Very Computer

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Best regards,

John Wells

--

Best regards,

John Wells

Thanks for the info.  Even if you can't disclose any info, it's good to
hear that there isn't any new infomation.

Rob Camarda

Quote:> > I have not read anything about the Pick probate since the
announcement
> > that PickAx got it.  Anyone know more details?  What is there plan?
> > When are they going to announce?

> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Before you buy.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

As for PickAx's intentions, I guess the name might give *some* indication.
My feel is that Gil reckons there's some dead wood in need of clearing. The
fact that Mark Pick seems to be associated with PickAx speaks volumes as
well. Mark has been standing back from the whole mess of late but I daresay
he has strong feelings on the subject just  the same. I don't know which of
the other names are potential employees of Pick Systems and which were just
supporters and onlookers, but the fact that they all seem to be aligned with
Gil gives me to hope that there is a strong feeling that PickAx is the right
buyer with the right strategies for the future of Pick/D3.

All that with no hard facts, of course, but it feels about right.

Luke

Excellent analysis!  I like the cast of players at PickAx!

Larry Hazel

Quote:> >John,
> >    Are optimistic that their (PickAx) obligations will be met on time?

> I don't think Gil Figueroa is a fool, and only a fool would part with
nearly
> US$2 million without a guarantee of financing the rest.

> As for PickAx's intentions, I guess the name might give *some* indication.
> My feel is that Gil reckons there's some dead wood in need of clearing.
The
> fact that Mark Pick seems to be associated with PickAx speaks volumes as
> well. Mark has been standing back from the whole mess of late but I
daresay
> he has strong feelings on the subject just  the same. I don't know which
of
> the other names are potential employees of Pick Systems and which were
just
> supporters and onlookers, but the fact that they all seem to be aligned
with
> Gil gives me to hope that there is a strong feeling that PickAx is the
right
> buyer with the right strategies for the future of Pick/D3.

> All that with no hard facts, of course, but it feels about right.

> Luke

Quote:> The fact that Mark Pick seems to be associated with PickAx speaks
>volumes as well. Mark has been standing back from the whole mess of
>late but I dare say he has strong feelings on the subject just  the
>same. I don't know which of the other names are potential employees of
>Pick Systems and which were just supporters and onlookers, but the fact
>that they all seem to be aligned with Gil gives me to hope that there
>is a strong feeling that PickAx is the right buyer with the right
>strategies for the future of Pick/D3.

Quote:> > All that with no hard facts, of course, but it feels about right.

> > Luke

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Search your favorite flash-back message groups (deja) for messages from
Steven Davies-Morris.  He claims to have visited the courthouse and examined
appropriate documents.  But, you have to be willing to take his word for it,
or go to the court house for yourself.  I believe him.

I just searched through my read messages, and found the one he posted.  His
by-line is 'sdavmor' and here is his post

and I QUOTE

Yesterday, after a day of court proceedings, attorneys for PickAxe gave the
estate of Richard Pick a *non-refundable* cashiers checque for 1.95 million
dollars.  PickAxe has 10 days to make payment of the balance of the final
purchase price of 19.5 million dollars.  Failure to complete the transaction
in that time will void the sale, allowing the estate to accept the
Cruttendon offer, if it is still on the table.

Other items of interests.  Present on the PickAxe sidelines were Rich Lauer
and Tim Holland.  From my perspective this is a good thing (assuming that
nothing bizarre occurs to prevent PickAxe finalizing the transaction).  I
had wondered who the other *big names* were that Gil Figueroa would have on
his team.  Jon Sisk was also in attendance, like myself a very interested
third-party.  I also thought Mark Pick's presence, firmly aligned with
PickAxe, is significant.

Since a few people have asked me (overnight, via email) if it's true that
the Pick Systems VPs, and the president, tendered their resignations in
open court [which means the email rumour-mill is way ahead of CDP] the
answer is yes.  However, I wouldn't read too much into that, since this is
not uncommon when a company is sold, particularly when legal wrangling
is involved to see who owns it.  Top management will remain in place
through March 16th, when the sale is intended to be finalized.

There is one big rumour that needs squelching immediately:   "PickAxe will
relocate Pick Systems to New Orleans".  I was told that this is _not_ the
case.  A PickAxe office will be opened in New Orleans, but Pick Systems
itself will remain in Orange County, California.  I have no reason to
suspect otherwise, given the strength of the denial of the rumour; your
personal mileage may vary.

And, on a personal note, those of you reading CDP who emailed me taking
exception with my posting info about the legal fight between PickAxe, the
estate and Cruttendon...get a life, please!  This is all a matter of public
record, which is how I found out about it,  and the probate court
proceedings were open to the general public, so anyone who wanted to could
be there.  It's not like this is state / trade secrets we're _all_ wondering
about...even if some people would like to have kept it that way.

Roll on the 16th, when this will all be resolved, one way or the other, and
we can get on with business as usual.
--
Steven Davies-Morris (SDM) -- A 21st Century Schizoid Man
Applications Liberate Hardware / JES Inc.

Brief Bio: http://www.jes.com/aboutus.html
Personal: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Island/1274
Systems Theory: http://systemstheory.net/

END QUOTE

There was more, but this is the interesting part.

I think you'll find the court records were the source of Steven's initial
intelligence, but he reported the court proceedings from direct experience.
If you were in OC and knew the time of an _open_ bidding war for Pick
Systems, I daresay you'd have been there too. <g>

Luke

You know, WHATEVER happens, the situation has _already_ revitalized us!
I daresay that Rich, Tim, Jon, Mark ... especially Gil, and many others
are experiencing the e*ment of realizing a long-held dream ... as
are we all, to one degree or another.

I remember Pick Systems when Gil and* were in the lead.  Those were
the Glory Days!  I know the other players, too. I think a lot of them.
I KNOW what they can do.

We all know that we "have something here".  I, for one, am so sick and
tired of hearing about how 'dead' it is, or why we should have to hide
our Pick heritage.  I never have.  I never will.

Some people -- maybe some of the Pick employees -- are afraid of
change.  Its a good thing there are people like Gil in the world. We
are lucky to have a "big dreamer" like him in our midst.

You know, when Informix bought Ardent I thought that was our great hope
of becoming mainstream -- and it may still be, it all depends on
exactly how they position "us".  I'd like to think that this happening
at Pick will influence THAT as well as further legitamize the Pick
legacy.  Whether they work together, or competitively, the two high
profile events in our industry have every possibility of giving us just
the nudge we've been waiting for.

And just as I suggested to some of the grousers about the Informix buy,
we can influence it just by our expectation.   Anybody whitewater raft
or canoe?  There's that moment, you're tilted just past physically
impossible ... you may go over and you may be able to right it.  The
only thing that determines it, in that moment, is will.
</end impassioned speech>

Ever the optimist, never more e*d,
Susan

Sent via Deja.com http://www.veryComputer.com/
Before you buy.

Amen to that!

Larry Hazel

...the checque was handed over in court, and the estate and PickAx's
attorneys given until 3pm on the following day to have the paperwork in
place with the court.  So the deposit on the purchase was paid in front of a
bunch of witnesses.  The 16th is the drop-dead date.  The court, at its
discretion can move that date either forwards or backwards.  However, since
attempts by the estate's attorneys to get the court to give PickAx only 72
hours to complete the transaction were rejected by the judge, I'd expect the
16th (10 days) to be a solid *day of reckoning*.

As I stated earlier, I expect PickAx to see the thing through.  2 million is
a lot of jack to blow on a *bet*.

The PickAx team, with Mark Pick aligned with them, also gives me a great
deal of confidence.  Lauer and Holland (and others yet to be publicly
identified) bring a great deal of credibility and *Pick* experience to the
table.  If it were just Gil Figueroa and financial backers I'd be less
confident about what's transpiring than I am knowing some of the individuals
involved.

While I was personally very sorry to see the existing Pick VPs tender their
resignations en masse, little else could be expected under the
circumstances.  What kind of men would they be if they wouldn't stand by
their boss as a group, all falling on their swords in a gesture of
solidarity?  A change of ownership frequently has these kinds of effects
amongst top-level management.

I expect nothing further to be *officially* said until the deal is done, or
(far less likely IMO) blown.  My understanding is that all parties connected
to the process have been ordered by the court not to discuss it.  In the
interim the rest of us will have to just sit tight until next Thursday.

Signing off on the topic until March 17th.
--
Steven Davies-Morris (SDM) -- A 21st Century Schizoid Man
Applications Liberate Hardware / JES, Inc

Brief Bio: http://www.jes.com/aboutus.html
Personal: http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Island/1274
Systems Theory: http://systemstheory.net/

Quote:

> You know, WHATEVER happens, the situation has _already_ revitalized us!
> I daresay that Rich, Tim, Jon, Mark ... especially Gil, and many others
> are experiencing the e*ment of realizing a long-held dream ... as
> are we all, to one degree or another.

Quote:

> I remember Pick Systems when Gil and* were in the lead.  Those were
> the Glory Days!  I know the other players, too. I think a lot of them.
> I KNOW what they can do.

Quote:

> We all know that we "have something here".  I, for one, am so sick and
> tired of hearing about how 'dead' it is, or why we should have to hide
> our Pick heritage.  I never have.  I never will.

> Some people -- maybe some of the Pick employees -- are afraid of
> change.  Its a good thing there are people like Gil in the world. We
> are lucky to have a "big dreamer" like him in our midst.

...change can only be positive in this case.  As long it doesn't mean
throwing the baby out with the bath-water.

Quote:

> You know, when Informix bought Ardent I thought that was our great hope
> of becoming mainstream -- and it may still be, it all depends on
> exactly how they position "us".  I'd like to think that this happening
> at Pick will influence THAT as well as further legitimize the Pick
> legacy.  Whether they work together, or competitively, the two high
> profile events in our industry have every possibility of giving us just
> the nudge we've been waiting for.

Quote:

> And just as I suggested to some of the grousers about the Informix buy,
> we can influence it just by our expectation.   Anybody whitewater raft
> or canoe?  There's that moment, you're tilted just past physically
> impossible ... you may go over and you may be able to right it.  The
> only thing that determines it, in that moment, is will.
> </end impassioned speech>

> Ever the optimist, never more e*d,
> Susan

Best wishes to Gil, Mark, Rich, Tim, Jon and the folks with money behind
them.  Get it done, get it going, get it back on track, get it on to new
places...ASAP.

Signing off on the topic until March 17th.
--
Steven Davies-Morris (SDM) -- A 21st Century Schizoid Man
Applications Liberate Hardware / JES, Inc

Brief Bio: http://www.veryComputer.com/
Personal: http://www.veryComputer.com/
Systems Theory: http://www.veryComputer.com/