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Is Jeftel A Spamming Front?
from the questions,-questions... dept
Submitted anonymously:
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There has been a lot of talk about a new company called Jeftel. They are not the only ones. It appears that there are a lot of computer related websites referring to this new company owned by a mystery millionaire.
Hopefully, this will shed some light on who the millionaire is and why they wanted it to be kept a secret.
This article claims to be about a company which has developed a system to stop spamming but is in fact owned by the same person who owns one of the countries biggest spammers which has duped a number of British businesses. The people who sign up to these email addresses from Jeftel will then open themselves up to receive spam email from this other company. Please bear with me as I show you the obvious links between these 2 companies and then show you why we know that WWT is a known spammer which has been listed as a spammer at various points by all spamming agencies are has previously had their ISP service terminated for spamming by Pipex. I should point out that I am a disgruntled ex-employee which is why I know all of the companys secrets but all of the above is true and hopefully the contacts I have listed will help you get the information you need. It really is pretty simple to verify all of this information. If anything needs clarification, let me know via email. (Editor's Note: Despite this point, the submitter did not leave an email address which is a reason to be skeptical.)
Take a quick look at the guardian link above and they look at www.jeftel.com. The thing to note first is that the terms and conditions of Jeftel states:
"3.3 The User by accepting these terms and conditions grants permission for the Company to utilise the processor and bandwidth of the User's computer for the limited purpose of facilitating communication between others within the Jefcom Community."
The above clause basically gives Jeftel the right to send spam to whoever has signed up to the service and given the history of their sister company will undoubtedly do so. This is despite the fact that Jeftel is advertising that it will stop spam and The Guardian article appears to be endorsing this view. In short, it basically means that you are effectively paying 25 pounds and giving your permission to be spammed.
The company referred to in the Guardian advert is Jeftel (Company registration number 04760795) which is owned by Jeffrey C Morris who is also the owner of a company called WWT Media (03839629).
There are a number of other similarities between the two companies. The article refers to Robert Barr as "Robert Barr, head of development at Jeftel". Companies House records show him as having been a director of WWT. (Editor's note: We could not find this info at the Companies House website, but a Google search, does, indeed, suggest that Robert Barr has been, a director of WWT).
BARR, ROBERT ADAM
DIRECTOR
CROW HOUSE FARM
BURTON LEONARD
HARROGATE
NORTH YORKSHIRE
HG3 3SX
Appointed: 13/01/2000
Nationality: BRITISH
Date of Birth: 20/03/1959
Company Appointments: 54
If you check out the whois on the domain name www.jeftel.com you will see that the registrant address is 10 Sweet Street, Leeds which is the same address as WWT and you will see that Andrew Bland is the administrative contact. Andrew Bland is also a director of WWT
Registrant: hakay limited 10 sweet street holbeck leeds ls11 9db UK Domain name: jeftel.com Created on: 2004-02-10 Expires on: 2006-02-10 Administrative contact: andrew bland 10 sweet street holbeck leeds ls11 9db UK +44.1132451460
If you look at the user agreement on https://www.jeftel.com/jeftel/shop/tandc.cfm you will see their registered office as 10 Sweet Street.
It should also be noted that both of the properties (the two listed at companies house) are in fact owned by Jeffrey Morris.
In February of this year, Pipex terminated the service of WWT for spamming. They are currently being offered ISP service by Kingston Communications whose Chairman is an old friend of Jeffrey Morris. They were both directors of a company called Minor Planey where Jeffrey Morris was the CEO and David Abrahams is still Chairman.
Over the past few years, WWT Media, previously known as worldwidetender.com have told clients and prospective clients that they have a list of people who have opted in to receive advertisements via email i.e. not spam. However, their list is primarily a list of names they got hold of from the internet and using call centres.
Here are some details of companies who have been duped:
Holdtime speak to John Sutton
Richard MacNee PHVC
Andrew Wright Transforce
I have contact details for these and other people if needed. (Editor's Note: Again, no contact info was given by this submitter, so there is no way to contact the submitter).
If you view google groups and do searches on worldwidetender or worldwidesalesoffice, you will see details of their spams and see details on some other companies they have duped. They claim to be working for British Telecom, Mercedes and Jaguar but this isn't true.
These client is listed above have received multiple complaints from people moaning about receiving spam. They complained to WWT but WWT had the contract written in such a way that nobody could take them to court for this. .
In addition, by sending unsolicited bulk emails, the client has broken the terms and conditions of their ISP. However, until last year, their ISP was First Net (owned by Minor Planet at the time and Jeffrey Morris was a Director and his friend David Abrahams was the Chief Executive). Pipex bought First Net and promptly got rid of them for spamming in February. However, WWT have since been given safe haven to continue spamming by another ISP known as Kingston Communications. David Abrahams is Chairman there too. Abrahams is actually risking the ability of Kingston to operate as an ISP. Kingston Communications is a listed company whose primary shareholder is Hull City Council (and so ultimately the people of Hull). Kingston Telecommunications do have what are termed as netblocks for this company meaning they are being watched for spamming. (Editor's Note: We have not been able to verify any of this)
Kingston's AUP for their customers is as follows as detailed on their website. This is being broken by WWT.
- You must not use Kingston Communications email system to send unsolicited emails, bulk or otherwise.
- You should only send bulk email where the receiver has "opted in" and has the option to "opt out" at any time or it is legitimate advertising material for your own products or services, and the addresses have been obtained in the course of a sale, and that the receiver has not opted out or raised an objection to this.
- Kingston Communications requires all customers who wish to send emails that consist of exactly the same content to more than 100 users, to contact us first to agree an appropriate schedule and to confirm in writing this activity complies with EU legislation and Kingston Acceptable Use Policy.
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Reader Comments (rss)
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jeftel
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Re: jeftel
1)Charging makes this thing look almost like a credible and robust product, and given that there are plenty of people running businesses out there who aren't net-savvy, they might just fall for it, especially if it was backed up by relentless off-line cold-calling and a sales force trained in the right buzzwords.
2)Those T&Cs 'banning' spam actually define spam as "unsolicited email which is sent repetitively (more than five times in a period of 30 days or more)". So you could receive receive unsolicited email, but it isn't "Spam" if it doesn't violate this definition. The terms do state that no user can send more than 200 emails a day without express permission of Jeftel, but I'm sure that WWT as an entirely seperate entity, only sharing the same owner, would get short shrift from Jeftel should it ever dream of making such a request.
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Re: jeftel
Jeffrey Morris the mysterious millionaire who owns both WWT Media and Jeftel, contracted out the collection of email addresses to call centres in India.
The script which was given to the call centres to follow was complete garbage and had the call centres promising that only ever one email would be sent to the recipients involved. This is where the supposed database of 'opt-in' contacts comes from - the recipients (or their receptionists in most cases) were duped into giving out their email addresses.
Jef gave the database manager (who now works for jeftel and is featured on their website as a Data Analyst) a target of 1 Million email addresses and the brief that he didn't care how he got them. The call centres were farming email addresses and using other methods
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Re: jeftel
Jeffrey Morris the mysterious millionaire who owns both WWT Media and Jeftel, contracted out the collection of email addresses to call centres in India.
The script which was given to the call centres to follow was complete garbage and had the call centres promising that only ever one email would be sent to the recipients involved. This is where the supposed database of 'opt-in' contacts comes from - the recipients (or their receptionists in most cases) were duped into giving out their email addresses.
Jef gave the database manager (who now works for jeftel and is featured on their website as a Data Analyst) a target of 1 Million email addresses and the brief that he didn't care how he got them. The call centres were farming email addresses and using other methods to acheive this target.
I really hope that people aren't duped into signing up with Jeftel - you can almost guarantee that the email addresses gathered from Jeftels signup process will end up on WWT's databases.
Sign up at your own risk!!!
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Re: jeftel
http://www.webuser.co.uk/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=email&Number=112153&page=0&vie w=collapsed&sb=5&o=93
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Re: jeftel
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Re: jeftel
- anyone from AOL or any other group or ISP that has ever blocked WWT or its affiliates
- any company who has ever used WWT Media for email marketing services
- anyone who has received unsolicited bulk email from WWT Media or its affiliates
Please reply to ukoffice@asiancallcentres.co.uk
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a forum for jeftel's users
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Re: jeftel
We were approached by WWT selling their E Mail marketing services. The gentlemen came to visit it us last week and gave us a professional presentation. All seemed genuine with their explanation that they have people constantly calling all these companies and getting permission to send E Mails offering products. The technical side of being able to follow live the result of the E Mail send out was fascinating.
However once we started investigating the background of the company we discovered these forums about Jeftel and WWT and the spamming and the Asian Call centres.....pretty shocking how companies can misrepresent themselves so well.
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Re: jeftel
Brian McGrath
GBM Solutions Ltd.
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Re: jeftel
Shall not be signing up!
Shisters...
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Re: jeftel
The moment you register the amteus software you start receiving spam emails from WWT Media, which I was never made aware of. I only had to wait 6 hours before I received the first one.
When you start to install the software it asks you to make sure your outlook or outlook express is not open...with no explanation. If you read the terms and agreement of the use of the software It leaves the end user totally liable for every eventuallity, including financial liability if your computer infects their server with a virus. The T&C obviously leaves no liability for Amteus.
This company cannot be trusted and I would recommend that no one uses their services. It is definately a front for spamming...I've proved it. Try it out yourself.... if you dare.
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Jeftel rebrand as Amteus ?
Over the last few years I've had to put up a constant campaign of cold calling from numerous businesses connected with Mr Morris, be it Minor Planet, WWT / Worldwide Tender, and now Jeftel / Amteus. From this rebrand, maybe Jeffrey Morris is thinking his name might be a liability, couldn't help but notice that even Minor Planet are distancing themselves from their 'Morris Years' here.
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WWTmedia rebranded as The Media Buzz.
Also they have a habit of claiming customers they don't have. When they say we have customers like...........If you check you will find it is not true.
Oh and the going rate for a e-mail campaign is £0.40 per e-mail. Based on 10,000 emails. A very lucrative profit
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jeftel - WWTmedia rebranded to The Media Buzz
Also they have a habit of claiming customers they don't have. When they say we have customers like...........If you check you will find it is not true.
Oh and the going rate for a e-mail campaign is £0.40 per e-mail. Based on 10,000 emails. A very lucrative profit
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Re: jeftel - WWTmedia rebranded to The Media Buzz
I hated this job, and it made me feel like any soul i had left was crawlign otu of my left ear so all i coudl do to try and make up for it is offer to take people off the mailing lists, i nearly got sacked for this obviously... but the worst bit was when peopel themselves asked to be taken off the list I'd give the name and details to a supervisor who would tell me off, and also we sat next to the people who were responsible for takign the names off of the system. there was a queue of about 10000.
oh yeah, and i met jeffrey morris once i think, and the rest of the directors all look like ex cons.
btw, i was actually promoted from beign a temp because i was gettign the most email addresses, but quit soon after being told what 'really goes on' with the recipients of the emails.
fun days.
hope soem of this has been of interest to someone.
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Re: jeftel - WWTmedia rebranded to The Media Buzz
My advice is to stay away from this company -
Whatever its current name is.
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Re: jeftel - WWTmedia rebranded to The Media Buzz
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Re: jeftel - WWTmedia rebranded to The Media Buzz
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The Media Buzz
My company targets directors of other companies and this is the ideal (and now proven) way to get fast responses.
I think people forget that marketing is marketing, nothing is guaranteed! The weather can change response levels!
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Re: The Media Buzz
and what company are you from Seamus that is doing so well out of the media buzz?
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Employees
Seems some of the employees are as immoral as the owners
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Re: Re: jeftel - ex employee
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amteus
The product did less than a VPN and was entirely proprietary; apart from secure VoIP I couldn't see any merit in the IM/Mail/filesharing aspects of it.
The development team seemed to consist of one manager and three techies (two of whom apparently disappeared a week or so after my interview) and I kept getting calls back from my agent about how they were on the verge of securing a several million dollar contract from something to do with the US Gov't - errrr, the chances of the US Gob't using crypto software developed overseas....? ;)
Things dragged on for a couple of months - the tech director wanted to make me an offer (quite a good one, at the time), but they were 'waiting to secure funding' -- Perhaps fortunately afer most of the development team disappeared (I notice the tech director isn't the guy who interviewed me) my agent called and said they'd frozen recruitment -- seems that these days they're only hiring cold-callers.
The guy in charge of development was a bright bloke with a few good ideas; I'm not sure how rigidly compartmentalised the Morris organisation was - I doubt the techies were directly involved in spamming, but there were other Morris companies in the building...
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I was a long term employee I left the comp well over 2 years ago now, but it was in a desperate shape then, so who knows what depths it will sink too. J Morris is basically an idiot who was lucky once (by backing a good minded businessman) , now he is just what he is.... a clueless fool pumping cash into bad ways to make money...and even doing that badly! Last time I talked to some of the people that still worked their he was doing voip, but still the solution was as poor as ever. Anyway...I came by this page trying to look up some old friends so I shall continue my hunt. J Morris if you read this I would just like to say that you are a total ass and this is why you always fail! you and blind to the fake friends that use or hang on around you just for a wage.....
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AMTEUS
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The media buzz
Andy nicholson is his main dogs body and he is full of crap too.
Do not do business with either firm if you do you will regret it.
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Re: The Media Buzz
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Shock
In training Andy Nicholson actually said: "we have clever tech geeks that are able to get through spam filters etc by wording on the subject line" and at that moment I thought 2 myself well how is that "opt in" and "uk's largest privately owned opt in membership database" that we were told to say in our script ohh and the last pile of bollocks I learned before leaving was....... We are founders of the DMA (direct marketing association) "founders" so dont that mean we make the rules????????????????
Staff were getting sacked left right and centre hence why I left so soon. I only ever seen jeff a few times but heard him more shouting out of his office at someone
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COMPLETE RIP OFF
What they failed to tell us was that that the 12 month interest free credit was subject to credit status and if the company failed credit they had to pay upto 6 months payments in advance. They also did not tell us that there isnβt a βcooling offβ period so if the customer cannot pay make the 6 payments in advance they cannot cancel. To get out of the contract the customer has pay a ridiculous amount of money and in some cases they are suing the clients for the full contract amount! I also found out that they lied to the leasing companies about the product so the leasing companies Genesis and Syscap are suing Jeffrey for all the money they have paid out.
They hoodwink new sales staff to hoodwink poor business people. Itβs a complete scam. They have regular sales staff meetings in one of the Andy Booth actually tried to motivate us by telling us that if we didnβt get any sales he would have to send his spanking new sports car back. Well I donβt know about anyone else but that didnβt motivate me. Another director Vicky Roberts also drives around in her new Range Rover and the Jeffreys kids in their expense cars. How do they sleep at night.
They have no idea how to manage people and they are just greedy for money getting what they can out the staff and people they con into signing up to their services.
Check the contract there are no guarantees. They buy data and send out an email that says from now on you will receive marketing material and if you donβt want it you have to reply to the email. People have not opted in. They just havenβt opted out. Its not really the same thing is it.
Donβt do business with these crooks and see other blogs on this site for jeftel which was the previous name of the company.
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Re: Shock
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Crooks
But, in terms of being sleazy with customers; the opt out on the e-mails doesn't actually work, it just takes your e-mail address out of the loop for around 3 months, they promise clients that they will get (example) 30,000 e-mail addresses for them and actually get around 10,000, they lie about methods of collection (they even told one prospective client that we run night shifts - who makes calls to other UK numbers during the night to get their e-mail addresses?!), and the most common line used is "we'd just like to take your e-mail address so we can send you an updated newsletter from Jaguar/Porsche/BT etc.".
If anybody questions their morals, the reply is "we've only ever lost one court case and that was only because we turned up on the wrong date"!!! Crooks AND they know it.
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If you look at the media buzz's website, they now make no mention of being "opt-in" email addresses. Their sales guys say it in person though but they've been told not to write it down.
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The chairman is currently attempting to raise money from the city for his Amteus "I'm Jack" product which promises to revolutionise that way schools, parents and pupils communicate with each other within a safe environment. Again, a sound idea in principal. However, the same people are in charge of this "I/m Jack" offering as were in charge of WorldWideTender, WWT Media, The Media Buzz and Amteus with the same idiots running it, developing it, supposedly delivering it. They're definitely trying to sell it but with no success.
Undoubtedly the same problems will occur. Stay clear of The Media Buzz and Im Jack (Amteus) or whatever they want to call it.
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Name & Registered Office:
W W T MEDIA LIMITED
10 SWEET STREET, HOLBECK
LEEDS
YORKSHIRE
LS11 9DB
Company No. 05357491
Status: Dissolved 14/11/2006
Date of Incorporation: 08/02/2005
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 28/02
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due:
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due:
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
18/05/2005 THE MEDIA BUZZ LIMITED
Branch Details
There are no branches associated with this company.
Oversea Company Info
There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.
Name & Registered Office:
THE MEDIA BUZZ LIMITED
57 CARDIGAN LANE
LEEDS
WEST YORKSHIRE
LS4 2LE
Company No. 03839629
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 10/09/1999
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
7240 - Data base activities
Accounting Reference Date: 30/09
Last Accounts Made Up To: 30/09/2006 (FULL)
Next Accounts Due: 30/07/2008 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 31/08/2008
Next Return Due: 28/09/2009
Last Members List: 31/08/2008
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
13/01/2000 BEAUTIFULMOVERS LIMITED
15/06/2004 W W T (MEDIA) LIMITED
18/05/2005 WWT MEDIA LIMITED
22/10/2003 WORLDWIDETENDER.COM LIMITED
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Jeffrey resigns
I wonder where the £750,000 that was allegedly raised in December has gone. I imagine that it's not too far out of his clutch!
As another former employee, I agree with most of the previous criticism. Smoke and Mirrors, flash cars, hangers on with low IQs, little substance and a product that never worked.
I feel sorry for all the small firms and one man bands that Jeff never pays. He would scream and shout and not sign cheques on a weekly basis- terrible.
To the new CEO and his mate. Look around fast. Go with your gut instinct and get out.
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So it's finally ended...
I just hope that the schools realise who he is, what he's about and why he's "giving away" products.
Potential buyers beware...
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Wamey
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Double Wamey
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Wamey
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Re:
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Kwercus has Prof Tanya Byron on Payroll, why else would she advertise this rubbish?
If you know anyone in a school, tell them about this. They are a slick looking company with good marketing, but behind the scenes it's another story. Look at the Facebook group for ex-employees of The Media Buzz (sister company and formerly co-located).
If you know a school governer, teacher or member of the PTA, please warn them about Kwercus and don't just believe them because they paid Prof Byron to use her name.
Read the rest of this forum and dig a bit deeper into the other businesses that Morris runs.
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He is at it again
If this deal went through I have a feeling it would possibly lead to a ministerial casualty and one never knows - possible prosecution.
I hear that someone is speaking to the financial press about it and im sure will put pay to this individual, Morris, once and for all.
As the saying goes, If you are no good at something then people tend to compensate for their inefficiencies in other ways - suffice to say Morris is no businessman. I will leave it to you to guess how he compensates for it.
Morris should do what he knows best................................NOTHING!!!!!
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He is at it again
If this deal went through I have a feeling it would possibly lead to a ministerial casualty and one never knows - possible prosecution.
I hear that someone is speaking to the financial press about it and im sure will put pay to this individual, Morris, once and for all.
As the saying goes, If you are no good at something then people tend to compensate for their inefficiencies in other ways - suffice to say Morris is no businessman. I will leave it to you to guess how he compensates for it.
Morris should do what he knows best................................NOTHING!!!!!
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KWERCUS
As I understand it and i have it on good authority that they are just using this meaningless statement to try and pull the wool over prospective investors eyes.
DO NOT INVEST - DO NOT BE FOOLED
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Re: He is at it again
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Re:
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what a joke
Andy Booth was the sales manager and he hasn't got a clue, to be fair he's just intimidated by Morris or realises he couldn't work anywhere else.
Jeffrey Morris is clearly a stupid lttle dick who bullies his workforce via his ridiculous plastic gangster staff.
He even had some daft old soldier(who should know better) telling people he was his bodyguard!
stay away from anything to do with these people.
Oh and Jeffrey, be careful. with a pacemaker you don't need a fright..........
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looks like old jeffs made yet nother pal!
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Double Wamey Campaign
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Looks like it's finally gone pear shaped...
NOTICE
(16)
11/01/2010 7:45am
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TRADING ON AIM
IMJACK PLC
At the request of the company trading on AIM for the under-mentioned securities has been temporarily suspended from 11/01/2010 7:45am pending clarification of the company's financial position.
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IM Jack Double Wamey Scammers
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DOUBLE WAMEY
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DOUBLE WAMEY
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I get bollocked by jeffery everyday. He makes me feel stupid, maybe because i am?? I get paid 30k a year to get slapped about like a whore by jeffery. Who only looks after his own 'jewish' workers. the rest treated like shite.
Jeffery Morris has young people around him, they are so so fooled by his 'brainwashing' ways!! tels them anything to make them sell..many people are educated but caught in a 'dream' that he will make them rich. Hahah what a joke!!
The guy who runs wamey now is Dennis Carr, who owns a bar in manchester. Complete conman, check him out on google, inside track. He tries to get into your head like the demon headmaster, but he is just a working class plasterer who earned a few quid scammin people in property. Jeffery Morris what a wanker, scammer. Dennis is gettin a dose of his own medicine by jeffery..where is your workforce? left because dennis is a conman
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The Gospel
1An account of the genealogy* of Jesus the Messiah,* the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,* 8and Asaph* the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,* and Amos* the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.*
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah,* fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, βJoseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.β 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23βLook, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuelβ,
which means, βGod is with us.β 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men* from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, βWhere is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,* and have come to pay him homage.β 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah* was to be born. 5They told him, βIn Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6βAnd you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd* my people Israel.β β
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men* and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, βGo and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.β 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,* until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped,* they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
The Escape to Egypt
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, βGet up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.β 14Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, βOut of Egypt I have called my son.β
The Massacre of the Infants
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,* he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.* 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18βA voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.β
The Return from Egypt
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20βGet up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the childβs life are dead.β 21Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, βHe will be called a Nazorean.β
Matthew 3
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2βRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.β* 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
βThe voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
βPrepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.β β
4Now John wore clothing of camelβs hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, βYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, βWe have Abraham as our ancestorβ; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 βI baptize you with* water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.β
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, βI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?β 15But Jesus answered him, βLet it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.β Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, βThis is my Son, the Beloved,* with whom I am well pleased.β
Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
4Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3The tempter came and said to him, βIf you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.β 4But he answered, βIt is written,
βOne does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.β β
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6saying to him, βIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
βHe will command his angels concerning youβ,
and βOn their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.β β
7Jesus said to him, βAgain it is written, βDo not put the Lord your God to the test.β β
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9and he said to him, βAll these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.β 10Jesus said to him, βAway with you, Satan! for it is written,
βWorship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.β β
11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12 Now when Jesus* heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15βLand of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentilesβ
16the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.β
17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, βRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.β*
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lakeβfor they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, βFollow me, and I will make you fish for people.β 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus* went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news* of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 5
The Beatitudes
5When Jesus* saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 βBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 βBlessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 βBlessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 βBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 βBlessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 βBlessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 βBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 βBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousnessβ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 βBlessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely* on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 βYou are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 βYou are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
17 βDo not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21 βYou have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, βYou shall not murderβ; and βwhoever murders shall be liable to judgement.β 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,* you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult* a brother or sister,* you will be liable to the council; and if you say, βYou foolβ, you will be liable to the hell* of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister* has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,* and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court* with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
27 βYou have heard that it was said, βYou shall not commit adultery.β 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.* 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.*
Concerning Divorce
31 βIt was also said, βWhoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.β 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
33 βAgain, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, βYou shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.β 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be βYes, Yesβ or βNo, Noβ; anything more than this comes from the evil one.*
Concerning Retaliation
38 βYou have heard that it was said, βAn eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.β 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 βYou have heard that it was said, βYou shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.β 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,* what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6
Concerning Almsgiving
6βBeware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 βSo whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
Concerning Prayer
5 βAnd whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
7 βWhen you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 βPray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.*
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,*
but rescue us from the evil one.*
14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Concerning Fasting
16 βAnd whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
Concerning Treasures
19 βDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust* consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust* consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Sound Eye
22 βThe eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Serving Two Masters
24 βNo one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.*
Do Not Worry
25 βTherefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe youβyou of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, βWhat will we eat?β or βWhat will we drink?β or βWhat will we wear?β 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 βSo do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Todayβs trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 7
Judging Others
7βDo not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbourβs* eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbour,* βLet me take the speck out of your eyeβ, while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbourβs* eye.
Profaning the Holy
6 βDo not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
Ask, Search, Knock
7 βAsk, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
12 βIn everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 βEnter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy* that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 βBeware of false prophets, who come to you in sheepβs clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Concerning Self-Deception
21 βNot everyone who says to me, βLord, Lordβ, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, βLord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?β 23Then I will declare to them, βI never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.β
Hearers and Doers
24 βEveryone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fellβand great was its fall!β
28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 8
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
8When Jesus* had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2and there was a leper* who came to him and knelt before him, saying, βLord, if you choose, you can make me clean.β 3He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, βI do choose. Be made clean!β Immediately his leprosy* was cleansed. 4Then Jesus said to him, βSee that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.β
Jesus Heals a Centurionβs Servant
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6and saying, βLord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.β 7And he said to him, βI will come and cure him.β 8The centurion answered, βLord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, βGoβ, and he goes, and to another, βComeβ, and he comes, and to my slave, βDo thisβ, and the slave does it.β 10When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, βTruly I tell you, in no one* in Israel have I found such faith. 11I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.β 13And to the centurion Jesus said, βGo; let it be done for you according to your faith.β And the servant was healed in that hour.
Jesus Heals Many at Peterβs House
14 When Jesus entered Peterβs house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; 15he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, βHe took our infirmities and bore our diseases.β
Would-Be Followers of Jesus
18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19A scribe then approached and said, βTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.β 20And Jesus said to him, βFoxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.β 21Another of his disciples said to him, βLord, first let me go and bury my father.β 22But Jesus said to him, βFollow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.β
Jesus Stills the Storm
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him up, saying, βLord, save us! We are perishing!β 26And he said to them, βWhy are you afraid, you of little faith?β Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27They were amazed, saying, βWhat sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?β
Jesus Heals the Gadarene Demoniacs
28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,* two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29Suddenly they shouted, βWhat have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?β 30Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31The demons begged him, βIf you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.β 32And he said to them, βGo!β So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. 33The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighbourhood.
Matthew 9
91And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
2 And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, βTake heart, son; your sins are forgiven.β 3Then some of the scribes said to themselves, βThis man is blaspheming.β 4But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, βWhy do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, βYour sins are forgivenβ, or to say, βStand up and walkβ? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sinsββhe then said to the paralyticββStand up, take your bed and go to your home.β 7And he stood up and went to his home. 8When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
The Calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, βFollow me.β And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner* in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting* with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, βWhy does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?β 12But when he heard this, he said, βThose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, βI desire mercy, not sacrifice.β For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.β
The Question about Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, βWhy do we and the Pharisees fast often,* but your disciples do not fast?β 15And Jesus said to them, βThe wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.β
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue* came in and knelt before him, saying, βMy daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.β 19And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21for she said to herself, βIf I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.β 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, βTake heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.β And instantly the woman was made well. 23When Jesus came to the leaderβs house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, 24he said, βGo away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.β And they laughed at him. 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, βHave mercy on us, Son of David!β 28When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, βDo you believe that I am able to do this?β They said to him, βYes, Lord.β 29Then he touched their eyes and said, βAccording to your faith let it be done to you.β 30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, βSee that no one knows of this.β 31But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
Jesus Heals One Who Was Mute
32 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. 33And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, βNever has anything like this been seen in Israel.β 34But the Pharisees said, βBy the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.β*
The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers Few
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, βThe harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.β
Matthew 10
The Twelve Apostles
10Then Jesus* summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;* 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
The Mission of the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: βGo nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, βThe kingdom of heaven has come near.β* 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,* cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.
Coming Persecutions
16 βSee, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 βA disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
Whom to Fear
26 βSo have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.* 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 βEveryone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 βDo not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36and oneβs foes will be members of oneβs own household.
37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 βWhoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophetβs reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a discipleβtruly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.β
Matthew 11
11Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
Messengers from John the Baptist
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah* was doing, he sent word by his* disciples 3and said to him, βAre you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?β 4Jesus answered them, βGo and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers* are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.β
Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: βWhat did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone* dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet?* Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
βSee, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.β
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,* and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15Let anyone with ears* listen!
16 βBut to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
17βWe played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.β
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, βHe has a demonβ; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, βLook, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!β Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.β*
Woes to Unrepentant Cities
20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21βWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, Capernaum,
will you be exalted to heaven?
No, you will be brought down to Hades.
For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.β
Jesus Thanks His Father
25 At that time Jesus said, βI thank* you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.* 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 βCome to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.β
Matthew 12
Plucking Grain on the Sabbath
12At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, βLook, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.β 3He said to them, βHave you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 5Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this means, βI desire mercy and not sacrificeβ, you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.β
The Man with a Withered Hand
9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, βIs it lawful to cure on the sabbath?β so that they might accuse him. 11He said to them, βSuppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.β 13Then he said to the man, βStretch out your hand.β He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Godβs Chosen Servant
15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds* followed him, and he cured all of them, 16and he ordered them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18βHere is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.β
Jesus and Beelzebul
22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, βCan this be the Son of David?β 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, βIt is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.β 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them, βEvery kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists* cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29Or how can one enter a strong manβs house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 βEither make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.β
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, βTeacher, we wish to see a sign from you.β 39But he answered them, βAn evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
The Return of the Unclean Spirit
43 βWhen the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting-place, but it finds none. 44Then it says, βI will return to my house from which I came.β When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.β
The True Kindred of Jesus
46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, βLook, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.β* 48But to the one who had told him this, Jesus* replied, βWho is my mother, and who are my brothers?β 49And pointing to his disciples, he said, βHere are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.β
Matthew 13
The Parable of the Sower
13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: βListen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!β
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and asked him, βWhy do you speak to them in parables?β 11He answered, βTo you it has been given to know the secrets* of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13The reason I speak to them in parables is that βseeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.β 14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
βYou will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15For this peopleβs heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turnβ
and I would heal them.β
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 βHear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.β
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, βMaster, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?β 28He answered, βAn enemy has done this.β The slaves said to him, βThen do you want us to go and gather them?β 29But he replied, βNo; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.β β
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.β
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with* three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.β
The Use of Parables
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:*
βI will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.β*
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, βExplain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.β 37He answered, βThe one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen!
Three Parables
44 βThe kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51 βHave you understood all this?β They answered, βYes.β 52And he said to them, βTherefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.β 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
54 He came to his home town and began to teach the people* in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, βWhere did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenterβs son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?β 57And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, βProphets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.β 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14
The Death of John the Baptist
14At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; 2and he said to his servants, βThis is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.β 3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipβs wife,* 4because John had been telling him, βIt is not lawful for you to have her.β 5Though Herod* wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6But when Herodβs birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, βGive me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.β 9The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, βThis is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.β 16Jesus said to them, βThey need not go away; you give them something to eat.β 17They replied, βWe have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.β 18And he said, βBring them here to me.β 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,* for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, βIt is a ghost!β And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, βTake heart, it is I; do not be afraid.β
28 Peter answered him, βLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.β 29He said, βCome.β So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind,* he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, βLord, save me!β 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, βYou of little faith, why did you doubt?β 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, βTruly you are the Son of God.β
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 15
The Tradition of the Elders
15Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2βWhy do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.β 3He answered them, βAnd why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said,* βHonour your father and your mother,β and, βWhoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.β 5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, βWhatever support you might have had from me is given to Godβ,* then that person need not honour the father.* 6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word* of God. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
8βThis people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.β β
Things That Defile
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, βListen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.β 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, βDo you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?β 13He answered, βEvery plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.* And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.β 15But Peter said to him, βExplain this parable to us.β 16Then he said, βAre you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.β
The Canaanite Womanβs Faith
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, βHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.β 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, βSend her away, for she keeps shouting after us.β 24He answered, βI was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.β 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, βLord, help me.β 26He answered, βIt is not fair to take the childrenβs food and throw it to the dogs.β 27She said, βYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their mastersβ table.β 28Then Jesus answered her, βWoman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.β And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus Cures Many People
29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, βI have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I d
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Ere introducing the scrivener as he first appeared to me, it is fit I make some mention of myself, my employees, my business, my chambers and general surroundings, because some such description is indispensable to an adequate understanding of the chief character about to be presented. Imprimis: I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best. Hence, though I belong to a profession proverbially energetic and nervous even to turbulence at times, yet nothing of that sort have I ever suffered to invade my peace. I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury or in any way draws down public applause, but, in the cool tranquillity of a snug retreat, do a snug business among rich men's bonds, and mortgages, and title deeds. All who know me consider me an eminently safe man. The late John Jacob Astor, a personage little given to poetic enthusiasm, had no hesitation in pronouncing my first grand point to be prudence, my next, method. I do not speak it in vanity, but simply record the fact that I was not unemployed in my profession by the late John Jacob Astor, a name which, I admit, I love to repeat, for it hath a rounded and orbicular sound to it, and rings like unto bullion. I will freely add that I was not insensible to the late John Jacob Astor's good opinion.
Some time prior to the period at which this little history begins my avocations had been largely increased. The good old office, now extinct in the State of New York, of a Master in Chancery, had been conferred upon me. It was not a very arduous office, but very pleasantly remunerative. I seldom lose my temper, much more seldom indulge in dangerous indignation at wrongs and outrages, but I must be permitted to be rash here and declare that I consider the sudden and violent abrogation of the office of Master in Chancery, by the new Constitution, as a premature act, inasmuch as I had counted upon a life lease of the profits, whereas I only received those of a few short years. But this is by the way.
My chambers were upstairs at No.___ Wall Street. At one end they looked upon the white wall of the interior of a spacious skylight shaft, penetrating the building from top to bottom.
This view might have been considered rather tame than otherwise, deficient in what landscape painters call "life." But, if so, the view from the other end of my chambers offered at least a contrast, if nothing more. In that direction, my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade, which wall required no spyglass to bring out its lurking beauties, but, for the benefit of all nearsighted spectators, was pushed up to within ten feet of my windowpanes. Owing to the great height of the surrounding buildings, and my chambers' being on the second floor, the interval between this wall and mine not a little resembled a huge square cistern.
At the period just preceding the advent of Bartleby, I had two persons as copyists in my employment, and a promising lad as an office boy. First, Turkey; second, Nippers; third Ginger Nut. These may seem names the like of which are not usually found in the Directory. In truth, they were nicknames, mutually conferred upon each other by my three clerks, and were deemed expressive of their respective persons or characters. Turkey was a short, pursy Englishman, of about my own age -- that is, somewhere not far from sixty. In the morning, one might say, his face was of a fine florid hue, but after twelve o'clock, meridian -- his dinner hour -- it blazed like a grate full of Christmas coals; and continued blazing -- but, as it were, with a gradual wane -- till six o'clock, P.M., or thereabouts; after which I saw no more of the proprietor of the face, which, gaining its meridian with the sun, seemed to set with it, to rise, culminate, and decline the following day, with the like regularity and undiminished glory. There are many singular coincidences I have known in the course of my life, not the least among which was the fact, that, exactly when Turkey displayed his fullest beams from his red and radiant countenance, just then, too, at that critical moment, began the daily period when I considered his business capacities as seriously disturbed for the remainder of the twenty-four hours. Not that he was absolutely idle or averse to business then; far from it. The difficulty was, he was apt to be altogether too energetic. There was a strange, inflamed, flurried, flighty recklessness of activity about him. He would be incautious in dipping his pen into his inkstand. All his blots upon my documents were dropped there after twelve o'clock, meridian. Indeed, not only would he be reckless and sadly given to making blots in the afternoon, but some days he went further and was rather noisy. At such times, too, his face flamed with augmented blazonry, as if cannel coal had been heaped on anthracite. He made an unpleasant racket with his chair; spilled his sandbox; in mending his pens, impatiently split them all to pieces and threw them on the floor in a sudden passion; stood up and leaned over his table, boxing his papers about in a most indecorous manner, very sad to behold in an elderly man like him. Nevertheless, as he was in many ways a most valuable person to me, and all the time before twelve o'clock, meridian, was the quickest, steadiest creature, too, accomplishing a great deal of work in a style not easily to be matched -- for these reasons I was willing to overlook his eccentricities, though indeed, occasionally, I remonstrated with him. I did this very gently, however, because, though the civilest, nay, the blandest and most reverential of men in the morning, yet, in the afternoon he was disposed, upon provocation, to be slightly rash with his tongue -- in fact, insolent. Now, valuing his morning services as I did, and resolved not to lose them -- yet, at the same time, made uncomfortable by his inflamed ways after twelve o'clock and being a man of peace, unwilling by my admonitions to call forth unseemly retorts from him, I took upon me one Saturday noon (he was always worse on Saturdays) to hint to him, very kindly, that perhaps, now that he was growing old, it might be well to abridge his labors; in short, he need not come to my chambers after twelve o'clock, but, dinner over, had best go home to his lodgings and rest himself till teatime. But no; he insisted upon his afternoon devotions. His countenance became intolerably fervid, as he oratorically assured me -- gesticulating with a long ruler at the other end of the room that if his services in the morning were useful, how indispensable, then, in the afternoon?
"With submission, sir," said Turkey, on this occasion, "I consider myself your right-hand man. In the morning I but marshal and deploy my columns, but in the afternoon I put myself at their head, and gallantly charge the foe, thus" -- and he made a violent thrust with the ruler.
"But the blots, Turkey," intimated I.
"True; but, with submission, sir, behold these hairs! I am getting old. Surely, sir, a blot or two of a warm afternoon is not to be severely urged against gray hairs. Old age even if it blot the page -- is honorable. With submission, sir, we both are getting old."
This appeal to my fellow feeling was hardly to be resisted. At all events, I saw that go he would not. So I made up my mind to let him stay, resolving, nevertheless, to see to it that, during the afternoon, he had to do with my less important papers.
Nippers, the second on my list, was a whiskered, sallow, and upon the whole rather piratical-looking young man of about five and twenty. I always deemed him the victim of two evil powers -- ambition and indigestion. The ambition was evinced by a certain impatience of the duties of a mere copyist, an unwarrantable usurpation of strictly professional affairs, such as the original drawing up of legal documents. The indigestion seemed betokened in an occasional nervous testiness and grinning irritability, causing the teeth to audibly grind together over mistakes committed in copying; unnecessary maledictions, hissed rather than spoken, in the heat of business; and especially by a continual discontent with the height of the table where he worked. Though of a very ingenious mechanical turn, Nippers could never get this table to suit him. He put chips under it, blocks of various sorts, bits of pasteboard, and at last went so far as to attempt an exquisite adjustment by final pieces of folded blotting paper. But no invention would answer. If, for the sake of easing his back, he brought the table lid at a sharp angle well up towards his chin, and wrote there like a man using the steep roof of a Dutch house for his desk, then he declared that it stopped the circulation in his arms. If now he lowered the table to his waistbands and stooped over it in writing, then there was a sore aching in his back. In short, the truth of the matter was Nippers knew not what he wanted. Or, if he wanted anything, it was to be rid of a scrivener's table altogether. Among the manifestations of his diseased ambition was a fondness he had for receiving visits from certain ambiguous-looking fellows in seedy coats, whom he called his clients. Indeed, I was aware that not only was he, at times, considerable of a ward politician, but he occasionally did a little business at the Justices' courts, and was not unknown on the steps of the Tombs. I have good reason to believe, however, that one individual who called upon him at my chambers, and who, with a grand air, he insisted was his client, was no other than a dun, and the alleged title deed, a bill. But, with all his failings, and the annoyances he caused me, Nippers, like his compatriot Turkey, was a very useful man to me; wrote a neat, swift hand; and, when he chose, was not deficient in a gentlemanly sort of deportment. Added to this, he always dressed in a gentlemanly sort of way, and so, incidentally, reflected credit upon my chambers. Whereas, with respect to Turkey, I had much ado to keep him from being a reproach to me. His clothes were apt to look oily, and smell of eating houses. He wore his pantaloons very loose and baggy in summer. His coats were execrable, his hat not to be handled. But while the hat was a thing of indifference to me, inasmuch as his natural civility and deference, as a dependent Englishman, always led him to doff it the moment he entered the room, yet his coat was another matter. Concerning his coats, I reasoned with him, but with no effect. The truth was, I suppose, that a man with so small an income could not afford to sport such a lustrous face and a lustrous coat at one and the same time. As Nippers once observed, Turkey's money went chiefly for red ink. One winter day, I presented Turkey with a highly respectable-looking coat of my own -- a padded gray coat of a most comfortable warmth, and which buttoned straight up from the knee to the neck. I thought Turkey would appreciate the favor and abate his rashness and obstreperousness of afternoons. But no; I verily believe that buttoning himself up in so downy and blanket-like a coat had a pernicious effect upon him -- upon the same principle that too much oats are bad for horses. In fact precisely as a rash, restive horse is said to feel his oats, so Turkey felt his coat. It made him insolent. He was a man whom prosperity harmed.
Though, concerning the self-indulgent habits of Turkey, I had my own private surmises, yet, touching Nippers, I was well persuaded that, whatever might be his faults in other respects, he was, at least, a temperate young man. But indeed, nature herself seemed to have been his vintner, and, at his birth, charged him so thoroughly with an irritable, brandylike disposition that all subsequent potations were needless. When I consider how, amid the stillness of my chambers, Nippers would sometimes impatiently rise from his seat, and, stooping over his table, spread his arms wide apart, seize the whole desk, and move it, and jerk it, with a grim, grinding motion on the floor, as if the table were a perverse voluntary agent, intent on thwarting and vexing him, I plainly perceive that, for Nippers, brandy-and-water were altogether superfluous.
It was fortunate for me that, owing to its peculiar cause -- indigestion -- the irritability and consequent nervousness of Nippers were mainly observable in the morning, while in the afternoon he was comparatively mild. So that, Turkey's paroxysms only coming on about twelve o'clock, I never had to do with their eccentricities at one time. Their fits relieved each other, like guards. When Nippers's was on, Turkey's was off and vice versa. This was a good natural arrangement, under the circumstances.
Ginger Nut, the third on my list, was a lad some twelve years old. His father was a carman, ambitious of seeing his son on the bench instead of a cart before he died. So he sent him to my office, as student at law, errand boy, cleaner and sweeper, at the rate of one dollar a week. He had a little desk to himself, but he did not use it much. Upon inspection, the drawer exhibited a great array of the shells of various sorts of nuts. Indeed, to this quick-witted youth, the whole noble science of the law was contained in a nutshell. Not the least among the employments of Ginger Nut, as well as one which he discharged with the most alacrity, was his duty as cake and apple purveyor for Turkey and Nippers. Copying law papers being proverbially a dry, husky sort of business, my two scriveners were fain to moisten their mouths very often with Spitzenbergs, to be had at the numerous stalls nigh the Custom House and Post Office. Also, they sent Ginger Nut very frequently for that peculiar cake -- small, flat, round, and very spicy -- after which he had been named by them. Of a cold morning, when business was but dull, Turkey would gobble up scores of these cakes, as if they were mere wafers -- indeed, they sell them at the rate of six or eight for a penny -- the scrape of his pen blending with the crunching of the crisp particles in his mouth. Of all the fiery afternoon blunders and flurried rashnesses of Turkey was his once moistening a ginger cake between his lips and clapping it on to a mortgage for a seal. I came within an ace of dismissing him then. But he mollified me by making an Oriental bow, and saying:
"With submission, sir, it was generous of me to find you in stationery on my own account."
Now my original business -- that of a conveyancer and title hunter, and drawer-up of recondite documents of all sorts -- was considerably increased by receiving the Master's office. There was now great work for scriveners. Not only must I push the clerks already with me, but I must have additional help.
In answer to my advertisement, a motionless young man one morning stood upon my office threshold, the door being open, for it was summer. I can see that figure now -- pallidly neat pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartleby.
After a few words touching his qualifications, I engaged him, glad to have among my corps of copyists a man of so singularly sedate an aspect, which I thought might operate beneficially upon the flighty temper of Turkey and the fiery one of Nippers.
I should have stated before that ground-glass folding doors divided my premises into two parts, one of which was occupied by my scriveners, the other by myself. According to my humor, I threw open these doors or closed them. I resolved to assign Bartleby a corner by the folding doors, but on my side of them so as to have this quiet man within easy call, in case any trifling thing was to be done. I placed his desk close up to a small side window in that part of the room, a window which originally had afforded a lateral view of certain grimy back yards and bricks, but which, owing to subsequent erections, commanded at present no view at all, though it gave some light. Within three feet of the panes was a wall, and the light came down from far above, between two lofty buildings, as from a very small opening in a dome. Still further to a satisfactory arrangement, I procured a high green folding screen, which might entirely isolate Bartleby from my sight, though not remove him from my voice. And thus, in a manner, privacy and society were conjoined.
At first, Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sunlight and by candlelight. I should have been quite delighted with his application, had he been cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on silently, palely, mechanically.
It is, of course, an indispensable part of a scrivener's business to verify the accuracy of his copy, word by word. Where there are two or more scriveners in an office, they assist each other in this examination, one reading from the copy, the other holding the original. It is a very dull, wearisome, and lethargic affair. I can readily imagine that, to some sanguine temperaments, it would be altogether intolerable. For example, I cannot credit that the mettlesome poet, Byron, would have contentedly sat down with Bartleby to examine a law document of, say five hundred pages, closely written in a crimpy hand.
Now and then, in the haste of business, it had been my habit to assist in comparing some brief document myself, calling Turkey or Nippers for this purpose. One object I had in placing Bartleby so handy to me behind the screen was to avail myself of his services on such trivial occasions. It was on the third day, I think, of his being with me, and before any necessity had arisen for having his own writing examined, that, being much hurried to complete a small affair I had in hand, I abruptly called to Bartleby. In my haste and natural expectancy of instant compliance, I sat with my head bent over the original on my desk, and my right hand sideways, and somewhat nervously extended with the copy, so that, immediately upon emerging from his retreat, Bartleby might snatch it and proceed to business without the least delay.
In this very attitude did I sit when I called to him, rapidly stating what it was I wanted him to do -- namely, to examine a small paper with me. Imagine my surprise, nay, my consternation, when, without moving from his privacy, Bartleby, in a singularly mild, firm voice, replied, "I would prefer not to."
I sat awhile in perfect silence, rallying my stunned faculties. Immediately it occurred to me that my ears had deceived me, or Bartleby had entirely misunderstood my meaning. I repeated my request in the clearest tone I could assume; but in quite as clear a one came the previous reply, "I would prefer not to."
"Prefer not to," echoed I, rising in high excitement, and crossing the room with a stride. "What do you mean? Are you moon-struck? I want you to help me compare this sheet here -- take it," and I thrust it towards him.
"I would prefer not to," said he.
I looked at him steadfastly. His face was leanly composed; his gray eyes dimly calm. Not a wrinkle of agitation rippled him. Had there been the least uneasiness, anger, impatience or impertinence in his manner; in other words, had there been anything ordinarily human about him, doubtless I should have violently dismissed him from the premises. But as it was I should have as soon thought of turning my pale plaster-of-Paris bust of Cicero out of doors. I stood gazing at him awhile, as he went on with his own writing, and then reseated myself at my desk. This is very strange, thought I. What had one best do? But my business hurried me. I concluded to forget the matter for the present, reserving it for my future leisure. So calling Nippers from the other room, the paper was speedily examined.
A few days after this, Bartleby concluded four lengthy documents, being quadruplicates of a week's testimony taken before me in my High Court of Chancery. It became necessary to examine them. It was an important suit, and great accuracy was imperative. Having all things arranged, I called Turkey Nippers and Ginger Nut, from the next room, meaning to place the four copies in the hands of my four clerks, while I should read from the original. Accordingly, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut had taken their seats in a row, each with his document in his hand, when I called to Bartleby to join this interesting group.
"Bartleby! quick, I am waiting."
I heard a slow scrape of his chair legs on the uncarpeted floor, and soon he appeared standing at the entrance of his hermitage.
"What is wanted?" said he, mildly.
"The copies, the copies," said I, hurriedly. "We are going to examine them. There" -- and I held towards him the fourth quadruplicate.
"I would prefer not to," he said, and gently disappeared behind the screen.
For a few moments I was turned into a pillar of salt, standing at the head of my seated column of clerks. Recovering myself, I advanced towards the screen and demanded the reason for such extraordinary conduct.
"Why do you refuse?"
"I would prefer not to."
With any other man I should have flown outright into a dreadful passion, scorned all further words, and thrust him ignominiously from my presence. But there was something about Bartleby that not only strangely disarmed me, but, in a wonderful manner, touched and disconcerted me. I began to reason with him.
"These are your own copies we are about to examine. It is labor saving to you, because one examination will answer for your four papers. It is common usage. Every copyist is bound to help examine his copy. Is it not so? Will you not speak? Answer!"
"I prefer not, to," he replied in a flutelike tone. It seemed to me that, while I had been addressing him, he carefully revolved every statement that I made; fully comprehended the meaning; could not gainsay the irresistible conclusion; but, at the same time, some paramount consideration prevailed with him to reply as he did.
"You are decided, then, not to comply with my request -- a request made according to common usage and common sense?"
He briefly gave me to understand that on that point my judgment was sound. Yes: his decision was irreversible.
It is seldom the case that, when a man is browbeaten in some unprecedented and violently unreasonable way, he begins to stagger in his own plainest faith. He begins, as it were, vaguely to surmise that, wonderful as it may be, all the justice and all the reason is on the other side. Accordingly, if any disinterested persons are present, he turns to them for some reinforcement for his own faltering mind.
"Turkey," said I, "what do you think of this? Am I not right?"
"With submission, sir," said Turkey, in his blandest tone, "I think that you are."
"Nippers," said I, "what do you think of it?"
"I think I should kick him out of the office."
(The reader of nice perceptions, will here perceive that, it being morning, Turkey's answer is couched in polite and tranquil terms, but Nippers replies in ill-tempered ones. Or, to repeat a previous sentence, Nippers's ugly mood was on duty, and Turkey's off.)
"Ginger Nut," said I, willing to enlist the smallest suffrage in my behalf, "what do you think of it?"
"I think, sir, he's a little luny," replied Ginger Nut, with a grin.
"You hear what they say," said I, turning towards the screen, "come forth and do your duty."
But he vouchsafed no reply. I pondered a moment in sore perplexity. But once more business hurried me. I determined again to postpone the consideration of this dilemma to my future leisure. With a little trouble we made out to examine the papers without Bartleby, though at every page or two Turkey deferentially dropped his opinion that this proceeding was quite out of the common; while Nippers, twitching in his chair with a dyspeptic nervousness, ground out between his set teeth occasional hissing maledictions against the stubborn oaf behind the screen. And for his (Nippers's) part, this was the first and the last time he would do another man's business without pay.
Meanwhile Bartleby sat in his hermitage, oblivious to everything but his own peculiar business there.
Some days passed, the scrivener being employed upon another lengthy work. His late remarkable conduct led me to regard his ways narrowly. I observed that he never went to dinner; indeed, that he never went anywhere. As yet I had never, of my personal knowledge, known him to be outside of my office. He was a perpetual sentry in the corner. At about eleven o'clock, though, in the morning, I noticed that Ginger Nut would advance towards the opening in Bartleby's screen as if silently beckoned thither by a gesture invisible to me where I sat. The boy would then leave the office jingling a few pence, and reappear with a handful of gingernuts, which he delivered in the hermitage, receiving two of the cakes for his trouble.
He lives, then, on gingernuts, thought I; never eats a dinner, properly speaking; he must be a vegetarian, then; but no, he never eats even vegetables, he eats nothing but gingernuts. My mind then ran on in reveries concerning the probable effects upon the human constitution of living entirely on gingernuts. Gingernuts are so called because they contain ginger as one of their peculiar constituents and the normal flavoring one. Now, what was ginger? A hot, spicy thing. Was Bartleby hot and spicy? Not at all. Ginger, then had no effect upon Bartleby. Probably he preferred it should have none.
Chapter Two
Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance. If the individual so resisted be of a not inhumane temper, and the resisting one perfectly harmless in his passivity, then, in the better moods of the former, he will endeavor charitably to construe to his imagination what proves impossible to be solved by his judgment. Even so, for the most part, I regarded Bartleby and his ways. Poor fellow! thought I, he means no mischief; it is plain he intends no insolence; his aspect sufficiently evinces that his eccentricities are involuntary. He is useful to me. I can get along with him. If I turn him away, the chances are he will fall in with some less indulgent employer, and then he will be rudely treated, and perhaps driven forth miserably to starve. Yes. Here I can cheaply purchase a delicious self-approval. To befriend Bartleby, to humor him in his strange willfulness, will cost me little or nothing, while I lay up in my soul what will eventually prove a sweet morsel for my conscience. But this mood was not invariable with me. The passiveness of Bartleby sometimes irritated me. I felt strangely goaded on to encounter him in new opposition to elicit some angry spark from him answerable to my own. But, indeed, I might as well have essayed to strike fire with my knuckles against a bit of Windsor soap. But one afternoon the evil impulse in me mastered me, and the following little scene ensued:
"Bartleby," said I, "when those papers are all copied, I will compare them with you."
"I would prefer not to."
"How? Surely you do not mean to persist in that mulish vagary?"
No answer.
I threw open the folding doors near by, and, turning upon Turkey and Nippers, exclaimed:
"Bartleby a second time says he won't examine his papers. What do you think of it, Turkey?"
It was afternoon, be it remembered. Turkey sat glowing like a brass boiler, his bald head steaming, his hands reeling among his blotted papers.
"Think of it?" roared Turkey. "I think I'll just step behind his screen and black his eyes for him!"
So saying, Turkey rose to his feet and threw his arms into a pugilistic position. He was hurrying away to make good his promise when I detained him, alarmed at the effect of incautiously rousing Turkey's combativeness after dinner.
"Sit down, Turkey," said I, "and hear what Nippers has to say. What do you think of it, Nippers? Would I not be justified in immediately dismissing Bartleby?"
"Excuse me, that is for you to decide, sir. I think his conduct quite unusual, and indeed, unjust, as regards Turkey and myself. But it may only be a passing whim."
"Ah," exclaimed I, "you have strangely changed your mind, then -- you speak very gently of him now."
"All beer," cried Turkey; "gentleness is effects of beer -- Nippers and I dined together today. You see how gentle I am, sir. Shall I go and black his eyes?"
"You refer to Bartleby, I suppose. No, not today, Turkey," I replied; "pray, put up your fists."
I closed the doors and again advanced towards Bartleby. I felt additional incentives tempting me to my fate. I burned to be rebelled against again. I remembered that Bartleby never left the office.
"Bartleby," said I, "Ginger Nut is away; just step around to the Post Office, won't you? (it was but a three minutes' walk), and see if there is anything for me."
"I would prefer not to."
"You will not?"
"I prefer not."
I staggered to my desk and sat there in a deep study. My blind inveteracy returned. Was there any other thing in which I could procure myself to be ignominiously repulsed by this lean, penniless wight? -- my hired clerk? What added thing is there, perfectly reasonable, that he will be sure to refuse to do? "Bartleby!"
No answer.
"Bartleby," in a louder tone.
No answer.
"Bartleby," I roared.
Like a very ghost, agreeably to the laws of magical invocation, at the third summons he appeared at the entrance of his hermitage.
"Go to the next room, and tell Nippers to come to me."
"I prefer not to," he respectfully and slowly said, and mildly disappeared.
"Very good, Bartleby," said I, in a quiet sort of serenely severe self- possessed tone, intimating the unalterable purpose of some terrible retribution very close at hand. At the moment I half intended something of the kind. But upon the whole, as it was drawing towards my dinner hour, I thought it best to put on my hat and walk home for the day, suffering much from perplexity and distress of mind.
Shall I acknowledge it? The conclusion of this whole business was that it soon became a fixed fact of my chambers, that a pale young scrivener by the name of Bartleby had a desk there; that he copied for me at the usual rate of four cents a folio (one hundred words); but he was permanently exempt from examining the work done by him, that duty being transferred to Turkey and Nippers, out of compliment, doubtless, to their superior acuteness; moreover, said Bartleby was never, on any account, to be dispatched on the most trivial errand of any sort; and that even if entreated to take upon him such a matter, it was generally understood that he would "prefer not to" -- in other words, that he would refuse point-blank.
As days passed on, I became considerably reconciled to Bartleby. His steadiness, his freedom from all dissipation, his incessant industry (except when he chose to throw himself into a standing reverie behind his screen), his great stillness, his unalterableness of demeanor under all circumstances, made him a valuable acquisition. One prime thing was this -- he was always there -- first in the morning, continually through the day, and the last at night. I had a singular confidence in his honesty. I felt my most precious papers perfectly safe in his hands. Sometimes, to be sure, I could not, for the very soul of me, avoid falling into sudden spasmodic passions with him. For it was exceeding difficult to bear in mind all the time those strange peculiarities, privileges, and unheard-of exemptions, forming the tacit stipulations on Bartleby's part under which he remained in my office. Now and then, in the eagerness of dispatching pressing business, I would inadvertently summon Bartleby, in a short, rapid tone, to put his finger, say, on the incipient tie of a bit of red tape with which I was about compressing some papers. Of course, from behind the screen the usual answer, "I prefer not to," was sure to come; and then, how could a human creature, with the common infirmities of our nature, refrain from bitterly exclaiming upon such perverseness -- such unreasonableness. However, every added repulse of this sort which I received only tended to lessen the probability of my repeating the inadvertence.
Here it must be said that, according to the custom of most legal gentlemen occupying chambers in densely populated law buildings, there were several keys to my door. One was kept by a woman residing in the attic, which person weekly scrubbed and daily swept and dusted my apartments. Another was kept by Turkey for convenience' sake. The third I sometimes carried in my own pocket. The fourth I knew not who had.
Now, one Sunday morning I happened to go to Trinity Church, to hear a celebrated preacher, and finding myself rather early on the ground I thought I would walk round to my chambers for a while. Luckily I had my key with me, but upon applying it to the lock, I found it resisted by something inserted from the inside. Quite surprised, I called out, when to my consternation a key was turned from within, and, thrusting his lean visage at me, and holding the door ajar, the apparition of Bartleby appeared, in his shirt sleeves, and otherwise in a strangely tattered de'shabille', saying quietly that he was sorry but he was deeply engaged just then, and -- preferred not admitting me at present. In a brief word or two, he moreover added, that perhaps I had better walk about the block two or three times, and by that time he would probably have concluded his affairs.
Now, the utterly unsurmised appearance of Bartleby tenanting my law chambers of a Sunday morning, with his cadaverously gentlemanly nonchalance, yet withal firm and self-possessed, had such a strange effect upon me that incontinently I slunk away from my own door and did as desired. But not without sundry twinges of impotent rebellion against the mild effrontery of this unaccountable scrivener. Indeed, it was his wonderful mildness, chiefly, which not only disarmed me but unmanned me, -- as it were. For I consider that one, for the time, is sort of unmanned when he tranquilly permits his hired clerk to dictate to him and order him away from his own premises. Furthermore, I was full of uneasiness as to what Bartleby could possibly be doing in my office in his shirt sleeves, and in an otherwise dismantled condition, of a Sunday morning. Was anything amiss going on? Nay, that was out of the question. It was not to be thought of for a moment that Bartleby was an immoral person. But what could he be doing there? -- copying? Nay again, whatever might be his eccentricities, Bartleby was an eminently decorous person. He would be the last man to sit down to his desk in any state approaching to nudity. Besides, it was Sunday; and there was something about Bartleby that forbade the supposition that he would by any secular occupation violate the proprieties of the day.
Nevertheless, my mind was not pacified, and, full of a restless curiosity, at last I returned to the door. Without hindrance I inserted my key, opened it, and entered. Bartleby was not to be seen. I looked round anxiously, peeped behind his screen but it was very plain that he was gone. Upon more closely examining the place, I surmised that for an indefinite period Bartleby must have ate, dressed, and slept in my office, and that, too, without plate, mirror, or bed. The cushioned seat of a rickety old sofa in one corner bore that faint impress of a lean, reclining form. Rolled away under his desk I found a blanket; under the empty grate, a blacking box and brush; on a chair, a tin basin, with soap and a ragged towel; in a newspaper a few crumbs of gingernuts and a morsel of cheese. Yes thought I, it is evident enough that Bartleby has been making his home here, keeping bachelor's hall all by himself. Immediately then the thought came sweeping across me, what miserable friendliness and loneliness are here revealed. His poverty is great, but his solitude, how horrible! Think of it. Of a Sunday, Wall Street is deserted as Petra, and every night of every day it IS an emptiness. This building, too, which of weekdays hums with industry and life, at nightfall echoes with sheer vacancy, and all through Sunday is forlorn. And here Bartleby makes his home, sole spectator of a solitude which he has seen all populous -- a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!
For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholy seized me. Before, I had never experienced aught but a not unpleasing sadness. The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam. I remembered the bright silks and sparkling faces I had seen that day, in gala trim, swanlike sailing down the Mississippi of Broadway; and I contrasted them with the pallid copyist, and thought to myself, Ah, happiness courts the light, so we deem the world is gay, but misery hides aloof, so we deem that misery there is none. These sad fancyings -- chimeras, doubtless, of a sick and silly brain -- led on to other and more special thoughts, concerning the eccentricities of Bartleby. Presentiments of strange discoveries hovered round me. The scrivener's pale form appeared to me laid out, among uncaring strangers in its shivering winding sheet.
Suddenly I was attracted by Bartleby's closed desk, the key in open sight left in the lock.
I mean no mischief, seek the gratification of no heartless curiosity, thought I; besides, the desk is mine, and its contents too, so I will make bold to look within. Everything was methodically arranged, the papers smoothly placed. The pigeonholes were deep, and, removing the files of documents, I groped into their recesses. Presently I felt something there, and dragged it out. It was an old bandanna handkerchief, heavy and knotted. I opened it, and saw it was a savings bank.
I now recalled all the quiet mysteries which I had noted in the man. I remembered that he never spoke but to answer; that, though at intervals he had considerable time to himself, yet I had never seen him reading -- no, not even a newspaper; that for long periods he would stand looking out, at his pale window behind the screen, upon the dead brick wall, I was quite sure he never visited any refectory or eating house, while his pale face clearly indicated that he never drank beer like Turkey, or tea and coffee even, like other men; that he never went anywhere in particular that I could learn; never went out for a walk, unless, indeed, that was the case at present -- that he had declined telling who he was, or whence he came, or whether he had any relatives in the world; that though so thin and pale, he never complained of ill health. And more than all I remembered a certain unconscious air of pallid -- how shall I call it? -- of pallid haughtiness, say, or rather an austere reserve about him, which had positively awed me into my tame compliance with his eccentricities, when I had feared to ask him to do the slightest incidental thing for me, even though I might know, from his long-continued motionlessness, that behind his screen he must be standing in one of those dead-wall reveries of his.
Revolving all these things, and coupling them with the recently discovered fact that he made my office his constant abiding place and home, and not forgetful of his morbid moodiness revolving all these things, a prudential feeling began to steal over me. My first emotions had been those of pure melancholy and sincerest pity; but just in proportion as the forlornness of Bartleby grew and grew to my imagination, did that same melancholy merge into fear, that pity into repulsion. So true it is, and so terrible too, that up to a certain point the thought or sight of misery enlists our best affections; but, in certain special cases, beyond that point it does not. They err who would assert that invariably this is owing to the inherent selfishness of the human heart. It rather proceeds from a certain hopelessness of remedying excessive and organic ill. To a sensitive being, pity is not seldom pain. And when at last it is perceived that such pity cannot lead to effectual succor common sense bids the soul be rid of it. What I saw that morning persuaded me that the scrivener was the victim of innate and incurable disorder. I might give alms to his body, but his body did not pain him -- it was his soul that suffered and his soul I could not reach.
I did not accomplish the purpose of going to Trinity Church that morning. Somehow, the things I had seen disqualified me for the time from churchgoing. I walked homeward, thinking what I would do with Bartleby. Finally, I resolved upon this -- I would put certain calm questions to him the next morning touching his history, etc., and if he declined to answer them openly and unreservedly (and I supposed he would prefer not) then to give him a twenty-dollar bill over and above whatever I might owe him, and tell him his services were no longer required; but that if in any other way I could assist him, I would be happy to do so, especially if he desired to return to his native place, wherever that might be, I would willingly help to defray the expenses. Moreover, if, after reaching home, he found himself at any time in want of aid, a letter from him would be sure of a reply. The next morning came. "Bartleby," said I, gently calling to him behind his screen. No reply.
"Bartleby," said I, in a still gentler tone, "come here -- I am not going to ask you to do anything you would prefer not to do -- I simply wish to speak to you."
Upon this he noiselessly slid into view.
"Will you tell me, Bartleby, where you were born?"
"I would prefer not to."
"Will you tell me anything about yourself?"
"I would prefer not to."
"But what reasonable objection can you have to speak to me? I feel friendly towards you."
He did not look at me while I spoke, but kept his glance fixed upon my bust of Cicero, which, as I then sat, was directly behind me, some six inches above my head.
"What is your answer, Bartleby," said I, after waiting a considerable time for a reply, during which his countenance remained immovable, only there was the faintest conceivable tremor of the white attenuated mouth.
"At present I prefer to give no answer," he said, and retired into his hermitage.
It was rather weak in me I confess, but his manner, on this occasion, nettled me. Not only did there seem to lurk in it a certain calm disdain, but his perverseness seemed ungrateful, considering the undeniable good usage and indulgence he had received from me.
Again I sat ruminating what I should do. Mortified as I was at his behavior, and resolved as I had been to dismiss him when I entered my office, nevertheless I strangely felt something superstitious knocking at my heart, and forbidding me to carry out my purpose, and denouncing me for a villain if I dared to breathe one bitter word against this forlornest of mankind. At last, familiarly drawing my chair behind his screen, I sat down and said: "Bartleby, never mind, then, about revealing your history; but let me entreat you, as a friend, to comply as far as may be with the usages of this office. Say now, you will help to examine papers tomorrow or next day: in short, say now, that in a day or two you will begin to be a little reasonable: -- say so, Bartleby."
"At present I would prefer not to be a little reasonable," was his mildly cadaverous reply.
Just then the folding doors opened and Nippers approached. He seemed suffering from an unusually bad night's rest, induced by severer indigestion than common. He overheard those final words of Bartleby.
"Prefer not, eh?" gritted Nippers -- "I'd prefer him, if I were you, sir," addressing me -- "I'd prefer him; I'd give him preferences, the stubborn mule! What is it, sir, pray, that he prefers not to do now?"
Bartleby moved not a limb.
"Mr. Nippers," said I, "I'd prefer that you would withdraw for the present."
Somehow, of late, I had got into the way of involuntarily using this word "prefer" upon all sorts of not exactly suitable occasions. And I trembled to think that my contact with the scrivener had already and seriously affected me in a mental way. And what further and deeper aberration might it not yet produce? This apprehension had not been without efficacy in determining me to summary measures.
As Nippers, looking very sour and sulky, was departing, Turkey blandly and deferentially approached.
"With submission, sir," said he, "yesterday I was thinking about Bartleby here, and I think that if he would but prefer to take a quart of good ale every day, it would do much towards mending him, and enabling him to assist in examining his papers."
"So you have got the word, too," said I, slightly excited.
"With submission, the word, sir?" asked Turkey, respectfully crowding himself into the contracted space behind the screen, and by so doing making me jostle the scrivener. "What word, sir?"
"I would prefer to be left alone here," said Bartleby, as if offended at being mobbed in his privacy.
"That's the word, Turkey," said I -- "that's it."
"Oh, prefer? oh yes -- queer word. I never use it myself. But, sir, as I was saying, if he would but prefer -- "
"Turkey," interrupted I, "you will please withdraw."
"Oh certainly, sir, if you prefer that I should."
As he opened the folding door to retire, Nippers at his desk caught a glimpse of me, and asked whether I would prefer to have a certain paper copied on blue paper or white. He did not in the least roguishly accent the word prefer. It was plain -- that it involuntarily rolled from his tongue. I thought to myself, surely I must get rid of a demented man, who already has in some degree turned the tongues, if not the heads, of myself and clerks. But I thought it prudent not to break the dismission at once.
The next day I noticed that Bartleby did nothing but stand at his window in his dead-wall reverie. Upon asking him why he did not write, he said that he had decided upon doing no more writing.
"Why, how now? what next?" exclaimed I, "do no more writing?"
"No more."
"And what is the reason?"
"Do you not see the reason for yourself?" he indifferently replied.
I looked steadfastly at him, and perceived that his eyes looked dull and glazed. Instantly it occurred to me that his unexampled diligence in copying by his dim window for the first few weeks of his stay with me might have temporarily impaired his vision.
I was touched. I said something in condolence with him, I hinted that of course he did wisely in abstaining from writing for a while; and urged him to embrace that opportunity of taking wholesome exercise in the open air. This, however, he did not do. A few days after this, my other clerks being absent, and being in a great hurry to dispatch certain letters by the mail, I thought that, having nothing else earthly to do, Bartleby would surely be less inflexible than usual, and carry these letters to the Post Office. But he blankly declined. So, much to my inconvenience, I went myself.
Still added days went by. Whether Bartleby's eyes improved or not, I could not say. To all appearance, I thought they did. But when I asked him if they did, he vouchsafed no answer. At all events, he would do no copying. At last, in reply to my urgings, he informed me that he had permanently given up copying.
"What!" exclaimed I; "suppose your eyes should get entirely well -- better than ever before -- would you not copy then?"
"I have given up copying," he answered, and slid aside.
He remained as ever, a fixture in my chamber. Nay -- if that were possible - - he became still more of a fixture than before. What was to be done? He would do nothing in the office; why should he stay there? In plain fact, he had now become a millstone to me, not only useless as a necklace, but afflictive to bear. Yet I was sorry for him. I speak less than truth when I say that, on his own account, he occasioned me uneasiness. If he would but have named a single relative or friend, I would instantly have written and urged their taking the poor fellow away to some convenient retreat. But he seemed alone, absolutely alone in the universe. A bit of wreck in the mid- Atlantic. At length, necessities connected with my business tyrannized over all other considerations. Decently as I could, I told Bartleby that in six days' time he must unconditionally leave the office. I warned him to take measures, in the interval, for procuring some other abode. I offered to assist him in this endeavor, if he himself would take the first step towards a removal. And when you finally quit me, Bartleby," added I, "I shall see that you go not away entirely unprovided. Six days from this hour, remember."
At the expiration of that period, I peeped behind the screen, and lo! Bartleby was there.
I buttoned up my coat, balanced myself, advanced slowly towards him, touched his shoulder, and said, "The time has come; you must quit this place; I am sorry for you; here is money; but you must go."
"I would prefer not," he replied, with his back still towards me.
"You must."
He remained silent.
Now I had an unbounded confidence in this man's common honesty. He had frequently restored to me sixpences and shillings carelessly dropped upon the floor, for I am apt to be very reckless in such shirt-button affairs. The proceeding, then, which followed will not be deemed extraordinary.
"Bartleby," said I, "I owe you twelve dollars on account; here are thirty- two; the odd twenty are yours -- Will you take it?" and I handed the bills towards him.
But he made no motion.
"I will leave them here, then," putting them under a weight on the table. Then taking my hat and cane and going to the door, I tranquilly turned and added -- "After you have removed your things from these offices, Bartleby, you will of course lock the door -- since everyone is now gone for the day but you -- and if you please, slip your key underneath the mat, so that I may have it in the morning. I shall not see you again; so good-bye to you. If, hereafter, in your new place of abode, I can be of any service to you, do not fail to advise me by letter. Good-bye, Bartleby, and fare you well."
But he answered not a word; like the last column of some ruined temple, he remained standing mute and solitary in the middle of the otherwise deserted room.
Chapter 3
As I walked home in a pensive mood, my vanity got the better of my pity. I could not but highly plume myself on my masterly management in getting rid of Bartleby. Masterly I call it, and such it must appear to any dispassionate thinker. The beauty of my procedure seemed to consist in its perfect quietness. There was no vulgar bullying, no bravado of any sort, no choleric hectoring and striding to and fro across the apartment, jerking out vehement commands for Bartleby to bundle himself off with his beggarly traps. Nothing of the kind. Without loudly bidding Bartleby depart -- as an inferior genius might have done -- I assumed the ground that depart he must, and upon that assumption built all I had to say. The more I thought over my procedure, the more I was charmed with it. Nevertheless, next morning, upon awakening, I had my doubts -- I had somehow slept off the fumes of vanity. One of the coolest and wisest hours a man has is just after he awakes in the morning. My procedure seemed as sagacious as ever -- but only in theory. How it would prove in practice -- there was the rub. It was truly a beautiful thought to have assumed Bartleby's departure; but, after all, that assumption was simply my own, and none of Bartleby's. The great point was, not whether I had assumed that he would quit me, but whether he would prefer so to do. He was more a man of preferences than assumptions.
After breakfast, I walked downtown, arguing the probabilities pro and con. One moment I thought it would prove a miserable failure, and Bartleby would be found all alive at my office as usual; the next moment it seemed certain that I should find his chair empty. And so I kept veering about. At the corner of Broadway and Canal Street, I saw quite an excited group of people standing in earnest conversation.
"I'll take odds he doesn't," said a voice as I passed.
"Doesn't go? -- done!" said I, "put up your money."
I was instinctively putting my hand in my pocket to produce my own, when I remembered that this was an election day. The words I had overheard bore no reference to Bartleby but to the success or nonsuccess of some candidate for the mayoralty. In my intent frame of mind, I had, as it were, imagined that all Broadway shared in my excitement, and were debating the same question with me. I passed on, very thankful that the uproar of the street screened my momentary absent-mindedness.
As I had intended, I was earlier than usual at my office door. I stood listening for a moment. All was still. He must be gone. I tried the knob. The door was locked. Yes, my procedure had worked to a charm; he indeed must be vanished. Yet a certain melancholy mixed with this: I was almost sorry for my brilliant success. I was fumbling under the door mat for the key, which Bartleby was to have left there for me, when accidentally my knee knocked against a panel, producing a summoning sound, and in response a voice came to me from within -- "Not yet; I am occupied."
It was Bartleby.
I was thunderstruck. For an instant I stood like the man who, pipe in mouth, was killed one cloudless afternoon long ago in Virginia by summer lightning; at his own warm open window he was killed, and remained leaning out there upon the dreamy afternoon, till someone touched him, when he fell.
"Not gone!" I murmured at last. But again obeying that wondrous ascendancy which the inscrutable scrivener had over me, and from which ascendancy, for all my chafing, I could not completely escape, I slowly went downstairs and out into the street, and while walking round the block considered what I should next do in this unheard-of perplexity. Turn the man out by an actual thrusting I could not; to drive him away by calling him hard names would not do; calling in the police was an unpleasant idea; and yet, permit him to enjoy his cadaverous triumph over me -- this, too, I could not think of. What was to be done? or, if nothing could be done, was there anything further that I could assume in the matter? Yes, as before I had prospectively assumed that Bartleby would depart, so now I might retrospectively assume that departed he was. In the legitimate carrying out of this assumption I might enter my office in a great hurry, and, pretending not to see Bartleby at all, walk straight against him as if he were air. Such a proceeding would in a singular degree have the appearance of a home thrust. It was hardly possible that Bartleby could withstand such an application of the doctrine of assumptions. But upon second thoughts the success of the plan seemed rather dubious. I resolved to argue the matter over with him again.
"Bartleby," said I, entering the office, with a quietly severe expression, "I am seriously displeased. I am pained, Bartleby. I had thought better of you. I had imagined you of such a gentlemanly organization that in any delicate dilemma a slight hint would suffice -- in short, an assumption. But it appears I am deceived. Why," I added, unaffectedly starting, "you have not even touched that money yet," pointing to it, just where I had left it the evening previous.
He answered nothing.
"Will you, or will you not, quit me?" I now demanded in a sudden passion, advancing close to him.
"I would prefer not to quit you," he replied, gently emphasizing the not.
"What earthly right have you to stay here? Do you pay any rent? Do you pay my taxes? Or is this property yours?"
He answered nothing.
"Are you ready to go on and write now? Are your eyes recovered? Could you copy a small paper for me this morning? or help examine a few lines? or step round to the Post Office? In a word, will you do anything at all to give a coloring to your refusal to depart the premises?"
He silently retired into his hermitage.
I was now in such a state of nervous resentment that I thought it but prudent to check myself at present from further demonstrations. Bartleby and I were alone. I remembered the tragedy of the unfortunate Adams and the still more unfortunate Colt in the solitary office of the latter; and how poor Colt, being dreadfully incensed by Adams, and imprudently permitting himself to get wildly excited, was at unawares hurried into his fatal act -- an act which certainly no man could possibly deplore more than the actor himself. Often it had occurred to me in my ponderings upon the subject that had that altercation taken place in the public street, or at a private residence, it would not have terminated as it did. It was the circumstance of being alone in a solitary office, upstairs, of a building entirely unhallowed by humanizing domestic associations -- an uncarpeted office, doubtless, of a dusty, haggard sort of appearance -- this it must have been which greatly helped to enhance the irritable desperation of the hapless Colt.
But when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me concerning Bartleby, I grappled him and threw him. How? Why, simply by recalling the divine injunction: "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another." Yes, this it was that saved me. Aside from higher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle -- a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed murder for jealousy's sake, and anger's sake, and hatred's sake, and selfishness' sake, and spiritual pride's sake; but no man that ever I heard of ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet charity's sake. Mere self-interest, then, if no better motive can be enlisted, should, especially with high-tempered men, prompt all beings to charity and philanthropy. At any rate, upon the occasion in question, I strove to drown my exasperated feelings towards the scrivener by benevolently construing his conduct. Poor fellow, poor fellow! thought I, he don't mean anything, and besides, he has seen hard times, and ought to be indulged.
I endeavored, also, immediately to occupy myself, and at the same time to comfort my despondency. I tried to fancy that in the course of the morning, at such time as might prove agreeable to him, Bartleby, of his own free accord, would emerge from his hermitage and take up some decided line of march in the direction of the door. But no. Half-past twelve o'clock came; Turkey began to glow in the face, overturn his inkstand, and become generally obstreperous; Nippers abated down into quietude and courtesy; Ginger Nut munched his noon apple; and Bartleby remained standing at his window in one of his profoundest dead-wall reveries. Will it be credited? Ought I to acknowledge it? That afternoon I left the office without saying one further word to him.
Some days now passed during which, at leisure intervals I looked a little into "Edwards on the Will," and "Priestley on Necessity." Under the circumstances, those books induced a salutary feeling. Gradually I slid into the persuasion that these troubles of mine touching the scrivener had been all predestinated from eternity, and Bartleby was billeted upon me for some mysterious purpose of an all-wise Providence, which it was not for a mere mortal like me to fathom. Yes, Bartleby, stay there behind your screen, thought I; I shall persecute you no more; you are harmless and noiseless as any of these old chairs; in short, I never feel so private as when I know you are here. At last I see it, I feel it; I penetrate to the predestinated purpose of my life. I am content. Others may have loftier parts to enact, but my mission in this world, Bartleby, is to furnish you with office room for such period as you may see fit to remain.
I believe that this wise and blessed frame of mind would have continued with me had it not been for the unsolicited and uncharitable remarks obtruded upon me by my professional friends who visited the rooms. But thus it often is that the constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves of the more generous. Though, to be sure, when I reflected upon it it was not strange that people entering my office should be struck by the peculiar aspect of the unaccountable Bartleby, and so be tempted to throw out some sinister observations concerning him. Sometimes an attorney having business with me, and calling at my office, and finding no one but the scrivener there, would undertake to obtain some sort of precise information from him touching my whereabouts; but without heeding his idle talk, Bartleby would remain standing immovable in the middle of the room. So, after comtemplating him in that position for a time, the attorney would depart no wiser than he came.
Also, when a reference was going on, and the room full of lawyers and witnesse
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It's not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It's not unusual to see me cry
Oh, I wanna die
It's not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about, it's such a crime
If you should ever want to be loved by anyone
It's not unusual, it happens every day
No matter what you say
You find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can't this crazy love be mine?
It's not unusual to be mad with anyone
It's not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find that you've changed at any time
It's not unusual to find out that I'm in love with you
Whoa, oh, oh, oh...
I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind
She was my woman
As she decieved me I watched and went out of my mind
My, my, my, Delilah
Why, why, why, Delilah
I could see that girl was no good for me
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free
At break of day when that man drove away, I was waiting
I cross the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
My, my, my Delilah
Why, why, why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
(insert trumpet solo here)
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
My, my, my, Delilah
Why, why, why, Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any more
The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train,
and there to meet me is my Mama and Papa.
Down the road I look and there runs Mary, hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry,
and there's that old oak tree I used to play on.
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary, hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
[spoken:]
Then I awake and look around me, at four grey walls that surround me
and I realize, yes, that I was only dreaming.
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre -
arm in arm we'll walk at daybreak.
Again I touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak tree
as they lay me neath the green, green grass of home.
Aw
Aww baby
Yeah, ooo yeah
Huh!
Listen to this
Spy on me baby, use satellite
Infrared to see me move through the night
Aim, gonna fire, shoot me right
Aim, gonna like the way you fight
And I love the way you fight
Now you found the secret code I use
To wash away my lonely blues
Well, so I can't deny or lie
'Cause you're a
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're a sex bomb, uh huh
You can give it to me when I need to come along
Give it to me
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb
And baby, you can turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on
You know what you're doing to me don't you?
Heh heh
I know you do!
No, don't get me wrong
Ain't gonna do you no harm, no
This bomb's made for lovin' and you can shoot it far
I'm your main target, come and help me ignite
Ow!
Lovestruck, holding you tight
Hold me tight darlin'!
Make me explode
Although you know
The route to go to sex me slow
Slow, baby
And yes, I must react to claims of those
Who say that you are not all that
(Hahahaha!)
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're a sex bomb
You can give it to me when i need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb
And baby you can turn me on turn me on darlin'
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb, sex bomb
You can give it to me when i need to come along
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb
And baby, you can turn me on
You can give me more and more
Counting up the score
Yeah
You can turn me upside down inside out
You can make me feel the real deal, uh uh
I can give it to you any time because you're mine
Ow!
Ouch!
Sex bomb
Aww, baby
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb
And you can give it to me when I need to be turned on
No, no
Sex bomb, sex bomb
You're my sex bomb
And baby, you can turn me on turn me on
And baby, you can turn me on turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on turn me on
Ooo baby, you can turn me on turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on, oh
Baby, you can turn me on, oh
Baby, you can turn me on
Well, baby you can turn me on...
You don't have to be beautiful
To turn me on
I just need your body, baby
From dusk till dawn
You don't need experience
To turn me out
You just leave it all up to me
I'll show you what it's all about
You don't have to be rich to be my girl
You don't have to be cool to rule my world
Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your KISS
You got to not talk dirty, baby
If you wanna impress me
You can't be too flirty, mama
I know how to undress me
Let me be your fantasy
Maybe, you could be mine
You just leave it all up to me
We could have a real good time
You don't have to be rich to be my girl
You don't have to be cool to rule my world
Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your KISS
I think I'd better dance now.....
(solo)
Women and girls, rule my world
I said they rule my world
Act your age mama, not your shoe size
Maybe we could do the twirl?
You don't have to watch Dynasty
To have an attitude
You gotta leave it all up to me
My love will be your food
You don't have to be rich to be my girl
You don't have to be cool to rule my world
Ain't no particular sign, I'm more compatible with,
I just want your extra time and your KISS
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JM
Had Mr Morris not wished to have supported his staff i am sure (in fact i am certain) that there are times he could have walked away from numerous ventures, taken the money, and closed the business leaving himself with immense personal wealth.
What i would say to the people moaning is the following: Remember who has paid you for the last, week, month, year or even decade (depending on your length of service) and remember where the money came from.
There are two types of people. The ones that melt in times of adversity and the ones that stand firm and support their business as if it was a family member. My advice would be to stand firm because one thing i can assure you - Morris will be at the top of that tree very very soon and those that treated the business like family will find themselves on a cumfy platform very close to the top of the tree if not at the top with him.
For those of you who opt to take wages AND then spout slanderous lies on this forum - you will be found out in time.
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Come on Jeffrey, you can do better than this
Perhaps it's the winding up of MinorPlanet this week- a company that did well, til Jeffrey stripped it of it's wealth- so he's going to be in the news again.
His dodgy scams must come to an end, as must his exploitation of suppliers and employees alike
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About time people understood the truth
I think we all know the type of people posting on here - parasitical failures. People that just assumed that all you needed was "to be in it to win it". What they quickly established upon being given an opportunity was that they were required to produce results to earn the better money - and they did not like that one little bit. But just to clarify, when I was there these type of people we given chance after chance after chance prior to departing.
As for Minorplanet. I think if you look back (prior to spouting off like one of the failures I mentioned earlier) that MP was a hugely successful business under the direction of Jeffrey and it was only when he decided to leave that the business began floundering. That said, any business / structure would struggle if the foundations were removed.
I will never forget asking Jeffrey when the shares reached Β£10.12 why he didn't just take his money and run. His answer is testament to the guy he is. He said "Billy, how could I leave this beast now? Look at all the people that are relying on me - what would happen to them? Lets carry on with our only focus on being making the business, and the people involved within it more successful".
I will remember those couple of sentences forever.
KEEP GOING MY FRIEND AND IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING YOU KNOW WHERE I AM.
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The Post Above
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Keep going my friend and if you ever need anything you know where i am.....
And as for the whole people being spiteful because they just aren't successful enough is absolute bollox. I graduated with a degree and was offered "The dream," by jeffrey and his 'trusty' side kick dennis. .. Who wouldn't be chuffed with a 15k salary!
As mentioned previously, I worked there for 3 and a half weeks before they turned around and announced in front of a room full of employees, that our basic wage was being withdrawn as of the following week, however all employees would be paid in full for the hours worked already.
Needless to say this "parasitical failure" got herself a new job within a large corporation that same week! and the product is actually worth buying!
I have emails from double wamey offering me less than half of what I'm actually owed : (They wanted me to bend over and say yes)
I accept the cheque for Β£500 in full and final settlement of services provided to Wamey Ltd upto the end of March β10.
I am aware that I am liable to pay my own tax and NI
Laughable!
So........ County Court it is then
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Apple, Microsoft, Sun
1An account of the genealogy* of Jesus the Messiah,* the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,* 8and Asaph* the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,* and Amos* the father of Josiah, 11and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.*
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah,* fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, βJoseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.β 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23βLook, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuelβ,
which means, βGod is with us.β 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Wise Men
2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men* from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, βWhere is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,* and have come to pay him homage.β 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah* was to be born. 5They told him, βIn Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6βAnd you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd* my people Israel.β β
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men* and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, βGo and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.β 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,* until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped,* they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
The Escape to Egypt
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, βGet up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.β 14Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, βOut of Egypt I have called my son.β
The Massacre of the Infants
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,* he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.* 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18βA voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.β
The Return from Egypt
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20βGet up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the childβs life are dead.β 21Then Joseph* got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, βHe will be called a Nazorean.β
Matthew 3
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2βRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.β* 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
βThe voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
βPrepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.β β
4Now John wore clothing of camelβs hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, βYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, βWe have Abraham as our ancestorβ; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 βI baptize you with* water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.β
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, βI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?β 15But Jesus answered him, βLet it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.β Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, βThis is my Son, the Beloved,* with whom I am well pleased.β
Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
4Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3The tempter came and said to him, βIf you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.β 4But he answered, βIt is written,
βOne does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.β β
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6saying to him, βIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
βHe will command his angels concerning youβ,
and βOn their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.β β
7Jesus said to him, βAgain it is written, βDo not put the Lord your God to the test.β β
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9and he said to him, βAll these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.β 10Jesus said to him, βAway with you, Satan! for it is written,
βWorship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.β β
11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12 Now when Jesus* heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15βLand of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentilesβ
16the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.β
17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, βRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.β*
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lakeβfor they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, βFollow me, and I will make you fish for people.β 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus* went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news* of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 5
The Beatitudes
5When Jesus* saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 βBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 βBlessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 βBlessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 βBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 βBlessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 βBlessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 βBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 βBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousnessβ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 βBlessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely* on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 βYou are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 βYou are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
The Law and the Prophets
17 βDo not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Concerning Anger
21 βYou have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, βYou shall not murderβ; and βwhoever murders shall be liable to judgement.β 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,* you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult* a brother or sister,* you will be liable to the council; and if you say, βYou foolβ, you will be liable to the hell* of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister* has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,* and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court* with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Concerning Adultery
27 βYou have heard that it was said, βYou shall not commit adultery.β 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.* 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.*
Concerning Divorce
31 βIt was also said, βWhoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.β 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths
33 βAgain, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, βYou shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.β 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be βYes, Yesβ or βNo, Noβ; anything more than this comes from the evil one.*
Concerning Retaliation
38 βYou have heard that it was said, βAn eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.β 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 βYou have heard that it was said, βYou shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.β 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,* what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6
Concerning Almsgiving
6βBeware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 βSo whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
Concerning Prayer
5 βAnd whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
7 βWhen you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 βPray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.*
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,*
but rescue us from the evil one.*
14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Concerning Fasting
16 βAnd whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.*
Concerning Treasures
19 βDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust* consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust* consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Sound Eye
22 βThe eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Serving Two Masters
24 βNo one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.*
Do Not Worry
25 βTherefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe youβyou of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, βWhat will we eat?β or βWhat will we drink?β or βWhat will we wear?β 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 βSo do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Todayβs trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 7
Judging Others
7βDo not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbourβs* eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbour,* βLet me take the speck out of your eyeβ, while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbourβs* eye.
Profaning the Holy
6 βDo not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
Ask, Search, Knock
7 βAsk, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
12 βIn everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 βEnter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy* that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 βBeware of false prophets, who come to you in sheepβs clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Concerning Self-Deception
21 βNot everyone who says to me, βLord, Lordβ, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, βLord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?β 23Then I will declare to them, βI never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.β
Hearers and Doers
24 βEveryone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fellβand great was its fall!β
28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 8
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
8When Jesus* had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2and there was a leper* who came to him and knelt before him, saying, βLord, if you choose, you can make me clean.β 3He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, βI do choose. Be made clean!β Immediately his leprosy* was cleansed. 4Then Jesus said to him, βSee that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.β
Jesus Heals a Centurionβs Servant
5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6and saying, βLord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.β 7And he said to him, βI will come and cure him.β 8The centurion answered, βLord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, βGoβ, and he goes, and to another, βComeβ, and he comes, and to my slave, βDo thisβ, and the slave does it.β 10When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, βTruly I tell you, in no one* in Israel have I found such faith. 11I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.β 13And to the centurion Jesus said, βGo; let it be done for you according to your faith.β And the servant was healed in that hour.
Jesus Heals Many at Peterβs House
14 When Jesus entered Peterβs house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever; 15he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. 16That evening they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, βHe took our infirmities and bore our diseases.β
Would-Be Followers of Jesus
18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19A scribe then approached and said, βTeacher, I will follow you wherever you go.β 20And Jesus said to him, βFoxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.β 21Another of his disciples said to him, βLord, first let me go and bury my father.β 22But Jesus said to him, βFollow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.β
Jesus Stills the Storm
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him up, saying, βLord, save us! We are perishing!β 26And he said to them, βWhy are you afraid, you of little faith?β Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. 27They were amazed, saying, βWhat sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?β
Jesus Heals the Gadarene Demoniacs
28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,* two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29Suddenly they shouted, βWhat have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?β 30Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31The demons begged him, βIf you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.β 32And he said to them, βGo!β So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. 33The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighbourhood.
Matthew 9
91And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town.
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
2 And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, βTake heart, son; your sins are forgiven.β 3Then some of the scribes said to themselves, βThis man is blaspheming.β 4But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, βWhy do you think evil in your hearts? 5For which is easier, to say, βYour sins are forgivenβ, or to say, βStand up and walkβ? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sinsββhe then said to the paralyticββStand up, take your bed and go to your home.β 7And he stood up and went to his home. 8When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
The Calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, βFollow me.β And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner* in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting* with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, βWhy does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?β 12But when he heard this, he said, βThose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, βI desire mercy, not sacrifice.β For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.β
The Question about Fasting
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, βWhy do we and the Pharisees fast often,* but your disciples do not fast?β 15And Jesus said to them, βThe wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.β
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue* came in and knelt before him, saying, βMy daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.β 19And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21for she said to herself, βIf I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.β 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, βTake heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.β And instantly the woman was made well. 23When Jesus came to the leaderβs house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, 24he said, βGo away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.β And they laughed at him. 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, βHave mercy on us, Son of David!β 28When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, βDo you believe that I am able to do this?β They said to him, βYes, Lord.β 29Then he touched their eyes and said, βAccording to your faith let it be done to you.β 30And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, βSee that no one knows of this.β 31But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.
Jesus Heals One Who Was Mute
32 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. 33And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, βNever has anything like this been seen in Israel.β 34But the Pharisees said, βBy the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.β*
The Harvest Is Great, the Labourers Few
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, βThe harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.β
Matthew 10
The Twelve Apostles
10Then Jesus* summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;* 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
The Mission of the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: βGo nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, βThe kingdom of heaven has come near.β* 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,* cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.
Coming Persecutions
16 βSee, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 βA disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
Whom to Fear
26 βSo have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.* 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 βEveryone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 βDo not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36and oneβs foes will be members of oneβs own household.
37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 βWhoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophetβs reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a discipleβtruly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.β
Matthew 11
11Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
Messengers from John the Baptist
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah* was doing, he sent word by his* disciples 3and said to him, βAre you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?β 4Jesus answered them, βGo and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers* are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.β
Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: βWhat did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone* dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet?* Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
βSee, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.β
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,* and the violent take it by force. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15Let anyone with ears* listen!
16 βBut to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
17βWe played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.β
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, βHe has a demonβ; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, βLook, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!β Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.β*
Woes to Unrepentant Cities
20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21βWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, Capernaum,
will you be exalted to heaven?
No, you will be brought down to Hades.
For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.β
Jesus Thanks His Father
25 At that time Jesus said, βI thank* you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.* 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 βCome to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.β
Matthew 12
Plucking Grain on the Sabbath
12At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, βLook, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.β 3He said to them, βHave you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 5Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this means, βI desire mercy and not sacrificeβ, you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.β
The Man with a Withered Hand
9 He left that place and entered their synagogue; 10a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, βIs it lawful to cure on the sabbath?β so that they might accuse him. 11He said to them, βSuppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.β 13Then he said to the man, βStretch out your hand.β He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
Godβs Chosen Servant
15 When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds* followed him, and he cured all of them, 16and he ordered them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18βHere is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.β
Jesus and Beelzebul
22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, βCan this be the Son of David?β 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, βIt is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.β 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them, βEvery kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists* cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29Or how can one enter a strong manβs house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 βEither make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.β
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, βTeacher, we wish to see a sign from you.β 39But he answered them, βAn evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
The Return of the Unclean Spirit
43 βWhen the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting-place, but it finds none. 44Then it says, βI will return to my house from which I came.β When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.β
The True Kindred of Jesus
46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, βLook, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.β* 48But to the one who had told him this, Jesus* replied, βWho is my mother, and who are my brothers?β 49And pointing to his disciples, he said, βHere are my mother and my brothers! 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.β
Matthew 13
The Parable of the Sower
13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: βListen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!β
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and asked him, βWhy do you speak to them in parables?β 11He answered, βTo you it has been given to know the secrets* of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13The reason I speak to them in parables is that βseeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.β 14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
βYou will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15For this peopleβs heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turnβ
and I would heal them.β
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 βHear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.β
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, βMaster, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?β 28He answered, βAn enemy has done this.β The slaves said to him, βThen do you want us to go and gather them?β 29But he replied, βNo; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.β β
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.β
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with* three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.β
The Use of Parables
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:*
βI will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.β*
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, βExplain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.β 37He answered, βThe one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen!
Three Parables
44 βThe kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51 βHave you understood all this?β They answered, βYes.β 52And he said to them, βTherefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.β 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
54 He came to his home town and began to teach the people* in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, βWhere did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenterβs son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?β 57And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, βProphets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.β 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14
The Death of John the Baptist
14At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; 2and he said to his servants, βThis is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.β 3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipβs wife,* 4because John had been telling him, βIt is not lawful for you to have her.β 5Though Herod* wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6But when Herodβs birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, βGive me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.β 9The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, βThis is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.β 16Jesus said to them, βThey need not go away; you give them something to eat.β 17They replied, βWe have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.β 18And he said, βBring them here to me.β 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,* for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, βIt is a ghost!β And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, βTake heart, it is I; do not be afraid.β
28 Peter answered him, βLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.β 29He said, βCome.β So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind,* he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, βLord, save me!β 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, βYou of little faith, why did you doubt?β 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, βTruly you are the Son of God.β
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 15
The Tradition of the Elders
15Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2βWhy do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.β 3He answered them, βAnd why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said,* βHonour your father and your mother,β and, βWhoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.β 5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, βWhatever support you might have had from me is given to Godβ,* then that person need not honour the father.* 6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word* of God. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
8βThis people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.β β
Things That Defile
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, βListen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.β 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, βDo you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?β 13He answered, βEvery plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.* And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.β 15But Peter said to him, βExplain this parable to us.β 16Then he said, βAre you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.β
The Canaanite Womanβs Faith
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, βHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.β 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, βSend her away, for she keeps shouting after us.β 24He answered, βI was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.β 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, βLord, help me.β 26He answered, βIt is not fair to take the childrenβs food and throw it to the dogs.β 27She said, βYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their mastersβ table.β 28Then Jesus answered her, βWoman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.β And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus Cures Many People
29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
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Had Mr Morris not wished to have supported his staff i am sure (in fact i am certain) that there are times he could have walked away from numerous ventures, taken the money, and closed the business leaving himself with immense personal wealth.
What i would say to the people moaning is the following: Remember who has paid you for the last, week, month, year or even decade (depending on your length of service) and remember where the money came from.
There are two types of people. The ones that melt in times of adversity and the ones that stand firm and support their business as if it was a family member. My advice would be to stand firm because one thing i can assure you - Morris will be at the top of that tree very very soon and those that treated the business like family will find themselves on a cumfy platform very close to the top of the tree if not at the top with him.
For those of you who opt to take wages AND then spout slanderous lies on this forum - you will be found out in time.
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The Parable of the Sower
13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: βListen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!β
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and asked him, βWhy do you speak to them in parables?β 11He answered, βTo you it has been given to know the secrets* of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13The reason I speak to them in parables is that βseeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.β 14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
βYou will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15For this peopleβs heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turnβ
and I would heal them.β
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 βHear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.β
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, βMaster, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?β 28He answered, βAn enemy has done this.β The slaves said to him, βThen do you want us to go and gather them?β 29But he replied, βNo; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.β β
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.β
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with* three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.β
The Use of Parables
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:*
βI will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.β*
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, βExplain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.β 37He answered, βThe one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen!
Three Parables
44 βThe kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51 βHave you understood all this?β They answered, βYes.β 52And he said to them, βTherefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.β 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
54 He came to his home town and began to teach the people* in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, βWhere did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenterβs son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?β 57And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, βProphets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.β 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14
The Death of John the Baptist
14At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; 2and he said to his servants, βThis is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.β 3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipβs wife,* 4because John had been telling him, βIt is not lawful for you to have her.β 5Though Herod* wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6But when Herodβs birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, βGive me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.β 9The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, βThis is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.β 16Jesus said to them, βThey need not go away; you give them something to eat.β 17They replied, βWe have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.β 18And he said, βBring them here to me.β 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,* for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, βIt is a ghost!β And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, βTake heart, it is I; do not be afraid.β
28 Peter answered him, βLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.β 29He said, βCome.β So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind,* he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, βLord, save me!β 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, βYou of little faith, why did you doubt?β 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, βTruly you are the Son of God.β
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 15
The Tradition of the Elders
15Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2βWhy do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.β 3He answered them, βAnd why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said,* βHonour your father and your mother,β and, βWhoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.β 5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, βWhatever support you might have had from me is given to Godβ,* then that person need not honour the father.* 6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word* of God. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
8βThis people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.β β
Things That Defile
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, βListen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.β 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, βDo you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?β 13He answered, βEvery plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.* And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.β 15But Peter said to him, βExplain this parable to us.β 16Then he said, βAre you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.β
The Canaanite Womanβs Faith
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, βHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.β 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, βSend her away, for she keeps shouting after us.β 24He answered, βI was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.β 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, βLord, help me.β 26He answered, βIt is not fair to take the childrenβs food and throw it to the dogs.β 27She said, βYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their mastersβ table.β 28Then Jesus answered her, βWoman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.β And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus Cures Many People
29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
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Re: funny i read all this
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Re: Re: funny i read all this
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Remember
Had Mr Morris not wished to have supported his staff i am sure (in fact i am certain) that there are times he could have walked away from numerous ventures, taken the money, and closed the business leaving himself with immense personal wealth.
What i would say to the people moaning is the following: Remember who has paid you for the last, week, month, year or even decade (depending on your length of service) and remember where the money came from.
There are two types of people. The ones that melt in times of adversity and the ones that stand firm and support their business as if it was a family member. My advice would be to stand firm because one thing i can assure you - Morris will be at the top of that tree very very soon and those that treated the business like family will find themselves on a cumfy platform very close to the top of the tree if not at the top with him.
For those of you who opt to take wages AND then spout slanderous lies on this forum - you will be found out in time.
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Couldn't be happier!
The Parable of the Sower
13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: βListen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears* listen!β
The Purpose of the Parables
10 Then the disciples came and asked him, βWhy do you speak to them in parables?β 11He answered, βTo you it has been given to know the secrets* of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13The reason I speak to them in parables is that βseeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.β 14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
βYou will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15For this peopleβs heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turnβ
and I would heal them.β
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 βHear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.β
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, βMaster, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?β 28He answered, βAn enemy has done this.β The slaves said to him, βThen do you want us to go and gather them?β 29But he replied, βNo; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.β β
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He put before them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.β
The Parable of the Yeast
33 He told them another parable: βThe kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with* three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.β
The Use of Parables
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet:*
βI will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.β*
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, βExplain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.β 37He answered, βThe one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen!
Three Parables
44 βThe kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 βAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old
51 βHave you understood all this?β They answered, βYes.β 52And he said to them, βTherefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.β 53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
54 He came to his home town and began to teach the people* in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, βWhere did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenterβs son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?β 57And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, βProphets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.β 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.
Matthew 14
The Death of John the Baptist
14At that time Herod the ruler* heard reports about Jesus; 2and he said to his servants, βThis is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.β 3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philipβs wife,* 4because John had been telling him, βIt is not lawful for you to have her.β 5Though Herod* wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6But when Herodβs birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, βGive me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.β 9The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Feeding the Five Thousand
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, βThis is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.β 16Jesus said to them, βThey need not go away; you give them something to eat.β 17They replied, βWe have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.β 18And he said, βBring them here to me.β 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,* for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, βIt is a ghost!β And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, βTake heart, it is I; do not be afraid.β
28 Peter answered him, βLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.β 29He said, βCome.β So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind,* he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, βLord, save me!β 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, βYou of little faith, why did you doubt?β 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, βTruly you are the Son of God.β
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 15
The Tradition of the Elders
15Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2βWhy do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.β 3He answered them, βAnd why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said,* βHonour your father and your mother,β and, βWhoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.β 5But you say that whoever tells father or mother, βWhatever support you might have had from me is given to Godβ,* then that person need not honour the father.* 6So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word* of God. 7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
8βThis people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.β β
Things That Defile
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, βListen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.β 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, βDo you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?β 13He answered, βEvery plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.* And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.β 15But Peter said to him, βExplain this parable to us.β 16Then he said, βAre you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.β
The Canaanite Womanβs Faith
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, βHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.β 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, βSend her away, for she keeps shouting after us.β 24He answered, βI was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.β 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, βLord, help me.β 26He answered, βIt is not fair to take the childrenβs food and throw it to the dogs.β 27She said, βYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their mastersβ table.β 28Then Jesus answered her, βWoman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.β And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus Cures Many People
29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
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Morris must be desperate
It's shocking that he's so rubbish that he still thinks people believe his utter BS.
As an aside, there was a report of an event which one of his siblings attended in London for the well to do Jewish fraternity. 1000 people attended and raised a grand total of Β£3000 for charity! wow very generous- they probably spent more on parking than that.
Also worth checking are the annual graphs on any of the share trading sites. hilarious negative graphs show how much Jeffteus IMpap is wasting on his behind the curve rubbish- long may it last, til he's on the dole and abandoned by even Mr Dirk Manley (see above)..
good luck to those still trying to get paid by him.
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back in business
They say that there is a deal with SSAT, which is surprising and they even have 7 orders! not bad for 3.5m loss last year!!
It would be interesting to know if they actually have a deal and if SSAT have had the wool pulled by this old school spammer, with a string of failed ventures and dodgy deals behind him.
Don't buy IMJack. Ask why Tanya Byron has parted company with this firm.
check out the blurb in this thread that's not just more babbling spam.
don't trust morris or his henchmen.
have a nice day y'all.
Tanya
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Hello All
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I bet he dont give a f*** hes got enough money to roll up a Β£50 note put some skunk in it and laugh at all that lot of you!! Get over it hes a crook so what?? at least hes good at what he does..
Jeffrey pass me the joint ..
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Re: JM
What a bunch of crap. There are two types of people: those who say there are two types of people and those who know that's always an oversimplification.
Get bent.
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Long live zombie threads about British spammers!
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never mind.
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Piece of work
While I have no idea whether Mr Morris is Jewish ( and don't care), I can see why one partisan would call him a shyster. He really is a piece of work. And it was nice of him to start the ball rolling again so that a whole new generation can learn about him and his evolving company names.
Please keep us posted as to how this turns out.
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Re:
When that "traffic" is spam, then while it might =/= spamming you, it = spamming others.
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At the end of October, he sacked 40 people on the last day so he could get away without paying them, and they are still to get paid. For the rest, the low earners got paid late, and the others have not been paid at all. He is also sacking staff again this week prior to pay day. He is claiming he has some a deal with the government and is running round like a desperate man to raise MORE money. From what my friend tells me, he has a gambler whose name is something like Brad who deals with all the shit, and just lies to everyone. All the staff that got sacked have joined together and are causing lots and lots of problems for the little fat greedy man morris. I know they have been to the press and the tv, and having him investigated. watch this space, coz the fatty lady is about to start to sing.
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jeffrey morris
Hope you guys are doing ok, good luck.
A happy man.
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The Media Buzz.
Just just been looking round to see whats happened to Mr Morris. I was chatting to a pal of mine over champers the other evening, he told me to check this out....
Just like the chap that says the job seemed like a good deal ( not sure how he gets on with spelling like that )
I too am an ex employee of Mr Morris.
I agree, it's a good job, also good product, good times to be had. I had a nice little Golf to drive around in fuel paid for, always got paid. Nice food in my exspanding waistline, went to work in fancy suits.
All my customers seemed very happy, making money hand over fist. You see they have to have a good product for this to work. The trick is to find the right customer.
In short, good man Mr Morris I too think this is a cool lot.
I trust Jeffrey and his pals are keeping well.
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A few good fellows chatting about Jeffrey
How come a sudden surge of nitwits have started praising Mr Morris? I'm still in touch with a few of my old pals, we all did ok in one way or another.We still work together now, learned some thing so we did.There is of course a common factor here, most of the above bitter people are greedy. Jeffrey knows your greed, you've been stumbling around in the dark for years, look stick with your dreams. Don't be week roll with the punches, you can't sell thats why you don't work for Jeffrey any more and thats why your'e probably unemployed. Boothy used to say get a grip, well get one.Oh, if you are bored enougth to be reading this Jeffrey my mole tells me things are on the up, well done.What I saw was good products selling, doing well and still are from the back lash. Earned myself a few cases, a few how do you do's from my time in the Media Buzz, nice.
Made a few new friends. Do you see how to do it? Easy,
Let me tell you something, walk at a moderate pace always shake hands. Nice, grin at your customer keep all entrances and exits clean, you will do well.
Lets hear it for Jeffrey.
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Re: Morris the liar
Your friend, obviously you had pre warned him what to exspect?Still had a go. Didn't he? Wanted to crack the nut, and so he should, ok so he failed. Big deal, tell him it's a long race, sometimes you can run from the back all the way, then all of a sudden the bunch weakens and you begin to make your move. Listen, I'm going to tell you something.
Keep busy, I know it's hard, but this is nothing I've seen this all before. Chatting to one of my deals from a few years ago ( relationship ) over a glass or two of full boddied red wine last night. He's doing well, pleased so he is, grinned at me, loaning me his holiday appartment next year for some time in the sun. See? Easy.
Let's hear it for the big hitters.
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Re: Re: Morris the liar
Got your message checking out the site, you wanted me to put some thing in ~ oh, such stories to tell! You're cool, this I know, these idiots can't sell? won't sell. Just interested in their basic, no vision nothing driving crapped out cars mortgages
/ kids ~ nightmare land and now they've got together in a gang? Jeffrey should be worried. NOT! Oh long days ( and nights ) makin' deals / doin' the right thing. Drinkin' wine, smokin' cubans' I luved it, can't wait to be reunited and see what you've got cookin'
You told me something, pal them up make it work, I remember I did it I'm not doin bad, got the pals, heard a few stories about you, buzz me.
Good man Jeffrey.
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Morris the crook
lets face it you could count on one hand the people that really like him and it would take a long time to list the people that deetest the lieing crook.
gone is all your money mr thief, i mean jefery, and i look forward to reading about your business going to the wall.
karma is a great thing
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Re: Morris the crook
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Morris the crook
lets face it you could count on one hand the people that really like him and it would take a long time to list the people that deetest the lieing crook.
gone is all your money mr thief, i mean jefery, and i look forward to reading about your business going to the wall.
karma is a great thing
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Re: Morris the crook
sounds like his time is up in the world of bisness
christmas may come early
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SUMS UP THE CROOK
I IMAGINE THE ONLY REASON MORRIS USES THIS LAWYER, WHO EVIDENTLY KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT THE LAW, IS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL DEAL WITH HIM. MOST HAVE SUED HIM AND HE OWES MONEY TO THE REMAINDER.
Here at Techdirt, unfortunately, we get an average of about one legal threat per month. The threats are almost always frivolous -- and often made in anger without the individual realizing why the threats are frivolous. While some sites take the position that they will publish any and all legal threats, we have always tried to give the threatening party the benefit of the doubt, and to recognize that they made their demands in a moment of excess anger and misunderstanding. As such, we generally explain our position as to why any legal action would be a mistake -- and in nearly every case, we never hear back from the person who threatened us.
However, we have recently received a legal threat that we feel deserves attention and airing for a variety of reasons.
Unlike most threats, this one came directly from lawyers representing the individual, rather than from the individual directly.
The threats are quite incredible, demanding that we shut down the entire site of Techdirt, due to a comment (or, potentially, comments) that the client did not like.
The lawyer fails to identify, other than a single snippet and a date, what post or specific comments are objectionable and why (beyond a suggestion of anti-semitism, which while despicable, is not illegal). I guess, since they are demanding we shut down the entire site or be sued, such details are not considered pertinent.
As we detail on this site on a somewhat regular basis, sites like ours are protected by Section 230 of the CDA from libel charges against statements made by users of the site. So any legal action against us is entirely pointless.
Most importantly, this threat is coming from the UK, and the lawyers insist that they will take it to court in the UK. This makes it rather timely and newsworthy for an entirely different reason. Just a few weeks ago we wrote about the new SPEECH Act that was passed into law to protect against libel tourism. As the Congressional record shows, the law was specifically designed to protect US businesses from libel judgments that violate Section 230 -- and the bill's backers explicitly call out libel judgments made in the UK. In other words, the SPEECH Act explicitly protects us from exactly the sort of threat that these lawyers and their client are making against us:
The purpose of this provision is to ensure that libel tourists do not attempt to chill speech by suing a third-party interactive computer service, rather than the actual author of the offending statement.
In such circumstances, the service provider would likely take down the allegedly offending material rather than face a lawsuit. Providing immunity removes this unhealthy incentive to take down material under improper pressure.
Separate from the Section 230 defenses, we are also protected due to a lack of personal jurisdiction, which, again, is supported by the recently passed SPEECH Act. It is entirely possible that the lawyers were unaware of the SPEECH Act, but it does seem like a law firm making legal threats in a foreign country should be expected to have researched the legal barriers to making such a claim before using billable hours to make threats they cannot back up.
Finally, it's important to note that a part of the SPEECH Act allows sites protected under this law to seek attorneys' fees should they be targeted in such a lawsuit. Rest assured that we would explore the option to the fullest, if need be.
Separately, I will note that on the same day that I received the legal threat letter from this law firm of Addlestone Keane, I also received an email from someone claiming to be both a regular Techdirt reader and a friend of the client, Jeffrey Morris, saying that he was contacting me to ask if I could, out of the kindness of my heart, remove the comments that are bothering Mr. Morris. Of course, the paper threat letter sent by Mr. Morris' lawyers was sent five days prior to this email from Mr. Morris' friend. Our policy at Techdirt is that we do not remove comments on such requests, other than comments that we judge to be spam, so we would not have removed the comments, anyway. However, it is odd that Mr. Morris would first have his lawyers pull out the "nuclear option" and demand that we shut down our entire site, and then days later have a friend reach out to make a personal plea.
As such, given the newsworthy nature of an example of where the brand new law (thankfully) protects us, as well as the fact that we do not feel it is decent or right for anyone to demand we shut down our entire site or be sued halfway around the world, because he does not appreciate a comment someone made about him, we are publishing the letter that was sent to us. Thanks in part to the new law, we have no obligation to respond to Mr. Morris, his friend or the lawyers at Addlestone Keane, who (one would hope) will better advise their clients not to pursue such fruitless legal threats in the future. Should Mr. Morris and his solicitors decide that they wish to proceed with such a pointless and wasteful lawsuit against us, which will only serve to cost Mr. Morris significant legal sums with no hope of recovery, we will continue to report on it, safe in the knowledge that it has no bearing on us. The only potential issue I could foresee would be that any UK judgment against us could prevent me from traveling to the UK in the future, which would be unfortunate, as I have quite enjoyed past visits to the UK. But perhaps such ridiculous outcomes will help the UK realize that it's really about time to update its incredibly outdated libel laws and begin respecting free speech rights.
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Re: Re: Morris the crook
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SUMS UP THE CROOK
I IMAGINE THE ONLY REASON MORRIS USES THIS LAWYER, WHO EVIDENTLY KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT THE LAW, IS BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL DEAL WITH HIM. MOST HAVE SUED HIM AND HE OWES MONEY TO THE REMAINDER.
Here at Techdirt, unfortunately, we get an average of about one legal threat per month. The threats are almost always frivolous -- and often made in anger without the individual realizing why the threats are frivolous. While some sites take the position that they will publish any and all legal threats, we have always tried to give the threatening party the benefit of the doubt, and to recognize that they made their demands in a moment of excess anger and misunderstanding. As such, we generally explain our position as to why any legal action would be a mistake -- and in nearly every case, we never hear back from the person who threatened us.
However, we have recently received a legal threat that we feel deserves attention and airing for a variety of reasons.
Unlike most threats, this one came directly from lawyers representing the individual, rather than from the individual directly.
The threats are quite incredible, demanding that we shut down the entire site of Techdirt, due to a comment (or, potentially, comments) that the client did not like.
The lawyer fails to identify, other than a single snippet and a date, what post or specific comments are objectionable and why (beyond a suggestion of anti-semitism, which while despicable, is not illegal). I guess, since they are demanding we shut down the entire site or be sued, such details are not considered pertinent.
As we detail on this site on a somewhat regular basis, sites like ours are protected by Section 230 of the CDA from libel charges against statements made by users of the site. So any legal action against us is entirely pointless.
Most importantly, this threat is coming from the UK, and the lawyers insist that they will take it to court in the UK. This makes it rather timely and newsworthy for an entirely different reason. Just a few weeks ago we wrote about the new SPEECH Act that was passed into law to protect against libel tourism. As the Congressional record shows, the law was specifically designed to protect US businesses from libel judgments that violate Section 230 -- and the bill's backers explicitly call out libel judgments made in the UK. In other words, the SPEECH Act explicitly protects us from exactly the sort of threat that these lawyers and their client are making against us:
The purpose of this provision is to ensure that libel tourists do not attempt to chill speech by suing a third-party interactive computer service, rather than the actual author of the offending statement.
In such circumstances, the service provider would likely take down the allegedly offending material rather than face a lawsuit. Providing immunity removes this unhealthy incentive to take down material under improper pressure.
Separate from the Section 230 defenses, we are also protected due to a lack of personal jurisdiction, which, again, is supported by the recently passed SPEECH Act. It is entirely possible that the lawyers were unaware of the SPEECH Act, but it does seem like a law firm making legal threats in a foreign country should be expected to have researched the legal barriers to making such a claim before using billable hours to make threats they cannot back up.
Finally, it's important to note that a part of the SPEECH Act allows sites protected under this law to seek attorneys' fees should they be targeted in such a lawsuit. Rest assured that we would explore the option to the fullest, if need be.
Separately, I will note that on the same day that I received the legal threat letter from this law firm of Addlestone Keane, I also received an email from someone claiming to be both a regular Techdirt reader and a friend of the client, Jeffrey Morris, saying that he was contacting me to ask if I could, out of the kindness of my heart, remove the comments that are bothering Mr. Morris. Of course, the paper threat letter sent by Mr. Morris' lawyers was sent five days prior to this email from Mr. Morris' friend. Our policy at Techdirt is that we do not remove comments on such requests, other than comments that we judge to be spam, so we would not have removed the comments, anyway. However, it is odd that Mr. Morris would first have his lawyers pull out the "nuclear option" and demand that we shut down our entire site, and then days later have a friend reach out to make a personal plea.
As such, given the newsworthy nature of an example of where the brand new law (thankfully) protects us, as well as the fact that we do not feel it is decent or right for anyone to demand we shut down our entire site or be sued halfway around the world, because he does not appreciate a comment someone made about him, we are publishing the letter that was sent to us. Thanks in part to the new law, we have no obligation to respond to Mr. Morris, his friend or the lawyers at Addlestone Keane, who (one would hope) will better advise their clients not to pursue such fruitless legal threats in the future. Should Mr. Morris and his solicitors decide that they wish to proceed with such a pointless and wasteful lawsuit against us, which will only serve to cost Mr. Morris significant legal sums with no hope of recovery, we will continue to report on it, safe in the knowledge that it has no bearing on us. The only potential issue I could foresee would be that any UK judgment against us could prevent me from traveling to the UK in the future, which would be unfortunate, as I have quite enjoyed past visits to the UK. But perhaps such ridiculous outcomes will help the UK realize that it's really about time to update its incredibly outdated libel laws and begin respecting free speech rights.
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DONT YOU LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER
IM IMPRESSED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS POST ON AN ALERT.
HIS 'FRIEND' IS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN HIS LAWYER ACCORDING TO MR. TECHDIRT.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100825/02002110771.shtml#comments
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MORRIS VOODOO DOLL
look now on www.firebox-ish.co.uk/morrisfamilyvoodoos
Need to get mine so dont buy them all.......
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MORRIS VOODOO DOLL
look now on www.firebox-ish.co.uk/morrisfamilyvoodoos
Need to get mine so dont buy them all.......
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MORRIS VOODOO DOLL
look now on www.firebox-ish.co.uk/morrisfamilyvoodoos
Need to get mine so dont buy them all.......
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Re: MORRIS VOODOO DOLL
I wish this business could last forever but all good things do come to an end and this one is nearing that phase.
The Clampetts are not even going on their £100K+ holiday this winter which in itself shows how hard times are for them.
We all admire you Jeffrey and see you as an icon.
Next time you want to waste £10M+ i suggest you find a worthy charity.
See you in the dole queue soon
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Re: SUMS UP THE CROOK
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Re: Re: SUMS UP THE CROOK
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P.s His product has never worked nor will it!
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i feel sick
sacked for no reason without pay got lots of excuses waiting on directors to sign cheques waiting on funding blah de blah Last phone calll he said he were sick of people like me and put the phone down. getting people together for insolvency proceedings against this bastardi want him to pay
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i feel sick
sacked for no reason without pay got lots of excuses waiting on directors to sign cheques waiting on funding blah de blah Last phone calll he said he were sick of people like me and put the phone down. getting people together for insolvency proceedings against this bastardi want him to pay
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Re: A few good fellows chatting about Jeffrey
two whats that got to do with not paying people illegal i think so.,
three your praising a criminal must mean your one yourself.
Cant wait to see u and whoever assoicated with this vile little man behind bars. My sister a criminal lawyer will bring you down oh cant wait to christmas to she brings u all down
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Re: Re: Re: SUMS UP THE CROOK
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Upcoming Protest
I don't want to give my name on here but I worked with you in telesales. Your back faced my back.
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Re: Upcoming Protest
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Re: DONT YOU LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER
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How repulsive were those Sunday meetings? My family are a little younger so were not affected by those Sunday morning Morris shows but I feel so sorry for those people who missed out on spending precious time with their young kids, and there were many of them.
I hear he has a son that now works with him who is marginally thicker than him so it's little wonder he is all but finished.
If he is so protective of his family he ought to respect the families of others.
It's all too late now, the man is finished, and I only hope he reads these posts and sees what he really stood for. I bet he doesn't walk around Harrogate anymore like he owns the place.
Anyway, please forward a link to these posts to anyone you may still be in touch with that worked at Minorplanet and let's give them some enjoyment too.
And here is the new song to the tune we should all sing:
Where's your money gone
Where's your money gone
Where's your money gone
Far far away
Love and peace to you all during this festive season.
KEEP POSTING
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Does this monster owe you money?
We will then monitor the situation closely and should any debts be outstanding in two weeks then various phone numbers will be publicised.
WATCH THIS SPACE
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Your delightful daughter
Are you at a financial level where it is ok for your large arsed daughter to speak to normal people or is everyone still below her?
Let us know won't you,
M. Dancer
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Your delightful daughter
Are you at a financial level where it is ok for your large arsed daughter to speak to normal people or is everyone still below her?
Let us know won't you,
M. Dancer
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Where is my money?
I don't agree with all the posts on here coz I think it nawty to kick a helpless fatty when he's on the floor but I can make an exeption for you u prick.
It's coming up to Christmas and you have my money for the month I worked and you keep fobbing me off.
Will you be hungry this Christmas and unable to buy the presents you want for close ones
Loser
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He's at it again
I feel really sorry for his latest victims given the closeness to Christmas and all I can say is for you to all stick together and fight him. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
May the force be with you and let's see this cheat toppled for good.
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Re: He's at it again
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Details
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Campaign
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Campaign
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The noose is tightening.
Check this out::::::
http://www.edugeek.net/forums/virtual-learning-platforms/53864-imjack-2.html
Please post on there.
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The noose is tightening.
Check this out::::::
http://www.edugeek.net/forums/virtual-learning-platforms/53864-imjack-2.html
Please post on there.
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Check this out
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Advent Calendar
Get yours today from any good public toilet.
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Congratulations
Well done and keep the posts coming wherever you can.
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Re: Congratulations
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What if?
Those that could did well and brought money in. Those that couldn't, but said they could, just sat with their mouths open. They need'd ridding and quickly, damage management.
What if when you went out in your cars supplied by Jeffrey you actually got appointments, deals? Gonna see the guys tonight, stroll, talk, have a cuban you know the drill.
Oh mistakes were made, a nats ear from the millionaires club
thats how the days were.
Look, let me tell you some thing I know a handfull of other companies selling the same product, Manchester based, good salesmen, selling it so they are, see? See it? Got it? Get it?
I know, I know, theres a way.
Heres to the zero's to hero's.
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Good fellow
You know you know theres a way of what? Selling sand to the Arabs?
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ITS CHRISTMAS!!!!
It seems like Morris is now on his last legs and suffering like a whale out of water. I am not able to take any pleasure from this so i have setup the following website to raise some money for him.
www.justgiving.co.uk/helptheclampittseatoverchristmas
Please try and give what you can in this, the season of giving and forgiving, and lets try and provide this twerp with enough manure over Christmas so he doesn't go hungry.
Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas
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Re 148 Good fellow / Ex employee.
Yeah I know, developd in house. Look, been all over the country selling,Lots of same product out there, different shirt, that's all. Met them, spoke to them, lunched with them. In house? So what?
Stumbled on them once or twice ( not good ) better product knowledge than the Leeds crew. So this could lead me to asking the following, how many salesmen / women actually understood / understand the product?
Chapter one.
You need a new front door, lets in draft, cracked glass. Makes your house look bad. So you find a tradesman. Got a lot of exsperience? Yeah, fitted dozens, oh, ok. What sort of wood will it be? not sure govna, have to ask the guys back at the depot. Oh. What about the handles etc? I think they might be brass, or maybe silver. were will the leter box be, you're the tradseman right/ yeah, not sure actually.
Chapter two.
You foolishly allow him to fit the door, with out knowing if it's going to do the job. Not only is it a crap fit, its a crap job nothing like it says on the box.
Pay him would you? shake his hand would you? His boss gonna be pleased with him? Is he? Pay him? Would he? Give him a shiny new van to pratt around in, would he? Should he?
To the current employees, learn, learn, learn and don't and don't go out into the big bad world until you know your stuff. Make you own app's, let them know you're coming to sell to them. Sit down with them, find out what they do, what they need, their client base, customers pocket, product value, this is key, for them and you.Don't get that stupid lap top out, make sure they have something worth working with. Some things just don't sell, it's no good to them.
Yeah, the sand would be bought.
Quick, make haste.
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Good Fellow
Thanks
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Good Fellow
Thanks
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Re Ex Employee.
I knew of only a hand full of people, amongst the dozens that passed through the doors who could actually sell, they didn't know what they were selling. They said they could sell, they couldn't, it was embarrassing. I'm not slating them, no, not at all. They couldn't sell, wrong job, telesales appointments with product value of a few quid, no good. Rep's sitting these crazy app's, no good.
Doesn't anyone see it? Didn't anyone notice?
Rep's spending all day driving to one appointment, crazy cottage buisness appointment's.
I know they could see it.
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The same
The truth is I couldn't sell it.
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Dont Despair
Dont lose confidence in yourself
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Dont Despair
Dont lose confidence in yourself
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Wave goodbly to the failure
You have this wrong. Jeffrey Morris has spent £??m on IMjack and its about to go to the wall and be classified as a complete failure because of him.he can't run a business that takes and makes money. The man is a loser and his business is a gonner.
I think you are right that he will not last into the new year and this will be a great Christmas present for me but upsetting for the ones who he sacked without pay.
If my information is accurate all his friends have gone and he is left like a rabbit in the headlights with only his thick c**t of a brother in law to turn to. and he is fuckin thick (more brains in a twix) The funny thing is that they hate eachother.
Lets just all hope that not only will the fat thick failure lose everything but hopefully he will get investigated too.
Id hate to see him in nick!!!
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My Inside View
I hope he can't find out who I am. I am doing this annonimously but I have not said anything that is not the truth.
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You don't get it.
Think out-side the box.
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Don't you know it?
Afraid be you?
Be very, be you.
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You make us all feel sick
But cant wait for that fall
When you lose it all
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Morris the Retard
It will be interesting to see what happens next week when it comes to pay-day but word on the street is that he will promise wages on the first working day after the first round of bank holidays and wont be seen again. I think a sign will go on the front door of that cesspit (any suggestions what the sign may say?) and that snake Morris will go into hiding.
Just shows what a loser that Morris is and what a sad deceitful life he leads
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THE FAILURE
All the people he has screwed and belittled will now be looking at this pathetic failure and quietly laughing whilst he stands in the bitter cold selling counterfeit tat on Briggate from a portable shack. How f*****g funny will that be?
Facts do not lie and for all those that have been released from his sick clutches due to this failure you should count yourselves lucky.
No longer will he be referred to as a "millionaire from Leeds" or "an anonymous Yorkshire millionaire" or indeed a successful entrepeneur, oh no, those days are gone. His legacy will simply be made up of four words:
JEFFREY MORRIS THE FAILURE
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Toast the failure
The bookies now think the businesses will go to the wall before next friday. I can only imagine how furious that will leave people.
Will someone working there please take a picture of him. I want to see how many more wrinkles he has, how he has ballooned and the fire coming out of his ears.
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What a joke
Jeffrey Morris didn't even have the bottle to show his face today. I like many others on here detest everything he stands for.
Thanks for ruining my Christmas as I can now afford no presents nor can I afford to go to be with the rest of my family.
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A Christmas Carol
They both walked off into the night cursing their need to beg for a living.
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Bull week
Next week is bull week, no, maybe not at Imjack. Your Bull week. I met a lot of people who worked for Jeffrey who should have kept driving vans or serving food, but skilled people too. Good chaps all round, so look, get out there if Jeffrey started out selling pens so can you.
Stop fooling yourselves with all the failure crap. Thats not true.
Any how, Bull week coming up.
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Cool hand Luke
Remember the scene? where are you all now? Remember? No?
Let me remind you, Jeffrey can I have a new car? Jeffrey I need a sub. Jeffrey I know i'm a big shot but I've got no petrol money.
where are you?
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not long too go
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Posts 172 &173
He hasn't sacked people after they have worked for him for a full month and never paid them.
He has never humiliated people publicly.
He has never paid useless people because of the personal relationship he has with them or their family.
He has never sent multiple business into liquidation.
He has never tried to manipulate peoples lives for his own sick satisfaction.
He has never told a lie.
He has never defrauded anyone.
He always listens to others opinions.
He is a lovely guy soon to be a lovely failure.
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Poetry at its best!
He has gone from rich to poor
I have heard he wants to move abroad
As they won't know that he's a fraud
It's great to see him with no money
I find it so fucking funny
Hes looking fat and so very old
Hi business is closing this week so I'm told
So fuck you Morris ur a cunt
With you no one wants a punt
Ur finished so now let's raise a glass
To Jeffrey Morris the little fat brass
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Another Verse
About Jeffrey Morris the fat old scrote
Let's just hope that failing fuck
Never has another minutes luck.
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I have recently been alerted to this site, and as I have known Jeff Morris for over 20 years, I truly am shocked to the core as to how he has treated people. Whilst I am aware of his generosity in times gone by, albeit with other peoples money, it does not provide him with a licence to run rough shot over people like he is doing now. One good deed does not permit a bad deed! It is clear to me and the local community here in Leeds and Harrogate that yes, Jeff has indeed failed and ran out of luck and money and is no longer a man to be respected or even considered a stalwart of the local business community. He has clearly bought shame on all those he is associated with such as Michael Abrahams and Geoff Taylor who are good good people. The only bit of advice I can give you Jeffrey is that if you have failed, and it looks like you have, do the right and proper thing and show some honesty and try not to rub people up the wrong way by not paying staff and suppliers whilst putting your daughter in a brand new black Audi TT. It really does make you look even more pathetic by trying to put a show on to people here in Harrogate, as we all know what you are about, and cannot afford it.
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Continued from previous entry - sorry pressed wrong button in all the excitement!!
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THE TRUTH
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Is it going going gone
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Seven in the bag.
Seven due this week.
Cheers.
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Mmmm?
Failure? Mmmmm? I remember a conversation late one night took it in. You know, really in. Took it all in. Absorbed it. Thought about it as I drove, sold, as I ate. Stank of it, always stunk of it. Been stinking these past weeks as I've worked my christmas bells off. Dealing people, stench coming off me, watch glittering with every hand shake.Had a drink in Leeds the other night with some pals, stank!
New Year, soon, mmmmm? we'll see.
Merry Christmas.
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season for truth
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Re: season for truth
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let's tell the truth
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Bye bye Jeffrey Morris
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reporting Mr Jeffrey Morris and co
http://insolvency.gov.uk/complaintformcib.htm
More ppl report him the better
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Re 188 / A few good men
Merry Christmas, to Jeffrey and the work force.
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I don't like Morris either
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Re: I don't like Morris either
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time to say goodbye
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Re: Re 188 / A few good men
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Just facts
For all of those still there, commiserations. Looks like you are going to be sent home today with a small percentage of your wages (depending on who you are) and then some of you will be invited to work for the new business in January. This man is desperate and will say anything. REMEMBER HE NEEDS TO FIND £87,000.00 FOR THE COURT ORDER FROM STRAND HANSON LIMITED BY FRIDAY OR THEY WILL WIND HIM UP. IF THEY DON'T, OTHERS MOST CERTAINLY WILL.
For those of you looking for justice keep watching this space although you will enjoy the the confirmation of the £11 MILLION he has wasted in this business.
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The truth
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time to say goodbye
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WE TOLD YOU FIRST
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Forty three million lies and we can prove it.
There are many organisations very interested in his dodgy dealings , insider trading, diverting assets from creditors not to mention the interest being shown by HMRC regarding the dealings of The Media Buzz and his methods deployed in trying to obtain whitness statements.
Merry Christmas Jeffrey Morris
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A warning
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It's official - MORRIS IS A FAILURE!!!
I like that story about the quad bikes - well done Informer.
Let's not forget that Morris still has no money, still owes fortunes and is still getting sued by many people so do not be disenchanted with one silly announcement. I bet he never paid anyones wages but promised to pay them before they return after the break..............
I'm sure (in fact I know) that members of the Morris family will soon be receiving some legal mail to his negative equity house in the very near future - call them belated Christmas presents.
Finally, it is after all Christmas Day and for whatever you could / couldn't afford this morning as a result of Morris' actions be thankful for only one thing - YOU ARE NOT HIM BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS IN COMPARISON TO HIM. HE IS AN OFFICIAL FAILURE!!!
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NEARLY THERE
http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=IMJ
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO POST ON ANY TEACHER OR LEA FORUMS ABOUT YOUR TRUE FEELINGS TOWARDS IMJACK. LOADS OF HEADS HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY FURTHER INTEREST AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE READ ONLINE SO LETS KEEP THIS CAMPAIGN BURNING BRIGHTLY.
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NEARLY THERE
http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=IMJ
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO POST ON ANY TEACHER OR LEA FORUMS ABOUT YOUR TRUE FEELINGS TOWARDS IMJACK. LOADS OF HEADS HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY FURTHER INTEREST AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE READ ONLINE SO LETS KEEP THIS CAMPAIGN BURNING BRIGHTLY.
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NEARLY THERE
http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=IMJ
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO POST ON ANY TEACHER OR LEA FORUMS ABOUT YOUR TRUE FEELINGS TOWARDS IMJACK. LOADS OF HEADS HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY FURTHER INTEREST AFTER WHAT THEY HAVE READ ONLINE SO LETS KEEP THIS CAMPAIGN BURNING BRIGHTLY.
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They cant pull the wool over our eyes
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail.html?announ cementId=10749442
Anyone see any irregularities with it? Please leave your comments below.
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Reply to previous post
Cheers.
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FID, Dec 21st, 2010 @ 2:29pm
serious fraud office= http://www.sfo.gov.uk/
http://insolvency.gov.uk/complaintformcib.htm
More ppl report him the better
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HER MAJESTYS HOTEL AWAITS MORRIS THE FAILURE
http://www.hwfisher.co.uk/site/cms/contentCategoryView.asp?category=256
We have successfully recruited VR (those of you reading this will know who she is) and we are in the process of looking for others who can help our cause and prevent this corporate thug from getting away with yet more shenanigans. We are on a crusade to ensure he is held accountable for EVERYTHING the authorities find it necessary to investigate him for.
As for Imjack - the process is in full swing having taken advice from some very interesting people who think we can get the assets of the business frozen within two weeks. There will however be further instructions posted on here as to how YOU can help.
You can also email anonymously to failuremorris@gmail.com and we urge you to do so.
THESE EMAILS ARE 100% untraceable and if you have any doubt please send from a pseudo (made up) email address. Regardless of whether you still work for the thug or you have previously been employed by him. WE REQUIRE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THIS MAN LOSES EVERYTHING AND IF FOUND GUILTY OF WHAT WE THINK HE MAY BE GUILTY OF, WILL SPEND A LONG TIME IN PRISON.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO REALISE JUSTICE.
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HER MAJESTYS HOTEL AWAITS MORRIS THE FAILURE
http://www.hwfisher.co.uk/site/cms/contentCategoryView.asp?category=256
We have successfully recruited VR (those of you reading this will know who she is) and we are in the process of looking for others who can help our cause and prevent this corporate thug from getting away with yet more shenanigans. We are on a crusade to ensure he is held accountable for EVERYTHING the authorities find it necessary to investigate him for.
As for Imjack - the process is in full swing having taken advice from some very interesting people who think we can get the assets of the business frozen within two weeks. There will however be further instructions posted on here as to how YOU can help.
You can also email anonymously to failuremorris@gmail.com and we urge you to do so.
THESE EMAILS ARE 100% untraceable and if you have any doubt please send from a pseudo (made up) email address. Regardless of whether you still work for the thug or you have previously been employed by him. WE REQUIRE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THIS MAN LOSES EVERYTHING AND IF FOUND GUILTY OF WHAT WE THINK HE MAY BE GUILTY OF, WILL SPEND A LONG TIME IN PRISON.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO REALISE JUSTICE.
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My opinion
So pathetic are you, you are like a bird with no wings. No Michael Abrahams or Jeff Taylor to help you, they can't wait to wipe their hands of you. You are on the verge of losing everything and even the people still working for you absolutely hate you. They say when you speak they cringe.
Rumour has it you have been running a business illegally so we are going to ask the authorities to investigate. There are other rumours too that I dare not mention on here. In fact rumors are rife and I hope for your sake they are unfounded.
This us what happens when you use people and knowingly negatively affect their lives. You see that is an evil thing to do and it invokes angry reactions. We don't ever use violence or lies and when it comes to you there is a wealth of information to use, we feel spoilt.
There is no escaping this time. Can you afford the lawyers bills or will you now qualify for legal aid?
For those of you who think Morris is happy let me assure you he isn't. He's usually in Barbados now but he can't afford it. He can't even afford to go to Blackpool. He can't go to Harrogate because everyone is laughing at him and his big shot family nor can he go to Leeds because he doesn't feel safe. He is stuck in his shack surrounded by a level of security that Obama would be proud of - I wonder why???
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AS REQUESTED
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Lets work to highlight the failure.
failuremorris@gmail.com
Lets demonstrate what we can do together.
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Please keep the teachers updated with whats going on, as they need to know.
Cheers and keep up the good work!!
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Failure Morris
This dirty scum bag will be taught an important lesson in how NOT to treat people.
Oh, Jeffrey Morris, you are in so much trouble and we are going to revell in watching it play out. In fact you are f****d and there is not a thing you can do about it.
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EVERY POST COUNTS
http://www.edugeek.net/forums/virtual-learning-platforms/68052-imjack.html#post 607458
REMEMBER EVERY POST COUNTS. DONT UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF A POST ON A SITE LIKE THIS. WHEN THE SALES PEOPLE WENT ON CALLS A LOT OF HEADS WOULD QUOTE THIS SITE.
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Link Correction
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Campaign Update
failuremorris@gmail.com
We have currently had seven replies with calls scheduled tomorrow with four of the respondents.
We have also recruited a "big wig" from the city as well as some high-end, free legal representation. We do not feel this will be a long drawn out process but the more people we have on board the greater impact we have. We are also getting help from a couple of people Morris has had previous dealings with from the education sector - surprisingly he owes them money too so they have expressed a desire to assist. They again are high profile - one being an x advisor to the government.
Finally we would like some assistance in rounding up all the people that have been so cruelly sacked without pay from Imjack as we will be arranging a peaceful protest outside Mr Morris' office and then on to his home address but need to sync with a couple of interested journalists to ensure maximum exposure.
There may (will) be a case for us having to stop posting detailed updates on techdirt once the legal phase is in full swing so please sign up to the newsletter at failuremorris@gmail.com and stay updated.
Well done everyone so far and we thank you for your help.
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Wages Tomorrow or is he lying again
Watch this space.
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wages update
look like there going to be no wages for us
i hope im wrong or that prick gonna be in a spot of bother.
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Re: Wamey
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WAGES UPDATE - WE NOT BEEN PAID
There are not many people in the world that would treat people like this dog has treated us at christmas time. Now i know how all those people felt that he has done it to over the last few months.
i bet he pays Adam Gould coz he is used to sack everyone. Thats all he has done since arriving five years ago. What a lazy useless fucka. I imagine Morris keeps him there for some motive best known to himself. If anyone knows the reason please let us know.
He hasn't paid us and that means trouble for him. I will be surprised if anyone other than his thick useless brother in law turns up on the first day back. I will write again about that thick shit of a brother in law but the important thing now is getting paid.
and now a plea direct to jeffrey.
MORRIS YOU LOSER, PAY US FOR OUR WAGES THAT WE HAVE WORKED FOR AND EARNT YOU LIEING THIEF
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Pressure Pays
2011 is going to be a great year if your surname isn't Morris so let's raise a glass together, look forward and stay focused - the toast is....
BEST TOAST SUGGESTION WINS A PRIZE. ANSWERS ON THIS FORUM.GOOD LUCK
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2011 The Year Morris finally lost everything
We are proud of all of you and promise that we will not stop until EVERYONE has been paid for the time they work or until Morris and his business are declared officially bankrupt.
This is likely to be a straight forward process as it has recently been highlighted on another forum (you subscribers know which one i am referring to) all the illegal practices Morris has been involved with. We must stress at this early stage that these illegal practices are currently only alleged illegal practices. It is all very very exciting and we cannot wait.
We promise you that as regards Morris the Failure 2011 is going to be THE YEAR OF JUSTICE.
Happy New Year
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Also, one of the guys who works here went down to Bristol for Christmas and was shooting his mouth off that if he never got his money, he wasn't coming back. Guess what, Morris the Failure paid him - I wonder who this guys dad is. All guesses are welcome and the winner will get a free Morris the Failure 2011 calendar featuring all his failed businesses. Hahaha
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Morris the Slug
Don't know the guy in Bristol but I do know what everyone knpws and thats that Morris is now completely finished. I heard this weekend that he is now using illness as an excuse for his complete failure.
I was talking to an ex friend of his in Harrogate and found out that he apparently thinks he has a case going against a high street bank for 40 million and he is suing them for that amount in the hope they will settle with him for six or seven million. How funny! Oh, he also told me Morris doesn't speak to any of his old acquaintances anymore because he owes most of them significant sums of money.
Ssshhhhh, don't tell anyone but I also heard from a reliable source Michael Abrahams cannot wait to sever his association with Morris and following that he will never speak to him again because he has lost all respect for him. Remember, I'm not supposed to have repeated that.
One of the Harrogate boys he lulled into parting with some money said he been fucked by Morris but nothing like the way Morris is going to get fucked by the authorities when they investigate how this slug has been operating. I call him a slug because they leave slimy trails like Morris.
I going to buy him a belated Xmas gift and he likes the best so he's going to get the finest slug pellets I bought at the great Yorkshire show last summer.
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Morris the Failure
Yorkshire may have experienced a small earthquake last night but they want to brace themselves for the one thats going to hit Jeffrey Morris in the next 3-4 weeks. Tremors will be felt as far as Lombards Head office as well as Barclays Bank HQ.... Its going to be a big one.
Finally we have had confirmation that there is no way in this world that the SSAT will be going anywhere near The Days or Imjack and will begin distancing themselves at the forthcoming BETT event.
Lets face it, we brought down Imjack Secure Ltd, we are close to bringing Morris to justice and we promise you that Imjack PLC will be gone by March.
We are never wrong.
OH, i forgot to mention Did you all know that the main source of Morris' income is now a car park. We didnt, and neither did the tax man. Suffice to say they now Know ;-)
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Morris the Failure
Yorkshire may have experienced a small earthquake last night but they want to brace themselves for the one thats going to hit Jeffrey Morris in the next 3-4 weeks. Tremors will be felt as far as Lombards Head office as well as Barclays Bank HQ.... Its going to be a big one.
Finally we have had confirmation that there is no way in this world that the SSAT will be going anywhere near The Days or Imjack and will begin distancing themselves at the forthcoming BETT event.
Lets face it, we brought down Imjack Secure Ltd, we are close to bringing Morris to justice and we promise you that Imjack PLC will be gone by March.
We are never wrong.
OH, i forgot to mention Did you all know that the main source of Morris' income is now a car park. We didnt, and neither did the tax man. Suffice to say they now Know ;-)
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This campaign will not be running out of steam and Jeffrey Morris neads to understand that, and we will keep on going until this man learns that you cannot go round behaving like he does. By the way, I loved last weeks newsletter!
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LOW LIFE MORRIS
Facts are facts and here are a few of them:
1) He has no money left and is in negative equity.
2) He is terribly desperate.
3) He has absolutely no clue what he is doing.
4) He has had to sell personal possessions to pay his everyday bills.
5) He has had to sell his holiday home and has now tossd that money off.
6) He cant get a bank account......HAHAHAHAHA
7) He cannot borrow a penny from anyone.
8) He has never maintained a successful business.
9) He owes his one of his drivers in excess of £10K.
10) He used to have £40m......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
and the list goes on................and on.................and on... like
11) He will never ever do business with the SSAT.
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CANT STOP LAUGHING
HE ABOUT TO THROW MORE MONEY AT THIS CATASTROPHE AND HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING, HE HAS NO STRATEGY. HE IS LOST WITHOUT SSAT BUT WE MAKING HIM WASTE MORE MONEY BECAUSE HE THINKS IF HE GIVES UP THEN WE HAVE WON.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......AT THIS RATE WE DONT WANT TO WIN. KEEP THROWING THE MONEY DOWN THE GRID AND HAVE EVERYONE RIDICULING YOU, YOU THICK FAT FAILURE.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Fraud Police
It would be wrong of me to predict what they may establish but it's fair to point out these authorities do not like "leaving empty-handed". Exciting times. There will only be one winner as was previously suggested - JUSTICE!!
Will keep you posted.
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Re: Pressure Pays
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Nice post
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Re: Nice post
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Re: Re: Nice post
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Pow! Ha-ha!
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Justice/Gold Rings
It would be wrong of me to predict what they may establish but it's fair to point out these authorities do not like "leaving without gold-rings". Exciting times. There will only be one winner as was previously suggested - SEGA!!
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Another happy customer!
http://www.e-customer-satisfaction.com/rev/1835/wamey-wamey-com-status:-voluntary-agreeme nt/details.php
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Give the man a break
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Enough is enough - yeah right
I don't know what strange little world you live in but proper companies pay their employees on the day they are supposed to - ALWAYS. And if he can't pay you when he's supposed to he doesn't have a viable business. Full stop.
If you're typical of the type of person who will speak up for Jeffrey Morris you can enlighten me here. Because I just looked at the latest accounts for ImJack (6 months to 31st March 2010) - a loss of £1.8 million in the process of generating £5,692.
So tell me - please - how does the management of an organisation that spends £320 for every £1 it earns, can't pay it's employees on time, commits insider trading by telling staff members to sell shares in their stock-market listed company and then threatens the people they've crapped on - retain the right to employ anyone ?
Go on - tell me.
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Re: Justice/Gold Rings - OBJECTION!
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Re: Enough is enough - yeah right
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We will get there
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Re:
....................../΄―/)
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....... ....../΄―/'...'/΄―/`
........../'/.../..../....././¨―\
........('(...΄...΄....―~ /' . . .' )
.........\.................'...../
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............\..............(
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Re: Re:
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Morris the Fraud
i have heard he has borrowed money from his sister to pay Januarys salaries but noone will give him money for Februarys so it looks like the writing is on the wall.
Very funny post about him only having taken five thousand pounds in six months. If the company was on benefits it would have taken more than that.
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BREAKING NEWS
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Birds & Bees
Grass, BEES was fully endorsed by the SSAT as of you knew was on all the paperwork so what are you trying to say? Do let me know mate.
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And if so please clarify - are you saying Imjack accountants found an invoice that showed the chairman of Imjack authorised company funds to be spent on cosmetic surgery for his daughter, that amounted to more than the total accounted revenue for that company between October 2009 - March 2010 ?
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LETS PUT AN END TO THE FRAUD DEFRAUDING PEOPLE
imJack PLC
CVA and Notice of General Mee
RNS Number : 3368Z
imJack PLC
12 January 2011
IMJACK PLC
(the "Company" or "ImJack)
CVA and Notice of General Meeting
Further to the Company's announcement on December 24th 2010 (the "Announcement"), shareholders have now been written to, to inform them of the proposals to implement the CVA as described in the Announcement. As detailed in the letter, it is proposed to hold a General Meeting on 21st January 2011 where the appropriate resolution to approve the CVA will be put to shareholders.
The Company is continuing to make progress with the new business model referred to in the Announcement.
The letter to shareholders including the notice of General Meeting will be available shortly on the Company's website, www.imjack.com.
For further information please contact:
imJack Plc
Michael Abrahams Chairman
Tel. 01653 618016
Daniel Stewart & Company plc
Emma Earl/Paul Shackleton
Tel. 020 7776 6550
Rawlings Financial PR Ltd
Catriona Valentine
Tel. 01653 618016
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Re: LETS PUT AN END TO THE FRAUD DEFRAUDING PEOPLE
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We are in full swing
Thankfully someone has a list of all the schools who have previously bought the system and we are working our way through that list. We are also making the schools aware of the actual amount of mentors as well as the calibre of them.
We are getting a very interesting response and i think this is just the start of a very interesting chapter in our plight to see Morris business-less and penniless.
We will get there - we promise.
BTW....The venue for the general meeting on the 21st January is to be confirmed.
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A dose of perspective
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Response to Pseudonym
Any monies owed by Imjack Secure Communications Ltd will now be sought by perusing Jeffrey Morris personally. We will also be asking numerous questions in regard to his business dealings.
Just to make our position clear it is, or never has been, any intention of ours to affect the livelihoods of anyone but that of Mr Morris who has knowingly stolen from multiple people in his quest to remain in business. This therefore renders Mr Morris a fraud and a thief. As a result of these actions a demonstration is most certainly an appropriate course of action and one we intend to see through. The response rate has been high as is the amount of peoples lives he has affected by his fraudulent actions.
If Mr Morris so believes it is his intention to remunerate the people he owes money too as a result of his actions then it is suggested that he makes his proposal for repayment clear on this site for all to read. We are not looking for
anything other than repayment in full of all those who worked in the full knowledge of Mr Morris that he had no intention of paying them.
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"i think this is just the start of a very interesting chapter in our plight to see Morris business-less and penniless."
"...or until Morris and his business are declared officially bankrupt."
"i hope im wrong or that prick gonna be in a spot of bother."
"...and lets keep up the momentum to make sure the failure wastes another £11 million."
"WE REQUIRE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THIS MAN LOSES EVERYTHING..."
I did not intend to portray Jeffery Morris as the victim. I understand he owes past employees money. But I also understand that he is trying his best to reimburse you.
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Stop typing unadulterated nonsense
You are under the absolute misapprehension that I have made all those quoted comments.
I have no clue as to who you are but i can assure you that Mr Morris has upset more than a handful of people of which everyone has their own agenda. Unfortunately I am unable to speak for all those directly or indirectly affected by Morris' greed.
As for the comment in the previous post which I did write it is believed "with good reason" that Morris is trading insolvent hence if he did the honourable thing and liquidates the PLC he will be both business-less and penniless, and yes, that is my wish.
Morris is an unscrupulous little prick who leaves a trail of victims behind him in whatever he has previously done business-wise. He is not to be trusted and MUST be held accountable. It is evident you are not a victim which renders you unqualified to discuss the stress, aggravation and upset he has heaped onto the lives of many.
For the record - Morris has made NO attempts to reimburse anyone besides for paying off his sons friend which in itself was an act of cowardice. Especially considering he had worked in the business for only eight weeks and was from a wealthy family with no dependants. Morris wanted to avoid confrontation with his family, who he knows socially, so decided to make him the only person he paid.
If this is a way to somehow legitimise Morris' actions I strongly advise you start a new thread where all the people that respect and look-up to Morris can post.
If you type "techdir" into google the third auto-complete option is "Techdirt Jeffrey Morris" so you can imagine how popular this thread is becoming and we haven't started yet.
Keep reading as the campaign to seek justice continues at pace.
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Showing yourself up
PLEASE STOP INSULTING PEOPLE WITH YOUR UNINFORMED POSTS
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More evidence of My Morris' arrogance
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I was not labouring under the misapprehension that you made all those comments. I was, in fact, quoting the other wronged individuals. Strange though that you claim to not be speaking for the group, yet you make heavy use of the first-person plural personal pronoun, 'we', so it is evident that you are no different from the rest here who would see those left at the company burned in the pursuit of satisfaction.
In fact it is you who are under the misapprehension that I am not owed money by Jeffery Morris. Quite the opposite, but Mr Morris helped me greatly in the past and so I do not doubt that he intends to rectify this situation.
So sure are you that Jeffery Morris is not to be trusted, yet how can I trust an anonymous collective whose claims are riddled with contradiction?
You call me uninformed. That is something I cannot deny. I am not attempting to legitimise Mr Morris' past actions, whatever they may be, for I lack the knowledge to comment on them. But after all the time I have spent reading these comments I am left no more enlightened as to his alleged injustices. You have failed to leave me any better informed.
I am sorry that you were offended by my comments. I merely wish to urge all of you to not lose faith that Mr Morris will pay you back. And I implore you not to pursue any rash action, as the risk of hurting the company's current employees is very high indeed.
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Re: More evidence of My Morris' arrogance
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Don't be naive. You won't see a penny from Morris.
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I am sure, since you call me naive, that you have extensive first-hand experience of all of Jeffery Morris' business dealings, including the ones you believe are criminal. My faith in our pending reimbursement remains unshaken.
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How much is that failure paying you?
The chances are that if you know Jeffrey Morris then he owes you money.
It is indeed your posts that are riddled with contradictions - not mine. You honestly are out of your depth when talking about his desire to pay. He has purposely abandoned the company we were all employed by for the sole purpose to alleviate any legal responsibility to pay us. You are talking absolute rubbish. And as for the CVA.................£500K in three months when his overall income for the previous six months was sub £6k. Please dont insult your own intelligence.
For the record "we" alludes to a minimum of 2 people although whilst i act alone i am mindful of the tens of people that Jeffrey Morris has wronged hence the referral to "we". Its really not that difficult to comprehend.
Facts are facts. He knowingly had most of these people work up to one whole month knowing he was going to sack them on the final day of the month without pay. As far as I, or indeed any respectable person, would interpret that is as PRE MEDITATED THEFT.
It is quite transparent as to who you are and it is advised that in order not to damage your own career you cease to defend a certain failure and fraud. Your loyalty will undoubtedly backfire sometime in the future and you will then utilise any mode possible to recover what you are owed from that immoral low life. I actually pity your posts and you motive for writing them.
Anyway Jeffrey Morris does not need you to defend him as he will need a more powerful legal representation when requested to respond to all sorts of charges. If i was a gambling man i would say even Morris will be surprised when he sees the charges that will be brought against him in the near future.
And as for you Pseudonym - why do you sometimes hijack the name (anonymous coward"
There will only be one winner and that will be justice and i am able to call him a thief and a fraud as i have direct experience of both. i imagine the words the judge will use in his summing-up will be far harsher but that remains to be seen.
Finally dont you think it is a little disproportionate the amount of people that detest the little crook to ONLY YOU who attempts to defend him. Perhaps you are right and we are all wrong.
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Re: Response to Pseudonym
That's the point of a Limited Company, limited liability. Send IMJack down the pan and you'll be taking a case against a liquidated company for remuneration, good luck with that one...
I too am still owed some money by Mr Morris, I'm not posting under a pseudonym as I don't see the point in this therefore you can verify my claims if you wish.
Personally I believe what 'Mr Pseudonym' is saying with regards to pay. The CVA and current BEES project is everybody's best chance of getting paid what they are owed, and I have heard several times Mr Morris promise to do everything within his power to pay people what they were owed. If I didn't believe this then I would have cut my loses months ago rather than risking more periods without pay. I work my arse off to support my partner and 2 kids and I certainly wouldn't stick around if I thought Mr Morris' intentions where to screw everybody over.
Just try not to forget that there are still people who rely on their job at IMJack.
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Can I also suggest that if you lack enlightenment as to Mr Morris' alleged injusticies from reading these comments, you are -
A) Unable to read
or
B) An imbecile
Respectfully
Pronoun
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Re: How much is that failure paying you?
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'pierce the corporate vail' and hold a director/s or a person/s acting in the capacity of a director responsible. Based on this doctrine Garry, you may find that you're boss will have to answer personally for the actions and endeavours of this company. If you research jeffrey Morris and look into the amount of companies he's had, and subsequently shut down, it does not look good for him.
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Either way, that was not the point of my comment. The point of my comment was to draw attention to the fact that people still work at IMJack that rely on that job to pay bills and feed their children, as I'm sure lots of those who were let go did, and it's in my honest opinion that I believe Mr Morris intends on paying everybody the amounts outstanding.
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Gary - Call the SSAT
I assume you must have been involved in development at Imjack and I imagine, luckily for you, have no history with Jeffrey Morris. Let me assure you now - Jeffrey Morris has no intention of paying you because I was there when he rubbed his hands together and said quote "got rid of the shit and if they think they will get a shilling from me they are badly mistaken. That doesn't sound like a man with good intentions of paying.
As for the BEES programme. Why dont you call the SSAT this morning and ask for the head of development and ask him/her about the BEES programme. The response you will receive will be very interesting simply because the SSAT have no idea of the existence of anything called the BEES programme let alone endorse it. Jeffrey Morris fraudulently used the SSAT logo on the paperwork as BEES was simply made-up by Jeffery Morris
Perhaps you ought to make that call them by all means make your findings public.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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Re: Gary - Call the SSAT
Unfortunately I can't comment on anything Mr Morris may or may not have said, as I have already stated it is my opinion.
It's also not my place to comment on deals with the SSAT and I will not be drawn into debate on this.
Like I have previously said, I posted on here to remind people that there are still people who are employed by IMJack and that probably the only way anyone is going to get paid is if the company turns itself around and starts to make some money.
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Re: Gary - Call the SSAT
I've worked for this company for over 2 years now and have gone through several stages of only being paid half a wage, or not being paid until most of the way through the next month. And currently I am owed a substantial amount of month from Octobers salary still. However, Mr Morris has always paid fully in the end and always offered to help out those who needed it whilst they were waiting for wages.
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Re: First-person plural personal pronoun
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Gary, The Informer is right, you ought to check out Mr Morris before you draw on your own "lucky" experience. If you think the reverse psychology tactic of revealing your identity and defending Morris by way of getting paid then you are wasting your time. If you are still employed by the company (which i suspect you are) then I promise you those that were sacked, having worked, without being paid will NOT be paid their outstanding wages. You however may still get paid.
LETS NOT LET ANY OF THIS DEFLECT FROM THE PROPOSED DEMO WE WILL BE HAVING AT IMJACK OFFICES ON 21st JANUARY. THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE INTENDING TO ATTEND AND FOR ALL THOSE OF YOU ARE UNSURE - YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE TIME OF THE DEMO IS TO BE CONFIRMED.
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The man is a hated monster and is talked about in many circles. Everyone hates (and i dont use the word lightly) him and his associates.
Well done to all of you for the expose and thank you on behalf of me.
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Reverse psychology tactic? I have never posted on this thread before these recent comments. All posts by me are labelled as such.
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Unmasked
I understand why some of the more ridiculous participants in this forum are unwilling to reveal their identity - it's difficult to justify much of the hatred and hyperbole being touted around. Identifying oneself when posting what is, frankly, bullshit, is not sensible; at least if you're worried about the UKs notably stringent libel laws.
However, "Mr Ex Employee", as the self apppointed organiser of the forthcoming demo, why don't you come out of the shadows and post under your real name? It's not like it's going to be a secret for much longer, assuming you have the "balls of steel" to attend your own protest, eh?
Personally, I'm quite looking forward to seeing all those old faces on the 21st. Perhaps after you've stood around underneath the trees for a while *again* (plus ca change, eh?) and made whatever point it is you're trying to make, we can go and get a pint?
I'd just like to add how much I am enjoying this exchange. Reminds me of the old school Usenet flame wars circa 1991 - good old days.
*plonk*
Ah. That takes me back.
Zorro, masked avenger
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May I also ask you how you feel about Imjack's future software development capability since 80% of your colleagues were sacked?
It is also interesting how you have developed the selfish attitude of protecting your own interests whilst not giving a toss about those of your x-colleagues.
Also interesting that you quote the BEES deal as one of Morris' strategies to pay people what he owes them without even knowing that the BEES deal was a lie that indeed never existed.
Finally, and I am not 100% certain of this, but I believe all the developers were paid by a separate company to that of the rest of the employees. Just another indication of how devious Mr Morris is.
You will be pleased to know that a certain Ms Byron and a Mr Lilley are pleased to be championing our corner so you can tell the fat failure that things are not looking great for him.
The campaign is going well my friend and the machine will not stop until justice for all is realised.
Oh, Did you forget to list the false accusations? In your own time
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Re: Hypocrite
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I'm can also assure you that Mr Morris did not ask any member of the development team to try an 'track' any IP addresses of anybody posting to this thread. However, I can't vouch for any body else who is not a developer, you'll have to ask them unfortunately.
I can tell you that my payslip, and my bank account, received money from the usual source last pay day so I don't know where you got that information from.
I'm not sure how managing to avoid being made redundant then continuing on with my job is considered being selfish? Would you like me to quit the company in a fit of outrage and put unnecessary stress on my young family just to support your cause? No, I'm doing what you would do if you were still employed by the company, getting on with it.
And currently I feel that IMJacks future development capacity is perfectly adequate, but that you for your concern.
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Re:
I was supposed to say 'thank you for your concern', not 'that you'...
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Give it up mate. You are making a complete clown of yourself. Your arguments are naive at best.
Why dont you answer the questions you have been asked rather that attempting to defend a corporate rogue who has wrecked the lives of many for varying reasons.
I am not having a 1-2-1 with you on here. You cant back up anything you say but I will ask you one final time:
1) Please confirm the authenticity of the BEES programme and the endorsement of it by the SSAT.
Im afraid if you are unable to do that, and given that 98% of any revenues were taken using this scheme then I would say it renders the workings fraudulent and is open to action.
Desperate people do desperate things and Morris is a desperate person.
I have read this thread over and over again and please be assured that there are very few false accusations on here -and I mean very few.
Finally Gaz, as we wont be speaking again, allow me to leave you with some genuine advice. You say you have a young family and to that end may i suggest you look for alternative employment to enable you to maintain your ability to provide for them.
Regardless of what you have been told there is no-one in that business who understands what is going on who genuinely believes there is a chance of meeting 10% of the CVA criteria. Please take some time out to digest it and draw your own conclusions but when that business finally and officially fails at the end of April you will find yourself out in the cold and regretting these petty acts of loyalty.
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Really?
What? All 318 posts? Even the biblical ones? You do really have too much time on your hands. May I suggest getting a job?
Good of you to give the company 3 months, though, that will come in handy.
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I'm also unsure of how I'm making a clown of myself? I came here to give my opinion, I was then asked some questions to which I didn't want to get involved with and have hopefully dispelled some myths with regards to the development teams involvement in any of this. I'm not entirely sure how that makes me look like a clown?
I have also never endorsed people not receiving pay and I do not think this is an ideal situation for anyone.
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"Mr Morris asked you smart arse developers to try and track the IP addresses of the posts..." False
"...80% of your colleagues were sacked?" False
"It is also interesting how you have developed the selfish attitude of protecting your own interests whilst not giving a toss about those of your x-colleagues." False
"Finally, and I am not 100% certain of this, but I believe all the developers were paid by a separate company to that of the rest of the employees." False
Wow - four in just one comment. At this rate, I fear I may not have the time or the energy to highlight them all.
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Re:
Horse dumpings. Boy, this false accusation spotting is tiring.
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Unmasked: Mr The Informer
You, Sir, are a charlatan.
> Post 199: Dec 22nd, 2010 @ 1:38pm
> If I get paid this week, it will be my last pay check
> from him (as it will be with others) as most of us will
> not be going back.
Everyone got paid at Xmas and everyone came back. Big talk from little men.
> Post 241: Dec 30th, 2010 @ 7:44am
> Hahahahaha. The failure has just paid us into our banks.
> Looks the pressure from this site has done it's job. I
> think I will go back now in January and take his stinkin
> money. Cheers Jeff the Failure, I am going to enjoy
> spending the money.
Hmmmmm. I thought you weren't coming back?! Principles, what of them? Big talk from little men.
> Post 229: Dec 27th, 2010 @ 3:53am
> We will never let Jeffrey Morris forget what he has done
> to us, he will regret it for evermore.
He will regret what? Paying you on time at the end of December? Big talk from little men.
Ta-raa.
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Re:
But you do admit to false accusations being presented here, however few there may be.
And you read this thread thoroughly, did you? So you also see that the vast majority of these comments are bitter ex employees whining about how they haven't received their pay quite as quickly as they would like, and the rest are the false accusations you have admitted to. No citations, just hearsay.
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Re:
We've wasted an obscene amount of time for all the scandalous material that you said you were going to post, all for nothing. All we have to show for it are 200+ comments of petulant bastards hurling abuse at someone who fully intends to pay them back (as well as anyone who attempts to bring balance to the debate - not that I am claiming to be one of them).
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"Perhaps instead of me questioning particular comments, you and your cronies could tell us the whole story"
Either you are totally thick or you are totally thick.
I have two questions for you and instead of trying to be smart just answer them with a simple yes or no:
1) Did Imjack sack in excess of twenty people at the end of October 2010 without paying them and those people are still awaiting their money?
2) Did the BEES programme ever exist and was it endorsed by the SSAT (I know there are two questions there but the clue is that its the same answer for both of them) ?
Please cut your smart arse crap and answer those two questions.
Lets see if you answer them and if your responses are as quick as when you were sat in the office doing nothing.
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Re: Unmasked: Mr The Informer
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Glen is a smart fellow who understands the difference between right and wrong and unless I have read him completely inaccurately I cant see him posting on here. He is a good guy who Morris held back from furthering his career when he was accepted for a job with a large mobile operator.
Obviously my guess is that it is Stewart. He uses the name eatenbyfoxes on twitter and on some online forums so he is a frequent post-er.
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Re:
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May i suggest you read the announcements your employers make to the London Stock Exchange before typing such utter nonsense.
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Re:
Fine. I, however, will do you the courtesy of answering your questions as best I can:
1) Never at any point, in any capacity, in any conceivable manner did I ever even attempt to deny that. In fact, in almost every single comment I have made, I have stated that I am owed some money by Mr Morris, but am confident that he will honour that debt. You would have to be a raging imbecile to even consider asking me that question.
2) I cannot say, as whatever you are referring to was before my time at the company.
Looks like the answers weren't the same, after all. I do apologise if that upsets you.
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Re:
But clearly I was mistaken. It seems that Jeffrey Morris is just a man who owes some people money, but will pay it back. If I challenged you to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Mr Morris will not pay you back, I highly doubt you would be able to.
And anyway, if that is all this is really about, you are making an awful lot of noise about it - like an angry, flatulent pig trying to tie balloon animals.
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Re:
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This renders your posts as totally unreliable.
If as you claim you were not in the business when they were lying to schools about the "SSAT endorsed BEES" programme, which finished in December, It becomes clear you have only been working there for two weeks. Yet you claim to be owed money from October.
YOU ARE A LIAR AND YOU HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OUT MATE
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Thats £11 000 000.00 +
I have a sneeky suspicion he is hoping that where theres life theres hope.
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Thats £11 000 000.00 +
I have a sneeky suspicion he is hoping that where theres life theres hope.
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Re:
If we're going on inconsistencies as to how reliable a comment is then I too mate am afraid to say you're also shit out of luck on the reliability scale too.
Hence why we've been asking for evidence to support your claims of illegal activity. It has been promised several times but never emerged. Would it be possible to email me the details of the 'legal high flyer' your group claims to have looking at this case so it can be discussed with him instead?
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Re:
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Lets let the authorities decide as you and i having a techdirt volley is likely to achieve nothing.
As far as we are concerned Techdirt has now done its job (and some job that is) and the results will become apparent in due course.
Lets not forget if we were paid on time for the time we worked there would have been no campaign. Did you expect us to work for October, November or half of December, not get paid for it, and say "thank you Jeffrey", when everyone else got paid you fucking retard.
SEE YOU AT THE DEMO ON 21st JANUARY TO COINCIDE WITH THE SHAREHOLDERS MEETING - TIME TO BE CONFIRMED.
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Another speculative £60K to chase ELEVEN MILLION POUNDS is a gamble worth taking.
And whilst retards like you accept half wage packets on the back of promises his exposure will probably be more like £40K.
Grow up
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Re:
I suppose if anyone asked you to back up this claim, they would be met with another volley of baseless aggression, as that seems to be all you are capable of.
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Can't wait, do you guys want any refreshments making up?
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YOU COMPLETE MORON.
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Re:
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Re:
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This is not a threat from me as i am not that way inclined but i have heard some whispers that i find deplorable but at the same time I am being 100% honest with you. Put yourself first as i can assure you that your posts will irritate those who couldn't afford presents for their excited young kids at Christmas etc.
I detest that kind of behaviour but we both know it exists in society and there is nothing you or I can do to stop it.
Have a good weekend and please digest what im saying.
Be good to have a chat sometime and perhaps we could actually achieve something. Have a good weekend.
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Re:
Also, please don't take my posts as loyalty to anybody except myself and my family, as I have stated in every one of my posts here, this is my opinion and nothing further.
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Re:
This is the choice I'm left with, Xmas has just passed, my daughter's 4th birthday was last Sunday, my sons 1st birthday is in march and I'm getting married at the start of April so trust me, I'm well versed in frustration pertaining to money, or lack thereof.
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Remember Morris surrounds himself with 2 bodyguards that the company pays for and you dont have that luxury. You have a family and a few comments on here isn't worth any aggo.
Sorry for the unnecessary insults but it did appear as though you were trying to defend the indefensible at one stage. Trust me when i sat that when you are on the receiving end of this monster and his antics it is infuriating.
Good luck mate - hope things go well for you and please take my advice.
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Re:
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Re: Re:
But at least my corpse will get the money owed by Jeffery Morris, because I know he will pay us back.
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However, due to the nature of this comment, and the fact I do believe it is a thinly veiled threat or that you know where these supposed 'whispering' originated then I have already taken sufficient action to report this incident to the authorities as I take any threat against me or my family very seriously indeed whether I give that threat much credence or not.
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Couldn't resist
Yes, I am making light of the situation with playful jibes and biting sarcasm, but make no mistake. I do understand how Ex Employee, Mr Informer et al. have suffered. But I also know that they need only wait, and they will be repaid. By becoming too bitter you are only doing yourself a disservice.
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Just for the record I made no threat of any description and have never heard of anyone that wishes to harm you in any way. i simply provided you with some advice that i would heed myself had i of been in your position.
Strange overreaction but I personally have nothing to hide so feel free to report this to who you like. When you report it make sure you tell the authorities that you have been inciting ex colleagues by condoning and defending theft.
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Im sorry but you are either a member of the Morris family or you are just wallowing in the despair of others.
I am not trying to get one over on you but please dont take the piss out of people who have worked and not been paid. What makes it worse is that the only reason they were sacked is because the company could not afford to pay them so why make them work that month.
Whats more I believe Morris told Mr Jacobs this was going to happen at the beginning of October so he had people working there for a month knowing he had no intentions of paying them.
Indefensible.
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Quite uncertain
I do wish that things could be different though, and this is the first time which I have felt the desire to post on this site. I dislike hiding my identity, and I do not have any legal cases open, so I don't see why everyone shouldn't know who I am.
My contribution to this debate is that I haven't yet seen anybody stand up for the way in which the company has continually kept those that have been sacked in the dark. I stayed on through quite a lot of the employee cull, and whilst to an extent I can understand the need to lose a lot of staff the manner in which it was carried out was deplorable. Not just that but those still at the company seem to be continually told of the ongoing efforts to pay staff that have left, but this converts to absolute silence once you are out of the door.
I do not wish to criticise any individual, but more point out that as a whole the policy of ignoring staff that have quit until legal proceedings begin only invites more aggravation than is necessary. To then find inflammatory comments such as "the vast majority of these comments are bitter ex employees whining about how they haven't received their pay quite as quickly as they would like" and I have chosen a particularly harsh example to well illustrate my point, it becomes nothing short of dramatic. As far as anyone knows I may have a bitter landlord whining about how he hasn't received my rent as quickly as he would like, is that illegitimate?
I find threats lurking everywhere, whether it be being threatened about 'cyber-investigators' finding out if I ever post anything online and stopping me ever working again, or a little warning from a friend that perhaps revealing my identity might provoke a reaction against me personally from some source or another. I always had a lot of time for Jeffrey Morris, I found him a warm, friendly, and witty character, but the fear and hatred that pervades these discussions is certainly undermining the faith which I had originally in his character.
If there is any intention for my wages to be paid to me it would be nice to receive something in writing saying so, until this happens I am unable to believe this intention is genuine. I think that is fair enough.
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Re:
I could even be both, but I am in fact neither. I am simply a concerned individual hoping that all those who are owed money will keep the faith and avoid making threats against others, no matter how subtle.
I reiterate that your claims are shocking, but you have given us absolutely no reason to believe they are true (hearsay and rumour do not count).
It is not my intention to belittle the suffering of others. I am simply tired of someone who, when faced with even the slightest challenge to the validity of his claims - note that I am referring to the claims that Mr Morris has done more than not pay those he owes money to - responds with all the grace of a masturbating chimp.
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So the stealing of money is not enough for you to detest someone knowing they made you work knowing they couldn't pay you.
I think you have made enough of a fool of yourself without me having to make things worse for you. Its little surprise you make an analogy to a masturbating chimp - did you get the inspiration whilst looking in the mirror?
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Re: Quite uncertain
I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments. I can see how they might be construed as an insult to all those who lost their jobs.
I too know something of irritated landlords and panic over finances. I do sincerely hope that all of you have managed to find alternative employment and have survived these past few months.
Please don't be sucked in by the pessimism demonstrated here. I don't care what strangers in Harrogate have apparently said about Mr Morris. All I know is that Jeffrey Morris has been good to me, and I am not a family member or a close personal friend. He has helped me when I needed it and that is why I am certain he will not abandon everyone now.
I apologise if that is not enough for you, and I do think your position is fair enough. Just know that when we receive good news it will be shared with you.
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Re:
If that is true, then the man would be rather contemptible. But you have offered nothing to back up your claim that Mr Morris knew that he couldn't pay you. Therefore I am forced to consider your statements, however passionate, as false.
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Still not convinced
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I was a friend of the accused and having been told about Techdirt I took a look. I decided to "poke the fire" but on reflection and given the hurt and passion carried by the victims I'm going to cease my campaign.
Some of us have warped senses of humor.
Night night tweetie pie
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Maria
I applaud your sense of restraint but please be assured that EVERY post on here that allude to the injustices of Jeffrey Morris are all qualified and contain no fabrication. Part of the way he lures you in is by the sensational act he portrays in appearing warm, friendly and generous.
Facts are facts though and we both know whether Jeffrey Morris employed people without paying them. This act on its own is an act of pre meditated theft.
This pseudonym person is clearly some sort of trouble maker and i imagine that despite his most recent post he will appear again, possibly under another alias.
It has been a difficult time for a lot of families as a direct result of Jeffrey Morris' unscrupulous behaviour and that genuine emotion is what is being highlighted on this forum.
The good news is that this thread has been read in many crooks and crannies you would never have imagined and believe it or not is having a very powerful effect.
We must not abandon this campaign by writing the truth and only the truth. Threats and suchlike are not welcome on here
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Musings from the dog net
Maria, thank you for your post, it is by a large margin the best written and well-thought out article of the 369 and counting that are on this page. We didn't speak much when you were here, but I thought highly of you. I hope that you have been able to have some kind of Xmas and are moving on with a new job. I also hope that you do get what you are owed and if I could personally do anything about that, I would. However, I cannot.
I doubt that anyone would make any defense of the silence that does seem to pervade when someone leaves and is subsequently not paid, nor indeed of the act of not paying someone for the time they honestly put into the company. I certainly am not and never have done. Don't think that the silence is much less deafening for those that remain...it's part of the culture of the company I have always disliked.
"Ex Employee", you seem to be the only person actively pursuing this thread. You're the one organising the demo on the 21st, in any case, so please answer me (and the rest of us) this.
Bad things happen sometimes.
However, the case in point here is.... "is it JM responsible for the bad things that have happened to those posting here"?
There is a distinct and legal difference between *knowing* that you cannot pay someone at the beginning of the month and letting them work for a month unpaid, and *not knowing* at the beginning of the month how you will pay the wage bill, but trying your best through sales and investment to ensure that the money is there. It's damned difficult to prove culpability of this type. The difference is of utmost importance and I have seen nothing posted here that proves or even implies the first case, other than your word.
You know this, I know you do. You're an intelligent man, I know that too. (yes, I am certain of your true identity - but I'm not going to reveal my suspicion if you choose to remain cloaked in mystery).
My colleagues and friends were made redundant at the end of October and I feel most heavily how all of them have suffered to a greater or lesser extent. Even though all of them now have jobs and are moving on, I want nothing more than for them to be paid what they are owed, and for the developers, whom (along with one or two others - did you know that?) have not been paid in full for October.
However, what do you hope to achieve? Is the payment of the 20-odd staff who left in October enough for you? Does it end there? Or will you only be happy with the closure of IMJack? The bankruptcy of JM personally? The tarring and feathering of the entire family? I don't get from you that this is about money, rather that this is about revenge. Is it about revence? Is it?
Zorro
-- defender of truth, justice and all things beautiful, even masterbating chimps (we love ya, man!)
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Really?
Please note that the following quote is from a post made by someone using the alias "Pseudonym", but that person was not me:
That is a woefully desperate move. So, when bleating your unsubstantiated claims didn't work, you tried idle threats. Now that has failed, you've moved on to hijacking the alias I was using in an attempt to undermine me?
Nothing you do will stop me from preaching patience to those who are still awaiting their money. And this is a shameful attempt to avoid the issue that you have yet to substantiate your more shocking claims.
Some of us do indeed have warped senses of humour. I am one of them. That is something I cannot deny. What I can deny is that I would never, ever, even if my immortal soul was at stake, use the phrase "night night tweetie pie".
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Allow me to prove to you beyond doubt that Jeffrey Morris did indeed know on 30/09 that (barring a corporate lottery win) he was going to be in no position to honour Octobers wages.
My argument is no different to that of Maria's or any of the other people who were "used". Your defence of Jeffrey Morris is an insult to us all but I put it down to naivety. What i mean by that is assuming I am correct in my suspicion as to your identity then there was plenty you were not aware of.
I have been asked to be the voice on here and have no problem with that. In return for that there are others conducting the "behind the scenes" campaign.
i dont however endorse some of the personal jibes. I cant be held responsible for the wrath of others.
Please call anytime.
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Truth or lies?
"Ex Employee". I am not defending JM, not the actions of those around him relating to non-payment and silence with ex-employees; I have never approved of either. Nor do I have any illusions whatsoever about how he operates and what he is prepared to do to be successful, but there again I expect nothing else of people who do try to be successful in business. Difference is that I think that trying to make something work and reaping the rewards is more beneficial than complaining and still taking the man's money (that's more for those claiming to still be working and yet posting on this thread, rather than a comment to you, you understand).
My question to you was and remains "what do you hope to achieve?". You have been silent on this point. Any answer?
Zorro
*boink*
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Gestalt entity
Anyway, so that we may all understand the scale of this, are you able to say for how many you speak, without of course naming names?
Zorro
-- Silence is golden
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Let me answer you genuinely and honestly.
Without exception the ideal scenario would be that we are all paid what we are owed and that would mean closure.
However no steps have been taken by Morris to make any kind of resolution and to the contrary the announcement on 24/12 is beyond doubt a tactic to ensure relief of his liability to pay those debts.
In terms of what we hope to achieve.
It transpires that Morris had told various people differing tales about what their futures and the future of the business held. He lulled some people into a false sense of security whilst blatantly lying to others. To that end it would be justice of sorts to see Jeffrey Morris held to account and this is what we would like to achieve. Admittedly a distant second place to being remunerated however a justice or sorts.
As this has become rather civil may I ask you a question please, one you seem to be evading answering:
You clearly appreciate that people worked for up to four weeks without being paid and I am sure you can imagine the suffering they and their loved ones encountered as a result.
If you are posting because you dont like the comments about his daughters awful attitude or the post about her false breasts or other personal issues then I would understand and I dare say agree but please dont continue to defend the wages scenario.
I speak for myself but am in contact either directly or indirectly with everyone (bar 2) of the people morris has sacked without pay since October.
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If you have made an incorrect guess as to who i may be then leave me a number somewhere and i will call you.
I honestly believe the Techdirt posts will slow down dramatically after the proposed demo on the 21st Jan when people can collectively be seen and heard and make their feelings known.
Following that all action will take place through legal and investigative channels only.
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get over it lol...i have
everyone there was friendly n we had some laffs
(winding up victor ha)
Dont get me wrong tho, i am also owed money but if the man cant pay it then he cant pay it.
if u owed someone money n they kept callin u a cunt then ur not gonna feel lke payin them r u.
hopefully Im jack will take of n weil be sorted.
if not...shit happens, and im sure that not getin paid by jeffrey isnt the worst thing that could happen in ur lifetime
Safe
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Demo 21-01-2011
Please heed this advice. This is not an act of defeat in fact to the contrary you will see some surprises happening in the very near future.
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Pathetic
Were you one of the few that were paid by the business but worked at Jeffrey Morris's private residence because there was no "Danny T" working there.
Good try though mate.
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Re: Pathetic
One still works there, the other worked in sales and was let go some time last year.
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If you are so interested in the wellbeing and future stability of the company why dont you voice your opinion concerning all the people payed by the business but in actual fact do nothing for the business and undertake personal work for Jeffrey Morris.
I respect your loyalty but it is naive as you honestly do not know the half of it. Why dont you do a little research, you wont learn a lot, but what you will do is hopefully realise that there is plenty credence in our accusations.
Good luck.
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Detect this.
Neither Garry nor Pseudonym nor myself, nor anyone else posting here from with the company, have made any effort whatsoever to make claims that it is right or proper to not pay people for their time in employment. All of us have at one time or another indicated that we are unhappy about the situation.
Please, please, please therefore will you stop making out that we are naive or in some way misguided, because it is boring.
Bear in mind also that we have all read this entire post, and related ones and are very familiar with the claims, counter-claims, bullshit & facts.
However, let me ask you to do this for us.
Point us in the direction of any other source of information about JM or the company substantiating or backing up the allegations made here. This source must not be associated with this article or made/created by those also posting here.
I'm not sure you can. Perhaps you are the naive one; believing everything you read?
Every person remaining with the company knows enough about JM and the way the company is run to make their own decision about whether they stay or not. It is our choice. We have free will and we exercise it. Respect that as we respect your fight for the money that is rightfully owed to you.
See you Friday? Or not...?
Zorro
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Pathetic? Good point.
Zorro
-- defender of solid research
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Re: Pathetic? Good point.
Ouch. That's a torpedo straight into the side of HMS Bullshit.
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Re: Detect this.
You claim we only know half the story, yet you have failed, time and again, to tell us everything you know - the information that would insert its great, magical cock into our ears and fuck our minds. Instead, when we ask for proof, all we get is rebuked for our supposed naοvetι.
Honestly, I'm now of the firm belief that you never had anything to begin with. I'm sure this will be met with the standard bleating from the usual suspects and cries that there is, in fact, a lot of facts that we are not aware of - but nothing is going to be divulged here. Instead we will be given some vague timeline for a big reveal which guarantees to "surprise" us all.
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Re:
Personal work for Mr Morris? That's a cracker,it really is... What personal work is this then exactly? If you could please fill me in then I can invoice appropriately as I've obviously missed that one off my books...
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http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=206602832878013934647.00049a583fe037d 1e373d
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Too difficult not to judge.
For everyone that has a point please make it. If you're just online to pick wholes in someone else then keep it to yourself. Bravo to those that have used their names while posting, it gives your posts a whole load more weight as we know that you will stand by your arguments. I am one of the people that was threatened with never finding work again if I am caught posting online, and call me naive if you like, that sort of thing does worry me. It makes me wonder though if only those posting things deemed negative will be caught and punished by the supposed 'cyber-investigators'.
I ask only that people don't forget that there are more people out there than those posting on this forum that are still owed money. That's not something to laugh about. I won't be attending the protest, but perhaps you should consider that it's not a joke for the people that couldn't afford christmas and are right now stressed about there being no way to legally claim the wages they are owed when the company that employed them has been liquidated to get rid of any liability.
What have you got to say about that? Stick to the issues. Why has that section of the company been liquidated?
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BEES OUT OF ACTION
Take a look at this www.beesinaction.com
The only bee in action is the one thats about to sting the cunt Morris. Lets hope he doesn't have an anaphylactic shock.
The funny thing is that his business cannot even afford to buy the domain and has had to get Mark Harrison to buy it in his name. Hysterical because its only about £10.00. Check this for the proof - http://whois.domaintools.com/beesinaction.com
Morris is now officially the laughing stock of Leeds and Harrogate so much so that Techdirt is now one of the most popular visited sites in Yorkshire. Oh how lovely it is to see Saddam Morris fall.
He has also tried to deluge the internet with this BEES shite so things like techdirt become unnoticeable.
I know there is now a large following reading this so please believe me when I tell you that it will not be long before the true extent of Morris's financial disabilities become public due to bankruptcy.
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Re: Too difficult not to judge.
I have openly said I'm annoyed about not having been paid my full wages for October and that I don't think it's particularly fair that people haven't been paid for time they worked last year. I'm not glossing over any of it. I know for a fact though that Mr Morris isn't happy with the situation either and hence why I feel comfortable to say those things. It's no secret that every person in this office regrets the situation at the moment, Jeffrey Morris included.
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Judge this again?
> people out there than those posting on this forum that are
> still owed money. That's not something to laugh about.
No-one is laughing at anyone being owed money. Allow me to re-iterate *again* that no-one remaining with the company is happy about staff (former and ex) being owed. Can we please get over this?
What we *are* having a moment of gentle play with, is this kind of bullshit:
"Ex Employee" said on Jan 14th (apparently whilst having some difficulty with his keyboard): "LETS NOT LET ANY OF THIS DEFLECT FROM THE PROPOSED DEMO WE WILL BE HAVING AT IMJACK OFFICES ON 21st JANUARY. THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE INTENDING TO ATTEND AND FOR ALL THOSE OF YOU ARE UNSURE - YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE TIME OF THE DEMO IS TO BE CONFIRMED."
"The Informer" said on Jan 19th: "Having sought legal advice could I please recommend that anyone with any current or impending legal cases against either IMjack or Jeffery Low Life Morris MUST NOT attend any demonstration and must not be in a position where they are physically close to any directors of the business."
Bearing in mind that "Ex-Employee" has also said "I speak for myself but am in contact either directly or indirectly with everyone (bar 2) of the people morris has sacked without pay since October." (a statement, BTW, which we know to be complete and utter bollocks, since none of the developers who left are aware of any communication).
Presumably "Ex-Employee" and "The Informer" are therefore in communication, but perhaps "Ex-Employee" forgot to notify "The Informer" of the protest and subsequent due diligence showed up this vital "legal advice"? Phew; that's lucky.
Actually, no hang on just one moment. "Legal advice", huh? I took the time last night to chat with a good friend of mine, who is a lawyer. He told me that there is no reason whatsoever why someone involved in an Employee Tribunal/Dispute case shouldn't be involved in a protest against the employer in the meantime, unless of course they set about someone with a baseball bat, which, of course, is really another issue.
Translation - the "legal advice" story is horseshit.
Conclusion - there was never going to be a protest. The statement was one made for effect only, presumably to continue to paint JM as the nastiest person in Yorkshire, nay the North, nay the World, since Nasty McNasty graduated with a double first from Nasty University ?
Get your facts straight; get your plans in order and you will have our respect. Post something that is plainly bullshit or contradicated by you elsewhere in the forum and expect to be ridiculed. Voila, the google protest map.
Prove us wrong; it's still early in the day, I'm sure you can get here for mid-afternoon.
Just watch out for the Daleks.
Zorro
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Any answers yet?
"Point us in the direction of any other source of information about JM or the company substantiating or backing up the allegations made here. This source must not be associated with this article or made/created by those also posting here."
Zorro
-- just curious.
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Re: Any answers yet?
I cannot answer your question. I should add that the majority will be in a similar situation to myself. Perhaps if you direct your question to specific people, or in response to a specific post you will have more luck than just throwing it out in a manner which suggests that it may be rhetorical.
Both "sides" (a term which I am uncomfortable with but one which most accurately sums up the way in which certain posters have formed distinct opposition parties) are guilty of providing 'information' which cannot then be backed up. Whether that be that Morris is involved in some other illegal activity, or that he intends to pay those that have been laid off.
There have been a few people putting forward examples of how JM has been good to them, despite not being a family member or friend, but then all that leads to is others asking, why has he not done that for me? Other than these random acts of generosity what evidence do you have to back up your claims that he intends to pay everyone? Whilst with the company I once asked Jeffrey if he intended to pay the staff that had left or even to contact them. That was a Monday. He promised that on the Thursday of that week, following a meeting, a letter would be sent out to all ex-employees detailing the situation. That never happened. In fact over a month later the only correspondence these people had received was a false pay slip and a P45.
Not long after I disclosed that I was still friends with some of those that were sacked my emails, and two other girls', were being read. I am not alluding to any definite conclusion here, but merely highlighting that the office policy strongly discourages open and free discussion with people that have been sacked. A policy of secrecy is not usually a sign of an all round good egg.
If someone in particular says something stupid, then by all means ridicule that person. Try not to post anything derogatory which generalises and encourages the great divide. I agree that posting promises of information later to be disclosed is pointless. I also agree that stupid maps do not add anything to what should be a rounded and reasonable discussion on the ethics of a company.
So, here are my specific questions, and I put them to Zorro:
Why has the company chosen to avoid any legal liability to ex-employees if it fully intends to pay their wages anyway?
Why have ex-employees not been contacted to state the intent to pay, also including the amount that they are owed? This would be acceptable even if it could not provide specific time lines.
How do you feel that the threats regarding posting online sit with your idea of IMJack as an ethical and reasonable employer?
Please provide a logical explanation with each response. I would also be extremely grateful if you could at some point let me know who you are in private. Several employees still with IM Jack have my phone number.
Maria
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Re: Any answers yet?
I cannot answer your question. I should add that the majority will be in a similar situation to myself. Perhaps if you direct your question to specific people, or in response to a specific post you will have more luck than just throwing it out in a manner which suggests that it may be rhetorical.
Both "sides" (a term which I am uncomfortable with but one which most accurately sums up the way in which certain posters have formed distinct opposition parties) are guilty of providing 'information' which cannot then be backed up. Whether that be that Morris is involved in some other illegal activity, or that he intends to pay those that have been laid off.
There have been a few people putting forward examples of how JM has been good to them, despite not being a family member or friend, but then all that leads to is others asking, why has he not done that for me? Other than these random acts of generosity what evidence do you have to back up your claims that he intends to pay everyone? Whilst with the company I once asked Jeffrey if he intended to pay the staff that had left or even to contact them. That was a Monday. He promised that on the Thursday of that week, following a meeting, a letter would be sent out to all ex-employees detailing the situation. That never happened. In fact over a month later the only correspondence these people had received was a false pay slip and a P45.
Not long after I disclosed that I was still friends with some of those that were sacked my emails, and two other girls', were being read. I am not alluding to any definite conclusion here, but merely highlighting that the office policy strongly discourages open and free discussion with people that have been sacked. A policy of secrecy is not usually a sign of an all round good egg.
If someone in particular says something stupid, then by all means ridicule that person. Try not to post anything derogatory which generalises and encourages the great divide. I agree that posting promises of information later to be disclosed is pointless. I also agree that stupid maps do not add anything to what should be a rounded and reasonable discussion on the ethics of a company.
So, here are my specific questions, and I put them to Zorro:
Why has the company chosen to avoid any legal liability to ex-employees if it fully intends to pay their wages anyway?
Why have ex-employees not been contacted to state the intent to pay, also including the amount that they are owed? This would be acceptable even if it could not provide specific time lines.
How do you feel that the threats regarding posting online sit with your idea of IMJack as an ethical and reasonable employer?
Please provide a logical explanation with each response. I would also be extremely grateful if you could at some point let me know who you are in private. Several employees still with IM Jack have my phone number.
Maria
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And I can assure you he still has many assets and will one day become a billionaire !!!
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Re: Re: Any answers yet?
> Why has the company chosen to avoid any legal liability
> to ex-employees if it fully intends to pay their wages
> anyway?
I am not a director of the company and so I cannot present an official answer to this.
The avoidence of legal liability you refer to is, I presume, that the company has suspended its shares and attempted a CVA with creditors? If that is the case, the suspension is a legal act that the company was not able to avoid (imposed by the Stock Exchange) - having no cash - and the CVA is an attempt to resolve the situation, meaning that all creditors, including ex-employees, get paid.
I understand that the CVA allows the company to continue to trade and pay current staff in the meantime. This is cold comfort I know, but without this action, the company would have just folded and there would be no chance of anyone getting any money. (unless you believe the comments about fraudulent activity, which I don't know anything about, but that I am certain would be hard to prove, take for ever to resolve and in any case would result in no money for the likes of you and me...so they are not really relevant to us).
> Why have ex-employees not been contacted to state the
> intent to pay, also including the amount that they are
> owed? This would be acceptable even if it could not
> provide specific time lines.
I am not a director of the company and so I cannot present an official answer to this.
Speaking personally, I agree completely with you that such a communication would be more than appropriate and the morally correct path to take. Were I in charge, this would have been the first thing I did.
TBH, I understood that the letter sent out just before Xmas was supposed to cover these matters, although what I have read here indicates that maybe this was not the case, which I find most disappointing.
> How do you feel that the threats regarding posting online
> sit with your idea of IMJack as an ethical and reasonable
> employer?
Could you please explain the nature of these threats, as I am not aware of any posted by IMJ, JM or those purporting to represent him on this forum. I am aware of the legal letter sent to techdirt, which, for the record is horseshit and something I most strongly advised against knowing exactly how that would go down with techdirt. Alas, we cannot always expect that anyone will listen to sound advice.
However, I don't think you mean the legal letter.
If you are referring to any verbal comments made to you, I am not aware of those.
I would like to add that the reason myself and some of my colleagues became involved with this forum was because we became completely fed up with the hateful, unpleasant posting taking place, attempting to take down the company we still rely on for paying *our* mortgages, food and christmas presents.
We wanted to add some balance and take those with hate in their hearts to task. Along the way, we may have sometimes been too playful with our comments (and maps), not intending to wound, but instead to draw attention to ridiculous-ness of some of the things said on the other "side". However, we are geeks and freaks; this is how we are in person and how we are online and we make no apology for this.
Maria, I do not believe that especially you nor to a lesser extent those let go at the same time as you deserved to go.
Some others who post here, I do not offer the same empathy for - you who were hangers-on, wasters of time and vampires. You should be paid for the time you gave, useless as it was, but you deserve bad karma and I trust you will find it.
Zorro
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Still curious
"Point us in the direction of any other source of information about JM or the company substantiating or backing up the allegations made here. This source must not be associated with this article or made/created by those also posting here."
Zorro
-- still curious.
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Re: Still curious
Incidentally, which particular accusations are you struggling with? I am sure we will do what we can to assist you in justifying them.
Anyway as you well know it is usually down to an individual to make their own mind up and I think it is fair to say that in this case they have and it dont look too favourable for Mr Morris.
Dont try and protect such a failure - he has wronged everyone and is a complete failiure. Roll-on April 30th (or before).
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Thanks
"As from the 1st January 2011 the Company's employees along with their employment liabilities will be transferred to a new company owned by the Morris family ("Newco")."
I am under the impression that this would allow for the company I was employed by, which I believe was called Amteus, to be ignored and never receive a share of profits gained in any recovery made by the business as a whole. Whilst Newco may become very successful, Amteus can still go in to liquidation should that be the chosen course of action. All of the current employees have been moved across to Newco, however I have received no indication that any ex-employees are in the same boat.
If you have any information which would suggest the above is incorrect then I would be very pleased to hear it. I wish to assert again that neither myself, nor quite a few others that I am in contact with, have any desire for the company to go bust. We are merely concerned with being fairly treated, and would love to see some transparency.
The threats I was speaking of were verbal, and particularly harsh as they were administered during our dismissal. We had previously had our work emails monitored, which is not in itself the worst scenario ever, but the ridiculous suggestion that 'cyber-investigators' could not only discern our identities but then also Jeffrey could spread the word around his business associates and ensure that finding employment would be difficult for us. Fortunately my decision to share my name made scrambling my IP address unnecessary. Phew!
I hold absolutely no grudge at all against any of the employees that have no influence over policy. In fact mostly I am just a little sad that I didn't get to know a lot of the people better.
Anyway with all this talk of karma and general internet banter I'm off to take out my frustration on reddit.
Maria.
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Well done Maria
The reality is that whilst most people like you and others have documented actual experiences any doubter could reply with a "prove-it" remark in order to discredit your integrity.
You are right in saying that no one wanted to see this business fail, in fact all we ever wanted is to be paid and that would have been closure. Unfortunately Mr Morris, yet again, thought he is brightest businessman in existence and instead of doing the right thing and concentrating on his business he has put all his time and energy into screwing us and limiting our recourse. What his bright little brain failed to notify him of is that in screwing us he has actually screwed himself and comes out of this little episode worse than anyone.
In direct response to him speaking to "his business associates to ensure you find employment difficult" (let me just calm down from this fit of hysteria) he simply doesn't have any. He used to have a reasonable network but be assured that he is now known in those circles as a waste of space, a fraud and a failure. Those type of threats are bullyish, pathetic and more importantly, meaningless. Lets face it I have heard he is embarrassed to walk into Harvey Nichols in Leeds.
One thing no one should underestimate is the power of this thread. This thread had enough collateral for damage when it had only 80 posts which is when Mr Morris stupidly attempted to get the site closed down. His action served only as a publicity tool to highlight the thread to a far broader audience.
Mr Morris is now being spoken about on many forums and we are certain that karma will certainly occur in this situation on or prior to 30/04/2011.
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Addelstone & Morris make utter c***s of themselves
http://www.slyck.com/news.php?story=2034
This is what you are up against if you sue Morris - an incompetent lawyer who doesn't keep updated with the law.
Amazing how Addelstone is prostituting himself to Morris to the detriment of his own career and more importantly reputation. Everyone in Leeds saying how they will NEVER use Addelstone again.
As long as you keep getting your £1500 per week and you can thank Bradley Jacobs for telling us that last week ;-)
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Astounded
I can only talk from my perspective offering some insight into both the environment when I was there and things I personally heard (words spoken by him or his inner circle). Things I know to be true:
1. Jeffrey paid high achieving staff incredibly well (however, unscrupuloous as he was, he didnt care that the products seriously underachieved on their promises and had contracts incorporating 'cast-iron' clauses tantamount to unfair trading). Lets face it though, he's not on his own here and in truth came across as a business savvy yet ruthless individual.
2. The products were always technology based and ground-breaking at the time. Everyone associated with them were often in awe of their potential and every client we pitched to, particularly early on, was impressed by the overall presentation/packaging. I, however, could name at least 15 people that, whilst they loved to sell this product, knew that they were cheating people and jeffrey did not care an iota. Again, bad practise, but not criminal.
3.He did enforce Sunday meetings
Ok, thats the positive bits covered. Now without being emotional, here are the other things I know to be true:
1. Jeffrey has little or no respect for his workforce and running an ethical, well structured, intelligent infrastructure never happened whilst I was there (I worked for him for many years)
2.I saw many talented, dynamic individuals join his company only to leave within days wondering what in the hell they had come into. These individuals having gone on to very successful careers in other technology businesses where they experience the best training, support and work in safe and ethical environments.
3. By the same token, I saw many individuals careers wain because they remained at the company and some are in such serious financial difficulty now (caused by Jeffrey not paying their salaries) that it will take them years to recover.
4. On a slightly more serious note (and take this as you will as often these comments were made in jest but still made everyone uncomfortable), I was present, as many others were, when comments were made both by Jeffrey and his senior management to not sell to the Asian community (theyre liars and they dont pay apparently). Those of you reading this and have worked for him KNOW this to be true.
5. He laid off/sacked staff knowing full well that he wasnt going to pay them and then sent out payslips without actually paying people: pre-meditated and still happening if I'm to believe the comments above. That's an opinion by the way so, of course, I cant prove the whole thing was planned but even the more sensible of those commenting above know that the whole thing stinks.
Finally, I personally know and am still in contact with at least 15 people that would, if it really meant that Jeffrey would be stopped in his tracks, put pen to paper and corroborate all of the above (all of which have worked for Jeffrey in the last ten years). It'll never be necessary and they just cant be bothered (in fact 3 of them are asking me why I'm even bothering writing this). There seems to be a handful of people above (Maria, ex-employee, Zorro, Garry, etc) that have great arguments and opinions: all heartfelt and all ring true to me. Maria in particular I feel for in that she seems like a professional and honest girl.
Well, for all you "Marias' still working for or planning to work for Wamey or Jeffrey in any capacity, heres' the truth:
1. You'll NEVER get real training
2. You'll never feel secure in your job
3. You may never receive a salary
4. You may be insulted by your boss at every turn and threatened with the sack week on week
5. You may even be unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of racial slurs
I wish Jeffrey no harm by any of this as he is who he is and he's been very successful but the facts can't be denied can they?
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Morris is a liar
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Only 15 who will vouch that Morris is a fraud?
Only 15? I feel confident I could more than double that although I would cheat as mine would include 2 or 3 who are still there ;-)
I also agree that the family comments are uncalled for nor did I ever hear him urge caution when dealing with Asians.
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Re: Morris is a liar
What a joke. Its the 5th time he has tried this email spamming lark, that has cost creditors millions. We must not allow it to happen again. It is not fair on the suppliers of goods/services or staff that he recruits. Please keep posting about this website so it appears on the front page of google. We have a civic duty to inform all that may be stung by Morris. This man Morris has no morals whatsoever. He will lie and deceive, just as long he can keep his lifestyle going, and he must not be allowed to prey on unassuming parents/pupils and teachers.
REMEMBER THE SITE: www.BEESINACTION.COM
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@ex-employee
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Please don't tell untruths; it's not nice
> Only 15? I feel confident I could more than double that
> although I would cheat as mine would include 2 or 3 who
> are still there ;-)
In which case why did you take 3 weeks to become aware of BEES when the entire time the whole office was aware and working on it?
Pretty please, don't make stuff up, it's not nice.
Directed at others -
For the record, BEES is a genuine offering that could make a real difference to schools - regardless of what you think of the original product and JM. If we don't do it, someone else will. Of course, if your one objective is to cause the company to fail and the nearly 30 remaining staff to lose their sole source of income, then please carry on and share your abject misery and hate with the world.
Zorro
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Paging would be nice
Any chance of adding paging?
Zorro
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BEES
Looks like you are getting desperate.
"In which case why did you take 3 weeks to become aware of BEES when the entire time the whole office was aware and working on it?"
Not worth answering!!
"For the record, BEES is a genuine offering that could make a real difference to schools - regardless of what you think of the original product and JM"
Is it more genuine than taking £250 off a business by way of telling them they were sponsoring a local school when there wasnt a local school that had signed up to the system?
Do you honestly believe that anyone will think that that crook Morris has all of a sudden gone straight.
His life is in turmoil not to mention his financial situation.
And finally..........This BEES shite is the most ridiculous scheme I have ever known, even worse than Morris's previous failures, and if you honestly think that the 30 people will still be in jobs by April 30th then think again - THEY WONT.
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Morris the Con Man
Why dont you think about the 40 employees that worked for up to a month and then got sacked without pay instead of worrying about yourself.
There are only three people in that business worth their salt and you are not one of them. Those three will get a job anywhere in far better conditions than they are working under in that shit tip. Suffice to say you are not one of the 3.
That BEES con will soon, along with Morris the Failure, be brought to its knees.
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Re: Only 15?
Good lord, that is impressive. Would that be using some sort of pump? Or a magic pill? It must make walking around pretty difficult. Do you have to wrap it around your ankle to avoid tripping over it?
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Re: Morris the Con Man
Nevermind that the work that is being done by those left at the company is likely to help those that are no longer employed in getting back what they are owed.
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Re: BEES
That's a euphemism for "I have no answer to that" I've never heard before.
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Morris is a first class low life lump of scum and these fools (Zorro and Pseudonym) are being pampered by him, no doubt being offered hundreds of millions of share options and they feel wanted. Evidently they would struggle to gain alternative employment so they have little choice. Funny thing being that they have still not received half of Octobers wage.
The fact is that everybody reading these forums, of which there are hundreds, especially amongst ethnic communities in Leeds, Manchester and London, not to mention a few people in high places - they are all having a good old laugh at these posts. The more you post the more they laugh. No one reading this blog thinks Morris is an upstanding member of the community - more a filthy dirty low life crook. And not a clever one.
i urge anyone in his company to follow the example of Sky Sports and go public if he makes any inappropriate sexist, sexual or racist comments as you could sue him for fortunes and we strongly recommend you report it.
Keep the posts coming - get us higher in the rankings.
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THE BIGGEST JOKE YET!!!
IMJack is rebranding to BEES In Action.
All the features and how you access the site will remain the same. What you will see over the coming weeks is a gradual rebranding starting with my email address which will change to adam.gould@beesinaction.com .This will be followed by a change to the graphic User Interface (GUI) of IMJack to BEES with the final stage being the rebranding of all support material and documentation.
Our support phone line remains unchanged 0870 836 8702
You now also have, upon request, access to the BEES fundraising Initiative for free
BEES stands for Business for Education Email Scheme and is a great new way for schools to raise much need funds.
LOOKS LIKE HE REALLY WANTS TO PAY ALL THE PEOPLE HE HAS STOLEN FROM. MIGRATING TO ANOTHER BUSINESS AND REBRANDING HIGHLIGHT HIS INTENTIONS.
NOW FOR THE REAL JOKE. THIS LETTER IS HAVING THE PISS RIPPED OUT OF IT ONLINE. I THINK WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB.
THANKS FOR THE LETTER .......... DONT WORRY, I WILL NEVER REVEAL YOUR IDENTY.
ANYWAY THIS IS THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATING:
How BEES works:
Parents receive an email or letter from your school inviting them to join the BEES fundraising mailing list
BEES venture out and gather exclusive offers from businesses
BEES deliver offer emails to the parents on behalf of your school
Your school receives a pot of money for every offer sent to your parents
No administration need from your school
The Benefits:
Parents save money on exclusive local and national deals
Your school raises thousands of pounds in funds every year
The Potential
A typical school with 2000 subscribed contacts (parents/guardians family and friends) should raise £9,600 per year of additional funding by sending one voucher offer per week.
We intend to dispatch one offer per day. We will never send parents more than one offer per day.
The more people associated with your school the more money you will generate. Family and friends of the parents/guardians can also join to receive the vouchers increasing your potential earnings.
I have attached a presentation of how BEES in action works, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and wish to proceed. Kindly forward the email to other relevant members of staff.
Kind Regards
Adam Gould
BEES: Businesses for Education Email Scheme (21)
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HAVE A LAUGH AT THIS
NOW FOR THE REAL JOKE. THIS LETTER IS HAVING THE PISS RIPPED OUT OF IT ONLINE. I THINK WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB.
THANKS FOR THE LETTER .......... DONT WORRY, I WILL NEVER REVEAL YOUR IDENTY.
ANYWAY THIS IS THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATING:
Great News!
IMJack is rebranding to BEES In Action.
All the features and how you access the site will remain the same. What you will see over the coming weeks is a gradual rebranding starting with my email address which will change to adam.gould@beesinaction.com .This will be followed by a change to the graphic User Interface (GUI) of IMJack to BEES with the final stage being the rebranding of all support material and documentation.
Our support phone line remains unchanged 0870 836 8702
You now also have, upon request, access to the BEES fundraising Initiative for free
BEES stands for Business for Education Email Scheme and is a great new way for schools to raise much need funds.
How BEES works:
Parents receive an email or letter from your school inviting them to join the BEES fundraising mailing list
BEES venture out and gather exclusive offers from businesses
BEES deliver offer emails to the parents on behalf of your school
Your school receives a pot of money for every offer sent to your parents
No administration need from your school
The Benefits:
Parents save money on exclusive local and national deals
Your school raises thousands of pounds in funds every year
The Potential
A typical school with 2000 subscribed contacts (parents/guardians family and friends) should raise £9,600 per year of additional funding by sending one voucher offer per week.
We intend to dispatch one offer per day. We will never send parents more than one offer per day.
The more people associated with your school the more money you will generate. Family and friends of the parents/guardians can also join to receive the vouchers increasing your potential earnings.
I have attached a presentation of how BEES in action works, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and wish to proceed. Kindly forward the email to other relevant members of staff.
Kind Regards
Adam Gould
BEES: Businesses for Education Email Scheme (21)
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Thanks for cheering me up - Rebranding My Arse
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Zorro - your insight is required
Where exactly is the money to pay the wages of 30 staff going to come from ?
Simple question. I want you to answer it.
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Re: Pampering
Yeah, he pampers us so hard sometimes I can barely walk.
I think we'd stand a better chance than someone with a history of threatening past employers
And make sure all the supposed remarks are completely unsubstantiated - but call anyone who questions you a naive idiot.
Or better yet, organise a protest.
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Re: your insight is required
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Re:
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Re:
Ah, another threat that probably won't be followed through. See you in a few months when you or one of your associates calls me a "idiot" for asking where the findings you'd promised are.
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Gentlemen, please
I see that we have decended once again into tomfoolery and nonsense.
"The enforcer", "Ex Employee",
May I say how pleased I am that you fine gentles are able to find time to share your considered and thoughtful comments whilst still holding down your high-pressured jobs, which you have doubtless acquired since leaving IM - it having been nigh on 3-months now.
Surely you have new jobs? After all you have placed yourselves as fit to pass judgement on the career prospects of others and presumably you are therefore better (and thus more employable)?
Us pitiful few who remain are working as busy bees (pun intended) to make a success of this, which allows IM to be properly funded, which allows you (who have not been paid) to be paid.
Our risk is that we may not get paid from month-to-month. We acknowledge and accept this, even as we don't want it to happen, because otherwise we would be here no more.
Why would you want to stop us in our endevours - we are trying to help ourselves and you at the same time. Whatever you think of JM, bringing down this company will only hurt us and you.
Why the hate? Why the aggression? Surely, only for revenge?
Zorro
-- the blackness in the hearts of men
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Identity
"THANKS FOR THE LETTER .......... DONT WORRY, I WILL NEVER REVEAL YOUR IDENTY."
What you mean "lmiddleton25"? On a post elsewhere that incidentally has now been taken down, because, let's face it, not everyone is *that* interested in your one-man crusade of hatred.
Thanks though for passing the news along, much appreciated.
Zorro
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Re: Identity
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MORRIS THE FAILURE
I bet you are sorry you didn't take the job at Orange now instead of being further romanced by Morris the failure. Didn't you realise he was a failure then?
It is as a result of the behaviour of types like you, stealing from the business by writing posts on here instead of working, that the business found itself in this position in the first instance.
Oh its my pleasure to pass the news on and what rubbish are you talking about lmiddleton25 - dont try and deflect from the truth.
As for my personal situation I actually have no job. I am working for myself, under my own rules and earning more than I have done for the past few years. So you were wrong on that account.
LETS ALL LAUGH AT THIS AGAIN:
Great News!
IMJack is rebranding to BEES In Action.
All the features and how you access the site will remain the same. What you will see over the coming weeks is a gradual rebranding starting with my email address which will change to adam.gould@beesinaction.com .This will be followed by a change to the graphic User Interface (GUI) of IMJack to BEES with the final stage being the rebranding of all support material and documentation.
Our support phone line remains unchanged 0870 836 8702
You now also have, upon request, access to the BEES fundraising Initiative for free
BEES stands for Business for Education Email Scheme and is a great new way for schools to raise much need funds.
How BEES works:
Parents receive an email or letter from your school inviting them to join the BEES fundraising mailing list
BEES venture out and gather exclusive offers from businesses
BEES deliver offer emails to the parents on behalf of your school
Your school receives a pot of money for every offer sent to your parents
No administration need from your school
The Benefits:
Parents save money on exclusive local and national deals
Your school raises thousands of pounds in funds every year
The Potential
A typical school with 2000 subscribed contacts (parents/guardians family and friends) should raise £9,600 per year of additional funding by sending one voucher offer per week.
We intend to dispatch one offer per day. We will never send parents more than one offer per day.
The more people associated with your school the more money you will generate. Family and friends of the parents/guardians can also join to receive the vouchers increasing your potential earnings.
I have attached a presentation of how BEES in action works, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions and wish to proceed. Kindly forward the email to other relevant members of staff.
Kind Regards
Adam Gould
BEES: Businesses for Education Email Scheme (21)
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Re: MORRIS THE FAILURE
Oh really? I rather imagine that, for you, business hasn't been and there hasn't been any business. But at least you've got your crusade to keep you entertained.
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Orange, peach, frog, what's the difference?
> I bet you are sorry you didn't take the job at Orange now
> instead of being further romanced by Morris the failure.
> Didn't you realise he was a failure then?
I'm afraid you have me at an advantage. Could you clarify what you mean by "Orange"?
> Oh its my pleasure to pass the news on...
Much appreciated. As of midnight last night, the BIA link on this site has been responsible for 68 visits to the BIA web site, 4 new subscribers for vouchers and 1 contact from a business interested in sending vouchers to our database. Rather more successful than your previous career at IM, I'd warrant. Perhaps you should apply for affiliate status? I'll post a screen shot of the Google Analytics if you want...?
> ...what rubbish are you talking about lmiddleton25 -
> dont try and deflect from the truth.
Yes, my apologies. It's imeddleton25. My spelling mistake. If you don't recall, why not take a look at the 4 identical tedious forums you started on edugeek. Oh wait, no you can't because they have been shut down, because - as I mentioned before - "not everyone is *that* interested in your one-man crusade of hatred."
> As for my personal situation I actually have no
> job.....So you were wrong on that account.
Actually....I was correct. Sorry.
> I am working for myself, under my own rules and earning
> more than I have done for the past few years.
Well, I'm sure you have learnt from your mistakes and can repeat them all perfectly.
> LETS ALL LAUGH AT THIS AGAIN:
Once again, thanks for spreading the news & for the traffic.
All the very best with your new venture.
Zorro
-- friend of small business.
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Big Society?
I wonder if you might be able to clear a few things up. Firstly can I just say that I think the BEES in action scheme is a great idea. I believe it may be a little too late, but it definitely has the potential to be a great success.
I am just wondering what has happened to those schools on the previous deals? Particularly those schools which were promised a full refund of their £2,400 SLA fee, but also those schools which signed up under the "Big Society" project. As there are no longer any staff chasing sponsorship from local businesses will all of the schools automatically become part of the new BEES in action scheme? If they wish to remain with the deal which they signed up to will that contract be honoured?
I must say that whilst with the company I was extremely concerned that these 'guarantees' we were making to schools seemed unfeasible given the fact that company could not even afford keep it's staff. I was under the impression, and this was merely an educated guess, that the company was asking for the money up front from schools with the promise of a refund in order to create the illusion of a healthier balance sheet to inflate share prices in an effort to gain the backing of the SSAT.
From my view point, given the subsequent events, I simply cannot see how IM Jack can possibly hope to honour these agreements. In fact during my time there as an employee I was painfully aware that the company appeared to be gambling with tax-payer money on a bet with terrible odds. I am not saying that my perception is accurate, I can only state my opinion, albeit one based on educated reasoning.
I apologise for this turning in to yet another mini-essay, but, to summarise, my questions are these:
Will Im Jack honour the contracts already signed and paid for Secondary schools across the country?
How concrete are these new promises from the company? I realise that schools have nothing to lose in the new BEES scheme, but will businesses receive any guarantees on the numbers of legitimate email addresses they will have their vouchers mailed out to?
I suppose I am also a little curious that if the original contracts with schools cannot be honoured will they be treated with the same deafening silence as ex-employess?
Maria.
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Zorro
There is no-one but you and Morris that is reading it for any other reason than to laugh at the sensational demise and failings of the low life. For that reason any attempts to belittle me or any other honest and accurate posts on this thread are at best, futile, but most certainly do add to the entertainment.
If you honestly think that people are reading this site then subscribing in some way to the Bees In Action site then I suggest you seek medical assistance. It is seriously worrying that you have been brainwashed to a concerning degree.
Let me guess have some people read the posts and due to Jeffrey Morris' dire financial situation offered to lend him money you misfit.
I think we can safely say that you have done a great job in discrediting yourself so I will not continue but by all means, dont stop - it is entertaining.
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