New Poll

Time for a new poll. Actually today, it will be an open-book test, one question. Good luck.

Results of the current poll: Earlier there was talk of EOG as a possible takeover candidate. Two companies were suggested as possibly interested in and able to buy EOG: ChevronTexaco (CVX) and Statoil/BEXP (STO). The question: which would you prefer?

• CVX: 51%
• STO: 49%

I would have voted for CVX to increase the international exposure of the Bakken.

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Now, the open book test:

Within a few months of production, even if gas is flared, mineral rights owners are paid for the flared gas at market rates.

• True
• False

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On a completely different note, I see "Skeeter" is back in the news: birthers, truthers, and now skeeters.

So, for your listening pleasure:

The End of the World, Skeeter Davis

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A note to the granddaughters
Long overdue, but puts into perspective the thoughts of some folks in the US and/or Canada during the time in which I blogged about the Bakken

These are observations of a Canadian being circulated on the net. I assume this is all "made up" by a non-Canadian but it doesn't matter. The comments are meant to be inflammatory, but it's hard to argue with these observations. Most of the observations are factual; some probably fall into "general consensus" but up for discussion.

1. The folks in America who pay 86% of all income taxes are accused by some of not paying their "fair share." Approximately 50% of Americans do not pay any income taxes. Many Americans are eligible for income tax credit, meaning that if they work they will be paid additional money from the US government. Some of the richest Americans say the "rich" should pay even more, but go to court to keep from paying taxes imposed upon them by the IRS.

2. The mainstream media and television talking heads continue to beat the drum that the US government discriminates against black Americans despite the fact the two men tasked with dealing with discrimination in the US are black: the US president and the attorney general. In addition, almost 20% of the federal workforce is black while just slightly more than 10% of the US population in general is black. In fact, by the time I being my "long rest," the white component (not including Hispanic) may be a minority in the US.

3. The two folks currently most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the US Treasury, and Charles Rangel, who once chaired the US House Ways and Means Committee, both turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes.

4. Terrorists kill people in the name of Allah and the US media primarily reacts by fretting that Muslims worldwide might be harmed by the backlash.

5. Congress is currently discussing amnesty for 11 million illegal aliens while ignoring those who have waited legally in their home countries and have paid tens of thousands of dollars while waiting and applying.

6. Folks who argue that balancing the budget and sticking by the country's constitution are often referred to as "extremists" by the mainstream media.

7. In America, during my entire adult life, I have had to show an ID to buy cigarettes, buy alcohol, get into an "R"-rated movie, even to look at a house for sale, and yet I've never had to show an ID to vote. I even have to show an ID to get on a commercial aircraft or a private aircraft departing a commercial airport.

8. The margins on selling gasoline are significantly less than the margins on computers, and the oil companies are investigated for gouging Americans for the price of gasoline -- even though it's a fraction of what it would cost in England. And we never seem to run out of gasoline.

9. The US is collecting more money from its citizens than any other country in the world; the country is $16 trillion in debt; the country is spending at the rate of $7 million/minute; the country continutes to fund Mideast dictatorships; and, economists still say the government is not collecting and/or spending enough money.

10. Politicians regularly talk about the greed of the rich at $35,000/plate-campaign fund-raising events. It is never reported how much the waiters and waitresses are paid at these fund-raising events, and even if they are US citizens. [Two days after posting this note, this shows up on the internet: the richest US Senator, Senator John Kerry, rails against evil of money in politics. I wonder if he will throw his money over the fence like he did with his Vietnam medals?]