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Technology Stocks : XYBR - Xybernaut -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: StockDung who wrote (3359)	3/17/2000 7:28:00 PM
From: rrufff	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6847

Truthseeker, I agree it is always the best to tell the truth. I also agree that hunting fraudulent companies is important. However, wouldn't you agree that almost every start-up or turn around biotech or internut company can be attacked on the basis of poor financials and/or the fact that the company has issued stock below market during the start-up phase and/or subject to dilution due to financing? After all they are speculative and Big Bank is not going to give them prime rate loans. I am not saying its good or bad, just that it is the truth. In fact, just to take an example that I checked almost at random -- Maximum Gain has quickly come on board to join the bashing here. I checked his posts and he supports a little company called DKEY. Last month they diluted their stock with a private placement about $5. It's got the usual warrants, etc. Now the stock is $15. In their next SEC filing, they will say a lot of the stuff that was discussed today on this board. (Caveat - I know nothing about DKEY and am not bashing it. I am just showing that 5 minutes of "investigative" work will come up with a company that COULD be bashed.) However, in today's world, we are all wary of litigation when we give opinions. The press and the court system is too easily invoked when an opinion is wrong. You know very well how that works and ironically you have been subject to both court and press excesses perhaps. The accountants first concern is Covering his Posterior. You know that. Will you admit that? Let's see if we can continue to have a civil discussion. I'm not saying XYBR is perfect. This is a huge bull market. I don't see it ending tomorrow. Relative to other companies, XYBR is not out of line. In a bear market, they are all crap, including EBAY, Amazon, all the ISPs, most of the biotechs, etc. In this market, companies exist first to make management wealthy. I admit that. If shareholders can go along for the ride, then fine. If these boards are used correctly, management can be kept in check, salaries and perks can be reasonable and shareholders will benefit. So far, I see these boards being used solely as selfish ego promotion trying to hype one's position with opinions, if yelled loud enough, that the hype or bash becomes somehow the "truth." Bashing one company as was done today is perceived as particularly unfair as it focuses on that company, which is probably no different from most of the start-ups and turn around plays in this market. Furthermore, using old news (the accountant's warning has been in each SEC filing) and causing a PR storm is really not different from the objections that you and Auric voiced concerning the press coverage to which you were subjected. NEXT POINT - Would you agree that a going concern opinion does not mean they are going into bankruptcy almost immediately as Auric suggested. In fact, most do NOT go into bankruptcy. I am not denigrating the opinion. I'm just stating the "truth" as you profess to do. I'd love to keep this civil. There is no need for the name calling and the bashing. Statements of fact pro and con are welcome. I look forward to your response.

To: StockDung who wrote (3359)	3/17/2000 9:30:00 PM
From: rrufff	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6847

Oh Mr. Truthseeker, I had a nice dinner and decided to check out your site. It's very nice. I commend you. There is a lot which I agree in your philosophy. I did notice that you are VERY LONG on PTVL - Preview Travel. Here is a quote from one of their SEC filings: Anticipated Losses. The Company has incurred significant operating losses and, as of September 30, 1999, had an accumulated deficit of $77.1 million. The Company believes that its success will to a large part depend on its ability to increase the number of registered users and customers and to increase sales volume to realize economies of scale. As the Company increases its spending for product development, advertising, customer service, facilities, international expansion and general and administrative expenses, the Company expects to continue to incur significant operating losses on a quarterly and annual basis for the foreseeable future, and the rate at which such losses will be incurred is expected to increase significantly from current levels, resulting in corresponding decreases in working capital, total assets and stockholders' equity. In particular, the Company's operating expenses have increased, and are expected to continue increasing, in 1999 as compared to 1998, primarily due to scheduled increases in the Company's payment obligations to strategic partners and advertising and marketing expenses for the Company's online travel services, resulting in corresponding increases in operating losses and decreases in working capital, total assets and stockholders' equity. See "Risk Factors That May Affect Future ResultsLimited Operating History of Online Business; History of Net Operating Losses; Accumulated Deficit" and "Anticipated Losses and Negative Cash Flow."

To: StockDung who wrote (3359)	3/17/2000 10:06:00 PM
From: rrufff	Respond to of 6847

Shades of TRUTH. So Mr. Truthseeker, You are basically rarely long at least according to your site. The one long that I spent about 5 minutes on was Preview Travel. My extremely cursory investigation revealed SEC filings which disclose an incredibly poor financial picture. Losses are huge and continuing. Road to entry is easy -- by e.g. Yahoo, AOL, Lycos and other competitors, such as travel agents joining in sites as they become more technically proficient. I think you have a situation where it will be more like AWEB and ABTL. My POINT -- With 5 minutes work, I found enough about your only long to do a job on it. Imagine if I decided to spend a day on it. I'm not saying there are not times to short and there is always time to find the truth. The message has not been presented in a way that you would appreciate if it happened to one of your longs. I do hope that those who have invested in XYBR or other stocks which become the subject of a concerted bash will realize that this pattern should be scrutinized with utmost care. Decisions to buy, sell or even hold should be made without the scare tactics or hype from either the basher or the promoter.