...read at your own risk, or if you`re looking for something to induce an afternoon nap).

I don`t even remember how many years, I remember happening upon this stock in 96 and have had a foot in the door ever since. (For years I only had a vague idea of what I had, but hey, I owned stock - I felt like a big deal!)

When I came to Santa Clara (Silicon) Valley (Starting in 1978, the Boom times!) I saw people toiling away in start-ups, and I think the ratio of those that made it out of the gate (going public with a nice ending share price) was 1 out of 10. Fair odds in the valley at that time, but still a big risk.

I envied the heck out of the people who started with these companies, the product being no more than an unproven idea. Through the years of toil, uncertanty and sweat, that idea slowly turned (with some well placed VC money, and a boatload of luck) froma dream to a chance. From there it hit the market, usually got accepted and voom!....overnight millionaires.

These people paid the price with many year of risk and uncertainty. In the final stages before product launch, some were so broke they lived on credit cards, with relatives, and others took 2nds on their houses to stay in the game. They did this just because they believed in their product, their dream and they were sooooo close to the finish line. Double or nothin. Go for broke.

Big balls to play, huge balls to stay in.

27 years ago when I came here, I was about one year late to the various ``Millionaire Parties`` (in a manner of speaking) going on in businesses all over Silicon Valley.

When I went to work for my previous employer, they`d been in business 5 years already, all in development no revs, all VC financed. I came in on the 6th year. Back in years 1-5, the private stock was pennies, all employees could buy shares for a nickle/dime, whatever it was selling at....end of year 5 the company went public, 1st year hitting $74/Share. Doubled after that.

Damn...didn`t get to feel a thin dime of the riches, but at least got to feel the residual electricity of their success and rub shoulders with the types of personalities, intellectuals and characters that had what it took to tough it out, risk it all and reap the rewards.

So...PTSC isn`t in the type of business that makes anything, but they have an idea, are working to market that idea (or be a Patent TROLL, if one want to be that uncomplimentary...but I won`t be that way...)to create financial success.

But still, lots of other parallels are there - we have people willing to risk it and believe - from the CEO all the way down to us grunt shareholders (well the majority of us anyway) who are over-invested to stupid amounts.

(Well, the exception - the stock aint` private, but it WAS cheap, and still may be, relative to its potential...)

Even though the PTSC has been spinning around for decades, its current direction has been in place since the end of the Richard Blum era...isn`t that about 4 years ago?

Maybe I was too late to the past ``parties``, but somehow, someones idea for this little gathering has grown enough interest to pique the ears and start some bigger chatter (hopefully with the help of Hoffman).

An old, worn out cliche states ``Timing is Everything``...other say that ``if you bang on enough doors one will open``.

Is this our time?...are we in the right place? Is this a door? Did I just get zapped by static electricity?

lol....

Regards