O.k., let me ask a favor of you.  Go back five years and put yourself in JB's place.  You apply for very much needed new land claims with the state lands commission.  You expect it to take the typical 60-90-120 days, or whatever it was.  You see no likelihood of this application being denied.  You start to raise money for drilling.

Now, at what point would you conclude that approval of these claims would not soon be forthcoming, that approval would take an unprecedented five years?  At what point would/should you conclude that your efforts were worthless and that your only option would be to fold the company tent and move on?  Or, would you do everything in your power to keep the company alive as you continue your wait?

Almost certainly, having had the new claims much earlier would have us talking about other things by now, things like the success or failure of drilling.  Or do you disagree?