Aleta, since Jon responded to your post, to which I'm now responding--an effort on his part to lure you in, I presume--I thought I'd help clarify the relationship of Ralph LaBarge in follow up to your own comments.
Mr. LaBarge, through my contacts with him, is a very nice person. In the past, he's been helpful for me when I asked some questions concerning technology issues. He's been an SI member for a long time, and that's how I connected with him, eight or 10 months ago (Man, time flies!)
NB Digital, not DB Digital, is defunct. It was shut down a month or two after the ZULU/ESVS combination was announced. Ending the NB Digital business was one of several cost-cutting consolidation moves. The Zulu game plan has been to keep only what's needed after an acquisition and build the critical elements into new corporate business components emphasing: a) online advertising; b) ecommerce; and c) technology. Zulu continues building this process, and this is why we haven't had our "overnight bingo."
Yes, Mr. LaBarge was the only employee of NB Digital to remain after those layoffs. Overall, approximately 40 employees were laid off. But I think his present status--and I don't recall where I heard this--is as a "consultant," rather than an "employee." He also, around the time the ZULU/ESVS combination was announced, was the second largest shareholder, behind Dick Duckman, of ESVS.
Given all that's happened, it appears Mr. LaBarge is poised for a "golden parachute" once the ZuluGroup.com business has established a firm foothold in the marketplace. But I could be wrong here. It's possible he could continue to serve in some technical capacity once all is up and running. I also recall once hearing a comment that the NB Digital technology remains with ZuluGroup.com and could be put into play if needed, or when appropriate.
It wouldn't surprise me at all that, in the meanwhile, he'd want to assist shareholders by helping with the ESVS.com and Zulutech.com shareholder websites. Like I said, he was very helpful for me earlier when I asked him some technology questions. But, overall, I think he'd still be somewhat limited in what he can tell us, due to employee non-disclosure policies.
Regarding Jon Tara's findings, yes, they're interesting. Isn't all of this interesting, however? I have no idea what his discoveries mean. But Jon has a tendency, regarding Zulu, to criticize as if he were writing about a baseball team still in spring training, but writing as if the team should be playing in mid-season or post-season form. Ted Williams, Billy Martin and Albert Belle each would have had a very difficult time relating with Jon Tara! (LOL)
Personally, I think JT would be better writing more about what actually is known, coupled with the known or announced direction the company is headed; rather than continuing to place unfair presumption labels and using terms like "hi-jacked," "scandalous" or "stunts" on matters still as yet unknown. I mean a fair speculation is one thing, but JT, when it comes to Zulu, has an innate tendency to go way negatively overboard, into out of bounds limits. On the other hand, pro or con, many of us are guilty of this in varying form, some less severely than others?
But I remind you that only JT, and some others of neghead-quality Zulu character, have used such insulting and unproven terms so loosely and so disastrously. Of course, as always, we're left with the begging question: For what reason?
A thought to consider: How many of you treat babies fresh out of infancy as adults? And so Zulu! And so the experience of investing in young companies functioning in Penny Stockland. Is this what the Beatles were singing about when they wrote: Penny Lane? (LOL) |
