“It’s only gas,” said the geologists. And wow, were they ever frustrated…  The year was 1959. The geologists were in the Netherlands, near a small town named Groningen, at the southern edge of the North Sea. They worked for Shell and Esso (now Exxon Mobil) and were drilling a well. Instead of oil, however, the drill bored into a massive deposit of natural gas. All that hard work and expense for a disappointing find of natural gas.

But the politicians of Europe weren’t so disappointed. They soon sat up and took notice, because…

With further drilling near Groningen, it became clear that the Dutch gas field was gigantic. We now know that in its early days, the Groningen field was the largest gas field in Europe. In fact, it was one of the largest gas fields ever discovered anywhere in the world, holding over 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

...

Washington will almost certainly cave in to GM’s extortion. They always have and always will. So, how was the trolley ride to work today? Were you able to get a seat, or did you have to hang onto a strap?

What, there are no trolleys where you live? Instead, you spent an hour and a half grinding through gridlock in your car? Yeah, me too.

That’s because there are virtually no trolley lines left. Seems that someone bought them up and scrapped them all. Now who would do such a thing?

Actually, General Motors (GM:NYSE) would, which has a great deal to do with why I am inclined to consign the bankrupt beggars to rot in corporate hell.

Trolley Dodging

Dial your “Way Back Machine” to 1937: Trolley lines happily and efficiently serve most every major metropolis. Heck, my own hometown baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, draws its name from

...

Western Standard Energy Corp., (OTCBB: WSEG) has hired Tim Turner as vice-president of its Land division. Starting at Exxon in 1980, Turner’s career spans 28 years through upstream oil and gas and business consulting services in Texas, throughout the United States, and internationally. He worked for Exxon Company, in New Orleans, La., and for Phillips Petroleum in Houston, Texas.

For the last 13 years, Turner, a certified Landman, has led the oil industry-consulting firm, Tim Turner & Associates, LLC. Clients there include Gazprom, Pemex, PDVSA and Saudi Aramco, as well as other major, independent and international oil and gas producers.

“We plan to expand the business through joint venture partnerships, developing our vast portfolio of exploration assets in Montana and North Dakota, and through the acquisition of producing assets,” said Dan Bauer, Western Standard president and CEO. “Tim’s knowledge and experience on the business side will prove to be invaluable in that

...