Hello, all! This is Mrs. Al here. Apologies for the brand spankin' new handle - really thought we already had a BZT one all these years on Reddit for our Bazaar Traveler adventures but, oops. Anyway... You aren't here for that backstory, you are here for Carvana stuff! (And so sorry, this ended up way longer than intended and still isn't the full story...!)
First, I would like to offer many, many thanks to all of you on here. My husband and I just made our first purchase (and started a second) via Carvana and we couldn't have done it without what we've read here on this subreddit. It really helped us prepare for the experience, and allowed us to speak with their advocates and management with more clarity when issues would arise.
I've been compiling a massive article about this entire experience, complete with video and all that, but we're not quite at the end of our Carvana journey for all of that so I just wanted to offer some of our story in case it helps any one else in the process. ((The TL;DR version of this is that you should expect this process to be long and annoying but can really find something that works for you if you are patient (and can talk to any managers about problems that arise).))
The brief version of long story leading up to this is that I had to stop working and then stop driving due to my health getting worse (including Epileptic seizures) so we'd traded all our other vehicles in for one single 2005 Cadillac Escalade that was our commuter, daily driver, and sometimes house (especially once my husband had to leave his consultant job and became my 24/7 caregiver). We finally moved across country for medical treatment and yadda yadda yadda, years later I finally got the approvals to start driving again and living a semi-normal life right before this COVID mess started. We started to save up for a second vehicle but my medical debt among other things was making that difficult as both of us were still rebuilding our credit. We have a limited selection of local car dealers unless we want to drive hours away, and Craigslist wasn't yielding many working/affordable results, plus we kept being priced out of local car auctions, so we began to look at Carvana once we saw my husband was pre-qualified. We planned on waiting a little longer but, suddenly, our 2005 finally had it and bit the dust. We had zero vehicles and live in a place where our mailbox is three miles away let alone being close to any towns or anything else. It was fine at first as it was his remote work week, but he is an essential worker so my husband would need a vehicle to commute very soon. We had no way of getting to any other place to buy a car, so Carvana suddenly became our best option.
The first part of this was painless. We found a couple trucks we wanted that would work perfectly for our place and needs (we have a small fixer-upper ranch near the border). Things felt like a game. Which would get here when? Which wasn't going to have deposits? Which would come back off someone's pending or hold? There was a rush of adrenaline when trying to beat the clock. We didn't understand at first that once you held something you couldn't hold it again. We thought we could hold something, look, then come back. A few times, the truck we wanted was "swiped" from us. It felt like gambling.
Then, we started to notice certain listings weren't showing up for us depending on where it said we were. We operate on mobile internet, and sometimes it would think we were located somewhere completely different. Different cars would show up. Some algorithms weren't working right. What was going on? We began to try using other searches for online vehicles - especially TrueCar - and would notice vehicles showing up that were listed on Carvana but that we'd never seen before. That was how we found the truck we ultimately ended up with, but at this point we were still just figuring things out. We actually started by ordering a gorgeous blue 2012 F150 with a 6.5 foot bed. Aside from not having 4x4, it was otherwise perfect for our needs and a great price. The delivery experience was great. On time, no issues... At least, not until it was dropped off in our driveway.
I immediately pointed out to my husband that the bed did not look like it was 6.5 feet long. We measured. It was the 5.5. There was also damage to the windshield and the door. The inside smelled too much like that "new car" chemical they use, and you could tell someone used a dirty rag to clean it all. Swirls and goop every where. Otherwise, it drove great and we loved it. They worked with us on the bed size and cleaning issues, and were going to actually cut us two checks (one for each issue) had we kept it. However, we were having some glitchy issues with the nav system and wanted to try a newer model. You get to test drive multiple, right? And by now we'd found out the windshield was actually already repaired, this wasn't new damage as we were told. So we went for a 2013 f-150, and that was where things really went wrong.
A day or so before delivery, we get word that they went to bring it to emissions but an issue popped up. Went to fix, and another issue popped up. Parts on backorder. A local manager took over at this point and helped put us at ease. She also got us extra mileage as we had no other working vehicle and still had the original truck well beyond the initial trial period. It was weeks of limbo until we finally decided to get a different truck. Just couldn't afford to wait any longer. Decided to spend a little more, ended up with a 2017 with more safety features and upgraded systems. Plus it was a 4x4! Now... This part of the story gets very long and I'll save it for final once I'm done with all that, but in the end (and thanks to the help of two managers) we got the truck we wanted, got a small refund for the hassles, and even got to see them fix small issues on their site we'd uncovered (as with the incorrect bed size still being listed despite someone else trying to buy that first truck we had). We finally took delivery at the end of September, which was also crazy since we started this process in August. Some issues did pop up that they are also fixing as exemptions with SilverRock, but again that is part of an even longer story and I already wrote way more in this summary than I meant to quickly for ya'll, lol. Sorry!
As for where the second purchase comes in... In the meantime, we realized it would be too much money and time to fix up our old 2005 for me to safely use as a commuting car and not just on the ranch for farm work, so we started to again look at cheap, old cars. Again, we found ourselves back at Carvana. As I don't have any income at the moment, and my medical debt is massive and we are still paying off a lot of other debt we had from having to move so much and get me treatment all this time, so we weren't expecting much. But SURPRISE! They approved my husband for a second vehicle and said we could have it delivered this week for the most part. Sweet! Just on time to bring it in for inspection to the same mechanic doing the SilverRock-approved repairs on the truck. Found a 2014 Grand Cherokee with so many safety features and relatively low mileage for the year. 4x4 so we can handle where we live (which is basically offroad). Diesel, so gas savings. Very exciting, and even more excited to get my life back on track (as much as possible in this pandemic...).
So imagine our horror days later when we start getting texts from Carvana - after they've already closed for the night - telling us we need to contact them first thing in the morning or else we're going to lose the vehicle. Is this going to be another issue like the truck? Well, okay, we at least have that now, but given it is fire season and a second vehicle would also help for safety reasons should my husband not be working remotely that day...? And for any emergencies arising from two of our dogs having surgery soon? Yeah, we were starting to realize just how much less stress we both were under thinking about having two working vehicles for two able drivers again after all these years of juggling things around in an old vehicle partly held together by screws and pieces of wood.
That was last night, and this morning we were expecting the worst. We've already gone through with advocates and managers there talking about the issues you Redditors have had. They have assured us over and over again. They have assured us after our own issues. Now what was going on? We woke up early and called as soon as we could. Already on hold. Waited for the call back. (If you deal with Carvana, you will learn their hold music very well in very short time...) Finally talked to someone. Had to go on hold again for a while. Clock ticking, getting closer to our cut-off time for missing our delivery which added to the anxiety. Finally, an answer. Turned out there were issues "budgeting" and seemed to be related to the fact that we were paying extra to have the vehicle shipped from California on top of other things like increased taxes/fees/etc. In the end... $20. It was $20 a month they had an issue with, and since the car was for me to work but I couldn't work until I had the car, I had no extra income to show them. It was all my husband's, and we could afford this without me, but even he would need extra proof unless we gave a small down payment as it was a second loan with them (having two loans with their company changes things a bit, we are told). Not a big deal, but do wish their algorithm showed us that to begin with. We were debating putting something down to begin with, but it kept saying we could do zero (and could go up another $10,000 for the loan) so we didn't event think of it being an issue. The advocate pointed out to us that this is what gets other people sometimes buying a second car through Carvana but not using a different lender, and that they sometimes need to have a massive down payment and/or interest hike to cover it all. My husband jokingly asked if we could use one of the promo codes we had from our truck on this car since it was for me, and she actually said we could have had we put it in my name instead of his but the income issue would most likely be a bigger problem. She said we could still call back with one from someone else before it was all finalized to still use one, however. We didn't know that so it was helpful she offered that info up at this point! We had to put down $1000 but it was definitely worth it for the freedom and knowledge we will still be getting the second vehicle this week so I can finally try and restart my life again. Yes, we could have dropped down to something even older and cheaper, or newer and smaller and cheaper, but it might not have been safe nor good enough for our needs going forward. This way, we get exactly what we wanted.
Now, granted, we have yet to get this second vehicle delivered, and we are still on temp plates for the first, so our experience could definitely change... However, save for the rare times when we had cash to put down on (very old) vehicles to outright purchase, this was our least painless experience buying vehicles ever. Yes, even with what I said here above. Yes, even with all the long story part about the truck we ended up with the first time missing from this post. (Which includes a flat tire while driving along the border and a frayed seatbelt, among other things.) Have leased cars, gotten car loans... Traded things in... Have had some insane horror stories all over this country. They had put us off ever wanting to buy or lease a car without just plunking down cash again, but obviously that was impossible for us to do in this situation. Otherwise, we'd end up with another very old vehicle we'd be nailing boards to again (yes, I wasn't kidding about that).
We bought two cars, sometimes while in our pajamas, sometimes while enjoying alcoholic beverages (hey, our wedding anniversary came and went during this entire process!), sometimes in the middle of the night, sometimes at 4 in the morning... No dealer fees. Refunds for issues. Okay, maybe insane amounts of time on hold and learning a lot about Carvana's inner workings, but still... Would and have been recommending people use Carvana, BUT only with them knowing to go into it thinking the listings could be wrong and they could have issues with the process and/or the vehicle itself.
So... in summary... Carvana may try to be "car buying that doesn't suck" but it DOES... Just, maybe not as much as other places. It was rare that buying a car ever hasn't ever gone wrong in some way for us. Even some of those cash deals weren't even that great (hello, sketchy 1993 conversion van driveway deal... talking to you). Yeah... It sucks, but expect it to suck. It will help it suck that much less.
(PM if anyone is interested in any of the codes we have left from the first vehicle.)

An Introduction To The Cannabis Sector V2

With the now famous "Reddit Gold Guy" millionaire posting hitting all and the likely influx of ten's of thousands of rookie investors hitting this sub...I thought it might be helpful to write this for them.
TLDR: This is essentially an updated write up which delivers a basic rundown of the cannabis industry, cannabis applications and consumption, the current state of affairs, major companies/partnerships, and where the current market is as of writing it. Here is the previous write up but it's not necessary to read as it's a little dated now.
Information may not be accurate. Believe it at your own risk and verify it on your own accord.

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry
- (A) Canada
- (B) International
- (C) United States
(2) Canadian Companies
- (A) Quick Rundown
(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown
- (A) A Quick History Lesson
- (B) CBD & THC
- (C) Recreational, Medical, Beauty/Wellness, and Alternative Application
  - Recreational
  - Beverages
  - Medical
  - Beauty/Wellness
  - Alternative Application
- (D) Summary
(5) The United States and Global Expansion
(6) The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks
- Helpful Links and Final Thoughts

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry

Cannabis is following the trend of what is likely to be (or close to be) global decriminalization/legalization of the marijuana plant and its derivatives. So far, much of the buzz in the industry has been focused on the Canadian space with the US and international buzz picking up as well.
(A) Canada - has had federal legalized medical marijuana and marijuana derivatives for years but you needed a prescription in order to obtain any of it. Last summer legislation (Bill C-45) was passed to legalize recreational marijuana on the federal level in Canada. The first recreational sales happened on Oct 17th of this year, which means the doors to retail outlets and online ordering will be open to any adult who wishes to purchase cannabis. There is limitation in availability of products as the ruling bodies dictated that only “flower” or "bud" (traditional dry smokable weed) and oil tinctures/capsules will be allowed for sale to the public for the first year of legalization with other products to be sold after this time (vapes, edibles, beverages, and topicals like lotions, balms, etc.).
(B) International - expansion is one of the major focuses of these Canadian companies. International countries are opening the doors one at a time as the "domino's fall" and either decriminalizing cannabis to some degree, legalizing medical programs for patients, or recreational programs for adult use. Most of these Canadian companies are expanding via foreign ownership/investment into companies there or setting up international operations as the doors open up in foreign countries. These Canadian companies are expanding beyond their borders and turning themselves into global companies.
(C) United States - is moving quickly in taking steps towards legalization as well. I'm sure many US citizens who aren't familiar with the industry have noticed how many states are opening up in the same way as many of these foreign countries via decriminalizing or outright legalization for medical or recreational usage. The states have their own degree of power so they are doing this despite the federal legalities. I believe we have approximately 30 states that have some degree of decriminalization or legalization or cannabis. The US also recently passed the Farm Bill which legalized hemp on the federal level and allows for interstate shipping (vs cannabis which cannot be shipped between state lines). The US is also proposing a new bill (similar to many shut down before) to open up banking to US cannabis companies, which is a big deal for US operators.
Overall, Canada is federally legal and the starting point as many Canadian companies are expanding internationally. The Canadian companies recognize the US as a massive opportunity, but don't fully enter the sector yet so they aren't breaking federal law. There are many US companies operating within US borders (despite federal laws) and building up state by state operations, which has coined the term MSO or multi-state-operator. These MSO's and other US operators cannot expand internationally, so they are held back...at the same time, they are building up big operations in the US and are shielded from their larger and much more well funded Canadian counterparts.
FYI I got tired writing this thing so I didn't include as much information in listing the US companies or their operations like I did for the Canadian companies. Maybe I'll get around to it later on...for a great resource on US companies, financials, equity information, state by state break down, etc. Check out this link and it was posted earlier to this sub here. Shout out and acknowledgements to u/J0dd, CannaVestments, 170807, and Kbarbs4421.

(2) Major Canadian Companies

There are some major cannabis companies that have emerged in Canada. The recognized big players are...

Canopy Growth ($CGC on the NYSE)
Aurora Cannabis ($ACB on the NYSE)
Aphria ($APHA on the NYSE)
Tilray ($TLRY on the NYSE)
Cronos Group ($CRON on the NASDAQ)

Other notable Canadian players...

Hexo Group ($HEXO on NYSE)
CannTrust (CNTTF on OTC) which is soon to list on the NYSE (stay tuned)
Organigram (OGRMF on the OTC)

There are a few other significant, but smaller players as well if you want to research further. Regarding tickers, something to keep in mind is many of these companies have dual listings, which means if you Google them then you might see the Canadian ticker for the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange) or CSE (Canadian Stock Exchange), but if you are in the United States you must purchase the stock off of their alternative OTC listing; there is no difference here except for being on different exchanges and listed in different currencies, but they are the same stock and perfectly in sync with one another.
(A) Quick Rundown
There are many "marriages" via partnerships and suspected entrances in this industry from big alcohol, big tobacco, and big pharma. The reason being that cannabis is a big deal and will likely cut into their market share and also the applications and potential of the products (more on this later).
Canopy Growth has always been recognized as the market leader and traditionally has operated and executed a step ahead of the competition and so far, continues to do so. Constellations Brands (Makers of Corona, Modelo, etc.) has made two investments in Canopy and thus far has invested near 5 billion dollars into the company, which brought legitimacy to the sector and is by far the largest equity stake/partnership to this date. The other most notable partnership IMO is Altria (major tobacco company) making a similar equity stake/partnership in Cronos Group with a ~2 billion dollar price tag.
Other notable involvement and investments

This is all adding further legitimacy and hype to the industry. There are many rumors of other alcohol, beverage, pharmaceutical, and tobacco companies looking to get involved in the sector. Some have openly acknowledged their interest or "closely monitoring" things, such as Coke, Pepsi, Diageo, and others.

(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown

So far there is the black market marijuana that we all know and love, dry bud, the grass, the dank shit. There is also the notorious edible brownies which hit you like a truck. So we have dry bud and we have volatile edibles...this is the black market world so let's start to take a look at the real white market potential here...
(A) A Quick History Lesson
Marijuana was initially made illegal in the US during the early 20th century, when hemp based paper (the non hallucinogenic “brother” of marijuana) threatened to compete and undercut traditional paper sales and was lobbied against successfully to make it illegal. Later on in the 60’s and 70’s, marijuana was used (especially during the Nixon administration) as a means to incarcerate minorities and successfully generated a very strong stigma associated with it through propaganda. This continued through the 80's during the Reagan administration and the later use of programs like DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) that were an attempt to stir up further fear of cannabis as a "gateway drug" leading to further use of harder and more addictive illicit substances. The international community had also largely followed the US in regards to making marijuana illegal. So in turn, this plant has never been researched thoroughly.
(B) CBD & THC - are two different products that can be pulled from the plant (so far). THC is what we mostly associate with the effects of marijuana and it's the psychoactive ingredient which delivers "the high". CBD is non-psychoactive and does not intoxicate you in anyway but can bind to receptors via fancy science I don't understand and provides a plethora of benefits and opens the door to a variety of application (we'll cover this later on). You can extract and develop stand alone THC products, CBD products, or products with a combination of the two. This industry is really in the beginning stages of research and more is being discovered about the plant as well as many clinical trials for a variety of issues and new cannabinoids (like THC or CBD).
(C) Recreational, Medical, Beauty/Wellness, and Alternative Application
On the recreational side, you have a large populace of people who already use cannabis around the globe. Even polls and surveys which show usage could be incorrect in their reports as the previously well established stigma often leads many to lie about the frequency of usage or whether they partake at all (I see this with many people in my own life). Combine this with the likely many people who have never used marijuana or any other products (possibly due to the stigma, legalities, lack of education, and/or inconsistent quality, potency, or cleanliness of “product”) and who are likely to experiment as things change...you have a recipe for a massive industry. This is especially applicable to the recreational pleasure from “getting high” from smoking, drinking, eating, or vaping cannabis.
Beverages, Edibles, and The Future of Consumption:
Many of the leaders of these cannabis companies agree that cannabis edibles and beverages in particular, will be the future of recreational cannabis consumption and make up a significant portion of total sales in time. This is often what Bruce Linton, CEO of Canopy Growth, has been preaching in press releases and in the media for the past year or two.
For those who are unfamiliar with cannabis or edibles...edibles can hit you like a truck. Picture drinking a mixed drink and not knowing the exact alcohol content. You don't know how strong the effect is going to be. You don't know if it's going to "hit you" in 30 minutes or 2 hours from now. You don't know if it's going to last for 2 hours or for 12 hours.
An important note on the matter of these beverages is that this is not in regards to a “liquid edible” which are already on the markets in some places (such as in California) but rather having a similar on-set to that of alcohol. This would mean something similar to drinking a beverage, having the “buzz” felt with 5-10 minutes, and then completely sobering up within an hour or so. These drinks generally would not be combined with alcohol and would be a set amount of THC and/or CBD and contain zero calories; this factor, combined with the anticipation that cannabis sales are going to disrupt alcohol sales, is likely two of the main reasons many alcohol companies have entered this sector and other beverage companies are eyeing the sector.
On the medical side, there many exciting things happening. Like I previously stated, not much research has been done on the plant until now. Many new discoveries are happening such as GW Pharmaceuticals receiving approval from the FDA to bring their drug Epidiolex (a cannabis derived drug that treats a form of epilepsy) to the market. Many alternative products are also being developed to compete with the likes of simple drugs such as Aspirin, through utilization of CBD-based gel capsules to help with pain management or other ailments. Without getting too into the weeds on the subject (pun intended), there are multiple biotech and direct cannabis companies that are researching and currently undergoing clinical trails to get approval of their cannabis based drugs. We are talking about cannabis extracts or creams for targeted pain treatment, general pain treatment, arthritis, sleep aid, rest/relaxation, anxiety, pet anxiety and pain, and more. Even major CEO's like former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz has spoken to her investment in the sector due to her usage and how much it's benefited her bad knee's. We are even seeing veterans turning to cannabis products for PTSD, trauma, and other issues and using their own cash to purchase them. Their usage of their "free" opioids (covered by the VA) is reduced or completely denied as cannabis works better for them. It was one of the reasons former speaker of the house John Boehner joined the board of one of the larger US cannabis operators, Acreage Holdings. Overall, I’ve been shocked at what has happened already and even more so the pending approval and potential of some of these cannabis based products for general health and medical application.
On the beauty/wellness side, I see this as a sort of continuation from medical application. Every product imaginable is being combined with THC/CBD or other cannabis derivatives. Likely not all, but some of these will become significant in the future. A wide range of lotions, balms, sexual lubricants, libido enhancers, patches, pills/capsules, feminine products, etc have been or are currently being developed. In particular, some of the people in my social circle have been utilizing lotions and balms for arthritis and targeted pain management. In time, I’m sure we will see more development on beauty products as well. Companies like Coke or Pepsi are also eyeballing the sector for the concept of potentially creating products such as a CBD post-workout beverage (think Gatorade). Many former athletes are coming forward to exclaim how cannabis would have been highly beneficial to them during their careers and athletes like Joe Montana have invested in the sector. in It’s also important to note that some of these products may come from hemp rather than marijuana. And yes, hemp and marijuana are not the same thing, but are apart of the same family.
In regards to Alternative application, I mostly view this as the potential outside of marijuana and closely related to hemp. Hemp has very strong fibers and has a wide range of application across multiple mediums. My knowledge is more limited here and the potential may be limited as well. However, alongside the legalization of marijuana is hemp being fully legalized (Farm Bill just did this) and we could see eco-friendly application for clothing, construction materials, biofuel, plastic alternatives, carpet, insulation, mulch, cardboard, etc.
So overall, what we are looking at here is potential application and disruption of the pharmaceutical, alcohol, tobacco, health/beauty/wellness, and other industries. To what degree exactly? No one can be certain yet...
(D) Summary
If you aren't convinced yet, then get convinced. Many people often have a hard time looking past the stigma of consuming cannabis and view it as a drug while associating it with laziness, hippies, etc (you know the stereotypes). Even people who use/used cannabis have a hard time imagining a future where cannabis is consumed in a non-traditional way such as beverages or balms/creams. Furthermore, even in the investment community has often ridiculed the sector as “weed grows like a weed.", "It’s a commodity”, “It’s a giant bubble and a fad”, “These companies are grossly overvalued” etc. In order to understand the potential of this plant alongside the possible global decriminalization of this drug, you need to look past these mental blocks and see the potential. When you have people like Danny Moses (Investor from the movie "The Big Short") investing in this sector, it's probably a good idea to look into what he is doing and why.

The United States and Global Expansion

Many of these Canadian companies are grossly “overvalued” meaning that they are trading on the stock market for a much higher price then their current financials can justify. Some of this is due to hype but most of it is due to investors pricing in the potential of the industry. Legalization and implementing new laws and regulation is a slow process. Educating the public and reducing/removing stigma is a slow process. Research and development is a slow process. Construction of these massive grow operation facilities...a slow process. You get the point. This industry is moving very fast but the stock market is moving faster. As of this moment, sales and revenues are not going to stay up to speed with the valuations of these companies but the potential is being priced in as time goes by. This is slowly entering to more dangerous territory in terms of forming a giant bubble. However, if these companies begin to live up to their current valuations then their stock will likely continue to rise as it will likely always be trading significantly above their current financials. You make up your mind on when the best time to invest is (more on this at the end).
You might be asking yourself about the United States. The writing is on the wall as far as I am concerned and many states have decriminalized marijuana or approved some form of medical or recreational usage.The main issue with the US cannabis companies as it currently stands is the fact that marijuana is still illegal on the federal level...
With so many states having some degree of marijuana decriminalization, it’s creating a strange situation. Many US cannabis companies struggle to get a line of credit or access to loans from banks because they are operating against federal law. They also aren’t getting all of the potential tax breaks that they could if they were operating legally and often have to pay their taxes in cash. With cannabis becoming such a booming industry, this adds additional growing pains for these companies with little access to traditional capital. Many of these companies have to dilute their stock in order to get ahead (Basically paying for something by issuing more shares and giving up a portion of your company. This hurts shareholders.) This also leads to struggles around distribution and operations in that if a company operates in two neighboring states, then they can’t ship product across state lines. If you can’t ship state to state, then you definitely aren’t shipping anything out of country; the US operators are unable to expand outside the US by any traditional means.
How things turn out is a debate in the industry and I don’t believe we are far enough along to really place a confident bet on the outcome. There are some factors to consider when it comes to US companies/US expansion as well as expansion into the US. Many Canadian companies had some degree of connection to US cannabis operations; but they disassociated or divested in them likely so they could uplist to a more prestigious exchange (NYSE or NASDAQ). These exchanges won’t allow any companies to be doing activities considered illegal by the countries in which they operate. So generally speaking, most Canadian companies are going to be completely removed from the US for the time being. This may serve to some degree of protection in allowing the US operators to seize market share and establish themselves during this unique phase, rather than being gobbled up and acquired by their larger Canadian counterparts right now. However, most recently with the passing of the farm bill and federal hemp legalization, Canopy entered the fray and is now building out hemp operations in New York.
In my opinion, the question of who is going to dominate the US is largely dependent upon how quickly these US companies can establish themselves prior to potential federal legalization (in order to make it more expensive to acquire them). The United States is a massive market and not one to be ignored, even on it’s own accord. This is also a double edged sword for US companies as the “protection” granted by federal law also holds them back from expanding beyond US borders. So the question evolves when assuming US companies take control of their native soil and hold it upon federal legalization...can they compete internationally with the Canadian companies who have been establishing themselves on a global scale, while the US operators have been developing on their own soil. Currently, my thoughts are more likely major mergers between US and Canadian operators to allow an international established presence as well as a foothold on American soil.

The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks:

So now that you have idea on the current state of affairs, applications and developments, and an idea of the territories...it’s about investing right?
Do your own due diligence and check sources on any articles, books, podcasts, or other media you consume in your research.
Some things you should know about the industry:
To say these stocks are volatile is an understatement. If you think of investing as getting a 7 - 10 - 12% return each year, maybe slight 1 - 1.5 - 2% percent increases or decreases on a typical day...this industry may very well be exactly for you or maybe it’s not for you at all. Many people invest in this industry with the belief that cannabis is going to be on par, if not bigger, than alcohol. That’s big talk and with it comes big expectations and big swings in stock price. Traditionally this industry has been dominated by retail investors (AKA you and me) as well as experienced traders...not big institutions or hedge funds that might bring some balance and stability to these stocks. This means that cannabis companies stocks have traditionally seen frequent and sudden extreme swings, pending the equally volatile emotions of the investors in this sector. What does this look like?
Imagine doubling your money in a month only to see it drop all the way back or below where it was three months later. $10,000 can turn to $20,000, only to have it drop just as fast back to $10,000. Buying in with that same $10,000 at the peak of the hype, only to have it sit at $5,000 for months on end until the next big run...this is volatility. Timing is important and perhaps most important is having a game plan. I’m just writing this about the industry and investing in general is another subject, so I’ll leave that alone.
Be wary of the general state of the sector and the movement of these stocks. There are good times and bad times to buy or sell for different reasons. Understand tax implications and the different investment vehicles. Do your research.
Be wary of the garbage companies looking to capitalize on this hot new industry. Some crappy penny stock could just be some BS and it's a great way to lose all of your money. Do your research.
Be wary of the biases in the resources you do utilize. Subs like weedstocks have notorious "favorites" or companies that a large majority of the sub holds in their portfolio so you see a lot of comments and pumps for those companies. Or (linked below) New Cannabis Ventures in which the news they post and share is from companies who are paying them for exposure (They aren't going to say anything bad about their clients or share good news about their competitors). Do your research.
Am I getting my point across? Do your research, educate yourself, and be smart. Lots of people lose money and consider the stock market gambling because they are foolish, uneducated, and/or highly emotional. Update: By "do your research" I mean, get to it. I didn't know anything about investing or this sector two years ago. You don't need to post on weedstocks "how do I open a brokerage account?" or "When are Canopy's next financials reported?" or "What companies specialize in CBD?". Hit up Google, hit up YouTube, and "search" this sub, nearly everything I've learned has been from reading articles on multiple websites, watching interviews with CEO's and investors in this space, watching company presentations, financial quarter after quarter reporting and the accompanied "conference calls" (where companies leadership teams take an hour or so to report their earnings, progress towards goals, new happenings, state of the company, etc etc.). Also, develop a base of knowledge on general wealth building and financial management, retirement accounts, tax implications, investing/trading, etc. Google "top finance books" and ones I've read include "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", "The Millionaire Next Door", and "Money - Master The Game". The world is your oyster and we have one of the most powerful tools available to modern man, the internet.
As I’m writing this, this sector has seen quite the bull run over the past month. Literally gains of 5-15% have happened every day over the past few weeks. Traditionally, this sector has seen the near equivalent pullback after a crazy bull run like this. That said, you never know when some big news is going to hit the sector and send it on another run. Generally speaking, the industry is always floating in a sea of rumors of other big names coming to the sector or big news to be released. We are also on the cusp of recreational sales being reflected in companies financials in the coming weeks, so this is really a matter of your own risk tolerance. These prices could keep climbing for while and you will have wished you had just bit the bullet and bought in or they very well could come crashing back down as they have previously. The decision is yours to make.
Helpful Resources and Information On This Industry:
https://www.newcannabisventures.com/ - Great reference for news and updates on cannabis companies in both the US and Canada.
https://midasletter.com/cannabis/ - Interviews with big league investors and leading CEO's on the cannabis industry as well as articles with insight into the industry.
https://www.statesidecannabisinvestors.com/ - Great website with information and references to US cannabis companies.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyG201CX9K8W3eBYfzRvD3EatLTMDcDZK - "Chart Man Dan" does nearly daily videos and gives insight into the cannabis sector daily stock movement.
https://www.reddit.com/weedstocks/ - You're on it baby. Great for daily updates posting news, events, deals, etc from the industry and all of the resources above.
https://www.reddit.com/TheCannalysts/ - Similar to weedstocks but a much smaller focused community on the financials of the companies in this sector and much more in depth discussion on happenings in the industry.
Solid but Not Absolute List of Most Legitimate Cannabis Companies:
https://www.newcannabisventures.com/cannabis-company-revenue-ranking/

Final Thoughts:
I’ll say it again, do your research. I wrote this as a little starting place to those who might have heard about “Canopy Growth” from Cramer or read an article about the “Big Pot Boom”. Just trying to spread the love and give people a starting place if you are new to this sector. If you are new to investing as well as this sector, please read some of the history in this sub, look at the charts, read a book or two on personal finance/wealth management/investing. That’s what I did and I’m doing okay for myself.
Hold Long & Prosper friends.

An Introduction To The Cannabis Sector

Hello investing
I wrote this originally in weedstocks (original post here) as we had a now famous "Reddit Gold Guy" millionaire posting who just started giving Reddit gold to a ton of comments and posts because he apparently hit the big seven figures from his investment in cannabis stocks. The post hit all and we had an influx of ten's of thousands of rookie investors hitting this sub...so I wrote this for them and thought you guys might like it as well.
TLDR: This is essentially an updated write up which delivers a basic rundown of the cannabis industry, cannabis applications and consumption, the current state of affairs, major companies/partnerships, and where the current market is as of writing it. Here is the previous write up but it's not necessary to read as it's a little dated now.
Information may not be accurate. Believe it at your own risk and verify it on your own accord.

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry
- (A) Canada
- (B) International
- (C) United States
(2) Canadian Companies
- (A) Quick Rundown
(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown
- (A) A Quick History Lesson
- (B) CBD & THC
- (C) Recreational, Medical, Beauty/Wellness, and Alternative Application
  - Recreational
  - Beverages
  - Medical
  - Beauty/Wellness
  - Alternative Application
- (D) Summary
(5) The United States and Global Expansion
(6) The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks
- Helpful Links and Final Thoughts

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry

(2) Major Canadian Companies

There are some major cannabis companies that have emerged in Canada. The recognized big players are...

Canopy Growth ($CGC on the NYSE)
Aurora Cannabis ($ACB on the NYSE)
Aphria ($APHA on the NYSE)
Tilray ($TLRY on the NYSE)
Cronos Group ($CRON on the NASDAQ)

Other notable Canadian players...

Hexo Group ($HEXO on NYSE)
CannTrust (CNTTF on OTC) which is soon to list on the NYSE (stay tuned)
Organigram (OGRMF on the OTC)

(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown

The United States and Global Expansion

The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks:

So now that you have idea on the current state of affairs, applications and developments, and an idea of the territories...it’s about investing right?
Do your own due diligence and check sources on any articles, books, podcasts, or other media you consume in your research.
Some things you should know about the industry:
To say these stocks are volatile is an understatement. If you think of investing as getting a 7 - 10 - 12% return each year, maybe slight 1 - 1.5 - 2% percent increases or decreases on a typical day...this industry may very well be exactly for you or maybe it’s not for you at all. Many people invest in this industry with the belief that cannabis is going to be on par, if not bigger, than alcohol. That’s big talk and with it comes big expectations and big swings in stock price. Traditionally this industry has been dominated by retail investors (AKA you and me) as well as experienced traders...not big institutions or hedge funds that might bring some balance and stability to these stocks. This means that cannabis companies stocks have traditionally seen frequent and sudden extreme swings, pending the equally volatile emotions of the investors in this sector. What does this look like?
Imagine doubling your money in a month only to see it drop all the way back or below where it was three months later. $10,000 can turn to $20,000, only to have it drop just as fast back to $10,000. Buying in with that same $10,000 at the peak of the hype, only to have it sit at $5,000 for months on end until the next big run...this is volatility. Timing is important and perhaps most important is having a game plan. I’m just writing this about the industry and investing in general is another subject, so I’ll leave that alone.
Be wary of the general state of the sector and the movement of these stocks. There are good times and bad times to buy or sell for different reasons. Understand tax implications and the different investment vehicles. Do your research.
Be wary of the garbage companies looking to capitalize on this hot new industry. Some crappy penny stock could just be some BS and it's a great way to lose all of your money. Do your research.
Be wary of the biases in the resources you do utilize. Subs like weedstocks have notorious "favorites" or companies that a large majority of the sub holds in their portfolio so you see a lot of comments and pumps for those companies. Or (linked below) New Cannabis Ventures in which the news they post and share is from companies who are paying them for exposure (They aren't going to say anything bad about their clients or share good news about their competitors). Do your research.
Am I getting my point across? Do your research, educate yourself, and be smart. Lots of people lose money and consider the stock market gambling because they are foolish, uneducated, and/or highly emotional.
As I’m writing this, this sector has seen quite the bull run over the past month. Literally gains of 5-15% have happened every day over the past few weeks. Traditionally, this sector has seen the near equivalent pullback after a crazy bull run like this. That said, you never know when some big news is going to hit the sector and send it on another run. Generally speaking, the industry is always floating in a sea of rumors of other big names coming to the sector or big news to be released. We are also on the cusp of recreational sales being reflected in companies financials in the coming weeks, so this is really a matter of your own risk tolerance. These prices could keep climbing for while and you will have wished you had just bit the bullet and bought in or they very well could come crashing back down as they have previously. The decision is yours to make.
Helpful Resources and Information On This Industry:
https://www.newcannabisventures.com/
https://midasletter.com/cannabis/
https://www.statesidecannabisinvestors.com/
https://www.reddit.com/weedstocks/
https://www.reddit.com/TheCannalysts/
Solid but Not Absolute List of Most Legitimate Cannabis Companies:
https://www.newcannabisventures.com/cannabis-company-revenue-ranking/
Final Thoughts:
I’ll say it again, do your research. I wrote this as a little starting place to those who might have heard about “Canopy Growth” from Cramer or read an article about the “Big Pot Boom”. Just trying to spread the love and give people a starting place if you are new to this sector. If you are new to investing as well as this sector, please read some of the history in this sub, look at the charts, read a book or two on personal finance/wealth management/investing. That’s what I did and I’m doing okay for myself.

/r/comiccon San Diego Comic Con Survival Guide

Brace yourselves, Comic Con is coming.
San Diego Comic Con, where nerds, geeks, writers, artists, movie and TV stars and everyone in between flock to downtown San Diego for four days (or five if you are lucky enough to get preview night passes) to get their geek on in the best way possible.
San Diego Comic Con has been taking place since 1970, where it started as a small single day convention that attracted about 100 people. It has since grown into the largest convention of its kind, hosting more than 150,000 attendees.
At San Diego Comic Con, you can find everything your geeky heart could possibly desire; from rare silver age comics and collectibles, to cosplay, and movie and TV studios showing off their latest blockbuster films and shows, and we want to help prepare you to take it all in.

Essential items for the convention center

The actual convention center is where you will be spending most of your time. Whether it is waiting in lines to get into panels, waiting in lines to get special exclusive items, waiting in lines to get autographs, or waiting in line to… well, if you haven’t figured it out yet, there are a lot of lines. You’ll be spending a lot of time walking around, away from your hotel room, so we want to make sure you have all the essential items you’ll need.

Shoes

Leave your flip flops and stiletto heels at home, you’re going to be walking… a lot. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. In fact, it is probably the most important item in the list.
While we’re on the subject of feet, get some good athletic socks to go with your shoes. You’ll thank me later.

Backpack

You’ll want a good quality backpack. Not only will it be storing all your essential items, but it will also give you a place to store all the sweet swag you’ll be picking up.
You’ll want a backpack with good padding on the straps and decent airflow so your back isn’t a sweaty mess while wearing it. You’ll want a nice big main pocket and a few smaller pockets to store stuff, as well as a laptop sleeve/pocket to protect your laptop, tablet, or prints and comics.
Some people prefer messenger bags, but I strongly recommend a backpack instead. Under no circumstances should you bring a purse; it’s just not practical for a full day at the convention.
Warner Brothers also provides a giant backpack/tote bag to all attendees, so if you feel a backpack is too small, feel free to use the one provided. I’ll be honest though, it’s not very durable or comfortable, so feel free to shop around for something better.

Poster tube

Posters comprise at least 50% of the freebies given away at SDCC, so if you want to save them, you’re going to need a poster tube. Poster tubes come in a variety of sizes, but your best bet is buy a telescoping version of the poster tube. They usually cost about 20 bucks, but if you can’t find one before you arrive at SDCC, many vendors sell them.

Reusable water bottle

Stay hydrated! Being dehydrated leads to a whole bunch of other problems that will make your con experience much less fun. Fun fact: one year I was hospitalized due to dehydration after leaving the convention center. Ever since then, I’ve been bringing a bottle with me.
Watch out for these symptoms of dehydration:

Extreme thirst
Less frequent urination
Dark-colored urine
Fatigue
Dizziness
Confusion

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to take small sips of water (don’t chug) every couple of minutes till you feel normal again (of course don’t stop drinking afterwards, stay hydrated throughout the day).
Water bottles can be refilled at water fountains or dispensers inside panel rooms.

Autograph supplies

Always bring a black Sharpie, a silver Sharpie, and a pen . You never know who you’ll run into on the floor or in the hallways or in a elevator up to your room (I met Wil Wheaton one year when returning to my room). Being able to get an autograph works out best when you can provide the marker.
You’ll also want a notebook. Not only can you get autographs, but you can sometimes get people to sketch in them (sometimes free, sometimes not so free). You can also take notes, doodle, or maybe get the number of that cute boy or girl who you’ve been talking to all morning while waiting in line for Hall H.

Portable batteries

Your phone’s battery will die at some point throughout the day. You’re going to want to charge it. You can either camp out near an outlet, or charge it on the go with a portable battery.
I love FuelRod batteries. For 20 bucks, you get a compact 2600mAh battery, a usb to micro usb cable and two adapters (a lightning adapter and a 30 pin adapter for older iPhones). FuelRod has many kiosks located throughout the convention center where you can purchase a battery. The best part though, is once it’s dead, you can toss it back in a kiosk and get a fully charged battery back for free.

Snacks

I’ll be frank with you, the convention center food isn’t something you’ll want to resort to often. It’s expensive, doesn’t taste great, it’s terrible for your body, and the lines to get it are long. Save yourself some time and money and pack some snacks. My go to snacks are jerky, trail mix, applesauce, and protein bars.
There is a Ralph’s Supermarket in walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center (and a SDCC shuttle stops right in front) that usually has sales on snack items. You can also throw in some pieces of fruit and maybe a sandwich or two if you plan on eating it throughout the day.

Hygiene and body care supplies

Let’s be real honest with each other here; sometimes the people who go to comic conventions have terrible personal hygiene and completely stink up the joint. Don’t be one of those people. Get yourself the following items and use them as you need throughout the day:

Travel sized deodorant
Sunscreen or hat/small umbrella (those outdoor lines can be brutal)
Mints or chewing gum
Hand Sanitizer
Emergen-C, Airborne, multivitamin, etc (the con-flu is real!)
Small first aid kit including band-aids
Electrolyte tablets
Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve
Wet wipes/hand wipes
An extra pair of socks. Sweaty socks cause blisters. Bring a Ziploc bag to store the stinky socks in once you’ve changed them. You and everyone around you will appreciate it.

Money

Bring cash with you to the convention center. A lot of vendors accept card, but not all of them do. Perhaps you find yourself staring down that vintage Boba Fett action figure and you decide that you need it. You wouldn’t want to have to run to an ATM and get charged a ton of fees or worse, not buy the action figure would you?

Your badge

Last but not least, do not forget to bring your badge with you each day.

Essential items for your hotel

Now that we’ve covered everything you should bring to the convention center every day, let’s go over what you should bring to your hotel room to make your stay a little more comfortable.

Toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, etc. You should know what you’ll need. All hotels provide shampoo, conditioner and soap so you shouldn’t need those, but feel free to pack some if you like.

Chargers

You’ll want to charge your devices while you sleep, so make sure you have them with you. Nothing is worse than getting to San Diego and realizing you have no way of powering your devices. Now you have to spend some of your Boba Fett money!

Power strip/multi outlet adapter

Being able to charge your phone, your laptop, and your portable battery without unplugging every lamp in the room is very nice. If you’re sharing the room with multiple people, I guarantee you’ll be the most popular if you bring a power strip.

Water

Get a case of water to throw in the mini fridge, having cold water at night is great, plus you need to stay hydrated to have a good time!

Pajamas

You'll want to be comfortable after a long day at the convention, so pack some PJs. Along with this, you should bring a pair of slippers or flip flops for walking around the hotel. You might want to get some ice or have a beer down at the hotel bar, and pulling out another pair of socks and putting on your shoes is a drag.

Pillow

Some may think this is optional, but believe me, it’s not. I hate hotel pillows and I suspect a lot of other people do as well. Being able to sleep on your own pillow will help you get a good night's rest so you can tackle the convention the next morning.

Food and drink

Like I said above, convention center food sucks. Avoid eating at the convention center if you can. Eat a nice breakfast in the morning and a nice dinner afterwards. Use your snacks as a lunch.
There are a number of great options in the downtown San Diego area, more than can be covered here, but these are my favorites:

Food

The Broken Yolk

Located on Sixth and J street, this restaurant is only a couple blocks from the convention center. They have traditional dine in service, but during the convention they also offer quick service grab and go breakfast burritos. The food is great and they go all out with the comic theme during SDCC. This is probably one of my favorite places to eat when I’m at the convention.

Starbucks

Starbucks offers much more than just coffee and tea and you can’t walk a half mile in any direction in downtown San Diego without running into one. They are fully stocked throughout the day so you can buy breakfast and lunch items to bring with you to the convention. Some locations are 24 hours and some aren’t so make sure you check google maps to find hours and locations closest to you.

Lucha Libre Taco Shop

This place serves the best California burrito I have ever had, and I've had many a California burrito to compare.
Located on Washington and San Diego ave, and about a block from the Washington trolley stop on the green line, you can’t go wrong getting something here. I’ll warn you, expect long lines. It is well worth the wait though.

Subway

There are plenty of Subway restaurants located throughout the downtown San Diego area, but the closest is located on Sixth and K street. Subway is quick, cheap, and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. This location is also 24 hours, so you can get something at 6AM as you’re coming into the convention, or at 11PM when you’re leaving SDCC’s Masquerade. You can also call in your order to save time waiting in line.

Tin Fish

Located across the street from the convention center at the Gaslamp trolley stop, Tin Fish is a quick serve restaurant with decently cheap prices. It’s mostly seafood options, but they also offer items if (like me) you don’t like seafood. Bonus points for also offering a full bar!

Ciro’s Pizzeria

Located on Sixth and Market street, Ciro’s pizzeria is a staple of SDCC. Ciro’s sells pizza by the slice and offers a lunch special of 2 slices and drink for around $5. It’s quick, cheap, and tasty so if you are running low on time, this is a great option.

Fox Sports Bar and Grill

This is definitely the closest option, located at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Fox Sports Bar and Grill is a great place to get a meal or drinks. It offers meals in most price ranges, is right on the water for great views of the bay, and includes full bar. You can order your food to go, so you can get back into the action at the Convention or enjoy your food on the lawns and patios behind the convention center.

Drink

Tivoli Bar and Grill

Home to the Official Reddit /comiccon party for SDCC 2016 and located on Island and Sixth ave, has that dive feel but with a great atmosphere. Good drinks and decent prices.

Stone Brewing Tap Room

What trip to San Diego would be complete without grabbing a beer here? Located next to Petco Park on J and Seventh street, it is well worth the short walk from the convention center.

Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery

Located on F and 16th street, this is a decent walk from the convention center and trolley lines. It’s worth the drive though, as they offer a large selection of craft beers.

Knotty Barrel

This is a great place to wind down. Located on Market and Ninth street, this late nite gastropub is a great option to get some drinks and food after the convention doors have closed.
There are plenty of places to get something to eat and drink near the convention center, so feel free to explore a bit.
Bonus info: If you don’t want to eat out or are looking for more budget friendly options, swing by a grocery store and pick up supplies and store them in your hotel mini fridge. Several blocks from the convention center on First and Market street, you can find Ralph’s Supermarket. Aside from general grocery shopping, Ralph’s also offers a deli where you can order sandwiches to take with you. Don’t forget to bring your Ralph’s or Kroeger card to save some money.

Guide to panels (AKA waiting in line like a pro)

Without a doubt, the panels at San Diego Comic Con are the fan favorite. SDCC offers everything from major movie and TV studios previewing properties to artists, writers, and even fan meetups. While the lineup of panels changes every year, the lines and room numbers do not.
Panels offer everything from sneak peeks of movies and television shows, chances to get free prizes, Q&A with your favorite celebrities and industry insiders to fan sing-alongs for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which I must say, is a great time).
The three largest rooms at the convention center, and as a result, the largest lines, are for Hall H, Ballroom 20, and room 6BCF. It is in these three rooms that the largest studios show off their latest lineup. Across the street at the Hilton, the Indigo room is the largest “off site” room available.
Let's dig in and show you how to survive the line so you can get a chance to see previews for the next season of Game of Thrones or Marvel Studios next big movie.
Panel room basics

Rooms are not cleared out between each panel. So someone who got in at 10AM can sit in there all day till the convention center closes if they want.
Bathroom passes are handed out. So if you need to use the restroom, you can get a pass and come back in through a side entrance without having to wait in the huge line again. Make sure you come back during the panels time slot, otherwise you won’t be able to get back in.
Lines for most panel rooms will be long. Sometimes you get lucky and can walk right in, but that is almost never the case with the big rooms.
Rooms have water dispensers so you can refill your water bottle for free.
Video recording of exclusive content is forbidden. They’ll generally announce before exclusive content is previewed that you must turn your cameras off.
Seats always open after panels. If you hate your seat, don’t fret; you’ll have a chance to move up to better seats as panels end.

If you are in any of the panel rooms, generally speaking all the above basic rules will apply. Whether it is Hall H or room 4.

Hall H

Hall H is the largest room that SDCC has to offer, holding about 6500 people. It hosts the biggest and most exciting panels at SDCC. Hall H is located on the east side of the convention center across the street from Petco Park. People start camping in the Hall H line days before the convention even starts for a chance to see the best that the studios have to offer.
Hall H works on a wristband system. Wrist bands are given out the day before for the first panel in color coded sections starting at roughly 9:30PM until 1AM and then again starting at around 5AM on the morning of the panel. The wristbands don’t guarantee you a seat in the room, so if you leave the line without having a buddy to hold your place, you’re going to have to go to the end of the line and wait. These wristbands are only good for the first panel of the day and afterwards it turns into a normal line like the other panels.
The Hall H line is completely outdoors. Part of it is covered with tenting, but if you aren’t in one of those sections, expect to have the sun beating down on you, so use sunscreen! If you are planning to camp out in the line, we recommend you bring a sleeping bag and a lightweight jacket. While San Diego isn’t the icy north of Winterfell, the nights can get cold. You’ll want to be warm and rested for the excitement you’ll be experiencing. A pillow is recommended as well (aren’t you glad you packed it now?).
You should also bring some form of entertainment. Your tablet, a book, some playing cards, etc. A small LED lantern is also recommended so that you can see what you’re doing during the evening. You’ll be surrounded by people also waiting, so feel free to strike up a conversation with your fellow line mates.
If you do decide to camp in line, you might get lucky. Often celebrities will come by the line and sign autographs, take pictures, and even bring donuts and coffee to the people waiting overnight.
In the morning when the convention is ready to open, you might want to consider reapplying your deodorant, chomping on some gum to freshen your breath, and if you have them, clean yourself with wet wipes. You’ll feel better and everyone around you will appreciate it.

Ballroom 20

As the second largest room at the convention center with about 4900 seats available, Ballroom 20 has the second-longest line. Located roughly in the center of the convention center on the second floor, the line for this room is partially inside the convention center.
The line winds from the east end of the convention center towards the west end, down stairs and switchbacks to the access roads below. Generally speaking, this is actually a fairly fast moving line once the panels start going. You can usually jump in line 2 to 3 hours before the panel you wish to see and still get a seat.
This line can be confusing because of how it snakes around the convention center so make sure you ask volunteers for help if you get lost. They’ll usually be directing traffic before you have a chance to need help, so keep your ears and eyes open.
Much like Hall H, people will camp out the night before for panels in Ballroom 20. This can cause some confusion because you can’t camp in the panel line for this room. If you wish to camp for this room, you’ll be outside of the convention center near Hall D in the general line. The general line is for everyone who wants to do something aside from Hall H in the convention center. This means you’ll be with people who want to run to the exhibit floor for exclusives and with people who want to be up front for panels. Make sure you talk to volunteers or security before you hop in the line to make sure you are where you need to be.
Much of the things said about waiting in the Hall H line apply to the Ballroom 20/General lines.

Room 6BCF

This is the third largest room at the San Diego Convention Center, holding roughly 2100 attendees. Located on the west side of the convention center, the line for this room actually starts in a hallway about halfway down the west side of the convention center on the second floor.
This room’s line has frequent line breaks, so pay attention when lining up. It is much like Ballroom 20’s line in that it is half inside and half outside. Ask volunteers for directions if you get lost trying to find the end of the line.
If you plan to camp for this room, which is not unheard of, you’ll be camping in the general line.

Indigo Ballroom

The Indigo Ballroom is located offsite at the Hilton across the street from the convention. It holds approximately 2600 people and is quickly becoming the new Ballroom 20.
The line for this room is almost completely outside, so make sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen or a hat.

The Rest

The rest of the panel rooms are fairly small, the largest being 6A which holds 1000 people and the smallest being room 4 which holds about 280 people. Sometimes there is a decent sized line, sometimes you can just walk right in. It all depends on the popularity of panel being shown. The lines for these rooms are all indoors. For a list of rooms and their capacities, click here
So now that we know how the panel rooms work and where the lines are, you need to plan accordingly to get in to you can see your favorites.
Right off the bat, you need to be realistic about how they work. If you camp in the Hall H line for a panel at 1030AM, you’re not going to be able to get into that other panel in Ballroom 20 at 12PM. CCI releases the schedule of panels about a week before the convention so make sure you map out which panels you need to see by clicking here. Plan your time out appropriately and expect to burn 2 to 3 hours waiting in line per panel (if they are in the larger rooms).
Some general tips for waiting in line for panels are:

Show up early to claim your spot in line.
Bring some snacks and drinks to enjoy while you wait.
Bring entertainment. This could be games on your phone, a book, some playing cards or your tablet. Waiting in lines is boring and having something to do while you're waiting helps pass the time.
Bring a camera unless your phone has a decent camera, what if Joss Whedon walks by? You don’t want to miss out on that opportunity!
Have a backup plan in case you can’t get into the panel you wish to see. Then make a backup plan to the backup plan.

Some panels offer Q&A sessions. Usually the lines form in the middle of the room, but to be honest, unless you’re towards the front of the Q&A line, you’re not going to get to ask a question, so move quickly when they announce they’ll be doing Q&A.
Here’s some tips to asking a good question:

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Don’t just jump in the line and hope something comes to you. If you have the time, write your question down on a note card. Think of something thought provoking.
Introduce yourself, but be brief. Something like “Hi, my name is Clark Kent and I wanted to ask...” Avoid lengthy introductions; you aren’t the only one who wants to ask a question and nothing will get you booed or the mic turned off faster than a 2 minute intro about yourself.
If you’ve asked questions of the panelist in the past, don’t bring it up. You remember it because it was a great thing that happened to you, panelist don’t remember it because 100 other people have asked them questions in the past year.
Personal requests are prohibited. Don’t ask for an autograph, don’t ask for a hug, don’t ask to have their baby, just don’t. For one, the CCI staff are on the ball and they’ll just turn the microphone off on you. Secondly, you’ll elicit a large amount of groans and boos from the audience.
You get one question, no follow ups please. Others want to ask their question too.
Actually ask a question. Questions start with a W, A, or an H, not with an I.
Have a backup question in case someone else asks your question first. Then have a backup to the backup because you don’t want to wait in the Q&A line only to have nothing to say.

Q&A sessions are your moment in the spotlight, make it a good moment!

Guide to the exhibit floor

If you’re not going to panels, you’ll be spending most of your time walking around the exhibit floor. It’s easily the most crowded and stress-inducing part of the convention, but also one of the most exciting.
On the exhibit floor you’ll find retailers with booths stuffed with things to buy, comic studios with elaborately designed sets, movie studios with interactive experiences you can walk through, small press booths, artists booths, and more. You can spend your whole day browsing the aisles and still only see half of what the exhibit floor has to offer.
The exhibit floor is easy to navigate; all the aisles are marked with section numbers that you can see hanging from the ceiling. Your program guide or Comic Con app will have a list of vendors and their booth number. Sections start with 100 on the west side of the convention center (in the direction of the Marriot hotel) and increment by 100 for each aisle all the way over to the east end of the convention center (in the direction of the Hilton hotel). So if you are looking for booth 1523, you go to aisle 1500 and start looking. Keep in mind though, if you are using the printed programming guide, vendors occasionally get moved to a different location, so the best way to keep up to date on where a vendor is, is by using the Comic Con app.
There is also a small press area, an area called Artists’ Alley, and a smaller area for fan club booths.
There are (more than) a few general rules to follow while on the exhibit floor and they are:

No sitting except in designated areas. These areas are almost all exclusively in front of the food vendors. The lobby in front of the exhibit hall has lots of areas for sitting, but there will be areas around the doors that will be marked as no sitting areas. This is for your safety and the safety of everyone else. If an emergency were to break out, you don’t want to be trampled by the people stampeding out of the hall, don’t get upset when security asks you to move along if you’re trying to take a quick break against the wall.
No floating objects. Leave your balloons and drones at home.
Badges must be visible at all times.
No hoverboards. I know we all want to be as cool as Wiz Khalifa, but the exhibit hall is exactly the wrong place for it.
No double-wide strollers or rolling luggage/hand carts. If you can’t carry it in your arms or one your back, leave it at the room.
No pets. Service animals are exempt from this rule, so feel free to bring your service pony (and dress up like a cowboy) or dog.
No running. It’s way too crowded to safely run or jog anywhere in the exhibit hall.
Please keep moving! I know you want to get get into that Walking Dead interactive walk through, but you can’t camp the line. Volunteers and security staff will quickly ask you to keep those feet going.

So with that out of the way, lets help you make the most of your time on the floor!
Much like panels, getting the most out of the floor takes some planning. Whether you just want to look around at all the cool booths, pick up exclusive items, bargain shop, or meet your favorite artists and writers, you’re going to need a game plan.

Exclusives

Getting exclusives, depending on what you want, can either be really easy or seem impossibly difficult. We’ll get the really easy stuff out of the way because all you’ll need to do is walk up to the booth and buy whatever it is that you want. These will usually be items from small press, independent publishing outfits or smaller retailers such as Skybound Entertainment, Thinkgeek, and Graphitti Designs. Generally speaking, you’ll have a relatively short wait in a line (if there is a wait at all).
Note on Graphitti Designs: Earlier in the day, they often have a large line, but towards the end of the day there is generally no line at all.
The fun really begins when you want to get something exclusive from the major retailers such as Mattel, Hasbro, or Funko. These retailers usually have a daily quota of items for sale and it is not unheard of to wait in line for more than a couple hours. Some retailers utilize a ticket drawing system and others just sell items to whomever manages to get in their line early enough.
If the retailer you are interested in does not use a ticket drawing system, you will want to wait in the general entrance line early before the convention opens and be prepared to briskly walk to the retailer of your choice once the floor has been opened to attendees. If you get in early enough, you’ll have a very good chance of not only waiting in a short line, but getting the item you want before it is sold out. Again, planning is very important here. Know where the retailer’s booth is located, where in the convention center you are entering, and which direction you need to walk. In other words, study the convention floor map.
If the exclusive you want is sold by a retailer that utilizes a ticket drawing system, you’ll need to line up in the Sails Pavilion. The Sails Pavilion is located on the second floor of the convention center, smack dab in the middle. It’s the big room covered by beige tenting. You can’t miss it when you are in the Sails Pavilion because you’ll have plenty of elbow room and personal space (unless you are in a line).
If you’re gunning for an exclusive line, you’ll need to camp out in the general line and when they start letting people in you will want to break off to the Sails Pavilion area and find the line of the retailer you are looking to purchase from. The general line is usually let in around 6AM, so be prepared to wake up early!
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, we’ll do our best to cover the major ticketed retailers and how their processes work.
Hasbro
Might as well start with the biggest one, right?
When you get in line, if you get in it early enough, you’ll be given a ticket with a time slot on it. This ticket allows you to wait in another line inside the exhibit hall and purchase items. The earlier your time slot, the better chance you have at getting the items you want. While in line you’ll be given an order form with prices, pictures, and updates on items if they are sold out.

Just because your order form says something is sold out, doesn’t mean it actually is. It might just be worth it to wait in line and politely ask if they still have any more of the item you are looking for.
Just because the item on your form isn’t sold out doesn’t mean it won’t be when you get to the register.
If you didn’t get a ticket, that doesn’t mean you can’t buy something from Hasbro. There has been plenty of times where I was able to walk right up to the register and purchase something later in the day. Don’t expect to be able to get the hottest item they have though, because if there is no line it means the best exclusives are sold out.

Lego
At the Lego line, you’ll actually be drawing for a chance to get a ticket. Not everyone who waits in this line will be able to get something.
You’ll be hitting a button on a tablet and if you win, you get a ticket that allows you the purchase an item from the Lego booth that day. If you don’t win, you just wasted your morning camping in line. The Lego sets are pretty big ticket items though, so people are willing the risk the chance of not getting anything. It’s a 50/50 shot, so I hope you like gambling.

If you have friends who are willing to wait with you, it helps improve your chances of someone in the group getting a ticket.

Funko
The Funko booth used to be the worst. Everything was a mess, no one knew what was going on and really, it was complete luck if you managed to get anything. There were many many complaints, and Funko decided to create a ticketed system.
Now their system is completely randomized. You’ll be drawing for a wristband with a time slot on it. The time slot is randomized so the first person in line could get a wristband with the last available time slot or they could get nothing or they could get the first time slot of the day.

You are allowed to get one of each item. So don’t plan on buying an extra to sell on ebay.

Bandai
If you are lucky enough to get in line early enough to get a ticket for the Bandai booth, you’ll get tickets specific to the items you are looking to purchase. In past years, Bandai has also marked your badge to show which exclusives you’ve already purchased.

Autographs

Much like exclusives, getting autographs takes a little planning. Autographs come in three variants; Free, paid, and ticketed. So let’s help you start collecting signatures!
Plenty of artists and writers have booths in the small press or Artists’ Alley areas. If you look in your guide and notice that your favorite artist has a booth, simply walking up with your comic, print, or autograph notebook and asking for an autograph will usually result in an autograph.
It’s been my experience that comic writers and artists generally do not charge for autographs, but try to limit yourself to 1 or 2 items if you are going to get free autographs. If I’m handing over a stack of comics to get autographed, I’ll usually buy something. They’re taking the time to sign my mountain of stuff, so I want to support them so that next year I can have them sign another mountain of stuff. Sketches at the artist's booth will almost always cost some money. Depending on the popularity of the artist, this could be $20 for a quick pencil only sketch to $300 for a penciled, inked and colored drawing.
Publisher booths like Boom Studios, Image, and DC will have sessions where their featured artists and writers will sit down for about an hour and sign autographs for everyone in line. Usually the schedule of apperances is posted somewhere around the booth, so keep an eye out. You can usually do a search online as well for the major publisher’s schedules. You’ll probably need to show up about 45 minutes before the scheduled autograph session, so plan accordingly.
The next variant of autograph is the paid autograph. Generally speaking, these will come from current or former sci-fi and fantasy actors. You’ll find people like Lou Ferrigno, Gary Combs, and Alaina Huffman. Typically they’ll charge around $25 for an autographed picture and if you want to take a picture with them, with your phone or camera, that’ll cost extra.
Getting a paid autograph is as simple as walking up to their booth and laying down some cold hard cash.
The last type of autograph is the ticketed autograph. These will almost always be A-list celebrities, big time writers, or prolific artists. When it comes to these autograph sessions, you will almost never be able to take pictures, especially when it comes to the celebrity signings. Comic writers and artists will have prints to sign but you can also bring your own items. Try to limit it to 3 – 5 items though.
If the autograph session is a celebrity signing, you will more than likely not be able to bring anything to be signed. They usually provide a poster that you pass along to each person and they sign it. You get about 3 to 4 seconds per person and then you are shuffled off.
Remember everything you read about obtaining exclusives in the Sails Pavilion? Yeah, it all applies to ticketed autograph sessions. Most of the autograph session tickets are a 50/50 thing so you might get lucky or you might not. If you don’t get lucky and you were in line early enough, you could potentially get back in line and try again.

Bargain Shopping

If you’re at SDCC looking to get a good deal on non exclusive items, you’re probably going to be waiting till Sunday, so enjoy your other three days.
The best time to bargain hunt is about 2 hours before the convention closes on Sunday. Most vendors don't want to ship everything back to the warehouse because it ain’t cheap so they start slashing prices. It’s not unheard of to get 20 - 40 percent off the original price. You just need to be patient.
You also have the opportunity to haggle with vendors. Major vendors won’t haggle. The price is the price, take it or leave it. The best vendors to haggle with are the smaller vendors. The worst case scenario is that you walk away without a Darth Maul backpack. The best case is you get it for half the asking price, so it never hurts to ask “Is that the best you can do?” You need to be reasonable though. Besides, you can always find it on ebay in a week, if you really feel like you need it.

Freebies (AKA swag)

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Many booths offer some form of giveaway. Whether it is the Fox booth poster tubes, Marvel’s free for all where Shirts, action figures, and DVDs are tossed out to a mob of fans, or DC’s organized line of free comics and pins, you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears open for the announcement.
Sometimes it is quite easy to get freebies. In the case of small things like Comics and poster tubes, you just find the end of the line and step in if it isn’t capped.

When a line is capped, it means they are no longer allowing people to enter the line. Some lines are temporarily capped, which means once the line moves, they’ll allow people to enter again. Some are capped for the day though, and you’ll have to try again the next day.

Other booths have large unorganized crowds that they throw things into. Getting a free item from these booths is a bit more challenging and takes more luck than anything. Here are a few things you can do to make your odds better:

Early in the day talk to people at the booth. Ask if they are doing giveaways and if they have a schedule. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.
Make friends at the booth. Sometimes by just spending a little time and chatting with the exhibitors can net you some free stuff. I’ve collected several shirts and posters just by being a friendly person. It doesn’t always work, but really, it doesn’t hurt to just be nice to people in general. When MTV was giving out Teen Wolf tripod stools, I had no desire to be crushed by the mob of people trying to get their hands on one. I stood off to the side and started chatting with one of the employees about how crazy people get and how despite wanting the stool there was no way it was worth being part of the mob. He told me to wait a second and went behind the curtain and came back with a stool and gave it to me.

Tips and Tricks for moving around the Convention Center

Moving around the exhibit floor can present some interesting challenges. There are frequent detours, large crowds blocking aisles, cosplayers posing for pictures, and more. Moving from one end of the exhibit hall to the other is not as simple as walking in a straight line.
If you are just casually exploring, slowly walking from one aisle to the next without a care in the world just taking it at all, well… just keep doing that. I’ve got no tips for you. Enjoy!
Here’s how to best get around the hall with the least amount of traffic:

The lobby will almost always be the quickest way to get from one end of the hall to the other. If you find yourself in aisle 300 but quickly need to get to aisle 2400, the best thing to do is step into the front lobby and power walk your butt down to a closer entrance.
If the lobby is too dicey for you, stick to the far wall on the backside of the hall. The only exception to this is when you get towards the east end of the convention center. The celebrities generally enter from the back of the convention center and security shuts all traffic down while they are moving to whatever booth they need to be at.
Sometimes the quickest way to the get around the exhibit hall center is to head upstairs to the second floor and walk above the chaos then take an escalator down to the hall entrance you need.
If you find yourself in a spontaneous mob, try to backtrack immediately and find a different aisle. If the mob has formed due to a celebrity signing, that surrounding area will be a log jam until the celebrities leave.
If you see a something you just absolutely have to have a picture of, be quick. Have your camera on and ready. Once the picture is taken, keep moving.
Loosely plan your day out. If you know you need to be at the DC booth by 2:15PM, try to be doing something in the same general area so that you don’t have to power walk to the DC booth.
Pay attention to the areas in front of you. I know this sounds like common sense, but you wouldn’t believe how many people just look at the floor or cell phones, not paying attention to the aisle in front of them. Sometimes you can see an aisle grinding to a halt from a mile away and you can quickly change lanes to the next aisle and keep going at a moderate pace.

Hopefully we’ve given you the tools you need to make the most of your time at SDCC, so get out there and have fun!
We'll be releasing more guides leading up to SDCC, but until then, what are your tips?

Interesting and revealing (current and archived) threads ... Repost

SPECIAL EXTRA MISSING IN CT: Andrew Economou

Welcome to this special additional weekly post on the missing people of Connecticut! (I feel like a broadcaster!)
When I started this project, I chose to use The Charley Project list (here: http://www.charleyproject.org/geo/eastern.html) to guide what cases I wrote about. I had been interested in missing people for years and I preferred that website to learn about them. I assumed it was official in some capacity.
As I began researching these cases, I learned I was wrong! The Charley Project is in no way associated with law enforcement or private investigators. According to the website, it “serves as a publicity vehicle and clearinghouse of information for missing persons.” It “attempts to catalog as much information as possible into a database as a publicity/investigative aid for the public and law enforcement to help find cases.” It lists approximately 9,500 missing people, and at the time of this writing, 62 of those are from Connecticut. (So I am about a third of my way through with this series!)
Few people know that the Charley Project is only run by one person: Meaghan Good! Writing this series of Missing in CT posts has been a huge undertaking for me. I can’t imagine what running the Charley Project on my own would be like! She deserves a lot of props. Especially because she does such a good job.
Keeping track of missing people is so hard because the majority of missing people who are reported missing are found quickly. So, it can be difficult for websites like the Charley Project to determine who to invest time in profiling. Especially since there are so many people who go missing! It can also be difficult because resources like NaMus can take years to upload information about a missing person. Lastly, it can also be difficult because not many people may remember or bring up older cases anymore. Older cases may only be documented in newspapers versus online resources. (While researching these cases I have found that I get information that isn’t available through online articles by looking at newspapers.) So, it’s understandable that the Charley Project list I utilize is missing a few CT cases.
A reddit user who wishes to remain anonymous contacted me with two cases and accompanying newspaper articles about missing people from Connecticut that were not listed on the Charley Project. So, welcome to this additional, special addition of Missing in Ct. Look out for my other post on Antonio Gomez today. There will be another special edition of Missing in CT next week, along with a regular post, too.
Andrew A. Economou grew up in the North End of Hartford. His father owned a small restaurant. The Irish and Jewish kids in his neighborhood nicknamed him “The Greek.”
James Gates grew up with him, and eventually became a Hartford police detective. Of Andrew, he said, “loved to get into fights, and in ball games, they usually happened 9 out of 10 times. Andy was the catcher, and if somebody charged the plate while Andy was behind it, Andy would come up swinging. He was the enforcer.”
His high school football couch, Charlie Horvath, remembered him as “a tough kid with good hands.”
Andrew graduated high school in 1953. He missed the Korean war and spent most of his two-year tour in Massachusetts, where he served with a guided missile unit. Andy met his best friend Charlie Germano when they served in the Army. They knew each other for 30 years at the point Andy went missing. They hunted and fished together. He also met his future bride, Josephine Cenelli, during that time. He marred her in 1955 in a Greek cathedral.
He joined the Hartford Police Department in 1956 and would patrol the neighborhood he grew up in. The neighborhood was changing as African-Americans were moving up from the South. His reputation kept his beat quiet; he was not afraid to use his nightstick. Donald R. Harris was on the force with Andrew, and said, “He was absolutely fearless. Whether he was facing one guy or six, it made no difference.”
One night he found an unlocked door on the second floor off of a fire escape to a Displayland store on Hudson Street. When he went to check the cash register, two employees asked what he was doing. A fight broke out. Andy claimed one of the men hit him in the eye and he had to fight back to subdue the assailant. The assailant appeared in court with a blood-stained shirt and a four-inch cut on his hand. The other employee tried to interfere and either fell or was pushed into a broken glass showcase, getting a cut on his leg.
In another incident, Andy was trying to break up several people who were hanging outside of a bar at about 1:15 in the morning. The two men ignored him at first, but they started to move toward a car eventually. As they got into the car they made an unidentified, offensive remark about Andy. In response to this, Andy arrested the man and began pulling him out of the car when the other man lunged at Andy. Andy subdued the other man by hitting him on the head with his nightstick, sending the man to the hospital. The man who was being arrested went on to get into fights with officers at the jail. He had to be subdued there. Andy’s uniform was severely ripped in the original altercation.
Andy sometimes did good off the clock. One night when he was off duty and driving home from work, he found a 69-year old man lying on a sidewalk at the intersection of Vine and Mather Streets. He called for help and tried to resuscitate the man while waiting for the ambulance.
Andrew liked working his beat, but he disliked taking orders and office politics. He disliked only making $87.50 a week, which would be $772.24 in today’s money. He resigned in late 1962.
In 1963 he went into business with a childhood friend. They bought a restaurant on Homestead Avenue in Hartford that they liked to hang out at. The restaurant did well. His wife said he “was practically in that place 24 hours a day. He was a go-getter, very ambitious.”
Andrew eventually moved away to Rocky Hill and he purchased another restaurant in 1967. The restaurant attracted veterans from the nearby State Veterans home and hospital. Andrew became close with this population, sometimes inviting them home for dinner, and always making sure they came home safe.
In the decade after he left the police department, he became very successful: he would buy three restaurants, at least eight houses, and several empty lots.
His wife commented further: “He was a shrewd businessman. He bought and sold. This is how Andy made his money.”
Most of his deals were successful, others were not. He went into business with his childhood friend Charlie Germano. Charlie moved from New York to Connecticut for the business. Charlie’s family moved in with Andy’s at that point. They purchased a restaurant near a proposed site for a highway. But the highway was never built and the restaurant failed.
During this time period, Andy purchased a home on a hill in Rocky Hill, CT. His wife said he styled it to his “Greeky” taste, painting the Acropolis on one wall and decorating the home with Greek artifacts. He had a daughter and two sons, who he sent to a Greek school in the best clothes. His children said he was not a consistent father: he was loving at times, distant at others.
His son Angelo said his father was “all business,” and that he expected his sons to be businessmen. When Angelo was 14 he was learning bookkeeping and how to order beer at his father’s restaurants. Angelo described his sister Andrea, who was an honor student, student council president, and a cheerleader, “was perfect … the apple of his eye.”
As he settled into the suburbs, Andrew sold most of his properties in Hartford.
Andrew was doing well but by the late 1970s, he began to take risks. He purchased a club in the late 1970s and turned it into a disco. But the competition was fierce and he entered the game right before it became unpopular. When disco was no longer popular, he brought exotic dancers into the establishment. He became more involved with the club circuit, networking with other club owners to discuss state regulations on exotic dancing. He would continue to invest in various strip clubs with men he met while networking. He was not present during day to day operations and primarily operated his businesses from afar.
The strip clubs would also lead to trouble. First, the owners faced charges of criminal obscenity associated with acts performed in the exotic clubs that were outside the contracts. At one point, charges of permitting prostitution, second-degree promoting prostitution, and permitting an obscene performance, were filed against Andy’s partner, Roberto DiPersio, at one of the strip clubs. Another permittee, Sharon A. VanTassell, was charged with permitting prostitution. The exotic dancer, Margarita E. Michaud, was charged with prostitution. George M. Judd was charged with patronizing her. The owners, including Andy, said that “a girl took a dollar bill from somebody in the audience and gave the guy a kiss. People see the word ‘prostitution’ and think it’s a cathouse I’ve got here. Now how’s that different from what you can get at a church bazaar?” The Assistant State’s Attorney stated, “I’m not going to comment on what the owners say.” After the incident, the strip club/restaurant began receiving calls from men about potential sexual favors. The manager, Robert Ruddy, commented: “We’re not in that business. We’re not a massage parlor. We have couples coming in here. We have a ladies’ night every week where we have male exotic dancers. We have disco dancing once a week with a disc jokey. I don’t understand where the problem is.” Andy and the other owner, Roberto, had already received a civil injunction prohibiting exotic dancers at their establishment from performing seven acts judged obscene. The owners had their dancers, who they got from an outside agency, sign contracts that stated they would not perform the acts. The dancers were allowed to share their bare breasts, but not other parts of their bodies.
In 1980, the police began an anti-obscenity campaign that resulted in several arrests at one of Andy’s strip clubs. He began exiting this business and returned to running regular restaurants.
At this point Andrew no longer lived at home in Rocky Hill. He primarily stayed at a beach house in Old Lyme, CT. He was dating a woman in her mid-20s.
Those who knew Andrew as an adult- or Andy, as those close to him called him - said he was a tough, traditionally masculine man. Others described him as charming, and even arrogant. He was prone to exaggerate things. Some went so far as saying he was two-faced: he could be generous and funny, but he could also be cheap and somber. He was known as a hustler, he networked a lot for his business, and was secretive about his business deals.
Andy went about his routine like normal the week before he disappeared. He saw friends and business associates. He stayed at the cottage in Old Lyme. He never mentioned any potential trouble to family, his girlfriend, or friends. That Thursday he returned to the Rocky Hill home for his son Peter’s 18th birthday. His wife remembers that “he had cake, he had coffee. He gave Peter $100, I think.”
On Friday, August 7, Andy’s wife got a call from Charlie’s wife. Charlie’s wife left a message about a “deal in New York.” Andy’s daughter delivered the message to her father at their home in Old Lyme.
On Friday August 14, Andy called Charlie. Charlie was in New York, where he worked for an electrical firm during the week. Andy asked him to stop by on his way home before Charlie went to his weekend house in Southington, CT. Charlie stated he would and came to Andy’s house in the late afternoon that day.
Andy Economou needed money for a deal. He drove with Charlie to a bank on Maple Avenue in Hartford. “When I come out of the bank, don’t let nobody come near me,” Andy told Charlie, who was waiting in the car. He told his friend “I got a gun right there under the seat” if there should be any trouble. Andy walked out of the bank with at least $50,000 in a paper bag. He had taken out a five-day laon against a $50,000 certificate of deposit he had on hand. He may have also taken additional cash from a safety deposit box. The two then drove back to Andy’s restaurant in Rocky Hill, CT.
Charlie said he left for Southington that night at about 7:30 or 7:45 and never saw Andy again.
Over the following weekend Andy told a few people he had $100,000 in cash and that he was trying to get a deal in New York. In 2016 money, he had $265,514.85. He may have even showed the money to a few people.
“Too many people saw the money,” Charlie said.
On Saturday, Andy went to his home in Rocky Hill and ate chili and hot dogs with his family. He often left behind a couple of hundred bucks in an envelope in the basement office for the family when he visited. He let his daughter know he had done this. Later that night Andy spent the night with the woman he was seeing on the side. They went to the movies. She remembers that he kept the car locked throughout the day, stating that he had money in it he would need to go to New York with. She was not sure if he was carrying all of the money at the time, and his friends said it would be out of character for him to do so. He drove her back to her car in his pickup truck, a blue International, outside of Valle’s Steak House in Hartford on Sunday morning of August 16. He told her he was late for a meeting. He did not wait for her to start her car, he just drove off.
When he dropped her off he was wearing a gold necklace with a Greek symbol. He had two gold rings on, one with a large diamond, and the other with a Greek design.
Neither Andy nor his truck have been seen since. It is unknown if he made it into the city, or if he began his trip at all.
Andy often left town for a couple of days without telling anyone, so no one noticed him missing at first.
His family became alarmed when they didn’t hear from him for a week.
Andy’s daughter went to get the envelope with money in the basement office. She found a note that was allegedly written by her father. When she found the note, they reported him missing and turned the paper into the police. It was found on the Friday after he originally went missing. The envelope said “Open in the event I am missing or killed.” The note was dated August 15th. It said, “On Sunday, August 16, 1981, I am going to New York City … I am taking (100,000) One hundred thousand dollars of my personal money with me.” He wrote he was going to loan the money to a friend of Charles Germano. He wrote that he was supposed to make $15,000 in interest on the loan. He wrote that if he did not return, “you will know that I am dead.” The note also stated that if he died, his estate should be divided amongst his wife, daughter, and two sons. The note was signed, “I love all of you and may you all forgive my sins. Love, Andy.”
Charlie claims that he had nothing to do with the money or the loan Andy talked about in the note. He says, “There’s no way … no way … it’s crazy.” He has claimed that the note is a hoax.
The police put out a missing persons bulletin from Andy up and down the east coast.
A week later, a second note emerged. It is unclear who found this note. In the note Andy told his friends to take $10,000 from his estate and use it to hire someone from Providence, RI, to have Charlie killed.
The Chief State Attorney’s office, state police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms joined the case.
The FBI verified that the notes were written by Andy. One investigator commented on the notes by saying, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Andy’s friend Benny saw the note and stated he thought it was a forgery. He thought Andy’s handwriting would be easy to fake. He points out that the note names Andy’s longtime lawyer, who he had known for 20 years. The note misspelled his last name. There were also two other unidentified misspellings in the note that his friend feels Andy would not have made.
His family said they received several anonymous calls late at night after Andy went missing. The caller allegedly said “his bones are in a plastic bag and his body’s in the East River” or “his head is in a bag and his hands are cut off.” Other calls including threats. One told them they were going to throw a bomb into the Rocky Hill house. The family left for the night but nothing happened.
Both local and federal police became involved with the investigation. They checked records, interviewed people from Connecticut to New York, and searched for his truck. They subpoenaed his bank records at two different banks. A federal law enforcement official said, “We have subpoenaed the records to determine if there could have been foul play involved. [Investigators] are looking to see if he did have withdrawals in certain amounts. It could be any amount.” Sightings were reported in Florida, California, and on a boat - but none were Andy. The investigation became complicated when different investigating branches weren’t communicating.
The Hartford Courant compared Andy’s photo to over 300 pictures of unidentified bodies that were found in New York in the year after Andy’s death. None appeared to be Andy. No unidentified male bodies in Connecticut were discovered during their search.
Law enforcement stated that Andy gambled on sports, but he had the finances to support it and they did not think this could have been a problem. He claimed to win thousands of dollars. He told his wife he won enough to acquire property and remodel his house. She said, “Most of the house was built on football winnings — our carpet, that came from football. Andy loved football, and he did bet football, which was illegal, but hundreds of people do.” Yet, the friends he gambled with claimed he did not do very well. Benny said, “He’d win, he’d lose. He never wanted you to know he lost. He’d use four or five different bookkeepers.” Although law enforcement doesn’t think so, was the money he got from the bank for gambling?
Andy had loaned money to several friends and customers throughout his life but law enforcement did not feel his disappearance was associated with this.
Andy’s family searched for the man from New Haven to Cape Cod. They focused on shore spots in Connecticut and Cape Cod. Relatives from Virginia came up to help with the search. They found nothing.
At one point a private investigator the family hired found a large plastic bag of white powder on Andy’s red powerboat at a marina in Old Saybrook. Many used this to support their theory that Andy was involved with drugs. But the white powder turned out to be baking soda, not cocaine. When the family checked the boat in September, they found it had been ransacked. The seats were overturned; an oil can had been emptied; and the starter and battery were removed. Andy supposedly hated drugs and there is no record he was ever involved in them. His friend Benny said, “There are a lot of things you can say about Andy, but he drew the line at drugs.” Law enforcement believes drug rumors could be due to the association of exotic dancers with substance abuse.
Andy’s sisters utilized psychics to find him. One told them he was alive but needed to be found immediately to be saved. The other said he had been shot in the head and the chest.
Charles Germano said, “I keep seeing a blank wall” when he tries to figure out what happened to Andy.
Another friend, Benny Matassa said, “Every time I dream about him, he is always laughing, like he put something over on everybody.”
Word quickly spread in the Greek clubs and bars Andy spent time in. People could not believe it. Many stated that his time as a cop made him too wary to be victimized. Others noted that there was a change in him before he went missing, though. The young woman he was dating said he “had so much on his mind he couldn’t see straight” at the time. She said he seemed confused. Benny said he was “on edge, depressed.” His friend said he was worried about getting older, feeling nostalgic about the time he spent in Hartford, and unsure what to do about his family. He was not concerned about his finances, because he was doing well. Nothing indicated he was doing poorly financially, and he had plans to open another restaurant.
Rumors spread about what happened to Andy. They included loans, gambling, drugs, guns, and the mob.
Law enforcement, family, and friends believe Andy was probably murdered for the money. More specifically, law enforcement believes that Andy was killed during a deal. He was supposed to buy stolen guns in Connecticut and resell them in New York, according to law enforcement. On February 23 of 1981, at least 121 guns were stolen from a sports store in Hartford. On July 22, in 1981, four of the weapons were located in a large batch of guns undercover law enforcement bought in Queens, NY. A suspect associated with the stolen guns was linked to Andy’s friend Charlie as law enforcement tracked calls about the guns. Law enforcement believed that Andy was supposed to buy the remaining stolen guns from the robbers directly, or finance the purchase, and sell them in New York. Witnesses state they saw Andy with a gun of the same type that was stolen from the sports store over the summer before he went missing.
Law enforcement admit it is just a theory, and that the value of the guns would not have been between $50,000 and $100,000 Andy was believed to be carrying in cash. Yet, no one knew how much money he was actually carrying. Also, guns recovered from the heist were eventually been found from Hartford to North Carolina, which may suggest they were not sold in bulk after all.
William Schimansky had a long criminal history and worked at the sports store for three days before the theft. He left a crate of guns near a door and then broke into the building at night by smashing a door panel with a pipe. The burglar alarm was not activated at the time. He hung out at one of Andy’s night clubs, but no other connection between the two has been established. William pled guilty to stealing the guns. Six men were arrested in total in association with the original theft of the guns. Three of the men were actually charged with the theft of $21,252 worth in handguns, and $210 in knives. William was one of them. Police would not discuss whether these arrests led to more information about Andy’s disappearance.
Charlie says he does not know the man in New York law enforcement connected him to.He claims he knew someone with the same last name, and maybe law enforcement got confused by that. He says he knows nothing about the stolen guns. “I got nothing to do with that. I know nothing about it. I had nothing to do with nothing on that,” he says.
Andy’s loved ones think law enforcement’s theory is ridiculous. Andy had a loving family, a a successful business, a home in the suburbs and a cottage on the beach, and two cars. Why would he need to be involved with stolen guns?
His family continued running his businesses after his disappearance. His wife lost a considerable amount of weight after he went missing. Josephine says of her late husband: “A lot of people will say, ‘He was Mafia. He lived that way. He should die that way. I’ve been married for 28 years to that man — I’m hoping he was going to help a friend [that day].” She and her children still cried long into the night a year after his death.
Almost ten years after Andrew disappeared, his family attempted to settle his estate in probate court. They began by starting proceedings to declare him dead. Their lawyer said, “There has been zero contact sine [Andy’s girlfriend saw him.] We just think the family has to get on with their lives.” It was estimated it would take six to nine months to settle the estate. As far as he knew, there was no legally recognized will - the notes that dictated his estate were not legally recognized. The family’s lawyer remarked on the size of the estate: “It’s your normal, average, middle-class estate.”
There you have it: a Connecticut missing person lost in time. What do you think happened to Andy? Did someone in the Hartford community get revenge on Charlie after a brutal beating with a nightstick? Did he get involved with a bad gambling ring? Did he make a bad loan? Did he get involved with drugs at one of his clubs? Or did he get involved in a bad deal on stolen guns? What happened to Andy?
Andy doesn’t have a post on Charley Project. He can be found here: https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/3286/21
EDIT: tea-and-smoothies writes: "The Unfound podcast did a fantastic interview with Meaghan Good a while back. Goes into the history of the Charley project, how she became interested in missing persons, how certain of her unique characteristics help her stay on track with this monumental work. Listen here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/unfoundpodcast/episodes/2016-10-25T13_56_24-07_00"
prosa123 writes: "Being a Connecticut native I've heard of his story. As I recall, the most common belief was that his disappearance was related to the gun-selling operation."
MerricatBlackwood01 writes: "Having lived in Connecticut and Rhode Island in the 80's, I also had heard of this before. Also having lived there, I can tell you that at that time and place, the real Mafia (not the TV ones but the real 'feed people into a meat grinder' types) were very prevalent. Reading this, I noticed that NONE of the names of people involved are from the known Mafia families or associates. I'm wondering if Andrew Economou didn't accidentally step on someone's toes and got taken out for it. Because he MUST have had at least a nodding acquaintance with Mafiosi people, from being in the strip club business. They RAN the 'tiddy bars' as they were called then. So I wonder if he decided to try his hand at illegal gun running and someone thought he might be pushing into their corner of the action. Again, just a thought, I don't know anything besides what I read, and honestly, having been there, I don't WANT to know. The Mafia influence is very strong in that part of the country."
and
"Thank you! Yeah, if he was just a little guy trying to shave off a bit of money for himself most of the Mafia families around that area would have ended THAT idea very very quickly."

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So (Reasonably) Nice We're Doing It Twice - Our Experience So Far Buying Two Vehicles In A Row Via Carvana

An Introduction To The Cannabis Sector V2

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry

(2) Major Canadian Companies

(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown

The United States and Global Expansion

The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks:

An Introduction To The Cannabis Sector

(1) Quick Summary of the Industry

(2) Major Canadian Companies

(4) Consumption Methods, Medical Application, and Product Breakdown

The United States and Global Expansion

The Current State of the Market as it Relates to Cannabis Stocks:

/r/comiccon San Diego Comic Con Survival Guide

Essential items for the convention center

Shoes

Backpack

Poster tube

Reusable water bottle

Autograph supplies

Portable batteries

Snacks

Hygiene and body care supplies

Money

Your badge

Essential items for your hotel

Toiletries

Chargers

Power strip/multi outlet adapter

Water

Pajamas

Pillow

Food and drink

Food

The Broken Yolk

Starbucks

Lucha Libre Taco Shop

Subway

Tin Fish

Ciro’s Pizzeria

Fox Sports Bar and Grill

Drink

Tivoli Bar and Grill

Stone Brewing Tap Room

Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery

Knotty Barrel

Guide to panels (AKA waiting in line like a pro)

Hall H

Ballroom 20

Room 6BCF

Indigo Ballroom

The Rest

Guide to the exhibit floor

Exclusives

Autographs

Bargain Shopping

Freebies (AKA swag)

Tips and Tricks for moving around the Convention Center

Interesting and revealing (current and archived) threads ... Repost

SPECIAL EXTRA MISSING IN CT: Andrew Economou

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