RETRACTION, APOLOGY & CORRECTION
<I'm appalled that you could say this. I never said that to John
because it's not true.>
Pat, I owe you a very big apology. I am very sorry.
I spoke with John. He told me that he never stated nor meant to imply that your attending the conference was paid for by Amati.
The best that we could come up with as to how I might have misinterpreted this, was that he did understand that the company asked you to attend the conference (presuming because you were a knowledgeable spokesperson). He may possibly have used some wording like "sponsored" or "invited" or something like that - meaning ONLY to convey that Amati wanted you to be there. It was out of my errant imagination that I came away with something like they were "taking care of" your flight, accomodations, attendance fees, etc. instead of actually paying you.
I try to be careful in what I post, and it was not even a question in my mind that a significant shareholder who also was an excellent spokesperson would be sponsored on the company's behalf to an industry meeting. This was why I posted my surprise at your response. And I did it publically because I am a stickler for honesty, and now have to apologize for posting false information here.
I am VERY sorry.
It was plain wrong and stupid of me. You deserve the significant respect that you have earned here.
<What I don't understand is why you would post here without calling
me to verify?>
You are absolutely right.
Looking back, I clearly should have called you, or at the very least called John to confirm what it was that he understood you to say.
For some stupid reason, I just didn't question what my understanding from John was, and so now I publicly acknowledge both my error in recollection and my inconsiderate and sloppy posting without checking my "facts".
<Are you shorting Amati again?>
Though I can see where you must think I had some ulterior motive for making my erroneous statement, I have never shorted AMTX nor have I ever even considered it. (FWIW- I don't think anything written on SI, even something substantial and material regarding the *company*, if unconfirmed, would affect the stock much, if at all).
Nevertheless, I have to again acknowledge the error of my post and say that other than this post of yours which I responded to, I have never had any reason to think that anything you have ever posted here or emailed to me was not 100% honest and 100% sincere.
I am deeply sorry to have erroneously cast any doubt on what you have stated to be true.
<Incidentally, John is not a mutual friend. When I asked if he knew you, he said, "No, he comes here for coffee. I don't know anything about him.">
I should have said our mutual acquaintance John. I eat there often, and John and I have talked about stocks. He owned Amati as I did, and as a result of our conversations, he put me in touch with you. When I asked him once how he knew you, he said he knew you in the same way that he knew me, that I was a regular customer that he talked to.
I am sorry to have involved John in this as well. He feels terrible about the whole thing - that I would have posted something representing something he said about you which I was completely wrong about.
<Clearly he didn't know you would manipulate friends and contacts to
your own advantage.>
Well Pat, you have been a pillar of honesty and good cheer on this board. There is no personal advantage to me to have challenged something that was said publically when it was correct and I am wrong.
My only interest was the spirit of full and honest disclosure.
Your posts have always substantiated that you have true class and integrity and intelligence and wit and humor and generosity and TACT (something I surprised myself at my impoverishment of).
My post will be a shame and a lesson for me for a long time.
I have been thinking about and working on this response for quite awhile now since I spoke with John. So I also want to apologize for not posting this retraction, apology and correction sooner. I didn't want my brain dead sloppiness to bite me any more than it already has.
Sincerely and deeply regretably,
to you as well as to your friends and well-wishers here,
Steve
|
