npmg....I don't think there is anything conspiratorial in that thought. You know the way these guys work....they deny, deny, deny until the news hits the wires.....(i.e. Citi is not going to cut it's dividends..."all" of the derivitive losses have been devulged, etc., etc.). They live to obfuscate the truth where money is at stake. According to Jim Sinclair....Barrick is in the process of TAKING EVERYONE OVER. I like your theory!