Old News About ATG

December 20, 1999
Famed short-seller Manuel Asensio reports that two ATEG board members also serve on the board of Turbodyne, another scam company. Turbodyne's auditors have resigned.

June 13, 1999
German stock site hypes ATEG, but did they really write this report? Read the report here at www.stockreporter.de. It turns out to be largely identical to the report by Stevens R. Monte issued on March 16, 1999, with only minor changes. Looks like the Germans ripped him off! (Thanks to an alert reader of this web site for pointing out the similarity.)

June 11, 1999
How much does an ousted US Senator rent for?> ATEG has announced that former US Senator Larry Pressler has joined the company's board of directors. Mr. Pressler served two terms as a congressmen and three as a senator from South Dakota. In 1995 he was named one of the ten dimmest bulbs in Congress. He lost his re-election bid in 1996. Currently he is a partner with O'Conner & Hannan, the same Washington, DC law firm that ATEG used to threaten critic Mark Dallara back in 1998. Also joining the board is Alan Brooks, a former Revlon executive. Do either of these gentlemen have the technical background to evaluate ATEG's dubious scientific claims? Or were they simply dazzled by a promise of cheap stock? (June 11, 1999)

June 11, 1999
ATEG blasted in Skeptic magazine. See the article Public Relations Blue Smoke, Mirrors, and Designer Science, by Brian Siano. Skeptic, vol. 7, no. 1, 1999. Here's a quote:

All of the claims in Castleman's article [in Mother Jones, cited below] regarding Lo and Bonavida's work were derived from a homeopathy-boosting press release, written by Dana Ullman. Ullman, in turn, appears to have derived his claims from the American Technologies Group, whose other products include a fuel additive called "The Force," and the Superglobe, a variant on the "laundry ball" scam. Neither Ullman nor Castleman mentioned that the Oregon Department of Justice had investigated ATG's products and found no evidence for the existence of IE crystals.

June 9, 1999
Has ATEG lost its PR firm? Recent BusinessWire press releases from ATEG do not bear the name of Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc., the PR firm that has been issuing previous announcements for the company. Why would Porter LeVay end their relationship with ATEG? Perhaps the company's next SEC filing will explain.

June 19, 1999
ATEG mentioned in ex-Scientologist's story. The tragic story of ``Cheryl S.'', former member of the cult of Scientology, includes a brief mention of American Technologies Group.

March 16, 1999
Stevens R. Monte, CFA, an analyst with Security Capital Trading, Inc. of New York, wrote a report on ATEG that mentions this web site. (The version of the report on the ATEG web was altered to delete the URL. A few weeks later is was deleted entirely.) Mr. Monte bought the management line that criticism of ATEG comes only from "hatred" for the company and their relationship to the Scientology cult. Apparently he never considered the issues of distaste for bogus pseudoscience or abuse of innocent academics. He certainly never spoke to the author of this web site (Dr. David S. Touretzky), and his account contains several minor errors. So much for due diligence. He recommended ATEG as a buy.

In January 1998, this technology genius also recommended Commodore Applied Technologies (NASDAQ: CXI), the parent company of ATEG's failing merger partner CXOT. (March 16, 1999, updated May 11, 1999.)

March 12, 1999. Atom laser described.
Scentists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a Bose-Einstein condensate laser, according to a report in the March 12, 1999 issue of Science. This was supposed to be what ATEG's BASER was about. But unlike ATEG, this group has a working model.

March 9, 1999. CXOT delisted.
Commodore Separation Technologies (NASDAQ: CXOT), the company ATEG was hoping to merge with (and use as a backdoor to getting listed on the NASDAQ SmallCap board) has seen its stock price plummet from 9/32 at the time of the merger announcement on Feb 2. to 3/64 on March 9. On Feb. 22, CXOT was delisted, and is now an OTC bulletin board stock, just like ATEG.

March 3, 1999
ATEG about to fold? On March 3 the company filed this amendment to their form S-3 (registration statement), stating in part:

``American Technologies had incurred net losses of approximately $9.64 million. If we do not sell any additional securities and sales do not increase significantly, we will be out of money by April, 1999.''

February 16, 1999. Patent awarded.
The first patent on use of IE crystals has been awarded. Patent #5,872,089, "Descalant comprising structured liquid or solid", describes the use of IE crystals in preventing buildup of salt deposits on metal surfaces, inside pipes, etc. Note that the award of a patent certifies that there are unique claims being made; it does not certify the scientific soundness of those claims or the workability of the process described. The patent process is not equivalent to scientific peer review.

February 9, 1999
Why won't Mark Yarnell clean up his act? He's still abusing the good name of Stanford professor Albert Bandura. In his latest instruction to distributors Yarnell claims that Bandura was a "paid consultant" in the development of his training materials. In a February 5, 1999 letter to Yarnell, Bandura describes this as a "deception" and reminds Yarnell of the facts: "You came to Stanford to discuss self-efficacy. You asked me to deliver a talk on this topic, which I did. I deliver many paid speeches, but these have never been misrepresented as paid consultancies. A paid speaker is not a paid consultant in the development of a training program." When will Yarnell get it right?

February 6, 1999
Many people are wondering about the significance of ATG's proposed merger with Commodore Separation Technologies (NASDAQ: CXOT). Commodore's stock is nearly worthless (9/32 per share), and there are no obvious synergies between their business and ATG's various ventures. So what's the deal? For years ATG has been promising investors the stock would soon be listed on the NASDAQ exchange. The merger is a way of accomplishing that, and at the same time raising additional capital through yet another public offering. The timing of the Boronia Ltd. and Hungarofek announcements will boost ATG's stock price going into the merger. I expect both these deals to fall apart soon, but perhaps not before the merger has taken place.

February 6, 1999
Yarnell giving up on IE crystals. Mark Yarnell has announced he's merging his MLM company with Legacy USA, a division of DCV, and will be selling their Bio Choice product, a "nutritional drink and immune builder". One source tells us that only 20% of Yarnell's marketing efforts will now be devoted to IE crystal based products, and eventually they will be phased out entirely. Yarnell blames the web site you're reading now for "stalling" the IE crystals venture, saying "Touretzky is tearing us to shreds." It's a convenient excuse, but the real sources of Yarnell's failure lie elsewhere: an insane business model (competing head-to-head with both Procter & Gamble and Amway) for a bogus product line, and an unpopular compensation package.

February 6, 1999
What's up with Hungarofek? John Collins confirms that ATG's press release really is promising a $1.2 million/year income stream from sales of The Force to this Hungarian truck parts manufacturer. Should we believe it? Hungary has a population of only 10.5 million. It's a small market. Funny that ATG can't succeed in the US but is signing a million dollar deal in tiny little Hungary. We predict this will go the way of all the other big ATG announcements: one breathless press release followed by silence. Remember Korea? KTI Corporation? Integral Health? The Japanese EPA? Guy & O'Neill? Probably not. ATG knows that investors have short memories.

January 26, 1999
Mark Yarnell threatened with legal action! Stanford University Psychology Professor Albert Bandura notified Mark Yarnell in a January 26, 1999 letter that if Yarnell did not make good on his promise to remove Bandura's name from his distributors' web sites, Bandura "will resort to legal action to get it done." The web sites falsely claim that Bandura is part of Yarnell's "team" or participated in the design of Yarnell's training course. Here are some of the web sites where these claims appear: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. (January 26, 1999)

January 18, 1999 New cartoon about MLM scams features "Ie crystals".

December 31, 1998
More of Mark Yarnell's lies exposed! Yarnell has been telling his distributors that Professor Albert Bandura, "head of the Psychology Department at Stanford University", is part of his team, and helped him develop his training materials. Bandura says he "has no connection to [21st Century] whatever", and he "was never involved in the design of marketing tools and training systems" for 21st Century. Furthermore, he is not the head of the psych department. Bandura has written a strongly-worded letter to Yarnell requesting that he cease using his name. Here are some Yarnell distributor web sites where these false claims are repeated: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

December 31, 1998
Another stunning memo filled with Scientology jargon from John Collins. Collins, who is not a Scientologist, says the "Rod Quinn" letter to Lynn Irons was ghosted by Scientologist David Gann. But this new memo is a record of a phone conversation in which Gann apparently didn't participate. The reference to KTL (Scientology's "Key to Life" course) make me eager to read Dr. Lo's comic books. This document is part of Mark Dallara's new web site, Welcome to Occupied Clearwater.

December 17, 1998
This just in: Graham Simpson has reportedly throw in the towel on IHI, which means Mark Yarnell has just lost the sham "medical advisory board" he liked to brag about. Graham is now going to try to get recertified as a physician, though folks who know him say he hasn't practiced in years. Also, a source close to IHI confirms our suspicion that Mark Brady left because Graham hadn't paid him in a couple of months.

Mark Yarnell has updated his tape to remove the lies previously reported on this page. Kudos to John Collins for insisting that the tape be corrected. You can hear Yarnell's revised sales pitch, including the hype about IE being a discovery of equal importance to penicillin, at 1-800-655-9094.

December 12, 1998
Hear Mark Yarnell's lies for yourself: 1-800-655-9094. "IE crystal saves childrens' lives." "More important than the discovery of penicillin." "Research continues at... Caltech." "The next Microsoft." Type in a random 2 digit PIN # if you want to receive an info kit -- which we suggest forwarding to the consumer fraud division of your state attorney general's office.

December 11, 1998
Yin Lo speaks! Dr. Lo has issued a reply to the Engelking affidavit. (December 11, 1998)

December 2, 1998
ATG has corrected the mis-statements on its web site about Shui-Yin Lo's past academic affiliations.

November 27, 1998
Unfortunately, ATG's fraud continues. The advertising for The Force from mail order marketer Comtrad Industries repeats the same old hype about magic IE crystals that got TradeNet (and ATG) in legal hot water in Oregon. Will Oregon reopen their consumer fraud investigation?

November 27, 1998
Another leg of the 21st Century Global Trust triumvirate (ATG, Yarnell, and Simpson) is about to crumble. Graham Simpson's Integral Health, Inc. (OTC: LONG) has produced nothing. One source tells us that the company inventory resides in a closet and the much-touted medical "advisory board" is a sham. With the share price down to 9 cents and no income to speak of, liquidation may be coming soon. But another source claims Larry Brady and his son Mark are angling to take over the outfit! Larry, who John Collins left in charge of ATG, is also the head of 21st Century Global Trust. Son Mark was once the COO of IHI, but quit after less than a year. Was Graham failing to make payroll?

ATG's problems with truthfulness continue. The company's new web site claims that Shui-Yin Lo is a "visiting Associate Professor of Chemistry" at Caltech, but Caltech says Lo is not now and never was any sort of professor there. The real story: at one time Lo was given "visiting associate" status, which meant he was allowed to hang out in Mitchio Okumura's lab, eat at the cafeteria, etc. No professorship. And even that trivial visitor appointment, certainly no great honor, ended back in June when ATG's research contract with Caltech was not renewed. (November 27, 1998) Update: on November 28, ATG added the word "former", but still falsely claims Lo was a visiting associate professor.

November 27, 1998
ATG has never had the nerve to attack this web site directly, but they're apparently not above using proxies. This month's award for best impersonation of a raving Scientologist goes to "TWANGER", an anonymous coward on the Silicon Investor board. If this guy's not a Scientologist, he's doing a wickedly accurate parody, complete with "noisy investigations" and promises of libelous "information" packs (called "dead agent packs" in Scientology parlance) directed against me. Good job, "TWANGER". Keep it up. And don't forget to check out the autopsy photos on the Lisa McPherson Memorial Page.

November 18, 1998
Still hankering for a laundry ball filled with magic IE cystals? Brett Simpson of The DreamTime says he has a limited supply. Order now! (November 19: too late. This page at The DreamTime has just been deleted.)

November 17, 1998
Is Mark Yarnell's 21st Century Global Network already on the decline? Jim Pappadeas and Paula Scarcella, the folks behind network marketer Power Systems, have resigned from Yarnell's MLM due to dissatisfaction with his approach.

October 31, 1998
Dr. Natalya Afanasyeva, a spectroscopist hired by ATG, says the sample of IE water they provided contained no bacteria, but did contain organic compounds. Contamination? John Collins says no, these were added as part of ATG's research program.

October 29, 1998
Readers blast Mother Jones magazine for running a gullible, poorly-researched article by Mark Castleman about ATG's IE crystals and homeopathy. (Ocober 29, 1998)

October 23, 1998
Interview with John Collins. Read what ATG's founder and principal shareholder thinks about TradeNet, Oregon, and IE crystals.

Stock Detective lists ATG as "one of those companies that claims to have a little something for everyone: homemakers, environmentalists and, oh yeah, let's not forget suckers."

Mark Brady, son of ATG CEO and Chairman Larry Brady, has reportedly left Integral Health, Inc., where he was formerly the Chief Operating Officer. Is anyone left at IHI besides Graham Simpson?

September 20, 1998
The Oregon Files. Detailed explanation of why ATG's "evidence" for IE crystals is junk: theory that violates the basic laws of physics, and experiments run without proper controls. From the files of the Oregon Attorney General's office.

September 5, 1998
John Collins not a Scientologist? How to explain his letter full of Scientology jargon written to Lynn Irons of the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises? Stand by for breaking news.

Say goodbye to another ATG advisory board member. Professor Mary Lidstrom of the University of Washington confirms that she resigned from the board earlier this year.

September 2, 1998
UK interest in ATG? Check out the UK Shares ATEG thread, and this earlier one.

August 24, 1998
ATG back in the laundry ball business? Check out these links to French pages describing an ATG laundry product based on IE crystals: larecherche.fr and netwatchers.com.

August 14, 1998
Another ATG father/son team? Readers of the Silicon Investor board were recently asked to purchase ATG stock in order to help punish the evil short sellers who ATG believes are depressing the share price. And just who was the anonymous author of this plea? Hiding behind the pseudonym "The Trek" is none other than Scott Pomrehn, who resides at the same Westminster, CA address as ATG board member Dr. Hugo Pomrehn. We're guessing Scott is Hugo's son, but we wouldn't rule out grandson.

(Old item): Is Mark Brady really worth $130,000/year? According to his employment agreement with IHI, that's what he's supposed to be getting as the company's Chief Operating Officer. But a source close to Brady claims this is Mark's first "real" job. His dad, ATG chairman Larry Brady, must be very proud.