Regarding LINDA CHRISTAS.... It pains me GREATLY to write this:

but then again, it isn't the first time I've made a ninny of myself and felt the need to fess up -- and if there is one thing I can't *STAND* it's a person who won't stand up in public and say, "I SCREWED UP (big time)."

No, this is not motivated by any legal threats since I haven't even received any (yet).

It is motivated by a compulsive case of honesty.

I can't prove it, but I believe Candice and Becky and Summer and Bev *could* all be different people coming through the same IP number.

I have *no* idea how this works -- none at all -- but I had someone send an email query to a "generic help desk address" that I found in a discussion on another site (posted by one Summer Mancuso), believing that the reply would prove they were lying.

It didn't.

The reply came through from IP#67.114.221.239 -- the same as all those ladies.

Bev Crenshaw claimed it is because all emails go through the help desk and are then sent on -- but as Roadie pointed out, this is *not* email.  So please... don't ask me to explain something I can't possibly understand.  But I personally am convinced they are (or at least they *could* be) different people.

Hiya -- it's tomorrow, and I've had a chance to think.  I want to add something before you read on... something that has made me think twice about this and should make you think twice as well...

ARE THEY FOUR SEPARATE PEOPLE... or ARE ALL THESE MESSAGES COMING FROM THE LINDA CHRISTAS OFFICE THAT ANSWERED MY EMAIL??

Roadie asked what kind of proxy server they're using -- apparently they would need to log on through some kind of proxy server in order to post to bulletin boards (the details are over my head) -- and of course there is dead silence now.

They may just be quiet because their lawyer is getting the threat ready and has advised them to shut up -- but maybe they're quiet because they can't answer the question because it just ain't so.

Too many questions!!

This is strictly my personal opinion -- not based on any personal experience or inside knowledge -- but if I had been considering this "opportunity," I would run like the wind.

Okay... let's carry on with my (possibly erroneous) confession.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF LINDA CHRISTAS CLASSES:

I didn't know diddly about her when all this started, and I don't know diddly about her now.

But I do want to make it very clear that the "help desk email" comes from the same IP# as four messages on this board (and apparently several more that were posted before I got here this morning) -- all claiming to be from different people.

Also, I was surprised to note that 67.114.221.239 seems to be in Sacramento after all ("adsl-67-114-221-239.dsl.scrm01.pacbell.net") (at least I assume that's what "scrm" means).

WHOIS (accessed through SamSpade.org) clearly shows this to be in San Ramon, which is 82 miles from Sacramento.

DO I UNDERSTAND THIS?

Not a chance.

DO I BELIEVE THE THREE WOMEN WHO POSTED SUCH GLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS COULD ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

Oh yes.

WHAT HAVE LEARNED FROM ALL THIS?

TO SHUT UP?

Oh bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!... surely you jest!

TO BE MORE CAREFUL?

Yes indeedy. 

I will never again be so quick to assume I understand all this stuff (except in cases such as John/Paul/Anthony who got his hiney banned this morning, since he acted like an idiot coming out of the gate).

IT IS NOT OKAY TO POST (OR POSE) AS DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND IN GENERAL, WHEN MORE THAN ONE PERSON COMES FROM THE SAME IP#, THEY WILL BE HUNG OUT TO DRY...

but in this case, the people seemed reasonable enough (despite the link at the bottom, which was annoying as hell and helped me to jump to conclusions).

But after "Bev Crenshaw" explained it, I think I should have at least checked out the possibility instead of assuming it couldn't happen.

AGAIN, THIS IS *NOT* AN ENDORSEMENT OF LINDA CHRISTAS:

When asked about it in the past, I saw red flags and pointed them out -- but personal knowledge of them?  I have none.

End of confession.

I'm going to go and edit my commentary on the three messages now, since all this is almost certainly showing up on the search engines by now and just deleting the whole ugly mess wouldn't be fair.

Luv,