At the pace Wink's signing up new readers, Clermont expects to have a base of 150, 000 subscribers by its first anniversary--an impressive mark, even by Time Inc. standards.

FORBES: On A Wink And A Prayer

But others have eventually been outed, or outed themselves, after nudge-and-a-wink media stories have piled up clues as to their identities or what they are alleged to have done.

BBC: Net makes royal rumour spread inevitable

DirecTV, a Wink partner, may also set up its own internal response system.

FORBES: My Friend, My Enemy

But Hughes told WINK that she worries that she could end up living in her truck again if she has to move without a job.

CNN: Woman who pleaded to Obama is still struggling

My husband met me at about 75 feet on the way up and I gave him a wink and a smile because I knew at that point that I'd done it.

BBC: Breakfast with Frost

That money is then split, with Wink taking home 75% and its partners divvying up the remaining 25%.

FORBES: My Friend, My Enemy

The messages direct users to Wink's Web site, where they can sign up for a year's free subscription.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The Federal Reserve's fundamental blunder in no way excuses the reckless, eye-popping practices of those mortgage bankers who lent money to people without even checking that their alleged incomes were real or who, in effect, gave the wink and nod to dicey borrowers, signaling that when their teaser interest rates were up, they could get new mortgages at new teaser rates.

FORBES: Unindicted Blunderer

We've followed up with Sony for more, but don't expect to hear much beyond a wink and a smile.

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