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Bob O'Brien's Sanity Check Blog

Author: bobo Created: 1/10/2006 10:09 AM
This blog is dedicated to Bob O'Brien's Sanity Check editorials, and discussions about the Market Reform Movement, the SEC, failing to deliver/naked shorting, etc. It was created so that his many detractors and fans can tell him that he is full of it, correct his mistakes, rant and rave, kowtow, preen, or whatever seems appropriate. The only sins are being boring, or inarticulate, or dim. Humorous pieces can be found in the new Funny Bunny Blog area above, for a lighter-hearted take on being a bunny. Older Bobo blogs can be viewed by selecting a month under the calendar to your right.
Lapdog sighting at Marketwatch - bemoaning the fate of all the poor analysts
By bobo on 3/31/2006 4:00 AM
This is a very odd performance - I think Herb may be coming apart a bit. It is, well, lacking in coherent reasoning, from what I can tell. See if you can follow it - there is name calling, and insistence in Herb's innocence - all the usual chestnuts - but also an odd sense of being a little unglued. Maybe it is just me.
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On Gradient's supposedly automated, impartial research; Byrne; and Herb
By bobo on 3/30/2006 4:00 AM
Just some fun bits of stray data I thought I'd throw together for an afternoon sandwich...
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Is Gradient Guilty Of 17b Violations? Is CNBC Engaging In a Cover-Up or Manipulation?
By bobo on 3/30/2006 12:00 AM
The Bunny, as always, has fun questions for the fine folks at CNBC...
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Jesse Eisinger Is Again Outraged, Outraged I Say - Part 1,498...
By bobo on 3/29/2006 4:00 AM
More "how dare they" self-serving rationalizations amounting to "journalists should be above the law and investigation, even though I don't come out and make that preposterous statement out loud." Not surprising given that Jesse is one of the targets of the SEC in their latest info quest.
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Today's Squawk Box with Gasparino and Gradient
By bobo on 3/29/2006 12:00 AM
If you like the fullthroated braying of a rabid mule, then you will love the Gradient shill trying to tapdance her way around being caught in "misstatements." Where do they find these no-talent hacks?
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NFI FTDs for 2005 and part of 2006 show gross abuse - 5% of outstanding shares as of Feb, 2006
By bobo on 3/29/2006 12:00 AM
Tommytoyz just got in a FOIA request showing the FTD level in NFI - and the number is staggering. As of February, it has 1.5+ million FTDs, more than virtually any other point - and yet it has been on the SHO list since day one...
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Were You Lying Then or Are You Lying Now Redux....
By bobo on 3/28/2006 12:00 AM
Not a great day for the hedge fund/research firm being sued. First we hear about all the journalists being examined, and then the PR woman from Gradient blunders through the CNBC interview...And the Bunny brings his own unique thoughts to the party.
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A Primer for Members of the Media, and Hedge Funds, Accused of Wrongdoing
By bobo on 3/27/2006 4:00 AM
Getting subpoenas? Being investigated? Not to worry. The Bunny has a Top Ten List just for you.
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Brokeback Camelback Mountain
By bobo on 3/27/2006 12:00 AM
The Bunny's tender, often poignant exploration of the forbidden relationship between a journalist and a researcher...
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Roddy Boyd’s NY Post Bombshell, and a translation of yesterday's bits and pieces from Herb, Jeff and Mark...
By bobo on 3/27/2006 12:00 AM
Roddy is part of the gang that the SEC wants to examine in connection with Gradient – he broke more subpoena news today. In other news, the whiners are all out. The short version of the latest from Herb et al? I'm a victim, it's all innocent, and never trust CEOs who fight back. For a longer analysis, the Bunny has spent time in his rabbit hole working to interpret the latest from, “Team Tripe.”
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Lapdogs Are Also Outraged, Outraged, I Say!!!
By bobo on 3/27/2006 12:00 AM
Herb has issued forth yet another pearl before us swine. Join the Bunny in savoring its every absurdity, like a connoisseur appreciates a fine wine...
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60 Minutes Airs, and It Just Got Hotter In Hedge Land...
By bobo on 3/26/2006 11:00 AM
Tonight on 60 Minutes, mainstream America got a rare glimpse into the workings of a stock manipulation scheme. The Bunny shares his first impressions in his latest blog.
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First In The "Experts Speak Out" Series - Dr. Susanne Trimbath Knocks One Out Of The Park
By bobo on 3/25/2006 11:00 AM
Rarely is something required reading. This is one of those rarities. Dr. Trimbath candidly answers the first in a series of questions in an online interview with Bobo, and the result is spectacular.
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The Amazing OSTK 107% Solution...
By bobo on 3/24/2006 11:00 AM
The Bunny ruminates as to the integrity of the system after seeing the new OSTK short interest...
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When Dogs and Cats Dance Together, and The Sky Rains Fire...
By bobo on 3/24/2006 12:00 AM
An article was published today at thestreet.com that takes the position that OSTK is a good company, and that Byrne may not be as nutty as a Christmas fruitcake. Why this suddenly is the spin at that fine publication is unknown. Perhaps a benevolent and merciful deity has intervened, and a time of peace amongst all men is upon us...
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60 Minutes On Sunday - Hedge Funds, Gradient, Stock Manipulation
By bobo on 3/23/2006 11:00 AM
That's right, folks. On 60 Minutes this Sunday. Weren't those the guys that blew the Tobacco thing wide open?
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On 60 Minutes, Bawag, Cramer, Koko...
By bobo on 3/23/2006 11:00 AM
What does 60 Minutes, an Austrian bank, Jim Cramer, and Koko the signing Gorilla have in common? Join the Bunny and find out...
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The DTCC wants to eliminate paper certificates - they're so messy, and icky, and stuff
By bobo on 3/22/2006 11:00 AM
Paper bad. Bad bad paper. Paper that allows you to prove you own real shares and not bogus share entitlements - bad. Electronic blips that are created at will by brokers - good. Any questions?
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David Rocker - Owner of a Time Machine? Clairvoyant? Things that make one go hmmmmm...
By bobo on 3/22/2006 12:00 AM
The Bunny is back from his vacation (or being in lockup - depending on which rumors you listen to) and takes a trip back down memory lane....UPDATE - FINAL PARAGRAPH FROM CEO OF BUYINS.NET ADDED AT 2:30 EST.
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The DTCC Lashes Out Ineffectively, and Dishonestly, At Its Critics - Today It's Robert Shapiro
By bobo on 3/16/2006 12:00 AM
The DTCC's latest stink-bomb is a dud. They hate it when authoritative sources say that they are up to no good, or full of it, or both. Thus, anyone with the temerity to tell it like it is gets treated to a good old fashioned smear campaign, issued by that august body. Join the Bunny in exclaiming, "WTF"?
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In The Jungle, The Mighty Jungle, The Lapdog Howls With Fright....
By bobo on 3/15/2006 12:00 AM
Lapdogs Gone Wild!!!! The Lapdog was yapping on CNBC this morning - I was torn between howling with laughter, and feeling sickened. So I had a croissant instead... UPDATE - 11:21 EST - REFCO CAUGHT WITH HALF A BILLION IN FAKE BONDS, IN CARIBBEAN SHELL GAME!!!
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Dr. Byrne Drops A Thermonuclear Bomb on Wall Street at the JP Morgan Conference
By bobo on 3/14/2006 12:00 AM
This is the third time I've reloaded this blog - it chronicles the presentation today that proved that Wall Street is robbing America blind. Like the presentation today, the audio and video went dark an hour or so after the conference (back up now). Anyone that reads this, let's start doing screen captures and mirroring this...UPDATE 1:54AM EST - AUDIO WORKING...
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Is word out? Is Cramer going to jail?
By bobo on 3/13/2006 2:22 PM
This morning on CNBC, "celebrity" PI Bo Dietl and Don Imus were having a chitty chat about the weather, and all of a sudden, up pops Cramer into the discussion..NOW WITH FUN GRAPHICS AT THE END...AND NOW EVEN MORE - GRATUITOUS DREAM SEQUENCE - 11:45 PM EST...
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Of Hissy-fits, Ashtrays, and The Importance of Self-Expression
By bobo on 3/13/2006 12:00 AM
Bobo provides a little humorous interlude while we watch the grass grow...NOTE: IMPORTANT - DR. BYRNE SPEAKING TODAY AT 4PM EST AT JP MORGAN CONFERENCE - SEE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE BLOG FOR LISTENING INSTRUCTIONS
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New Section For the Site - Experts Speak Out
By bobo on 3/13/2006 12:00 AM
Bobo offers the folks playing along at home a chance to have a fireside chat with a securities expert...
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Stock Counterfeiting - A Primer
By bobo on 3/10/2006 10:52 PM
Bobo writes a new section for the blog, and invites you to castigate it, change it, comment on it, or just shoot the....breeze...UPDATE - NEW COMMENTS AT END OF SECTION
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SEC Commissioner Roel C. Campos Discusses The Subpoenas...
By bobo on 3/10/2006 12:40 PM
And the SEC's take is nothing like the spin you are hearing coming from the NY press...
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A Helpful Survival Guide For Victims of Regulatory or Law-Enforcement Oppression
By bobo on 3/9/2006 10:00 PM
The Bunny offers up thoughts for those who have recently been given "oppression papers" by the "fascists" that are trying to "keep them down." UPDATED at 2:42 EST - MORE GRAPHICS AND CATEGORIES...
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NY Financial Press Engage in Whitewash and Cover-up, Byrne Tells it Like It Is
By bobo on 3/8/2006 11:46 PM
Dr. Patrick Byrne, with his usual marvelous economy with words, articulates the thoughts that many of us have had in the Gradient case...
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Bits And Pieces In The News
By bobo on 3/8/2006 7:44 AM
The Bunny does a Wednesday roundup of fun and titillating news...UPDATE - QUOTE OF THE YEAR FROM HERB GREENBERG!!!
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Jim Cramer Speaks Out About Subpoenas on CNBC Today!
By bobo on 3/7/2006 1:31 PM
And for once, the Bunny completely agrees with him...
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New Roddy Boyd Article in Post Raises Questions
By bobo on 3/7/2006 8:12 AM
At least, for the Bunny, it does. What does it all mean? Who is telling the truth and who isn't? Where does Roddy buy his shirts? UPDATE: DR. BYRNE SAYS RODDY STATEMENT "100% FALSE"...
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Dr. Byrne: Jim Cramer Is A Liar, And I Can Prove It
By bobo on 3/6/2006 6:18 PM
Dr. Byrne is making friends and influencing people again, calling Cramer a liar, and the DTCC lying criminals...
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Dr. Byrne Interview on CNet
By bobo on 3/6/2006 12:53 PM
A must read interview with Dr. Patrick Byrne of OSTK.
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NY Post Article Gets Much Right, But Blows It On Premise
By bobo on 3/6/2006 7:16 AM
Chris Byron's ordinarily level-headed reporting takes a puzzling turn for the worse today. Join the Bunny as he analyzes why good reporters write bad articles...
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Weekend Recap
By bobo on 3/5/2006 2:15 PM
The Bunny looks back at the last week or so, and considers the milestone events...
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Weekend Odds and Ends - On Jack Byrne, and Bill Alpert, and if Wishes Were Fishes
By bobo on 3/4/2006 11:24 AM
The Bunny shares his thoughts on the latest news, involving Jack Byrne, and Bill Alpert...UPDATED AS OF 5:04 EST
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Jess Eisinger is shocked and outraged over Biovail's conduct!!!
By bobo on 3/3/2006 4:16 PM
Mr. Eisinger's sensibilities have been violated by Biovail's behavior. Join the Easter Bunny for a fun trip down memory lane with Jesse...NOW UPDATED AT 10:22 EST WITH MORE GRAPHICS, AND A LAPDOG & CRAMER POSTSCRIPT
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On Racism, Bigotry, Intolerance, and Market Manipulation
By bobo on 3/3/2006 11:11 AM
The Bunny tackles allegations that TheSanityCheck is a hotbed of racism, or hate, or intolerance.
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A TV Financial "Journalist" Translation Tool
By bobo on 3/2/2006 4:31 PM
The Bunny has once again gone above and beyond the call of duty to try to de-mystify the complexities of understanding and quantifying TV Personality-speak.
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Christopher Cox Clears The Air On The SEC Subpoenas
By bobo on 3/2/2006 2:45 PM
Chris Cox, Chairman of the SEC, was on CNBC earlier, and had a thing or two to say about all the coverage and rumors circulating about his response to the subpoenas issued by Enforcement to Cramer, Greenberg and Remond. NEW UPDATE - AS OF 8:03 PM EST
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Why Does The WSJ Think Everyone West of 7th Ave Is A Moron?
By bobo on 3/2/2006 9:10 AM
The Bunny examines the latest editorial from the WSJ, and with the help of some simple graphics, demonstrates the logical fallacies therein.
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On The Media Feeding Frenzy to Tout Conspiracy Theories, While Engaging In A Cover-Up
By bobo on 3/1/2006 5:16 PM
The Bunny discusses the media denial-fest, and helps the layman understand the difficult process of preparing for television appearances to protest one's persecution and innocence...UPDATE - 9:55 PM EST - 4 TSCM Execs sell shares after subpoenas but before telling public...
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Rocker/Gradient SLAPPed by Marin Judge, OSTK Suit To Proceed To Discovery
By bobo on 3/1/2006 11:46 AM
Apparently the Marin Judge didn't feel that front-running doctored research reports was protected as free speech. Huh. Who could have seen that coming? NOTE: Now with NEW images, and NEW UPDATE, as of 5:03 PM EST.
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Jim Cramer – Another Martha Stewart, or Victim of Persecution?
By bobo on 3/1/2006 9:04 AM
The Bunny reviews Mr. Cramer's serendipitously timed sales of TheStreet.com stock, and commiserates with him over his victimhood... IMPORTANT - New Update a Must Read.
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What To Do If The SEC Ever Serves You With A Subpoena
By bobo on 2/28/2006 8:07 PM
Served with a subpoena? Regulators want to give you a proctology exam? Not to worry - the Bunny can help. Follow these 5 easy steps, and enjoy the peace of mind that usually accompanies huffing paint fumes and swigging tequila!!!
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Jim Cramer's Message To The SEC: F You
By bobo on 2/28/2006 7:02 AM
The Bunny chimes in with his thoughts on Jim Cramer's behavior, the ramifications of the NY press' spin on the unfolding controversy, and the dilemma facing the SEC now...UPDATE - NOW WITH PICTURES, AND SPECIAL SECTION - JIM C: VICTIM, OR SHIFTY, GUILTY DOG?
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Cramer gets SEC Subpoena, along with TheStreet.com - and 88% in CNBC vote support SEC action
By bobo on 2/27/2006 3:33 PM
Cramer and TheStreet.com get the Federales knocking at the door. And all the whining by the NY press about how they are being unfairly abused is considered to be a load of hooey by Mainstreet America, per this CNBC poll...
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Free Speech, or Conduct? On Subpoenas to Journalists…
By bobo on 2/27/2006 9:49 AM
The Bunny has a thing or two to say about the latest declarations by the SEC's Christopher Cox, and the latest volley of media slams...
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When Does “Coverage” Become “Cover-up?”
By bobo on 2/26/2006 5:01 PM
The Bunny considers all the elements of a classic cover-up, and sanity checks the naked short selling crisis for consistency...
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