PP Blog Operated By ‘Self-Appointed Idiot,’ Fan Of Nonexistent Nation Of ‘New Utopia’ Suggests; Blog Invited, Then Uninvited To Ceremony At ‘Palace’
A man using the anonymous identity of “Mr. Protector,” a hotmail address and an IP in the Netherlands has scolded the PP Blog for a story that described “New Utopia” as a nonexistent nation in the Caribbean.
New Utopia is the fanciful “tax haven” allegedly dreamed up by Lazarus R. Long, an American who declared himself a “prince” and hatched a plan to form a “new country” that would “rise from the Caribbean on giant concrete platforms built on an underwater land mass,” according to the SEC.
Using the phrase “selfappointedidiotyouare” [Self Appointed Idiot You Are] apparently to chide the PP Blog for giving less than favorable coverage to the nonexistent nation, the man sent an email to the Blog this morning that both invited and uninvited the Blog to view New Utopia’s “Palace” on a date uncertain.
“How about we print your words out about New Utopia in size 12 font and then, when New Utopia Construction begins, we can invite you there in front of the Palace and watch you eat the words and the paper they are written on?” the man wrote.
In the very next paragraph, however, he uninvited the Blog.
“[H]ow will we know to not allow you to visit The Principality of New Utopia?” the man inquired. “We will find a way of that be assured.”
Although the context in which the man used the word “Protector” was unclear, it is a word that has been used by members of certain so-called “private associations” that challenge the authority of governments to regulate commerce and the securities industry.
The AdViewGlobal (AVG) autosurf, for example, identified a member as a “Protector.” AVG has been identified in a racketeering lawsuit as an offshoot of the AdSurfDaily (ASD) autosurf. The lawsuit was filed by members of ASD.
ASD was accused separately by the U.S. Secret Service of operating a $110 million Ponzi scheme and of committing wire fraud, securities fraud and engaging in the sale of unregistered securities.
On Feb. 18, the PP Blog reported that federal agents — working with law-enforcement partners worldwide — had broken up a fraud ring operating in part from Florida, Costa Rica and elsewhere.
Among the defendants charged both criminally and civilly was Jonathan R. Curshen. Curshen has been described as the one-time “honorary counsel” of St. Kitts-Nevis to Costa Rica and a purported “consulate” to New Utopia.
New Utopia has its own website from which it sells an “International Drivers license” issued by New Utopia for $140.
According to court records, the nonexistent principality is said to be located undersea “approximately 115 miles west of the Cayman Islands.” It would rise out of the water only after concrete stilts were erected and an above-sea base were anchored to a submerged land base.
New Utopia, indeed, will rise, according to “Mr. Protector,” the author of the email sent to the PP Blog this morning.
“Too many of us have worked too hard for too many years to just abandon this project,” he wrote.
“Your ‘reporting’ does not help,” he complained.
Long, also known as Howard Turney, was accused by the SEC in 1999 of promoting a fraudulent bond offering over the Internet to fund his upstart country. He settled with the agency in 2000 and was assessed a penalty of $24,000, but the penalty was waived.
“Prince” Long has used the New Utopia website to complain bitterly about anonymous critics on the Internet. Whether “Mr. Protector” risked a royal scolding from the “Prince” for using an anonymous identity to contact the PP Blog was not immediately clear.
OH NO!! Not size 12 font!! Of course, the threat of size 10 font would be laughable, no threat at all. But threatening with size 12 font should make anyone think twice. Just be thankful he didn’t threaten with size 14 or 18 font. Or even with the dreaded “Wingdings” font!!
Shame about not being there when construction begins. There’s usually some sort of ceremony. I wonder who will be there? “Ambasadors” from British West Florida, Hay-on-Wye, BjornSocialist Republic and the whole of the Copeman Empire should get an invite. Perhaps the Arby Indians, in full Arby uniform & headdress will make an appearance.
Any mention of “micronations” always reminds me of the classic film “Passport to Pimlico”.
Patrick, that’s as close to an offer if immortality as you’ll every get, don’t pass it up!
I thought size 12 font is the default most word processing. Why mention the default unless you like shouting about how ordinary you are?
“Your ‘reporting’ does not help,” he complained.
Neither does making easily disprovable lies Mr.Long. From the “Prince’s” website:
“.,..There have been many challenges, not the least of which was a charge in 1999 by the SEC of the US government that we had sold 350 million dollars worth of unregistered bonds. We had not sold even one dollars worth ! This stopped everything with our New Utopia development (who wants to be involved with a project under investigation) and it took ten months to prove in court that we were innocent of the charge. No apology was ever received..,.”
http://principalityofnewutopia.com/Archived-News.php
The SEC tells the story a little differently:
“.,..The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on January 20, 2000, the Honorable Michael Burrage, United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, entered a final judgment of permanent injunction against defendant Lazarus R. Long (“Long”) (a/k/a Howard Turney). The judgment permanently enjoined Long from violating Sections 5(a), 5(c) and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Defendant Long was also ordered to pay disgorgement in the amount of $24,000, plus prejudgment interest, however payment of disgorgement and interest was waived based upon Long’s sworn showing of inability to pay. Moreover, the Court did not order Long to pay a civil penalty because of his demonstrated inability to pay. Long consented to the entry of the judgment..,.”
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr16425.htm
I mean no offense your highness but the way to deal with an issue like this is to try to look honest. We’re only talking about 24 grand here, admit your error but minimize it. “We didn’t realize that our legitimate, well intentioned offer ran afoul of some minor bureaucratic regulations but have retained counsel to insure all further fund raising will be 100% compliant with all applicable law.” But when you persist in making easily disprovable lies, well I’m afraid it makes you look more like a common criminal than the visionary leader of a soon to be principality.
Perhaps he is used to dealing with smaller print, who knows? The ratio of “nutjobswhothinktheyaresovereign” seems to be increasing dramatically.
Perhaps this is part of one of those Zen riddles.
You know, like:
“If you are threatened with a size 12 font by an anonymous poster who claims to represent a non existent nation, have you really been threatened at all ?”
I’ll go with Tony on this one. A size 12 font does have certain menacing implications not generally contained in a size 10 font. However, this is based on the assumption that we are talking about a Times New Roman or Ariel, but if we start to look at a Mongolian Baiti or even a simple Georgia Bold we could be looking at a much more serious threat.
Of course were to it to be 14, 16 or above then I believe that the whole future of this blog could be at risk
It’s a good thing he didn’t threaten to bold it or Homeland Security would have to become involved.
I was unaware of a committee that appoints someone as an idiot, let alone the ability to “self-appoint” oneself as such. Maybe this is something that people from nonexistent places do.
I feel so inadequate. My default settings for font size is only 10. Imagine my horror when I read a 12 or above. It is truly shocking, especially if the size 12 is in Trebuchet MS. ….shudder……
Quick note: It is worth mentioning that the Justice Department/FBI and the SEC announced the charges against Jonathan Curshen and six others on Feb. 18. Curshen allegedly was at the helm of a Costa Rican money-laundering operation, and the Feb. 18 case dealt with a penny-stock swindle.
On the very same day — Feb. 18 — federal prosecutors alleged that AdSurfDaily’s Andy Bowdoin and unnamed “others” had ventured to Costa Rica in the spring of 2008 “to explore starting another version of ASD there.”
It could be a coincidence, of course — and the Feds did not disclose the names of the people who allegedly accompanied him and the identities of the person or persons he visited while in Costa Rica.
The damage the assertion does to Bowdoin is the implicit suggestion that he knew he was selling unregistered securities at least months before the Secret Service raid and needed to get “offshore” on the theory that Costa Rica or another country could make ASD bulletproof. That shows planning — i.e., a conspiracy, which the Feds view as consciousness of guilt.
That ASD required a language of its own — i.e., don’t call it an investment — also shows consciousness of guilt. “Amateur” partners only heightened it — i.e., the various scoldings on forums NOT to call it an investment and the various prompts after the raid to stick to the story: You bought “advertising,” not an “investment.”
When AVG was collapsing, the paranoia was on full display.
Now, going on three years later, some of the troops apparently still believe that wordplay will win the day.
I’d lay odds that ASD’s membership (and AdViewGlobal’s) also included penny-stock swindlers, in addition to the “sovereigns,” tax-deniers and credit-repair people. I’d also venture that it is probable that at least one major international money-launderer existed within the ASD enterprise. There also may be ties to a second major international money-launderer.
The problem is the general murkiness of all of ASD and the incredible volume of paperwork. We know, for example, that at least 15 bank accounts existed. And we know about ties to the payment processors that enabled the schemes. If Bowdoin is telling the truth, there also is a tie to Antigua.
There are so many tentacles to follow, so many potential destinations.
In any event, ASD was a magnet for all sorts of schemers — some of whom were running schemes within schemes. I continue to believe that the agendas of these “steroidal puppeteers” are of significant interest to the Feds and that the allegations against Andy Bowdoin are just the tip of the iceberg.
I’d like to know who persuaded Bowdoin to send $2,500 to the National Republican Congressional Committee. I think that is an important piece of the overall puzzle. Bowdoin does not strike me as a man who’d wake up one morning and independently decide that this would be the day he’d become a GOP benefactor.
Man, wouldn’t it be something if the Feds could prove that political operatives were washing cash through ASD and that the real reason Bowdoin became a benefactor was to get more political cash to wash through ASD?
If they could prove that — and I’m not sure if it’s even on the table of discussion — it will become a scandal of the highest order.
If you were a cop, would you believe this coincidence:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/16/terror/main2488520.shtml
And this one:
https://patrickpretty.com/2010/12/15/bizarre-california-man-charged-in-precious-metals-and-commodities-swindle-claimed-same-award-as-andy-bowdoin-ryan-a-nassbridges-charged-by-cftc-in-5-5-million-ponzi-like-scheme-in-california/
And this one:
https://patrickpretty.com/2010/12/27/update-mpb-today-now-says-gary-calhoun-was-selected-as-2003-businessman-of-the-year-by-national-republican-congressional-committee/
And this one:
https://patrickpretty.com/2010/12/01/urgent-bulletin-moving-andy-bowdoin-indicted-adsurfdaily-president-arrested-in-florida/
Patrick
Had to check their website for laughs. They provided location their country on the “Map”. They took some kind of geological map with really low resolution. Still, even on their map, New Utopia does not seem to exist.
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