hugs: The shorts if forces to cover will be covering from the O/S, not the A/S. The 900m A/S have not been issued and outstanding, and are not in the market. The supposed 500m O/S is further reduced by RME shares, 18m+ that SM/MM hold, what we hold, and what DF & group has. What's left is the float, that's traded on the market, less than 100m I guess. It would seem that the float is comprised of air shares. So, when shorts cover they are forced to sell/cover 1bil. air shares with the shares in our accounts, amounting to much less. supply and demand, drives the stock price up to meet our hopeful GTC sells. I think I have explained it right. i'm a little goofy now, not much sleep.