Update: on the SHTF for us

Thank you. It pays to finish reading a ten page thread after responding on page four!

:baby04:

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My best,

Melissa

I see it a lot like Ken S does, but I do feel that there was some deceit involved.

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This thread truly has become educational. I had no idea that relativism has brought us so far that we can't call right right and wrong wrong.

It's "Deceptive self-promotion"...You for got to mention it was done in order to get other people's money...doesn't that fall under the category of "Scam"?

Also, the discovery that they are husband and wife ABSOLUTELY blows the lid off in my mind...

Read it as if you don't know they're married (As they posted it)...sounds like a happy business deal, and more on the way, because it was such a wonderful buying experience...

Then go back and read it knowing that they are married...BOOM "Scamometer" just exploded.

Another thing I noticed was this...On that particular thread, Ken put up the original post, and NOBODY responded for 6 or 8 hours...Then, Post #2, talking about what a great guy Ken is and how honest and good and etc...

I can imagine their conversation right before post #2....

"Hey Honey!"

"Yes, Ken Dear?"

"My thread's dropped off the first page and we've got to unload this stuff. How about a Boost from 'Star'?"

"OK Sweetums, What should I say?"

I don't imagine I'm too far off the mark...too bad...

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"The most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." - Sir Isaac Newton
(A REAL scientist)

Karma. That's all I have to add!

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My best,

Melissa

But you can whisper it to me.... I'm broke!




Just kidding....

"Ken S- is Kenneth sitting there with a gun to your back?? The guy ripped off dozens here alone."

Actually I consider that funny. See my previous comments. Hey, I am likely the only one on this entire forum who posts who they really are in real life, and doesn't mind speaking what is on their mind under those circumstances - and you question my doing an artifical endorsement. That wasn't an informercial, but my opinion of the situation - for whatever it might be worth.

"My recommendation is to keep you idea to yourself and make it happen. If you share it with him and he gets to the patent first you are SOL... That is my $0.02 and is seperate from what has happened here. I wouldn't recommend you telling anyone your idea unless you trusted you life with them."

Look, it takes BIG bucks to get a patent. Ain't you just submit a couple of pages of paperwork and the patent office sends you a patent number. His idea might be incredibly brilliant and might be incredible stupid. I'm not in any position to say. Kenneth would be far better qualified, and one should be compensated for their time (and my two were gratis as a result of a previous transaction - see below).

How much do I respect Kenneth in this regard? I bounced two ideas off of him (no payment though) and was told they were no-gos from the start. If one had been, I would consider him extremely far more qualified than myself on how to proceed as he has been there and done that as far as the patent process. You should expect to have to pay for someone else's knowledge/experiences.

I disagree. You shouldn't have to pay to ask someone's advice. Savinggrace, I am a mechanical engineer that has worked with someone that has gotten several patents. Send me a PM with your questions and I will try to help.

KenS,

You are correct that they are not cheap. 5K - 25K a piece.

Ken- not to nag on you in particlar but wasn't it also you who gave a green light to send Kenneth cash in the beginning? Suggesting he's good for it? I would think a large % of people were swayed by you to send cash.

People like Kenneth get others to pay their bills. Didn't you see the cell phone post? Considering paying a FORTUNE for a cell phone? They had money. I'm sure he 'seems' fine, but look at all the facts here.

No, it doesn't. My brother is a 1099 patent examiner for a private law firm; despite having a degree in aero space engineering he earns very little. Egghead dreamer and nice guy. Yet he's managed to pay all associated fees in registering his ideas. Getting a patent takes knowing how to ask questions and how to do research; successfully marketing it requires more or my brother would be very rich!

Both families? Who is the other family? Confused.....

I'm sorry for those of you who were tricked. I would like to think that Kenneth didn't intend to trick people. I think, ultimately, he and his wife are more lazy then ill-intentioned. They had lots of good suggestions of things they could have done to help themselves over the last months and years. But easy money is more appealing then actually having to do something for yourself. But that's their burden to deal with.

It is a very weird situation. I'm glad the mods are letting folks talk through this and process their feelings. It stinks to be taken advantage of. :-(

??? ???

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I'm running so far behind I thought I was first!

http://hickahala.blogspot.com/

Here's the thread so you can go see who did. I'm on page 8 and Ken S is not in the thread anywhere.

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/sho...9&page=1&pp=30

Angie

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"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale

Farmer Joe: I will have to go back and review my comments on first SHTF thread, but on first reading of your comments I don't disagree. At the time I was confident they were in deep financial troubles - and still am today. Yes, I sent money. They needed it then, they need it now. Difference seem to be in the degree of just how much they are willing to help themselves vs depending on others to bail them out.

A lot of water has passed over the dam since then so to speak.

Agreed.

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I agree with Rose that desperate people do desperate things. I am, however, extremely disappointed in Ken for his attitude at being caught; and further, acting like he is the victim. To not even feel an iota of remorse or see that the "Star" connection was deceptive in itself, is one that troubles me greatly.

It would seem like if things were on the level, he would have addressed it in an honorable manner, explained himself, and in the very least, apologized for being misleading with regards to the "Star" connection; as well as for any misunderstandings as to their financial situation.

In other words, a man of honor will take responsibility and admit he screwed up (whether he intended to or not). To be defiant and act like everyone else here did something wrong, shows that Ken's true character is not who we thought he was.

I keep praying I'm wrong since we go way back to the Lusenet days. This whole thing just makes me very sad.

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"Challenges are what make life interesting -- overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

This current turn of events was discussed as a distinct possibility way back from the time that the Frugal Squirrel thread was discovered. I remember that in spite of the possibility that something like this might happen ..people chose to help Ken anyway! So why are so many people turning on Ken now as if this current revelation is a total surprise?

It wasn't very long ago and I was repeatedly vilified for merely questioning Ken's ability to handle money in a responsibile manner. Since then ..I've made peace with Ken via PM's ..and I'm not going to dogpile on Ken now.

Farmer Joe:

You are correct, I endorsed their needs then. I do so (admittedly very proivisionally) now. However, as noted they don't seem to be very proactive as to solving their own problems.

Their entire financial future depends, IMHO, on the wife being able to work enough to support the family. If she can, their current lifestyle may endure from paycheck to paycheck. If not, going 100% on public assistance (a fairly quaint term) may be their only viable option. Really up to them.

Nevermind...

Que Sera Sera

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"the more consciousness, the more intense the despair"
Egalitarian: Of, believing in, or characterized by the doctrine of political and social equality. i.e. the opposite of Republican

Country Lady and I raised two children. Both, would from time to time, try to deceive us. Sometimes they were successful, sometimes not. When they were not, they were punished and if others were involved they were instructed to confess to the others and make things right. If the Admins and Mods want to maintain the integrity of this fine forum, the same process should be followed. If Kenneth, Star and any others involved are not willing to confess and make things right, then they deserve some punishment. I know that some feel that desperate people will make desperate decisions but desperate people also need to be responsible for their bad decisions. When desperate people rob banks, are they just forgiven because of the situation? Some contend that Kenneth did not ask for donations. If he had posted about how great things were for he and his family, would any of you sent money to help him have even greater things in his life?

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Be a SUPER HERO,
Be a Tissue/Organ Donor

Ken I sent you along a PM. I hope it reaches you well,

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My best,

Melissa