Some STOCK & MESSAGE BOARD acronyms: 

DD  -           "Due Diligence" - This is usually seen in an
                advertisement or when someone  is otherwise
                "pumping" stock they themselves own. It means
                In short; "I'm telling you about this stock,
                but if you buy it without checking it out
                thoroughly--then don't blame me."

FLOAT -         The shares available for the public to buy and sell. 

IPO -           Initial Public Offering - This is the process
                where a private company goes public. 

ASK -           the price an investor can buy a stock. 

BID -           the price an investor can sell a stock. 

BEAR MARKET -   A weak market with an extended period of
                falling stock prices. 

BULL MARKET -   A strong market with prices in an upward trend. 

FORWARD SPLIT - If you own 1000 shares before a 3:1 forward stock
                split you'll own 3000 shares after.  A forward split
                often is indicative that a company feels they are
                in good shape...

LONG -          Means you own it.  You bought it.  And you intend to
                stay with the stock long term.

MARKET CAP -    The value of a company based on the number of
                shares outstanding times the current stock price. 

MARKET MAKER -  Abbreviated MM.  Market Maker Manipulation is
                abbreviated MMM.  Market Makers work the market
                in the OTCBB.  Market makers rarely sell you an
                OTCBB stock unless they will make something.

OTCBB -         Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board. An electronic
                quotation system used by Market Makers.  Most
                penny stocks ($5.00 and under) trade on the OTCBB.
                OTCBB companies have not yet met the requirements
                to trade on the NASDAQ.  There are periodic
                reporting requirements.


PINK SHEETS -   A list that brokers keep. No reporting requirements
                required.  A stock delisted from the OTCBB usually trades
                on the "Pink Sheets" next.

REVERSE MERGER - When a private company merges into a publicly
                 traded company, usually a shell. 

REVERSE SPLIT - When a company reduces its shares outstanding.
                If you own 1000 shares before a 10:1 reverse stock
                split you'll own 100 shares after.  Be careful with
                this!  Often it amounts to "highway robbery" as an
                investor is concerned!  Not always though! 

SEC -           Securities and Exchange Commission 

SHELL -         This a publicly traded company that has no core
                business operations left. The only value a shell
                has is the simple fact that it is publicly traded. A
                private company who would like to go public can merge
                (a reverse merger) into this empty shell and the
                private company is now public. Some shells do nothing
                but collect investor funds and pay their board members,
                bookkeepers and lawyers!  Be careful!

SHORT SELLING - When you sell a stock you don't own, you are "short".
                Short selling helps you take advantage of falling
                stock prices.

SPREAD -        the difference between the bid and the ask. 



MESSAGE BOARD ACRONYMS: 


BTW -       By The Way

DD -        Due Diligence

EOM -       End Of Message

FWIW -      For What It's Worth

FYI -       For Your Information

IMO -       In My Opinion

IMHO -      In My Humble Opinion

JMHO -      Just My Humble Opinion

LOL -       Laughing Out Loud

ROTFL -     Rolling On The Floor Laughing

TIA -       Thanks In Advance

MM -        Market Maker

OTCBB -     Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board 

SEC -       Securities and Exchange Commission