Sad indeed, but welcome to the 20th century. The Internet, if nothing else, has certainly spoiled a lot of people. Like that guy says on the ESPN commercial, instant news, instant coffee, instant pudding...now we all want instant updates. Well, the truth of the matter is this, things do NOT happen in business overnight, never did, never will (except maybe the Disney/ABC merger). So, when things DID happen before where did we get our information??? The annual report. Ah, the good old days when everyone invested for the long term, after due diligence, and did not buy because someone in a "chat room" promised you 3 bagger by lunch time. And Edgar Filings?? Never saw one before the WWW put them online..now EVERYONE with a PC can get access to them and dissect them online.
Please, do not think that I am venting on anyone, I am not. Mainly I am just thinking out loud, and perhaps it will all make sense to some people, nonsense to other.
Let me ask this, how many times do you think small investors called companies for periodic updates BEFORE the Internet? My thought, not often. Now the Internet has done something that I am certain was unexpected, it became a damn testosterone den for people to show off their bravado. Like the old tree fort we would hang out in as kids and say things like.."hey, let's go kick the neighbors cat" and before you know it....some poor calico is flying through the air with a sore ass. Would those kids have done that acting on their own? Probably not...but with the backing of others.....WHACK goes the cat.
Same thing is happening here. "Hey, did you know Palermo makes 1/4 mil a year" "Really, and the stock isn't moving...fire him" "Yeah, fire him"...and it builds through the tree fort called the internet and next thing you know 40 people have called QDRX to inquire about Palermo's salary. Perhaps they could get some friggin work done if they weren't answering the phone all damn day. "Well, hey, we are the OWNERS of this company and when I call someone better well talk to me" Yeah, you are right, but again, how many times did we call before we had this little internet support group to report back to?
I've seen friggin glaciers move faster than business, and am happy to get the little sacrificial offerings that they do throw out now and then, like selling $380k worth of raw material, and increasing their shipments to Spinergy.
And the press release says a deal was struck with Echelon and WHAM....everyone on the phone to Echelon. (And it was me, sad to say, that posted their number on the thread, not expecting EVERYONE to call) "Hello, Echelon?" "Hi, you don't know me, but I am a shareholder of QDRX, can we talk about them for a while?" I am sure the good folks at Echelon, Spinergy, Taylor Made, Golfsmith, etc. etc. love this. "Oh, says the Taylor Made executive, and please Mr. Palermo, after our phone conversation why don't you put out a press release and mention my name so that EVERYONE ON THE INTERNET CAN CALL ME" It's no wonder good news is hard to find. Hell, if I was thinking of buying a 1/2million $$$ of QDRX material I would DEMAND that QDRX not publicize it just for that exact reason.
Now granted, I DO believe that as shareholders we should hold our management teams up to high scrutiny, and I HAVE asked questions at shareholder meetings with other companies I own. But I do believe the "instant pudding" internet has made it difficult for smaller companies that can't spend money on web pages, newsletters, etc. to keep their more demanding, tree fort sitting, cat kicking, chat room investing, client bugging, press release group dissecting, support group shareholders informed. And I think that Quadrax will make more attempts to do this, if properly thought out and properly received. Hell, I liked the last press release, but some of you (collectively in your support group) thought it read
"QDRX can pay Palermo through 1998 after getting a $380,000 deal with XYZ company"
I read it as saying.."Hey, Shareholders, we made some more money today, and it was easy too, raw material!" I also think they are afraid to post to the Internet for fear of getting flamed. (and the 100 calls to QDRX to verify it really WAS them that posted and not some lunatic gambler with 100 shares of QDRX in his pocket).
Okay, the last thing the Internet is good for, it allows old feeble minded people like myself the opportunity to rant on and on, and I fear that I have. If I offended anyone, I apologize, did not intend to, just calling the game the way I see it.
Please, if I pissed you off, my email address is kcees1@aol.com
Drop me a note and I will be glad to discuss my ramblings with you, but I won't respond on the SI board. |
