Edward R.
Murrow (http://www.apj.us/20051031Young.html). From the deluge of the
luvverly hate mail I received, some people seem to think that I might
have thrown away sixteen years of sobriety in making that argument.
While there was a certain sense to my supposition, I have come to
realize that Stephanie could play a much more important role in the
fight for hearts and minds than by chain-smoking cigarettes and
interviewing Liberace. I'm talking about putting a smile on the face of
our boys in battle. (No. Not THAT way -- in the way they can actually
write home about, saltpeter or not.)
Let me draw a bit of a picture that, unfortunately, you guys are all too
familiar with.
You're out on patrol with enough equipment on your back to double your
body weight. You're bitterly cold or hell-fire hot. Trepidation
accompanies your every step. Your stomach hasn't been your friend for
weeks. Even if you were hungry, no ration would have a chance to hit the
digestive tract before being thrown back up into your dust mask. You
have no idea what danger you might face, but the all too real knowledge
that you or your best bud might not come back to camp alive or with all
limbs in tact, rolls around your head like a marble with no hole to
fill. Other than that, it's really cool being in a war.
You come back to camp with a pass, not having to see the medic, chaplain
or that way-too-cranky grim reaper. You need relief. Pictures of
ex-girlfriends won't work (see "Jarhead"). Listening to some one-noter,
preaching dark apocalyptical talking points, are worse. You want
comfort, not pontificating. But if you like politics, news, and would
like it presented with the same comic energy of "The Daily Show,"
there's no one on AFRN to listen to.
What you could use is pizzazz, with a capital PIZ. In radio, pizzazz
spells Stephanie Miller. Not exactly, but other than the z's,
Stephanie's got all the right letters. More than that she's got the type
of thing that Robin Williams's performance recounted in "Good Morning
Viet Nam," with his depiction of A2C Adrian Cronauer, the military DJ
who brought a bit of fun to the soldiers holed up in that sh!th%le. Not
that Iraq is anything like Viet Nam. I mean there's a totally different
language and... well, that language thing is big.
Our guys deserve some laughs, bad. Not bad laughs. Of course, there are
some who think that Hannity's hysterical impressions of Bill Clinton and
litany of Kerry flip-flops repeated incessantly are satirical gold. I
know that there's nothing funnier to me than the unremitting repetition
of Sean hic-cuping his way through his Ted Kennedy impression (that the
uncorruptable Sean said had to do with Kennedy stuttering, not his
drinking, a rationale which not even the staunchest Hannity fan bought).
While Miller will probably never reach the Hannity height of hilarity,
her smart wit and (lack of?) substance are just the right lighter-side
break a soldier could use after a delightful day of dodging bullets and
fending off roadside bombs without the proper body armor. And it doesn't
hurt that Stephanie might be considered somewhat attractive. Look what
Betty Grable's legs did for the boys in WWII. I'm actually not sure
Miller has lascivious legs that go all the way up to there, or even legs
that go all the way down to here, but who would you rather have taped up
in your locker, Sean or Steph? I know it's close, but in the least, it's
only fair that a dog-eared, lovingly exploited, likeness of Stephanie
gets an equal spot next to Hannity's. And for those who have flown
quietly under the don't ask, don't tell radar, even Miller's admittedly
gay listeners regularly ask for her hand in marriage...or at least, best
girlfriendage.
Our guys have enough hardship to deal with. It's time to lighten their
load without dumbing ‘em down. So it is that I call on you, AFRN, Donald
Rumsfeld, the Defense Department, and everyone else who cares about the
well-being of our boys listening to radio over there so we don't have to
listen to radio over here...place Stephanie Miller and her hysterical
crew on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
It's high time our guys wake up to Good Morning, Iraq...and that can be
best done with a Good Morning, Stephanie!
Best,
Steve Young
Former Army Guy
RA13994372
P.S. What the boys do with her pin-up is best left between them and
their locker.
If you read this article...
E-mail it to:
Armed Forces Radio & Television Network
Cut and paste it at http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html , Attn:
Donald Rumsfeld
Those Secret Torture Prisons: A Modest Proposal
By Bernard Weiner
Co-Editor, The Crisis Papers (http://www.crisispapers.org)
Dec. 13, 2005 -- SAN FRANCISCO (crisispapers.org) -- I am always open to
innovative ways of raising money for cash-strapped governments, as long
as it doesn't cost me anything extra. Many states, for example, sponsor
lotteries; nobody is forced to buy in, but millions of citizens purchase
tickets that help underwrite our schools and road-repairs.
In that light, I have a modest proposal for the Bush Administration:
Auction off torture rights.
Here's how it would work. The Bush Administration, either through eBay
or by establishing a website all its own (>> torturersRus.gov <<), would
let citizens bid for the right to brutalize a terrorist suspect in one
of the secret CIA prisons around the globe.
The Torture Abroad program would be aimed at those who, for a price,
might delight in exercising their dominance and control of dangerous,
inferior beings. (Note: This project is NOT to be confused with the
similarly-named Torture A Broad program.)
For purposes of full disclosure, it's essential to note that the Bush
Administration denies having supersecret CIA prisons around the world,
and emphatically insists that torture does not take place at those
facilities. If "harsh interrogation methods" are employed at the
non-existent prisons, it's totally without the Administration's
knowledge or approval.
A MARKETING FLYER
Trying to be helpful, I've composed some possible text for a Torture
Abroad advertising flyer:
-------=======+++++++=======-------
Want to do something to aid your country's battle against terrorists,
and to participate in frat-style pranks and good, clean aerobic fun at
the same time?
Then consider sending in your bid to become a member of Torture Abroad.
Remember, high bidders have more chance to be selected.
Wearing our handsome black mask and windbreaker -- with the eye-catching
Volunteer Torturer Militia seal -- you'll be flown free on one of the
CIA's luxury secret airflights with, of course, stopover privileges in
Poland, Romania, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, et al. Naturally,
you'll be in First Class, and your assigned torture-buddy, appropriately
enough, will be in Cargo.
You will be permitted to indulge in sexual humiliation, stress
positioning, rape, thumb-screws, pyramid-building, baseball bat-play,
use of the wrack, whip&chain teasing, the employment of rabid dogs, and
so on, but you'll have to pay a bit extra for the privilege of
near-drowning (our popular "waterboarding" option) and for the awesome
electrification-of-the-genitals display.
We realize, based on our polling data, that some people will be repulsed
by this suggestion. Granted, the idea of having to pay this extra fee is
offensive, but the whole idea of this enterprise, let us remember, is to
raise money to help subsidize our country's vital "war on terror."
Note: If you torture a detainee to death, which has been known to happen
even with professionals in charge, there will be a hefty surcharge and
you will suffer severe penalties: You will NOT receive the video of your
handiwork or the program's parchment certificate signed by Karl Rove
Himself.
All torture implements will be provided but if you have certain
activities that cannot be accommodated by government-issue, you will be
permitted to bring your own props. No chain-saws, please. We do not want
to give even the slightest appearance of savagery.
If perchance, as a result of your time spent together, your detainee
chooses to confess to something or other, you will be granted a 10%
refund. If the confession actually contains anything remotely resembling
the truth, you will be gifted another prisoner at no extra charge.
(Note: This rarely happens.)
Please be aware that while we carry out due-diligence in certifying our
terrorist suspects, in the event that an innocent man or woman was
provided you -- which does happen on occasion as street sweeps can be
fairly random -- we assume no financial or criminal liability. We also
cannot provide assurance that governments or family members of the
prisoner won't try to locate you later for purposes of revenge.
But most red-blooded American citizens won't let those minor caveats
stop them from coming to the aid of their country in this time of war.
And you can have jolly good fun doing so, and feel patriotic pride in
your valuable work for the homeland.
Slots are limited, so act now. For the first hundred who sign up, we
will provide a framed, autographed photo of Jeffrey Dahmer.
-------=======+++++++=======-------
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BID
So that's the basic outline of my proposal, which, as you can see, is a
win-win for all concerned. The war effort gains much needed fundage, the
capitalist system is promoted, bad guys are punished, ordinary citizens
are permitted to participate in important governmental programs, and the
recipients of the carnage no doubt will be adopted by liberal do-gooder
groups and nursed back to health. If they make it.
Should you be interested in applying to Torture Abroad, send your name,
address and phone number, and a good-faith deposit of $5000 cash, to the
address below. A special email address for VIP entry into the program
will be forwarded to you -- in other words, you won't have to log onto
the website's home page, which, as you can imagine, is sure to attract
all sorts of low-life thugs.
Mail all inquiries to John Ashcroft, Torture Abroad Program Director, at
the Department of Homeland Security, P. O. Box 666, Washington, D.C.
Enclose a photo, a brief bio, a key to your home, and your email password.
Thank you from all of us on Torture Abroad's Board of Directors: K.
Rove, G. Bush, R. Cheney, D. Rumsfeld, C. Rice, A. Gonzales, L. Libby,
J. Ashcroft, S. Hadley, K. Hughes, M. Matalin, J. Bolton, J. Woo, J.
Bybee, B. O'Reilly, R. Limbaugh, A. Coulter, J. Inhofe, W. Boykin, G.
Miller, S. Cambone, M. Chertoff, and Founding Fathers J. Mengele, A.
Eichmann, and T. de Torquemada.
God Bless the United States of America.
Bernard Weiner, a poet-playwright who has concocted numerous political
satires and parodies, has taught at various universities, worked as a
writer/editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently is
co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org). To comment: >>
crisispapers@comcast.net
Off to get the moving truck weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Enjoy the day subbers, and all ma friends here on this wonderful place to share ideas and opins, Ahhhhhhhhh America, Land of free speech and expression
Hey ya Old Fart!!!! You still with us???? Good meds aaaaaaaa
You know when I first saw your pic in member photos, I said to myself, self!!!! There is a happy man with a great smile, and it wasn't 2 months and every new POS scam stock that got pumped, there you were!!!!!! I cant call you one of the scammers, I don't think you have the smarts to pull off too much of anything, therefore, I must categorize your playing the game as a mindless sheep, buying what thew hypsters tell you to buy!!! Sure you make a few bucks and they slaughter the likes of you, with every share you buy they are dumping 100 fold, You are just a guppy in the sea of deceit!!!!
Keep taking them meds pops, I would sure hate to miss anymore words of wit from Ya!!!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Fitting PM by the way, I expect nothing less!!!!
MARKET SCAMS and other various bullchit!!!
SEC Sues to Halt High Yield Offering Fraud and to Freeze Assets for Investors
On December 7, 2005, the SEC filed an emergency action in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Travis E. Correll of Atlanta, individually and d/b/a Horizon Establishment, and his companies The Net Worth Group, Inc. ("Net Worth Group") and Travis Correll & Company, Inc. ("TC&Co."), Gregory Thompson of San Antonio and his company TNT Office Supply, Inc., ("TNT") Dwight J. Johnson of Garland, Texas, Harry Robinson "Robbie" Gowdey of Frisco, Texas, individually and d/b/a Atlas and Jericho Productions, Grant Cardno of Norfolk Island, a territory of Australia and his entities, The Liberty Establishment, Inc. ("Liberty") and Sovereign Capital Investments, S.A. ("Sovereign"), Neulan D. Midkiff of Forest Lake, Minnesota and his entity, Joshua Tree Group LLC ("Joshua Tree"), charging that the defendants are engaged in an ongoing fraudulent high yield investment scheme by which they raised approximately $36 million since July 2004. The Court granted a temporary restraining order, asset freeze and other emergency relief against defendants Correll, TC&Co., Net Worth Group. Thompson, TNT, Johnson, Gowdey, Midkiff and Joshua Tree.
In its complaint, the Commission alleges that the defendants are offering and selling interests in purported foreign and international bank deposit programs (collectively "Bank Deposit programs") promising four to 12 percent monthly returns without risk to their investment principal. The Commission also alleges that investors send or wire their money to TNT or to one of Correll's entities -- Net Worth Group or TC&Co, and that all of the funds are then transferred to a Horizon Establishment bank account controlled by Correll. According to the complaint, investors are told that Correll, the "money manager," forwards investor funds to Cardno, who deposits them in an offshore reserve account; Cardno, identified as the "trader," with exclusive contracts with international banks, supposedly uses the monies in the reserve account to participate in trading programs and loan programs. In reality, according to the complaint, the Bank Deposit program does not exist and none of the investors' funds are sent to Cardno, his entities or to any offshore account for investment. Instead, as set forth in the complaint, all of the investor funds are commingled among various Correll-controlled accounts, and the "investment returns" paid to investors are Ponzi payments, i.e., they derive from the proceeds of more recent investors.
The Commission also names in its complaint, as relief defendants, Banner Shield, LLC, Hospitality Management Group, Inc., Creative Wealth Ventures, LLC and JTA Enterprises based on their alleged improper receipt of investor funds. As part of its emergency relief, the Court issued an order freezing any investor funds in the relief defendants' control.
The Commission alleges in its complaint that defendants Correll, individually and d/b/a Horizon Establishment, TC&Co., Net Worth Group, Thompson, TNT, Johnson, Gowdey, individually and d/b/a Atlas and Jericho Productions, Cardno, Liberty, Soverign, Midkiff, and Joshua Tree each violated Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.
In addition to the emergency relief that has been granted, the Commission seeks against each of the defendants permanent injunctions, disgorgement plus prejudgment interest and civil money penalties.
The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the United States Attorney's Offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas and Fort Worth and the United States Postal Inspection Service in Minneapolis.
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr19492.htm
Administrative Proceedings
The list below provides links to notices and orders concerning the institution and/or settlement of administrative proceedings.
Additional Archives
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 Release No. Date Respondents
Fourth Quarter
34-52944 Dec. 12, 2005 Robert J. Dentice
34-52943 Dec. 12, 2005 Peter J. Crowley
34-52942 Dec. 12, 2005 CIBC World Markets Corporation
34-52941 Dec. 12, 2005 Paul D. Rogers
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin.shtml
JIM BISHOP!!!! A lot of Canucklehead junior mining companies getting hammered up der!!!!
TSX Venture Exchange - Cease Trade Order - Island Mountain Gold Mines Ltd. - IM
Canada NewsWire [Dec 13 2005 3:18AM GMT] VANCOUVER, Dec. 12 /CNW/ - BULLETIN TYPE: Cease Trade Order BULLETIN DATE: December 12, 2005 A Cease Trade Order has been issued by the British Columbia SecuritiesCommission on December 12, 2005 against the following Company for fai
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437501990&f=3000000268279
Three arrested in connection with fraud case
Jordan Times [Dec 13 2005 1:41AM GMT] AMMAN - Three people have been arrested in connection with an alleged financial fraud pending further investigations, Prosecutor General Saleh Hawamdeh said on Monday.
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437463523&f=3000000268279
Island Mountain suspended by the BCSC
Stockwatch [Dec 13 2005 12:54AM GMT] Island Mountain suspended by the BCSC 2005-12-12 19:16 ET - Cease Trade/Suspend Company A cease trade order has been issued by the British Columbia Securities Commission against Island Mountain Gold Mines Ltd.
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437445572&f=3000000268279
UPDATE: CIBC To Pay $500,000 To Settle SEC Case
Dow Jones via iWon [Dec 12 2005 11:17PM GMT] By Siobhan Hughes Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- CIBC World Markets (BCM) Corp. agreed to pay almost $500, 000 to settle allegations that it had done business with the state of California within two years after donating to then-Gov.
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x437406749&f=3000000268279
Use of 'Scam-Protection Checklist' helps guard against con artists
James M. Trippon, a Houston-based certified public accountant who provides accounting, tax and financial services through J.M. Trippon & Co. (www.trippon.com), offers an investment "Scam-Prevention Checklist."
"There are plenty of investment scams to watch out for," he says. "Even the brightest and richest can fall victim to con artists seeking to make a buck fraudulently, at your expense."
Trippon advises a person who is planning to invest to:
Trust his gut instincts. If an investment sounds too good to be true, it probably is, politely decline to pursue it.
Double-check it with trusted advisers. He should run it by its comprehensive financial adviser, CPA, attorney and, of course his spouse.
Only invest with member firms of the NASD and SIPC. If buying securities, be sure the investment company is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers and the Securities Investors Protection Corp.
If a security is not publicly traded, don't buy it. Never buy a security that is not already publicly traded with a verifiable history. Never buy a "private placement," hmmmmmmmmmmmm Rager??????? Ring a bell "limited partnership," "precious metal," "viatical settlement" or "promissory note investment."
Never buy any investment over the phone.
Get the broker's license number and check his background. Ask if the investment broker is licensed with the NASD and obtain his CRD number. Then check his background by contacting the NASD public disclosure program at (800) 289-9999 or on the Internet at (www.nasdr.com). This can tell how long the broker has been in business and what complaints (if any) are on the adviser's record.
If buying insurance, verify it is licensed for sale. If in Texas, verify that both the product and the broker selling it are licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance or the insurance commissioner. State insurance commissioner information is available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org).
Check the financial ratings. If buying an insurance product, also verify the insurance carriers' financial strength rating from the major rating agencies: A.M. Best, Duff & Phelps and Standard & Poor's.
Use restrictive endorsements. When buying an investment, make the check payable to the investment company using a restrictive endorsement. If John Smith is opening an account with ABC brokerage, he should style his check, "ABC Brokerage FBO John Smith." The letters "FBO" stand for "For the Benefit Of," which means that it can only be deposited into John Smith's account at ABC Brokerage. Never make the investment check payable to the individual selling the reinvestment, and never invest using cash.
Get it in writing. Get a copy of everything signed and all account-opening documents, prospectuses and product disclosures.
The bottom line on scams boils down to the use of common sense, Trippon says. "Do not let greed or anxiety trick you into a foolish investment, and do your homework before buying anything," he advises.
"You will find you have enough money for retirement when, on an 'inflation-adjusted basis,' you can maintain the lifestyle you want to live without invading your investment principal," Trippon says. "If living the life you want means spending down your principal, then you aren't financially ready for retirement."
Few retirees have the option to return to work and earn more money, he notes.
"Sometimes a nest egg can be lost because of a catastrophic event," he says. "More often, financial disaster happens in ways that can be avoided -- ways that include bad investment decisions, poor tax planning and the failure to make some crucial decisions on retirement day."
Thora Qaddumi
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/12/12/focus10.html
Minister Re-states FG's Stance Against Corruption
This Day Online [Dec 10 2005 12:07PM GMT] The Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN yesterday restated Federal Government's commitment to fighting corruption.
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x436084099&f=3000000268275
Attorney Cunningham found guilty on two charges out of 41 in money laundering case
Rome News-Tribune [Dec 9 2005 12:56AM GMT] Attorney Cunningham found guilty on two charges out of 41 in money laundering case 12/08/05Lauren Gregory Email this story to a friend Dalton attorney R. Scott Cunningham has been found guilty on two of the 41 money laundering charges against him
http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?x435285376&f=3000000268275
15 years of the World Wide Web
From CNN's Kristie Lu Stout
Monday, December 12, 2005 Posted: 1733 GMT (0133 HKT)
At 15 years old, the Internet has had an impressive life.QUICKVOTE
Which of the following developments is the most significant in the Internet's history?
WiFi hotspots
Webcams and photo sharing
Skype
Live 8 on AOL
Napster shuts down
Monica Lewinsky scandal
9/11, and the rise of citizen journalism
Dotcom boom/bust
Hotmail
Google
or View Results
RELATED
• Who should own the Internet?
SPECIAL REPORT
• Online Evolution
SPARK
Find out how tech is changing our lives Click here
ON CNNI TV
Click here for Spark show times on CNN International.
YOUR SAY
Send your thoughts on this story to spark@cnn.com or read what other viewers have to say
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Internet
Technology (general)
or Create Your Own
Manage Alerts | What Is This? (CNN) -- Spark looks at the top 10 "Web moments" since the Internet was born 15 years ago, and asks viewers to vote for the one they think had the most impact in the Web's history.
In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee launched the World Wide Web, a multimedia branch of the Internet.
With Berners-Lee's "http protocol," computer jockeys the world over began making the Net easier to use with point-and-click programs.
Browsers such as Mosaic and, later, Netscape Navigator would help popularize the Web, and let a billion Web pages bloom.
Anyone could access the network, and anyone could decide what went online.
The Web became a powerful, liberating force that brought people closer together, and shaped new businesses.
Take Yahoo, which started as a quirky list favorite links that turned into the go-to site of the 90s.
Or Hotmail, one of the first Web services to give away e-mail for free.
And Ebay, which linked up buyers and sellers of nearly everything to become the world's biggest trading post.
And of course Amazon, the online behemoth of books.
These were the great companies of the so-called "new economy," fueled by venture capitalist sugar daddies and excitable Nasdaq punters.
But with every dot-com blue chip, there were the dogs as well -- think of the likes of Pets.com and Globe.com.
It all looked a bit too bubbly -- long on vision and way short on fundamentals. But today, the blue chips are still standing -- taller than ever.
Amazon is well in the black and has proved cyber-retailing is big business, online advertising is pulling in profits at Yahoo and eBay has become an economy in its own right, with millions of users set to trade goods worth more than $40 billion this year.
But it is Google that gets the most attention. It is the Goliath of the Web, with search, e-mail, e-commerce, instant messaging, classified ads, and even its own virtual planet with Google Earth -- all adding up to one mega-market cap.
The Web is a thrill ride yet again. It is bigger. It is faster. And the original spirit of community-building is still there.
Myspace -- a virtual hangout for wired teens -- has seen its membership rise to 40 million in the last year, prompting News Corp to pick up its parent for more than half a billion dollars.
Skype is the new Hotmail -- linking millions of callers, turning the telecom market upside down, and attracting a $2.6 billion buy-out from eBay.
Yahoo, meanwhile, swooped in on Flickr -- the service that has transformed photography into a popular social pursuit.
The second boom is well underway. So watch this space. This may be a cyber-sequel built to last.
Spark's top 10 Web moments
These are Spark's picks as the top 10 moments in the World Wide Web's short but impressive life. Vote for the one you think is the most significant:
10. WiFi hotspots -- wireless Internet connectivity appears in airports, hotels and even McDonald's.
9. Webcams and photo sharing -- communication becomes visual, and inboxes fill with baby photos.
8. Skype -- telephony turns upside down with free long-distance calls, Ebay snaps it up in September 2005 for $2.6 billion.
7. Live 8 on AOL -- five million people watch poverty awareness concerts online in July 2005, setting a new Net record.
6. Napster goes offline -- Regulators close the pioneering music swap site in July 2001 and file-sharing goes offshore.
5. Lewinsky scandal -- Matt Drudge breaks the Clinton/Lewinsky sex scandal in 1998. The blog is born.
4. Tsunami and 9/11 -- two tragic events set the Web alight with opinion and amateur video.
3. Boom and bust -- trillions of dollars were made and lost as the dotcom bubble ballooned and burst between 1995 and 2001.
2. Hotmail -- went from having zero users in 1995 to 30 million subscribers 30 months later. It now has 215 million users.
1. Google -- redefined search. Invented a new advertising model and commands a vast business empire.
My second post Lance, You are so CORRECT!!!! I was out of line talking to Matt that way, Its just kinda hard talking privately when I have pm's ignored from Matt!!! Thanks again for the reality check!!!!
Posted by: IH Admin [Matt]
In reply to: Capt_Nemo who wrote msg# 75779 Date:12/11/2005 4:26:09 PM
Post #of 76023
>>Do us all a favor Matt and show us all the post I supposedly posted on one of your hype stock boards!!!!! God you need to grow up bad Matt!!!!!
#msg-8777292
#msg-8781238
#msg-8781298
Let me guess. Wiggles logged in, right?
Ya might want to shut your stupid mouth while ya still have a bit of face left here Matt!!!! You are really fucking up man!!!!
_______________________________________________________
Posted by: PalmBeachAJ
In reply to: olico v22.0 who wrote msg# 75976 Date:12/11/2005 6:39:59 PM
Post #of 76023
What I find odd is Matt singling out Nemo.
,,,,,,,,,,,Yeah aj, Matt has taken a special interest in ol nemo, I guess i should feel special!!!!
_____________________________________________________________
Posted by: shakerzzz
In reply to: Capt_Nemo who wrote msg# 75939 Date:12/11/2005 8:45:50 PM
Post #of 76023
You do realized that email is the same one they send out to everyone.. LOL I seen that email 7 years ago.. I sent the SEC an email asking for a meatloaf recipe and they sent me the same email back as nemos.. LOL
They actually sent me the recipe 2 months later, it sucked though LOL
,,,,,,,,,,HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA You might want to get with the times nutcase!!!!!!!! Before it is too late!!!!
____________________________________________________________
Posted by: StephanieVanbryce
In reply to: grubmaster who wrote msg# 75992 Date:12/11/2005 9:35:59 PM
Post #of 76023
Oh ... O.K. ... now we are not to ask a question of Matt? or You ??? ... hmmmmmmmmn ... it seems to me there is plenty of questioning going on from a lot people about a lot of things and 99% of them do not get jailed .
No one answered her . She wanted an answer . She didn't get it ... o.k.?? Her emotions got away from her .... I guess that never happens to you Wise One .
That is your perspective - and This is mine . The result might have been the same - I don't know , but I do know sometimes if I am treated with respect I will calm down . She wanted to know why her husband was jailed . No one answered her . She asked everywhere . You call it spamming . I call it trying to get a question answered . The jailing and the deletions were done pronto , so , her question could have been answered . I repeat, maybe the result would have been the same , but we just don't know.
"She got the same sanction that all such spammers get."
I will be interested to see if this works out to be true now - the 'all' part .
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<They hate anyone asking anything Steph!!!!! Might mess with their "money flow" haaaaaaaa
_______________________________________________________________
Posted by: lancebps
In reply to: Capt_Nemo who wrote msg# 75939 Date:12/11/2005 9:56:59 PM
Post #of 76023
capt if you ever get re-instated you have an open invitation to post on my board...of course that takes away half your fun cause i dont allow sub penny discussions...lol
GOOD LUCK....
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Thanks Lance, shot me your email, will ya?? Mines in my profile!!!
____________________________________________________________
Posted by: hopscotch
In reply to: shakerzzz who wrote msg# 76016 Date:12/11/2005 11:29:39 PM
Post #of 76023
shut up lol j/k hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I agree 100%,,
SHAKAS SHUT THE FUCK UP already!!!
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Shaka I will waste my last post on you, Tell your theories to this SEC Lawyer!!!!!!
Dear Mr. XXXXXXXXXX
Thank you for your email.
Online bulletin boards-whether newsgroups, usenet, or web-based bulletin boards-have become an increasingly popular forum for investors to share information. Bulletin boards typically feature "threads" made up of numerous messages on various investment opportunities.
While some messages may be true, many turn out to be bogus-or even scams. Fraudsters often pump up a company or pretend to reveal "inside" information about upcoming announcements, new products, or lucrative contracts.
Also, you never know for certain who you're dealing with-or whether they're credible-because many bulletin boards allow users to hide their identity behind multiple aliases. People claiming to be unbiased observers who've carefully researched the company may actually be company insiders, large shareholders, or paid promoters. A single person can easily create the illusion of widespread interest in a small, thinly traded stock by posting a series of messages under various aliases.
Please be assured the SEC investigates such matters especially when there may be market manipulation.
For more information, read our publication, Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams at http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/cyberfraud.htm.
Sincerely,
RINELL RANDOLPH JR
Attorney
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(202)551-6321
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Mac, the true colors are flying high here!!!!!!
WElcome to Ihub haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Matt needs to get over himself and his lil power trip[ on the web here first Cap!!!! Amazing one's inadequacies and what one must do to fulfill their self worth, Take Rager for example, No life lil sheep boy got himself a lil power position here as well!!! I guess they both feel important!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
We have peace Tim, It seems the only time any form of anger arises is when ones comes to this lil scam site of Matts anymore!!!! Guess it is lost forever, unless of course Matt smartens up. and grows up, but I guess that will come with time and age, Hope he makes it!!
Do us all a favor Matt and show us all the post I supposedly posted on one of your hype stock boards!!!!! God you need to grow up bad Matt!!!!!
Ya might want to see who under your control might be creating new alias using a form of my name, and you dont bother to verify, you just p[uch your lil power button!!!!! I wont mention any names BUT RAGERPOS comes to mind haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
lol
CLGY 0.51 up 0.09 (21.43)% 0.50 0.51 72,721 ???
Hi Scott
haaaaaaaaa poop is right!!!!
7 ??????????? brrrrrrrrrr man that's crazy!!!!!
cool,,,,,,,,
not right now!!!
GM pappa ,no show here!!
Thanks Walter C haaaaaaaaaa GM LJ and board!!
Web 2.0 and Beyond...
The legal technology bloggers write often about "Web 2.0" and the various ways that it will transform everything, including the legal profession. I'm not even close to being on the cutting edge of this revolution--indeed, I really just started to appreciate the power of RSS in the past few months.
But let me blow your mind a bit by applying some Web 2.0 tools to the securities litigation world that are really quite cool . Here we go....
Let's say you are a loyal reader of the 10b-5 Daily, the PSLRA Nugget and Securities Litigation Watch. In the old days (2004 for some of you, this morning for others!) you'd have these sites bookmarked and you'd visit them when you felt like it. Sometimes there would be new content posted for you to read, but other times there would not be.
Then, however, you learned about RSS. You set up a free RSS feed reader such as Bloglines and entered the RSS feeds for these blogs into the "My Feeds" section. Your blog reading habits changed at this time because instead of going from blog to blog, you now simply went to Bloglines, saw which of your favorite blogs had new posts, and read those posts through Bloglines.
NOW... It gets even more interesting, and this is where some of the Web 2.0 concepts come in. A service like Supr Glu will permit you to create your own personal website that "glues" your favorite feeds together. A website is worth a thousand words in explaining this so just go to this Supr Glu link ("Securities Litigation World") that I created yesterday in about 5 minutes. Go ahead... Look. Ponder. Marvel... Now all of your favorite blogs are consolidated and updated in real-time in one place!
AND FINALLY ... Notice that the Supr Glu site that I created has its own RSS feed. So you can have a feed coming from the newly created "Securities Litigation World" that combines posts from all three of the blogs above and send it to your My Yahoo! page or wherever you want.
I know that I am only scratching the surface here. I would love to hear from anyone out there who can expound on any of this.
12:36 PM | Permalink
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Heads Up, Diebold
I have no idea what to make of this.
An organization called "VelvetRevolution.us, a coalition of more than 130 progressive organizations demanding electoral reform," issued this press release today stating that it is
seeking plaintiffs for a potential class action securities litigation against Diebold, Inc. (stock symbol: DBD). The class for the suit will involve shareholders who purchased or owned stock in the Ohio-based company any time between Oct. 22, 2003 and Sept. 21, 2005. The lawsuit will involve securities fraud violations and other troubling matters by the controversial company, its CEO, and other current and former members of its Board of Directors.
A visit to the VelvetRevolution.us website provided a bit more information. Citing exclusive information from the Brad Blog, the coalition's home page states that the case is a "developing potential class action securities litigation" against Diebold that is "currently being drawn up." It further states that those who owned or purchased Diebold stock are asked to contact VelvetRevolution.us "where contact information submitted may be turned over to attorneys currently working on the case for possible addition to the plaintiff class."
It will be interesting to see which plaintiffs' attorneys, if any, surface as the recipients of the information resulting from this effort. In the meantime, heads up Diebold, the VelvetRevolution is after you!
02:09 PM | Permalink
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Survivor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! poor judd last week boooooo friggin hoooooooooooo