Backstage pass Loreto style

One of the perks of living with a musician is getting that prized backstage pass. And now that George is part of the almost famous, soon-to-be legendary trio that’s wowing audiences from Puerto Escondido to Nopolo that backstage pass has even more cache.

What started as three guys with guitars and a desire to play music has evolved into a tight trio with a dedicated fan base that has reached beyond the borders of Loreto Bay. (This is where George told me my prose might be a bit on the biased side – OK, his actual words were “over the top,” but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.)

Steve, Rich and George (pictured below left to right) are Los Beach Dogs and they have become more than just a trio of musicians here in Loreto Bay. At the risk of sounding over the top (again), they have helped our beleaguered community come together through music.



When they first started playing together the fate of our part of the development, Agua Viva, was still in doubt and the whole development was at a virtual standstill. Would we survive Citigroup’s abandonment? Could we build something from the rubble that surrounded us? Home owners were cautiously optimistic, but the outlook was grim.

There was no better time for a little music and that’s what the guys provided. Hesitantly at first, but after just a few informal gigs they started to come together (in the immortal words of the immortal Beatles) and home owners throughout Loreto Bay were hooked.

They started playing acoustic gigs on rooftop terraces throughout Loreto Bay and over time word spread and the terraces couldn’t accommodate the crowds. So there was a plugged-in courtyard concert in Founder’s that drew some 100+ home owners. The Dogs expanded their set list and started playing charity events (all of their performances are gratis in accordance with Mexican law). Then they played at Loreto Fest a couple of months ago, the big annual fund-raising bash at Puerto Escondido, and their fan base expanded and hit the floor dancing!

Each of the Dogs brings something unique to the trio and they bring out the musical best in each other.

Steve's intricate guitar licks add an extra dimension to the tunes, while showcasing his jazz roots. When he's not working and playing in Loreto Bay, he's working and playing with a jazz combo in Northern California.

Although Rich spent his formative years as an endodontist (root canal guy) in Minnesota, he has a real knack for penning tunes that totally capture the essense of living Loreto. Whether sweetly sentimental or wildly hilarious, his tunes are big crowd pleasers that all of us here can identify with.

And then there's George, who spent 20 years on the road as a solo musician/performer, and who can still wow a crowd with his expressive voice and commanding stage presence (he's going to absolutely hate that description, but I speak the truth!). And how about those mouth harps he wails on!

Last night it was an informal, mellow gathering to celebrate the completion of a neighbor's garden, but the result is always the same no matter the venue. The music brings us all closer together. The music makes us more of a community.

Gracias Beach Dogs!

If this don't beat all!

Following is a letter we received from TSD (Trust for Sustainable Development) Loreto Partners, the company used by Citigroup to manage the Loreto Bay development, which they then used to hide behind after they decided to stop construction in June 2009. Since abandoning the Loreto Bay project, TSD has been nothing more than a shell company - stripped of assets and acting as a dummy company to shield Citigroup from litigation and public scrutiny. But before we get to the letter, I've got a few things to say...

A brief history should explain this situation: This is the company that left us with unfinished homes and no idea if we'd ever be able to recoup the MILLIONS of dollars we'd all sunk into this project. This same company is now very upset that people have decided to seek redress for those losses in a court of law. Wow, the nerve!

These folks also stole money from home owners in the amount of $1.3 million for infrastructure work that was never started. This work was signed off on by representatives of TSD who knew the work was not done. But what nerve for home owners to call them on it! (And, of course, special thanks go to Stewart Title International for being a party to that theft.)

So now they're upset that home owners are fighting back? How dare those of us who were left high and dry show some totally righteous anger and seek legal counsel!

It's just incredibly surreal to hear them whine about how badly the abandoned home owners have treated them. These folks are the real deal when it comes to crazy.

But after re-reading this self-serving piece of garbage, we should thank Mr. Embree C. "Chuck" Bedsole for one of the funniest letters we've ever read, because this has to be a joke.

Let's recap: This is the company that abandoned construction, tore up the only road through the project leaving it a pot-holed, barely passable nightmare, absconded with our $1.3 million in utility infrastructure money, left Mexican contractors and workers unpaid, left a huge local tax and utility debt unpaid, who never bothered to communicate with home owners in any kind of meaningful way after leaving us high and dry and they're upset with us? See what I mean? It's gotta be a joke.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Dear Homeowners,

As you know, TSD Loreto Partners S. en C. por A. de C.V. (“TSD” or the “Company”) has been diligently working with its secured lenders, FONATUR, local and state government authorities, federal tax authorities, contractors, homeowners, Beck Construction, and unsecured creditors to try to secure new funds and develop a reasonable plan to provide continuity to Loreto Bay (the “Project”) as a whole. Unfortunately, the Company has not been able to secure sufficient funds to continue the development of the Project as originally envisioned.

During this process, many homeowners have not met their obligations, creditors have exercised their contractual and legal rights and Company assets have been subject to liens and foreclosure actions. Nonetheless, the Company has used its limited resources to work with creditors to reach agreements on substantial reductions in the amount of their legal claims, and to work with homeowners who defaulted on their contracts prior to June 6, 2009 to arrange payment programs. The balance of our resources have been committed to defending claims from third-parties who have attempted to take an unfair advantage of the current situation based on false, unfounded or misleading claims.

TSD understands that despite the significant efforts expended by the Company to achieve the best outcome for the overall Project, not every homeowner has been or will be satisfied with these results or with TSD’s responses to their inquiries regarding the status of the Project or his or her individual unit. Even though TSD has tried to resolve many of the issues for which TSD is legally responsible and to keep the lines of communication open on these issues, TSD cannot resolve the remaining outstanding issues to the homeowners’ complete satisfaction, regardless of how many times or in how many different forms the issues are presented. Nonetheless, TSD believes that it has responded candidly to all issues raised by homeowners when and where possible.

Finally, there has been much speculation regarding the purchase of certain assets of the Project by Homex and the relationship between Homex and TSD. To set the record straight and avoid future misunderstandings, TSD has no contractual or legal relationship with Homex. An affiliate of Homex is the owner of certain assets of the Project that were previously owned by the Company and foreclosed by TSD’s creditors. TSD, in its efforts to assure the continuity of the Project, is cooperating with and providing information to Homex as required even though this acquisition of assets by Homex did not create any legal or economic relationship between TSD and Homex. TSD continues to be a separate and independent entity solely responsible for its obligations and prepared to defend its rights against third-parties that continue to try to affect TSD’s interests, including defending against those homeowners that have opted to initiate a harassing and defamatory battle against TSD’s and its officers based on false, unfounded or misleading claims.

It is unfortunate that the Project, as originally envisioned by TSD will not be achieved; however, we believe the foundation has been set out for future development companies to make Loreto Bay a destination homeowners may enjoy.

Best Regards,

TSD Loreto Partners S. en C. por A. de C.V.
By: Embree C. “Chuck” Bedsole, as attorney-in-fact.

But just in case this self-serving piece of garbage isn't a joke: Bring it on, Mr. Embree C. "Chuck" Bedsole! And best regards to you, too.

On second thought, though, the joke is on Mr. Bedsole and company because Agua Viva home owners have left them far behind. Sorry, guys, but you're ancient history at this point. We picked up the pieces and made something good from the mess you left behind. It wasn't easy and it wasn't fun, but we have a community now that has nothing to do with Citigroup or TSD. We did it without your help and in spite of your hindrance. Good for us. Now go away and leave us alone!

A mixed blessing

Yesterday’s rain was a real blessing here in Loreto Bay and the surrounding area. The mountains and landscape have taken on a soft green glow that we haven’t seen all summer, or for that matter, since we moved here. It’s an amazing transformation that seemed to take place almost instantaneously.
It’s a blessing, too, for the scrawny livestock that have had slim pickings alongside the highway for the past few months. Now they’ll have something green and tasty to eat. Thank God! It’s such a pitiful sight to see the cattle, goats and horses foraging in the dirt and rocks alongside the highway. At least now there’s some greenery poking up through the scrabble.

The downside to the rain is the mess it makes of the road - the Paseo - in front of our home. We’re on the north end of Agua Viva, which is one of the lowest points of the Paseo. So we’re left with a totally flooded road even though we only got about an inch of rain (I’m averaging the guesstimates we’ve heard). The problem with the road is serious for all concerned. How can the new owners expect to sell homes when the main road through the project is in such bad repair? Any prospective buyer would be taken aback to see the road when it’s dry. When it’s wet, it’s a nightmare.

We’ve heard via the LB grapevine that Homex knows they’ll have to do something about the Paseo. It’s a shame the main thoroughfare through the development ever got in this shape in the first place. Shame on Citigroup, Re:Play, TSD and all those responsible for the road conditions here in Loreto Bay. Here’s hoping Homex steps up to the plate and takes care of this problem soon.

Lazy daze

A friend pointed out to me yesterday that I've been remiss in not posting the news that George and I moved into our completed home a month ago. Considering the fact that the whole point of this blog was to share our Loreto Bay construction journey from start to finish, she's right. So for the record I'd like to announce that our Casa de Nuevos Suenos is finally a reality. From top to bottom our home is a thing of beauty. And other than a few minor glitches like a broken water heater (we're in our third day of no hot water) and a leaky dishwasher, we're very happy with our home.

The problem I have in putting fingers to keyboard can be summed up by the title of this post. Since moving permanently to Loreto Bay four months ago, I often find myself lost in a lazy daze. Life here in Loreto Bay moves at a much slower pace. Each day flows seamlessly into the next, so much so that I find myself surprised that an entire week has passed. It’s a peaceful lifestyle and one I've grown to love. The days are full, although not very exciting. I read (too much probably), I putter around the house, I complain about the heat, the dust, dirt and construction noise, I lay on the beach and read some more and generally indulge in the kind of indolent, non-productive behavior reserved for lazy no-counts (like me) or the fabulously wealthy. Although George indulges in the same kind of laziness, he's also very involved in our Condo Sub-Regime and spends part of every day on emails and condo regime business.

Apart from all that lolling around, the most rewarding part of living here are the people we meet, and so far we've met and enjoyed the company of many fellow home owners. Shortly after moving into our home we hosted a roof-top party for our Agua Viva neighbors and a few of our Founder's neighbors. It was so much fun to share (and show off!) our home with fellow home owners and we were very gratified that more than 30 of our neighbors showed up for our bash. Everyone brought something to share so the food and drink was outstanding and I don't think I'm far off the mark here when I say a good time was had by all.

We also spend at least two or three nights a week meeting friends and neighbors for dinner or drinks and getting together for the weekly "music night" wherein George and other musicians in the community meet to play music and have a good time.

In short, we are very lucky and we know it.

On the other hand, the least rewarding aspect of life here in Agua Viva is the uncertainty about our phase of the development and the increasing costs we’re all being asked to pay. Sometimes these problems seem so overwhelming we aren't sure if our dream of a completed and viable community will ever become a reality. Our biggest fear is that some home owners may become so disillusioned they decide to throw in the towel. All I can say is please don’t! The only way we can make this work is to come together as a community of like-minded people. And for the most part, we are like-minded. Most of us bought into the vision of a sustainable community and that is still a work in progress. We need everyone to remain committed to the dream of Loreto Bay or we’re doomed to failure. And we’ve sure come too far for that to happen.

In its own humble, dusty way, Loreto Bay is a paradise, but a paradise with some thorns. It's up to those of us who care about this place to make sure those thorns are pruned, so that the vision we all bought into can be realized.

To mark the beginning of this new chapter George and I have decided to rename our home and our blog Casa del Milagro, because it is most certainly a miracle that it exists! Look for future postings about life here in Agua Viva, which I’ll try to generate with more consistency.

Be careful what you wish for...

For many months now home owners in Loreto Bay have been hoping for a buyer to step in and save the day. We’ve known for some time – unofficially – that the buyer is Homex, a Mexican company that previously specialized in low-income housing in Mexico, but is now embarking on an ambitious resort-building plan across Mexico.

Then several weeks ago we noticed a flurry of construction activity north of AV and we learned – unofficially again - that part of their resort-building plan includes constructing 803 units of apartments, townhomes and garage homes in the area just north of Agua Viva, with the first two model homes to be completed by May 25 (we’ll believe that when we see it, but they have made a lot of progress as seen in the photo above). That area was always slated to be a part of Loreto Bay, but now it appears it will be a separate community, apart from both Agua Viva and the Founder’s Neighborhood. And according to the site plans, this project will also include several pools and a beach club for those residents use only.

So to sum up, the only thing we know at this point is that we are not being invited to Homex’s party. We won’t have pool or beach club privileges and we didn’t even get this news firsthand. Instead, we got it via a “pass it along, por favor” from a Homex rep to a Loreto Bay home owner. That’s offensive and too reminiscent of Re:Play’s style of re:laying news through a third party.

It’s clear that Homex is not anxious to start any kind of dialogue with Loreto Bay home owners. While we’ve been waiting anxiously for news, they’ve been very industriously getting all their ducks in a row with nary a word to us.

But that won’t deter us from asking questions and demanding answers. We’ve been shut out of any conversation for years now, first with Loreto Bay Company, then Citigroup and its minions, which include TSD/Loreto, Re:Play, Alvarez & Marsal and Cushman & Wakefield. This is really getting tiresome.

In an effort to get the ball rolling on a list of questions for our new homies at Homex here goes:

What are your plans for the estuaries? Your site plan notes lakes not estuaries. Do we take that to mean these will remain stagnant, mosquito-breeding algae-filled ponds?

What are your plans for the Paseo and embankments? Will you work with Fonatur to pave and beautify the road leading into Loreto Bay from your development?

What do you plan on calling your development? Since you will not be a part of the Loreto Bay project, we hope you’ve come up with a different name.

Although this is not a question for Homex to answer, it is one on the minds of every home owner in Agua Viva: How much more are Agua Viva home owners going to have to shell out to have even the semblance of a real community? Back to Homex with three remaining questions: Will you help us at all? What exactly are your intentions regarding our phase of the development? And why haven’t you reached out to us yet?

The very fact that Homex hasn’t offered any official acknowledgement of the purchase and their plans does not bode well for us, especially those of us in Agua Viva, which looks more like a bombed out area in Baghdad than a high-priced development in the Baja.

Maybe we should have been a little more specific about what we were wishing for in a buyer…

Home owner meeting, part 1

Enthusiasm and high spirits were evident among the more than 50 home owners Monday prior to the start of Agua Viva’s first ever sub-regime meetings. But for many of us those high spirits took a nose dive with the news from Master Condo Regime administrator Bob Toubman that none of the four AV sub-regimes had a quorum.

The rules governing the process state that if a 75 percent quorum isn’t reached on the first call, then another call will be made two hours later at which a quorum of 51 percent is required. None of the sub-regimes came close to the 51 percent (Toubman didn’t even wait to make a second call, which is a good indication of how low our valid proxy numbers were). This was depressing news for those of us who worked so hard to get the word out about the proxy process. Special thanks to Penny Davis and Rich Simmons for all their hard work on behalf of Sub-Regime I.

But it was the news that ALL of TSD’s proxies were invalid that really caused a stir. Tempers flared when Bob announced that TSD sent photo-copied proxies for the lots it owns. Proxies must be originals which is something that TSD must have known, considering they went through this whole process with the Founder’s Neighborhood just a few short months ago.

Bob then explained that the lack of a quorum means he legally carries the vote for our sub-regimes. However, he offered a compromise that would allow home owner voices to be heard by casting “unofficial” votes for a Master Condo Regime advisor from each sub-regime.

Those advisors are Rich Simmons for Sub-Regime I (the largest of the sub-regimes) and Barry Sardis for SR J.

Things really got sticky, though, when home owners learned that TSD had the majority vote in sub-regimes K and L. According to Bob, all lot owners, even those with invalid proxies, were eligible to participate in the unofficial vote.

The situation quickly went from tense to angry.

TSD’s representative at the meeting, Hector Medina, told home owners that TSD does NOT want to take a stand in opposition to the home owners. “I won’t be voting against you,” he said. But shortly after making that statement, Hector said he would not go along with a compromise that would allow a co-advisor voted on by home owners for sub-regimes K and L. TSD’s majority vote in those two sub-regimes means they get to appoint the advisors.

Comments were overheard calling the whole thing a set-up.

A question was then raised about whether TSD can be considered an owner if they don’t build on the lots they own within two years. It was pointed out that according to our contracts, we, as home owners, are required to build within that two year time frame.

Bob didn’t have an answer, but said he’d look into it. (Home owner follow up needed!)

In happier news, while on a tour of their home Friday, Karen and Terry Stepp (AV24) discovered their 90 percent complete home is actually 100 percent complete! No one knew. Not Beck, not TCC and not TSD. How the heck does that happen?!

Next up: More on the home owner meeting…

Dateline: Loreto

Hola from steamy Loreto Bay, where the brows are hot and sweaty and the cervezas are thankfully cold and sweaty. I’ll leave it to others to post actual temperatures, as I’d rather not know!

George and I arrived on Thursday afternoon and walked from the plane in sweltering heat and humidity into the new cool, modern and spacious airport, where the wait was still long but a lot more comfortable than in the old terminal.

After picking up our rental car we headed into Loreto proper for a look-see and a nice cold cerveza before heading to Loreto Bay. We stopped at Augie’s on the Malecon for those cervezas and found it changed. The second floor open restaurant where we hoped to sip our drinks is no more. That space is now for rent, so we stopped in the downstairs bar, which was icily air conditioned. Once we’d cooled off, we decided to head for “home” and proceeded – as we’d always done – back up the street (which I believe is Hidalgo?. George noticed that the cars parked on both sides of the street were pointing in the same direction, toward the Malecon, and wondered if the road was now one-way. But being the brains of the operation, I said, “Nah, there would be signs! Keep going!”

Boy, was I wrong. Right as we got to the intersection where Mike’s Bar is located we were stopped by two of Loreto’s finest who proceeded to shake us down for driving the wrong way down a one- way street. Their English was as limited as our Spanish, but it didn’t take long to realize they were not going to return George’s driver’s license unless we handed over 300 pesos. They didn’t even make a pretense of writing out a ticket and they weren’t very good at demanding mordida, but we got the message, and, sadly, they will probably get better with practice. Our advice: Be very careful when driving in Loreto!

The only other sour note we’ve experienced since we arrived was driving into Loreto Bay and seeing the line of dead trees blocking the Paseo in the northbound lane as we approached Agua Viva. Seeing those dead trees really brought home the impact of Citigroup’s actions. They didn’t just walk away from the development; they walked away from any claim to care about being part of a living, breathing sustainable community. It was sickening to see those dead trees acting as sentinels to the entrance to Loreto Bay.

But once past that unhappy sight, the signs of Citigroup’s abandonment were less apparent. The golf course looks green and well-kept and the people were just as upbeat as we’ve always known them to be.

We’re fortunate to be staying in a very lovely Casa Chica that looks out onto the golf course, where we’ve seen workers tending the fairways and greens and even a few hardy souls out hitting golf balls.

We’re also very fortunate to be sharing the house with two wonderful friends and fellow home owners, Karen and Terry Stepp, AV 25. They’ve been such great company and we’re going to miss them when they leave on Tuesday.

Next up: Karen and Terry get a wonderful surprise! The home owner meeting!!

Mum no more

The news coming out of Loreto Bay this past month has been depressing, disheartening and downright scary. But no matter what life throws at us, there's always a spark of hope. And that we do have.

First came the news that Citigroup - that bastion of fiscal mismanagement and greed -decided to bail on the project, leaving home owners, contractors and workers scrambling to salvage the dream of Loreto Bay. While Citigroup reaps billions in federal bailout monies (along with many, many other financial institutions), those with a personal investment in Loreto Bay are left to pick up the pieces.

But the damage goes much farther than those with a personal stake in the project. The town of Loreto has been damaged by Citigroup's failure to live up to its promises. Businesses in Loreto are suffering. Some businesses haven't been paid for work done on the project. Locals who worked in Loreto Bay lost their jobs with little hope of finding new employment. Who will frequent the restaurants and shops? How many of these small businesses will have to close because of Citigroup's decision to bail?

It's difficult to describe all the ramifications that are possible with this turn of events. The multi-million dollar Troon golf course - one of the centerpieces of the project - may be reclaimed by the desert due to Citigroup's decision. The Inn at Loreto Bay is now empty, the pool drained and the property fenced. Thanks Citigroup. Flesh and blood people worked there. Where are they now? Summarily discarded, tossed aside like yesterday's garbage.

The town of Loreto will survive as it has for centuries. There is income from sport fishing and other recreational activities to keep the town alive. But this is still a terrible blow to the whole community.

There is a bright spot in all this. The Mexican government has gotten involved in finding a buyer for the development. The home owners of Loreto Bay have banded together - with the help of Beck International, the company overseeing construction -to make Loreto Bay a living, breathing reality. To finish the hundreds of homes that stand partially completed. But the fact remains that Citigroup and its arm, TSD Loreto, have dealt a devastating blow to many. And that should not go unnoticed or unmentioned.

More grist for the mill

Since yesterday, several posts have appeared on different Internet sites positing (mostly similar) scenarios for what's happening with the Loreto Bay development. Most of the information is credited to "credible" or "reliable" sources, but none appear to be from any official source, i.e. Loreto Bay or Citigroup.

Each agree that Citigroup has three bids for the sale of Loreto Bay, the only thing that differs is who has made or is making the bids. It is also agreed that Re:Play's contract expired Dec. 31, 2008, and has not been renewed. There appears to be some disagreement about whether Re:Play is completely out of the picture or just renegotiating a new contract. However, the firm Alvarez and Marsal has been named on a couple of sites as the new management company.

A quick look at the company's Web site reveals they do have a real estate advisory arm which can: "develop and execute sophisticated real estate strategies aimed at improving operations, unlocking value or minimizing risk. ...A&M Real Estate Advisory Services adds further depth to A&M's core problem-solving competency for healthy and troubled companies."

Sounds expensive.

As for the bidders on the property, Mexican businessman Carlos Slim (ranked as the second wealthiest man in the world in 2008 by Forbes with assets totaling more than $60 billion) has been named as a potential buyer and he is by far the most interesting of those mentioned. His story begins with his Lebanese father emigrating to Mexico at the age of 14, where he opened a dry goods store with one of his brothers. He built on that success with real estate holdings and other business acquisitions. His son, Carlos, apparently inherited his father's business acumen, starting as a mathematics teacher and moving on to real estate, mining interests and more. He has also endowed a number of charitable foundations over the years. In
1990, Slim's Grupo Carso, with French and American partners, purchased the state telephone company, Teléfonos de México (Telmex) and the rest is history. He's a fascinating man with a fascinating business and philanthropic philosophy.

As far as potential owners go, Slim's appeal lies in his business successes and the fact that he is a Mexican with an obvious love of his country. What better steward for the original dream and vision for Loreto Bay? And speaking of that original dream and vision, David Butterfield and Slim will both be speaking at a Gaining Ground conference in Guanajuato, Mexico, in April. The conference will focus on sustainability and the future of the real estate market. Coincidence? There is also information on the Internet that Slim has bought up a good bit of Baja real estate, including land in and around the Bay of Conception near Mulege.

The other bidders are purported to be Spano Partners, currently heading up the Nopolo Marriott project, an unnamed Bay area company or Re:Play - take your pick.

We're also getting conflicting information on construction activity in Agua Viva. According to Laurie with TCC, only skeleton crews are at work in the development, including Agua Viva. But Kelli who writes the Watch and Learn blog states in her latest post that "crews are working hard in Agua Viva", but work on the Paseo has not yet resumed. Of course, those observations are most likely a matter of perspective, with Laurie having a different take on the level of construction in her role with TCC.

The rumor mill grinds on and on and on...

Over the past week or so several disturbing bits of unsubstantiated news, or rumors to be more blunt, have surfaced on the Internet concerning Loreto Bay. No surprise there as people are apt to fill a void - in this case an information void - with any little tidbit that comes their way.

The most recent is a rumor that Re:Play has been fired, or as a reliable source in Loreto put it, their contract expired and, to date has not been renewed.

We've also heard conflicting information on construction in Agua Viva. A visiting home owner said crews were back, although not in full force. But Laurie from TCC says not so. There are still pockets of crews throughout the project, she said, but many crews did not return because they have not been paid. (In a related vein, TCC is still fighting to quell the rumor that they are operating without proper permits and documentation. Obviously, the fact that they are still operating at all should totally dispel this malicious and persistent rumor.)

Why haven't some of these contractors been paid? We, like many other home owners, have been making hefty payments to LB since purchasing our homes. Where did that money go? Or, is the absence of work crews the result of a delay in renegotiating contracts?

Rumors are also flying about the possible sale of the development. It's not news to anyone that beleaguered Citigroup has been shopping the development for some time now. What is news - again unsubstantiated - is that there are now three potential/interested buyers: Re:Play, J.W. Marriott and a third unnamed foreign party.

It's more than irksome that we're getting information from sources that in some cases seem to be less than reliable. One in particular on the Loreto ning site comes to mind (see above reference to TCC's ongoing problem). Are we the victims of some one's malicious sense of humor? Or is this credible information? We simply don't know.

And we won't know until someone in a position of authority within Loreto Bay, Re:Play or Citigroup fills us in. But judging from past experience, we’ll be left wondering for quite some time to come, ensuring that rumors and misinformation continue to fly.