Casual optimism: A time-line and a humble opinion
Let me first say that i rarely post here. By rarely i truly mean i have only posted on this board 3 times in regards to another stock. I avoid posting on I-hub, or any other board, because of the redundant spamming and negativity regarding this stock.
I have held shares of TNOG since 2005. I have witnessed incredible gains, of which i profited. I have been a part of incredible pitfalls, of which i have lost a great deal. All in all, the shares that now hold for the long term were technically free, and i would like to offer up as objective of an opinion as a i can possibly muster.
The OLD TNOG-
I was relatively close with the old management, in so far as being in email contact, as well as a couple phone calls. They were adept at creating a mountain out of a mole hill. I refer to Stanley wells (which were before the bastrop project). It was amazing, that the greatest run TNOG ever had was on news regarding a well that gurgled little more than a couple barrels a day of oil and a lot of salt water. I believe, at that point, TNOG had inklings of a real company, where people, Such as Pete Maupin, truly sought good in the company and really wanted it to work. I studied this company inside and out. I called everyone i possibly could (including midway pipeline, those who remember this drama). They were attempting to get off their feet, but never had any luck. A few downturns, a few dry wells, and TNOG would continuously post PR's that were full of "things to come" and hopes for good fortune. They wanted to keep the hype going. They ultimately faltered as there was not really anything to back it up. (this scenario is, i hate to use the term, verifiable; one can simply reviewing past TNOG press releases).
Allow me to digress, I even remember a time where now die hard "Bashers" were full supporters of this stock. I would assume a personal vendetta or some other motive for continuously posting against TNOG, it is amazing that 3 years later it still occurs... by the same people. I find it comical the life these people must have. Maybe this is some sick source of attention and wanted human drama that they lack. I will not delve any further into this.
The NEW TNOG-
I have maintained a "watchful eye" for a long time. As i am sure there are a number of you who are reading posts but never actually write any. I dont think anyone can blame me for having a sort of natural reticence for believing the first string of PR's, which appeared out of no where after a long silence.
There are number of differences in the way this company has been handled since new management has been hired. Most notably, the scope. Let me explain. Where as TNOG used to concern themselves with one or two wells, they are now concerned with fields of wells (PA in excess of 60). This caught my attention straight off. This is what a corporation should be focusing on. Call it being naive, but in retrospect i should have noticed the narrow focus of the OLD management right off the bat... live and learn.
Secondly, the candid and very open nature of Brandon Toth is very different from the seemingly gagged old management. I have also received a few very pleasant phone calls from a number of different people working for TNOG. This is a complete change from the shady, and almost slimy way that "Novak Capital" used to promote TNOG (again, for those who remember these people, Clayton Smith was his name if my memory serves me correctly).
I have to say that my interest in this stock has peaked again. I am enjoying the influx of news. I am loving the positive attitude from both investors and company. I have not witnessed this since TNOG's first real run all the way up to .05. My motivation for posting is because of this. If anything, i have enjoyed the drama which this company has waded through, and truly if this is the start of something great i would love to be here on the ground floor. The fun in these stocks is doing research, is picking up the phone, is questioning things. That's why the burden of proof, at least while on the pinksheets, is in our hands.
My faith, at this point, is not fully restored. This is not because i think TNOG is not truly attempting at becoming a fully fledged oil company. It is simply because this is still a pinksheet stock. I have emailed management a number of times explaining to them the urgency of filing for full reporting status. That is the last obstacle in the way. I can understand the burden this causes when you take of a company from practically fraudulent hands. That will be the only true way of clearing the air. I believe most investors (including myself) are waiting to invest more, invest initially, or re-invest until TNOG lists becomes fully reporting. Anyone with the remotest of conservative attitude towards investing would have to agree.
Most investors realize the gamble. I think of the Pinksheets like the wildwest. You can be on top of the world one second and shot dead in a gutter the next. There are only a few stocks that ever climb out. The pinksheets are a bastion for shell companies and lies; anyone can say anything. I would find it most refreshing to find some honesty, and goodness down here, because this is where i like to play. I, like most of you, are quietly sifting through the soot, looking for something worth taking home.
I hope that if we all work together with TNOG, do our due diligence, we can show that we have found something here worth investing in, or we can uncover lies and deceit (which, up to this point, i have been unable to do).
At this point i remain casually optimistic. I am always hoping for the best, but i am prepared to face the music. I appreciate all the good posts by everyone. Hopefully, i will find something worth saying more than just once every few years.
JC-
All in my own opinion and all that jazz.
