Are we counting correctly?

Yes, we on this side of the boerewors curtain lso received our notice of the impending meetings - it only came a few days later.

First let me give some statistics, for those who are so inclined. Since I began counting on 5 April we have had 1207 visits and these visitors visited 2763 pages (in Google parlance it means they didn't stop or bounced at the first entry page, but also visited other pages). Visitors came mostly from our own country, how else, but also from the USA, Mexico, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and of all places a few live in Norway. There we are, just had to mention that for those who find numbers interesting.

Speaking of numbers, the Edwafiners are also fond of numbers, especially when they can juggle them. In my blog yesterday I gave some reasons why I would possibly vote to givie Patrick and friends an opportunity. However, in the meantime I have done some more thinking, and again and again I am stumped by the trust issue. Again, I should tell you that I am more-or-less over the possible loss of money issue, and what needs to happen, will happen. What grinds me to little pieces, is the total untransparent way in which things have been handled by the famous four in Durbs. Even at this stage of the game, they see fit to try and pull the wool over our eyes - is there just no end to their bungling art of deception?

It all started with the original lack of funds (or was it the inoperable computer software) around October last year. Somebody must have seen that the bull was racing at the fence. Are they such imcompetent business people that they did not foresee what was going to happen (they wouldn't even have to consult the I Ching)? Ek dink hulle is sommer net dom-astrant", as an old school friend would put it. Then the deceptions and lies just became worse and worse.

And now, even when the penny is about to fall over, they still haven't got the guts to play open cards with the investors. The seemingly have no compunction to spin their fantastic tale, now here, and then there.

Let's have a look at what Don had to say at the meeting of 17 Marchy 2009 in Durban:

"Don referred to an amount of R15 million in terms of shareholders equity....this cannot be converted into cash. The bulk of the company's assets sit in the Paragon derivatives which is the offshore investment .... as well as DMC which is worth R128 million..."

In my book, as I have mentioned on a previous occassion that adds up to R143 million.

Don smilingly leaves the stage. Remember he wants to make the point that Edwafin is still a viable business proposition. His argument, along with main protagonist Patrick is to leave well alone and let them do the business (although, I think they have a different meaning for the word than the accepted norm.)

Enter the stage Verona Cowan, as cute as she can be. She wants also want the investors to give Edwafin a second chance as well, but her argument is to have the company placed under Judicial Management (something must have changed their minds). To underline her argument she also provides figures. At last we get a figure of Edwafin's debts: R228,504,615.00. She also provides us with the company's assets: R16,585,195.00. Huh? Now, I'm no MENSA candidate but there is a small difference between R143 million and R16.5 million, I would say. Are we perhaps being played again? In my opinion, they are really trying to pull the wool over our eyes again, especially this time.

Verona, Verona (sounds like the first line of an Italian love song), have you been taking lessons from the boss again? Remember, practice makes perfects, and you are still a long way away.

Verona wittled away about R2 million for prefferential creditors. So lets take the same amount of Don's version of the assets and we get R141 million. According to my calculations that would gives us a potential return of 61%, or R0.61 per one rand. Did little Verona possibly make a mistake with the placement of the little dot, I wonder?

Of course my calculations are not correct, the would heftely retort, and probably that is so. One only arrives at correct results if you are given the correct numbers from the onset. The rest is purely a waste of time.
Again, all this is purely my opinion, how can one believe anything these people have to say, whether it be by letter, or at a meeting. I simply do not trust a word they have to say.

Another thing. If little Verona's figures are correct, it means that our star and starlettes have wittled away over R200 million during the past five or six years, and that is not counting the R5 million profit that they were so proud off when they still existed on the internet. By jove, how are these seemingly imbecile-like creatures going to get the business on a profitable level again? They spent it all! (according to Verona) You must be joking! OK, perhaps there was still a chance if we had Don's version to go on, but now that Verona's numbers have entered the arena I can only see bloodshed at the hands of these gladiators from hell.

I am not sure if anybody at Edwafin still reads these comments, and I don't care too much either. However, if somebody there reads this: "Please we are all on the same planet, your truths don't work, and your deception is utterly transparent - why not try to tell us the real truth for a change? It is difficult, I know, one developes a rut and a unpleasant habit; an unsatisfiable thirst for being deceptive. Yet, as someone said: the truth provides liberty and space for sensible action."

Isn't it absolute hilariously rediculous, that the onus is now placed on the investors with Edwafin to decide between two evils, and that they must base their decision on biased and uncertain information from the same people that whittled their savings and pension money into oblivion, and who continue to play an evil game of deception with them? I find all this extremely interesting, in that the bosses at Edwafin have set the agenda for the meetings that they are convening, and have provided you with only two possible choices, again presenting you with facts that suit their own agenda.The matter is before court in two weeks time, if investors are under any false impression that they have to make a decision in this matter, they fell for the Edwafin deception once again.
Are we such fools?

The loosing of marbles - my favorite past time

As the end of the month approach during May, I vaguely wondered if Patrick was coming to the party, but as we all know, he didn't. That is because he couldn't. This did not bother me too much as the whole things has become nearly academic to me and has given me many answers to how I would react when faced with financial losses of this nature. Although there is much to learn still, I think that I have learnt much, and that the (still potential) loss will effect me little further if it eventually becomes final. It has taught me firstly that I was spiritually lacking when the debacle started, in a way that I had thought I had already overcome before. Only now do I realize that this was a major learning experience, not in financial management, but in allowing things to happen and follow its natural course.
As if to pat me on the head, the universe responded by giving me a few winning numbers in the lotto and thereby we were compensated for a goodly amount that we haven't received from Edwafin in recent months. Remember the Tao? - do it now. The latter, especially if you have to go and collect from the offices in Midrand. Friendly people, very helpful, but the rigmarole is overwhelming.

As I had expected not everybody appreciated my excursion into Nihilism, Confucianism and the I Ching. Most kept quiet, but some responded. One that I appreciated very much, and I mean that sincerely, was the message that stated that "Jesus love you". It is always is heart-warming to be reminded of a fact that often gets forgotten in the process of hectic, materialistic living. The message continued by stating that the count down for nine minutes had started and that I should tell nine people that "Jesus loved them" as well. If I would do that, magnificent things would happen after the nine minutes. Alas, that wasn't true. I couldn't get to nine people so quickly, but would you believe it? Every moment of my being was magnificent in any case and continues to be even now. I couldn't find a verse with this trick in the bible, but I thank the person deeply for his/her concern for other souls on earth.

One anonymous was most concerned about the state of my mental well-being and said: "Ur confusing me, r Ur losing ur marbles???" (my spell checker does not like this one bit). No, I do think the person went to school, and learnt to spell, but was probably in a hurry.

Anyway, anonymous, I apologize for confusing you, perhaps one day clarity will also arrive in your mind (it might take a few lifetimes though, but they are usually fun). Yes, I lost my marbles already when I left primary school, and the world began changing , representing different realities - Oops, sorry, now I have got you confused again. Dear Me, I never learn - hopefully you will do better than me.

But let me help you on your way by a little game:

1. Stand outside in an open area where you can see part of the horizon - only a small part will do.
2. Look in front of you and, with either hand touch your nose. Realize that that is the extent of your current reality and intellectual awareness.
3. Now extend the same arm and point to the horizon that you can see, allowing your finger to just - seemingly - touch it.
4. Ask yourself the question: "Is my finger touching the horizon?". If you say "yes", you are obviously deceiving yourself, because the horizon is merely a line we create in our mind, and there are uncountable horizons beyond what you can see.
5. If you say "No" then realize that that is the distance you still have to go to become a fully self-aware person on planet earth.
6. Of course then we are not done yet, as their are still the solar system, the constellation, and the rest of the universe, but baby steps - baby steps are all that are needed and you have an eternity to take those little steps.

Thank you so much for being concerned about me anonymous.

Suddenly we vote; Edwafin admits all with dangling carrots

One of the readers has kindly provided me with a copy of the newest circular that originated with Edwafin. Apparently if one live up country, the mail takes longer to arrive. I thank the person who provided me with a copy. The contents took me somewhat by surprise though: for months the masters of the Edwafin universe neglected to consult with their investors, denied the predicament their in, and now suddenly they are seeking support for their quest to be placed under Judicial Management. They were a little ingenious though, as they stress the paltry amount (R0.0653) that each investor would get for every R10,000.00 invested with them. On the other hand, aren't they just confirming that they are simply bankrupt at this point? and that they are really, really bankrupt to a disastrous point. Where are the denials now of not being bankrupt, and the company being essentially profit making. Madre Mia!

So we will have another meeting, and further gobbledygook will be presented. Have you also noted how cleverly they have biased this listing of benefits between liquidation and Judicial Management? Should you opt for Judicial Management, then every is going to be fine it seems, so obviously we all join the happy party of Judicial Management. Their badly mastered smoke and mirrors is again evident when the letters states: "Judicial Management is the best option....for...all investor's capital would be repatriated to them in the long term". I must say they are positive thinkers par excellence!

With my outlook in life, time is a relative measurement of awareness, but it seems that Stapleton and friends are themselves, and in their own way, philosophers. Remember how, Patrick promised us money repeatedly at the end of certain repeatedly increasingly longer periods? The last I remember we would be more-or-less back on track by the end of May (in fact that is when he promised I would have my money back), the goal post is once more moved to November this time, and just to makes sure, they have planned goal post movement to March 2010. How in the world, after so many years of deplorable business results, are these people going to put everything back within the next 8 to 12 months? But, miracles happen, and I happen to believe in them, so in spite of it all I am tempted to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I just wonder why they took this step, and the only conclusion I can reach is that they are essentially unsure that they will be granted the request they made to the court themselves. One benefit that I would be very pleased to see happening is point no iv: that the company would be properly investigated with an possible unbiased feedback to the investors and the court.

Having said that, "scepticality" is a new word that applies to the situation I find myself in when I I think about the involvement of the authorities. Remember the protection NCC, SAVCA, FBI, CIPRO offered us as investors. In essence Edwafin defrauded all its investors when it promised, contractually, to refund us our money. And thinking carefully, one should have realized that that would be an impossible scenario. The bodies of authority and supervision, surely must have realized this as well, but nevertheless gave Edwafin the green light (CIPRO, FSB) to go ahead, while the other mentioned bodies were only to happy to provide them with credibility. Let's face it, as matters now stand, we have been defrauded and lied to - if that were not the case many of us would have had our money back by now.

However sceptical I might be, the question is: what has one to lose? If they go bankrupt we loose majorly; if they are given the opportunity to try and redeem the company, who knows? Perhaps Patrick will pull a rabbit from his hat after all.

I would certainly give him all the credit for being a master businessman, and that includes the sneakers and lurkers.

I I Ching for You

Permit me to start this blog entry with a quote by Abraham-Hicks. If you don't know about this combination and would like to know more, please contact me.

"From the Non-physical, you created you, and now from the physical, you continue to create, and we are nothing if we are not Flow-ers of Energy. We must have objects of attention, that are ringing our bells, in order to feel the fullness of who we are, flowing through us, for the continuation of All-That-Is."

Excerpted from the workshop in Silver Spring, MD on Saturday, April 19th, 1997

This is a bit of a rant, but has an interesting ending, I think. If you are easily bored, don't bother.

Yesterday (or actually the day before) I took an excursion in ontology and, what for many would be, unreality or nothingness. [Please keep in mind that this blog is concerned with my experience of Edwafin's doings. Sometimes my mental excursions seem to be in the never-never land, but that is my expression of how these events lead my consciousness and perhaps where it will all come to a culmination. If, in the process, information can be shared amongst us that may be helpful, so much the better.]

Let's start again. To the more aware my excursions may resemble a type of Nihilims (ala Friedrich Nietzsche). Yet Nihilism, mainly a proposition of Western Philosophy - which usually only busies itself with possibilities and rarely provides a axiom for true spiritual existence - is usually characterised by a perspective of pessimism and negativity,
There is (are), however, a similar monistic approach to existence and that is the concept of Tao ("The Way", pronounced Dao) that was first noticeably prevalent in China and of which Confucius was a major exponent (therefore it is also called Confusionism). In contrast to Western philosophy, which is usually little more than a debate - a talking point, Tao is a believe system, a way of living and existing. More importantly, it doesn't share the Nihilist's pessimistic and despairing view of existence but rather it allows for universal spirit (any word of your preference will also do) to create in positive sense - something that Nihilism seemingly does not allow for. The manifestations that the soul encounters in its awareness is called the Tao Te Ching (the ten thousand things), and these manifestations in unity represents at the same time the nothingness as well as the everythingness of the universe, of existence.

"And what does all this have to do with Edwafin?", you may rightly enquire - and some of the more conventional amongst you may find me rather naughty. Well, since Tao regards everything as one, the smallest minutia mirrors the wholeness of reality and, not unlike also expressed in modern quantum mechanics, string theory and entanglement, the universe of existence is therefore a hologram. This means that on some level of our consciousness or subconsciousness we have all of future and the past in us at every conscious moment (both concepts, future and past, of cause being constructs to give meaning to the flow of awareness).
According to the Tao there is a way of establishing the possibilities of how the reality of one moment can change to in another moment of awareness. There are many ways to do that, but the Chines have an ancient set of manuscripts called the I Ching (Book of Changes). Although some would disparagingly refer to this writing as nothing but an oracle, they miss the point completely. The I Ching merely points out the manner in which things can change from moment to moment but always under the influence of the soul which controls all. For most of us, these possibilities of changes lie buried in the subconsciousness (where the universe is also present and creating these changes), but can be coaxed by means of simple actions, such as throwing sticks, stones, coins, etc. Using a basic set of binary patterns, a solid line and a broken line, a set of six lines are derived at, called a hexagram. There are 64 such hexagrams, and simplistically put, each represents a condition of change [Note again, many tomes have been written about all these things and I am not doing it much justice here.]

Anyway, in a rare moment of unconventionalism I got busy with the I Ching asking the question: "Will the Edwafin problem resolve satisfactorily for everyone?" I need to stress here that this is not a process of trying to predict the future, but rather a means of establishing what possibilities exist and is largely dependent on creative awareness by the participants in the process.
The hexagram that emerged was no 35, and were it not that the resultant interpretation were seemingly so pertinent, I would not have bothered writing this entry. However, I thought that the interpretations might be of some interest to some of you. Furthermore though, your prerogative is to think for yourself. This is not to give false hope but to show how the subconscious is aware of the circumstances and the possible outcome. Having said that we continue.

Hexagram 35 looks like this:
_______________
______ ______
_______________
______ ______
______ ______
______ ______

Confucius makes short work of this:

"This is the image of progress, the sun is rising above the earth. The superior one reflects in him/herself the brightness of virtue."

A more extensive interpretation is as follows (the lines are counted for from the bottom upwards):

Your symbol is Hexagram 35, showing a promotion. The image is of a feudal prince who has done a good job in governing the people, thus receiving horses and audience with the king.

The first line, yin, shows one who desires a promotion, but frustrated because it does not come. Steadfast and undisturbed, this person will soon meet with good fortune.

The second line, yin, shows the blessings of one's grandmother. Peace of mind will soon come to one who is advancing in the material sphere, but who believes there is more to life than money and power.

The third line, yin, shows one who wins the approval of peers and associates. Acceptance relieves all regrets.

The fourth line, yang, shows one who tries to make advancement like a burrowing rodent, greedy, untrustworthy, and mistrustful of others. Even great effort will not overcome the danger in this attitude.

The fifth line, yin, shows that good fortune will come to one who is not attached to success or failure.

The sixth line, yang, shows one who takes it upon himself or herself to control and punish others, just as a bull pushes others around with his horns. This is a dangerous position to take, and although some good may come of it, there will also be self-inflicted emotional pain.

Footnote

To the reader: In all of the hexagrams, at least one of the lines may predict bad results, but that does NOT mean you are destined to get that result. The meaning is that you need to study the action-reaction to see what could go wrong.

From there, focus on the positive outcomes in other lines. Study how different attitudes lead to better outcomes.

Your future is in your hands. Consult the I Ching for ideas that lead to clear thinking and positive mental attitude. The I Ching teaches you to flow with changes. Create positive change from the inside through conscious living. Take the time to reflect on your attitudes and ideas.

Make of it what you want.

FSB shows its Livingness as does Anonymous

I suppose the news that many of us were waiting for concerned the investigation of the FSB into the affairs of Edwabond. An anonymous contributor kindly provided us with a news clipping (click to read) in which it was reported that the FSB had suspended the licence of Edwabond. Personally, I derive little pleasure from this event as it would have been so much more constructive if Edwabond had come out if it with a clean bill - indicating that they were above board and in a position to continue with their dedicated functions. Apparently not.

On the other hand, one realizes with some satisfaction that the FSB has been at work here, perhaps somewhat belatedly, but they do seem to have the public's interest at heart. Permit me to thank my friend Lawrence Muravha for continuously staying in touch with us all in this matter. Hey, Lawrence, you have been busy, and I haven't heard from you for a looong while. Must be that terrible office block where you chaps have to work, and that close to a ghost house of all places.

Then anonymous (it is interesting how anonymous has become a singular entity in my mind - of course they are not all the same person, but to me it has become a singular manifestation of participation), also provided some insight into the participatory role that Don Hutchinson, Simon Read and Robert Klynsmith (Kleynsmith?) are playing in our Edwafin board game. Some of the gents were seemingly involved previously in looking after the financials of Edwafin. Stincky, I would say. Although this information does not contribute much to the resolution of our predicament - unless perhaps you really want to play financial sleuth, it does contribute to building a comprehensive part of the puzzle. This, especially since those who are in charge of nothingness at Edwafin are hold all the information about them and the company so close to their hearts. The fact that they have so many things to hide, and are particularly successful at keeping it that way, just has to make one think that their are demons under the table. But we see them, don't we, so don't fool yourself Patrick, we know you by now.

Personally I think I have essentially sussed out Patrick Stapleton as an essentially sincere, probably well-meaning person with a healthy touch of egocentricity and familial partisanism running through his veins. Unfortunately, the latter seems to hinder him in his growth as a visionary businessman and prevents him from bringing his visions to fruition. At to that his rampant denialism and bingo there you have Edwafin.

Of course, there are other parties also involved in this stage play, and we have mentioned a few of them above. They are the typical archetypes of lurkers and sneakers. The lurkers we only know by name and are mere faint gossamers that form part of the décor. The sneakers on the other hand, do emerge periodically, and tiptoe on stage to contribute some meaningless prattle about dormant companies and what Edwafin is or is not, and then slither off stage again to allow the main focus to fall on the principal players. One sneaker who is rapidly becoming theme-repetitativa is called Don Hutchinson. Like in the classical Opera buffa he said at a recent meeting:
"Edwafin is profitable but has suffered hugely in terms of cash flow shortage. There are prospects on the horizon and therefore the company can trade itself out of this situation, ..."
Yes, you are correct those words are familiar, because they have repeatedly been uttered by the main protagonist of our story. Likewise, Don utters the same words but also without any sensible explanation. Lets break it down:

• Edwafin is profitable - were any figures of profit shown?
• cash flow shortage - a bit of a contracted tautology, but they both say "we don't have any"
• There are prospects - prospects means: nothing for sure but maybe let's hold thumbs
  
• On the horizon - yes, and as you move towards the horizon it keeps moving away
• Trade itself out of the situation - with what?
• The point is they needed more investors to pay existing investors, and they weren't getting any.

Then he makes a sum of R15 million in shareholders equity and R128 million invested in DMC that makes R143 million, but he neglets to tell the investors what the recent news article stated, that they had invested more than R200 million with Edwafin. And in between he slips in that the bulk of the assets sit in the Paragon derivatives which is outside the borders of our beautiful country. So most of our money is invested in overseas investments. How cute, I'm sure his mother is fond of him.

Of course, have said his lines, he again moves behind the curtains, off stage....