Cybernet post on Blackboxvoting

[yourout]

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&omm=0&om=56&forum=DCForumID4122
Interesting reading.

[regularjoe]

1. Wow, Kick!

It is a little confusing but sounds like a VERY interesting link.

regularjoe

[Vincardog]

2. Kick

[yourout]

3. boot/kick

[TexasLawyer]

4. A little background on Cybernet

found at this link:

http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/pg112s95.html

I don't know how old this information is, but in recent SEC filings Cybernet System's president is identified as Dr. Charles Jacobus. (In the info below Dr. Jacobus is identified as VP and technical director).


*************************************************


SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIONS

A steadily growing source of aerospace spinoff applications is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which was established by Congress in 1982 with dual objectives: to increase participation by small businesses in federal R&D activities, and to stimulate conversion of government funded research into commercial applications.

NASA is one of 11 technology-generating agencies of the federal government participating, each administering its own programs independently under policy guidelines set by the Small Business Administration.


Among recent examples of successful SBIR commercialization is the PER-Force hand-controller shown above, a force-reflecting system that manipulates robots or objects by "feel." Originally developed for the International Space Station under a Johnson Space Center SBIR contract, the handcontroller is produced by Cybernet Systems Corporation, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Headed by president Heidi Jacobus and her husband, Dr. Charles Jacobus, Cybernet began life in 1988 as a cottage industry and has grown to a work force of 25; the company has worked on 16 SBIR projects and still does most of its business with government agencies, but is making gradual inroads in the commercial market.

Cybernet's original NASA contract called for development of a teleoperation device with force feedback that would allow a space station astronaut to position an external robot arm. When the arm encountered an outside force, the robot control stick would represent that force by making motors built into the joystick push or pull or twist to represent the reality of the outside world. The intent was to improve teleoperator performance by providing the sense of feel.

In the course of developing the NASA system, Cybernet found it necessary to go beyond representing only real forces, and to include virtual reality representations. "Since then," says Dr. Charles Jacobus, who is vice president and technical director, "we've discovered that the flexibility incorporated into the control system for building virtual force fields has opened up a whole new dimension in man-machine interface for complex visualization applications." The device is particularly well-suited for teleoperator environments where direct viewing is limited, for example, in murky underwater environments or reduced light areas such as underground excavations.

The commercially available PER-Force Hand-controller is a small, back-driveable robot handle that moves in six degrees of freedom, including ~D positions (x, y, z) and three attitudes (roll, pitch and yaw). The operator uses the motorized handle to precisely position robots and graphically displayed objects at a given location and tool angle. Among current applications, it is being used for molecular modeling in metallurgy applications, in satellite docking research, and in research on military unmanned ground vehicles. Real and virtual reality forces are simulated by a ~D molecular modeling software package that calculates the interacting forces among attracting and repelling molecules; those forces are represented through the robot stick.

Cybernet has used the original SBIR work as a departure point for a whole family of force reflective devices in the telepresence and virtual reality fields, and has developed and patented a general interface architecture for integrating visual and tactile displays.

[yourout]

5. I think you have the other Cybernet.

[TexasLawyer]

8. This is the Michigan company

that derives most of its business from government contracts. It seems like it matches up with Bev's description of the company.

[yourout]

9. Cybernet bust link..

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1100796735184040.xml

FEDS RETRIEVE DATA FROM COMPUTER COMPANY OFFICES
Thursday, November 18, 2004
By Barton Deiters
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- More than 100 people were kept out of their offices Wednesday as federal agents spent the day removing records and downloading information from a downtown computer technology company.

The U.S. Attorney General's office coordinated the execution of a pair of search warrants with officials from the FBI, IRS and U.S. Postal Inspector's office at CyberNET's headquarters at 25 S. Division Ave.

Agents and the Attorney General's office were mum about what they were looking for, but indicated fraud was suspected.

Employees at the rehabilitated Heartside building, where CyberNET occupies all four floors, do not know when they can return, according to workers who did want to be named.

CyberNET is a multinational corporation that claims $200 million in annual sales and holdings in Asia, South Africa and Australia. The company describes itself as providing information technology services that include data storage, management, recovery and security.

Ada residents James Horton and Barton H. Watson III are listed as owners.The privately held firm was founded by Watson, a former investment banker, who is chairman.

[TexasLawyer]

12. Details on the OTHER Michigan CyberNET

Great article! I see, though, that my prior post DOES NOT talk about the same Michigan CyberNET company. Here are some details about the other CyberNET-- the one actually referenced in the "bust" article:


Company Details: CyberNET Group (The)
2003 Rank 122
2002 Rank 136
2002 Revenue $264,604,480.00
2001 Revenue $291,103,100
Percent Change -9.1 %

Address 25 S Division Ave
City Grand Rapids
State MI
Zip 49503
Phone [phone]
Country US
URL www.cybernetgroup.com
Year Founded 1989

Primary Business--- Systems Integrators Including But Not Limited To Telecom And Computer Telephony Integration Services

Corporate Structure Private
Stock Symbol
Parent Company CyberNet Group
Number of North American Locations: 2002 24
Number of North American Locations: 2001 26
Number of Employees: 2002 500 - 999
Number of Employees: 2001 500 - 999
Month FY 2002 Ended December

Primary Technology Vendors
(up to five) Wyse
Stryon
Citrix
Microsoft
Cisco
Primary Distributors
(up to five) Ingram Micro
Avnet
TechData


Technologies Sold
(up to five) Application Integration Software and Middleware
Enterprise Applications
Network Systems Management
Networking (LAN/WAN/Internet/etc.)
Storage Management Software

Key Vertical Industries Served
(up to five) Accounting/Banking/Financial Services
Defense Contractor/Military
Entertainment/Media/Publishing
Healthcare/Medical/Dental/Pharmacy
Manufacturing

Industry Most Served Entertainment/Media/Publishing

Executives Barton Watson, Chairman & CEO
James Horton, President
Steven Gauld, Sr VP - Professional Services
David Roepke, CFO
Mark Harris, Manager Network Operations
Fabian Venter, Sr VP - GLobal Marketing
Scott Sarginson, Sr VP Sales

[harmonyguy]

10. Bev's Description ???? Link Please????

There appear to be a number of people 'wanting' to link Diebold and Cybernet, or link Cybernet and electronic voting.

Just 'cuz one company named Cybernet-somethingorother apparently got raided, and someone found mention of a business named Cybernet in a citation in a legal case involving Diebold, and posted it on the BBV.org discussion forum, now, suddenly the remarks are attributed to Bev? Or did my failing eyes fail me again?

If anyone has ANYTHING to connect Cybernet-anything with electronic voting or voting irregularities, would you PLEASE post the link to the sources?

This is starting to look VERY much like hyperactive speculation OR active dis-information.

HG

[BlueDog2u]

15. "This is starting to look VERY much like hyperactive speculation

OR active dis-information."

I've been watching this line of thought develop for some days now, and I'm confident that it is "hyperactive speculation," not intentional disinformation. The company allegedly has links to Piotr Blass, who has been named by Jeff Fisher as a key informant with knowledge of voting fraud.

Here is Blass's resume:

http://www.pblass.com/

It does not mention Cybernet, but he does have a long history in the computer industry.

Blass ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004.

[mcg]

21. Cybernet Group, Cybernet Ventures, Cybernet Software Systems,

and there are also other companies with names starting with Cybernet.

Cybernet Group was the one raided.

So far I haven't seen a proven tie-in.

[mcg]

22. I doubt there is a tie-in to the election, here's why...

I have software and data that shows relationships (branches, subsidiaries, parents) between companies. I don't see any relation between Cybernet Group and the other two Cybernets.

This doesn't prove that there is no relation (the data might be incomplete or whatever) but I doubt there is one.

[ParanoidPat]

25. Good eye!

I've kind of had the same feeling about this. I'd call it "misdirection". :evilgrin:

[BlueDog2u]

14. Roger that

There are two of them and this is the other one.

[Robert Oak]

6. cache the links somewhere safe

the link content should be cached....that's very damning.

[terip64]

7. kick

[Straight Shooter]

11. Beware of wild goose chases

and remember to keep your eye on the ball. My 2 cents worth of cliches for the day.

Something doesn't feel right about this connection. If it's bona fide, it will be revealed as such soon enough.

Let's keep our energy focused where it will do the most good, and that is on Ohio and Florida voting irregularities.

[harmonyguy]

13. That's the phrase I was looking for....... nt

[MominTN]

16. Uncover anything on this company

Here's some recent news:
from http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/news/detail.xhtml?COID=126272&ArticleID=NR20041110670.2_4df5000c7c307be7&SourceType=NEWS

Ayala Corp. unloads 60% interest in IT company
November 9, 2004 9:35pm
Asia Intelligence Wire


Michigan-based information technology firm the CyberNET Group has taken over the operations of the former AyalaPort Makati, Inc. after buying a 60% stake from Ayala Corp. units Azalea Technology Investments, Inc. and ALINET.com

Following the acquisition of the controlling stake, AyalaPort was renamed CNG Philippines Global Data Hub, Inc, and the Ayala Group is now left with a 30% stake in the company.

The remaining 10%, meanwhile, is owned by other partners.

"CNG now has controlling interest in the company. It has control of the partnership. Ayala sits on the board but has shied away from managing the company," Reynaldo P. Huergas, managing director of CNG Global, said.

Mr. Huergas declined to reveal how much CNG invested in the former AyalaPort, saying as a private company, CNG could not divulge such information. He said the new company which was formed from the partnership of the Ayala group and CNG will expand its products and services.

"This partnership will provide data center support to the company's growing worldwide business operations and will strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

He said CNG Global can use CNG's network to outsource services in countries outside the Philippines. "The resulting company will be able to offer significantly enhanced, end-to-end solutions, by providing the resources to offer world class data center services. In addition, CNG's expertise and service officerings will greatly benefit AyalaPort's local client base."

He said there is a market for the services CNG offers because prospective clients are looking for ways to make their IT resources more efficient at the same time save on costs.

The resulting company, Mr. Huergas said, will be providing business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing services, specifically, managed services, assessment, professional and software services.

Mr. Huergas said that CNG chose to partner with the former AyalaPort after looking at other companies in other countries in the region.

He said this was because the facility of AyalaPort is at par, or surpasses, the facilities found in some areas in the US.

He added that CNG plans to make the Philippines the base for its Asia- Pacific operations. CNG, he said, is looking at expanding in other countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore "when opportunities arise."

AyalaPort operated as a data housing service center before CNG came in the company.

CNG provides IT outsourcing services and business process outsourcing services to varied companies throughout the world and across a wide range of industries. Its services include application migration and data hosting services and multilingual help desks.


Copyright © 2004 BusinessWorld (Philippines). Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire.

Hoover's Fact Sheet:
CyberNET Group
25 South Division Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Map)
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

http://www.cybernet-usa.com

Covered by David Hamerly

CyberNET provides information technology services that include data center and storage management, security, and recovery services.

Key Numbers
Company Type Private

D&B D-U-N-S Number Subscribers Only
2003 Sales (mil.) $200.0
2003 Employees 400

Key People
Chairman and CEO Barton H. Watson
Job Openings
President and COO James Horton
SVP Corporate Communications Kris Kotlarz
VP Compass Sales Team Subscribers Only

More People
Industry Information

Computer Services
Information Technology Services

[go west young man]

17. There are a couple of small TV station links at BBV on that thread

they have covered the Cybernet story but seem not to know why Cybernet was raided. If we email them they may get more suspicious and help get the real story out.

[dweller]

18. .

:kick:


dp

[MominTN]

19. CyberNet Group Locations

Check out all the places they are located.
http://www.cybernet-usa.com/locations.asp
Casino systems technology in Las Vegas
Wasn't there a voting problem in Las Vegas?

Also, on the previous post of mine in this thread the news article referred to the acquiring company as CNG Global. There is alot more info on CNG Global Services. There are other companies beginning with CNG also such as communications, services, and even energy. I do not know if all of these companies are related but it seems that they might be because of the "CNG".
CNG Global Services is a Canadian company.
http://www.cngglobalservices.com/company_overview.htm
I am assuming CNG Global = CNG Global Services

[silvershadow]

20. wow, finally a possibility of some red meat....

how much longer can the media stay out a story like this?

[RubyCat]

23. Lawsuit filed against The CyberNET Group in Grand Rapids

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2591580&nav=0RcdTLbg


(Grand Rapids, November 19, 2004, 6:01 p.m.) A lawsuit has now been filed against a Grand Rapids Internet company after federal agents raided the building.

On Wednesday, federal investigators shut down The CyberNET Group on South Division Avenue and locked employees out. Sources tell 24 Hour News 8 that investigators were looking for evidence of wire, mail, and bank fraud. They hauled away computers and financial records linked to the company.

Employees returned to work Friday for the time since the raid. They entered through a backdoor of the world headquarters facility on South Division Avenue.

Now 24 Hour News 8 has obtained copies of a lawsuit filed Thursday against CyberCo, the parent company of The CyberNet Group. Fraud is one of the allegations outlined in the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Charter One Vendor Finance of Illinois says it loaned The CyberNET Group $3 million so the company could buy 66 computer servers. But in the lawsuit, Charter One said it could only find evidence of 25 servers at the company's Grand Rapids' headquarters, and The CyberNET Group could not provide an explanation. Charter One believes The CyberNET Group misused the loaned money and used false information to secure the loan.

Charter One says in the lawsuit that The CyberNET Group CEO Barton Watson has a longstanding and uninterrupted history of perpetrating fraud.

Barton Watson was not around during the raid, not in his office, or not at his million dollar home in Ada. He served time in prison in 1994 after a federal judge sentenced him to one to three years for fraud.

According to court documents obtained by 24 Hour News 8, at the time of that sentencing Watson told the judge, “I suffer from a great deal of concern about how I got from A to Z. I have a lot of regret about what happened, not just because I stole a great deal of money from a number of people, but particularly in that I abused their trust and their friendship.”

Later, he said, “I'm still only 26, moving on to 27-years-old, and I'd like a chance to live life, and forever I will have this felony hanging over my head.”

After prison, Watson went on and found The CyberNET Group, an international Internet company. Since the federal raid and subsequent news reports, 24 Hour News 8 has been flooded with e-mails and calls from former employees, alleging years of misconduct.

Although back on the job, employees admit being worried if The CyberNET Group will remain open and operating. Employees were expected to get a more detailed description and explanation Friday about why federal investigators came to their place of business.

[KaryninMiami]

24. Kick

[stirringstill]

26. Broaden search to Blass's CV, A Suggestion, Again

To echo an earlier post--just because Cybernet was raided by the FBI doesn't mean they had anything to do with the election. I have yet to see any link between Piotr Blass and Cybernet. If there is anything to the Fisher/Blass story at all it would behoove people to explore Blass and his prior work experience, including his skills. That may proove a more rewarding line of exploration.

[geo]

27. *** A BUNCH OF NONSENSE*** PLEASE READ FIRST***

Hi all,

You should not waste much time on this thread. You'll see that several of us over at BBV have been trying to make heads or tails of what "Auditors" has been saying (and he's posting here in DU too...) and it is near impossible. If you go through that area of BBV you'll see his posts are at best non-sensicle, at worst they send you on a fact finding mission that produces nothing more than a whole lot of wasted time and frustration.

It is sad to even think this, but I think some people want to show just how desperate we are to weave this whole thing together, and might be taking advantage of our open-mindedness.

My advice to all is to remember why we are all here and what we are after. At BBV especially, this means fair, accurate and transperent elections. Getting labeled a bunch of tin-hat wearing morons is not ideal, to say the least. By spending too much time chasing wasted post after wasted post, we are not only adding to the noise, but we are letting someone else run us in circles. I urge all to read just enough of this person's posts to see if they come to the same conclusion, and try not to waste one second more. Don't discount the info, don't absorb it necessarily, just don't waste much time on people who try to waste our time.

And btw, my SN on BBV is george. Feel free to look were I have tried to encourage this person to clarify their posts and offer clear, hard data for us to analyze when saying these things. Others have expressed similar concern. Right now, he really has us chasing ghost squirells, and he/she seems to spend a whole lot of time on these boards.

I would also recommend either not kicking this post, or forwarding it to the moderator to see if this person is also running amock on DU.

Sorry to say it, but somebody has to. We gotta keep focused. We are net warriors for democracy, and this could be the war of our lives. Keep sharp.

Sincerely,

George
p.s. If Auditors is just wants to play on his own thread, maybe we can arrange that, but it should be marked.

[New Earth]

28. i just read through all of that thread

and i've seen that person posting lately and i even had a wierd feeling about him. (i'm over there too by the way, i just lurk more than post).

So, all these threads on this board regarding the CyberNET, etc are pretty much the same thing? sending people off on these missions that are pointless?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. ONE THING DOESN'T GEL ON THAT POST

It seems that the poster at BBV produced a link to connect CyberNet to Diebold. If you read the link, which is a lawsuit filing, you will see that this case against Diebold was just that. The poster used a cached link, and when you finally get down to CyberNet, it appears that a case against CyberNet was cited as a matter of law in relation to this case. To me it looks like nothing else, and there is no connection between these two companies to be found there. If I am wrong, please let me know. Thanks!

Here is the link: http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:mk1BGFoCVrkJ:www.eff.org/legal/ISP_liability/OPG_v_Diebold/20040930_Diebold_SJ_Order.pdf+CyberNET+Ventures+Inc.+has+contract+with+Diebold&hl=en&start=1

[Wiley50]

30. I've tried to play Fair Witness

through all of it, taking it all in and trying to grok it all.
But, I've got a funny feeling that we have been dealing with a planted instigator, trying to turn a peace march into a riot as it were. I recall dealing with a few of those types back in the day.
He's been throwing out links almost faster than this old clunker I'm usong could load them. Definately faster than a reasonable mind can analyze and absorb them.
( I'm on both boards. And I put almost verbatim this in another thread. ( next time maybe I'll remember to just copy and paste)

Wiley

[Bozos for Bush]

31. Freeper alert - shut this thread down!

This Cybernet stuff is out of control.

CyberNET Group is also known as Cyberco Holding. Stryon, Inc. is another of their companies - formed when Halcyon merged with their division, which was also named Stryon. Halycon/Stryon DOES have a Chinese connection of sorts, but other than a tiny amount of smoke, I haven't found anything sinister there...so far.

CyberNET Group IS NOT Cybernet Systems Corporation.
CyberNET Group IS NOT Cybernet Ventures.

And the thread at BBV.org is leading a lot of people on a wild goose chase. Now I am not saying that Accenture is not involved with CyberNET Group - I haven't yet researched Accenture, but these other Cybernet companies have nothing to do with this story.

John