Bingo, I totally agree that due diligence is very important.

Here are some Lessons for That:

1. Read all NR's and financial reports the company puts out. With some compaies, the insiders have games going on, and they really don't want you aware of past activities, results, cheap shares for insiders, stock options just before news comes out, and other quesitionable behaviours. MEO has lots of information about JB #1 and the great production that came prior to and after the workover in June 2006. Yes the well was shut-in while negotiations for the 253 acres that JB#2 now sits on were going on, but why not produce the 1,000-2,000 bbls/day and use the revenues rather than give away ownership in the Morgan Highpoint lands. That's $150,000 to $300,000 per day, minimum.

2. The Delay Game - this is when results drag out forever and forever. After a while, investors sell out and move on, which is what they want, this leaves no one around who's seen those games before. And nobody to call BS. MEO is dragging out the information about JB#2 for some reason, and when we consider all of the stock options and private placement shares that were issued in the Fall of 2007, we know there's something being hidden for their benefit, not ours

3. What for opinionated posters who have all talk and no verifiable facts you can check. Their desire is to manipulate the sentaiment of investors for the Pump and Dump, Depress them and Buy Their Shares Really Cheap, and many other tactics and strategies. Personals very similar to Crownroyal1, Demara, and Badabing - see how the personas come and go - passing off the role of controling the board, investor sentiment, and investor confidence.

4. Read the Book, "Rampaging Bulls", by Alexander Tadich. The book is out of print, but can be found on E-bay.

5. The "Agressive Poster" the one who scolds and looks down on those not holding the right opinion, or will "pat people on the head" for "seeing things the right way". See #3

6. Watch for share prices that rise for no real reason, when you optimism really needs a boost, only to drop back and crush your new found enthusiasm. The reverse can also happen - drop to nothing, like from a high of 26 cents and down to 8.5 cents. They're called stock manipulation tactics - the goal is to steal your money. Public companies want to release good news and see their stock rise. For some reason MEO downplays good news, which keeps the stock price down.