Just caught up on three weeks of the thread. What a great read! It ran the gamut from comedy (R.Z.) through farce (R.Z.) to something like tragedy (R.Z.) DAZZLING research from Neil. Good postings all around, and I had a lot of questions as I was reading but was too lagged to take notes, so I'll just mention what's stayed with me.
I see what Neil theorizes might be the SEC's concern. Does anyone else have a specific theory? Bears? I bought more Presstek after talking to Neil, and the irritant to total peace-of-mind for me is the unfinished business of the SEC. My real question is this, I guess: What's the worst that could happen if the SEC decides Presstek officers have misbehaved? As for example in Neil's theory of taking delivery of stock sometime back. Would those individuals get fined? The company would get some bad publicity. Would it get anything worse, as in something that would put a crimp in the quarter-to-quarter rise in earnings, which in the long run is what will determine the share price? Count, what do you think? Joe, James, Acey, Staff, anybody got thoughts on this?
Count, I'd be delighted, myself, if the Lutts's joined a gathering on 29th eve at the Crowne Plaza. Has anybody chosen a time? Around 8 PM, for example? (i.e., after dinner?)
Speaking of which, I did call Presstek re Neil's idea of asking them if they'd sponsor a hospitality room for any Presstek shareholders who arrived early for the meeting or stayed late, but they declined. Tom told me he thought their position on that was appropriate, and once he pointed it out, I saw what he meant. So place remains undecided, too.
Another thought came to me while I was reading Paul (whose posts I enjoy, actually) on the threat of competition. I was thinking, "Well, of course others will try to get a share -- in fact it's been tried already, by Agfa." (There was a fellow on this thread who gave us the real inside scoop on Agfa's total triumph in that matter, and I took him pretty seriously at the time.) And then I get down to your #2920 reference, Paul, to those "REUSABLE PLATES" -- you have no clue about them but MAYBE they're the "wave of the future"! Paul, you're coming pretty close to sounding like a Pierre-gorilla clone. Especially when you make your amusing implication that the Agfa loss to Presstek was no big deal. Wouldn't it have been a big deal to you if Presstek had lost? And "no damages..." I'll bet Agfa felt pretty damaged, though. What with LOSING, and then having to pay Presstek's legal costs and all.
Count, I was trying to remember the historical details relating to Funk being the primary examiner, but all I recall is that his name was tossed around importantly by bears during the Agfa litigation, or arbitration, as though his being on that case were pretty bad news for us Presstek shareholders. One guy, a bear, was even, hilariously, referring to Funk by his first name and saying stuff along the lines of "Think I'll drop by and chat with Steve about the case after work tonight!"
JFD, you're very interesting, and so succinct, too. Who is Andy Grove, BTW?
I hope somebody -- Tom? -- answers Neil's query in #2914 -- was that, in fact, the same patent the shorts were so counting on being disallowed? If so... well, those shorts sure do keep trying to alarm us, don't they, the tricksters.
I really look forward to meeting everybody who can make it. I get the feeling I'll be the only one there not smoking a fine cigar. Maybe I'll take it up... |
