Welcome to the Crude Reality

Editor's Note: We've known Bob van der Valk since 1996 when he worked with UCAN.org to curb Big Oil's abuses of small gas retailers in California. With almost 50 years of oil industry experience, Mr. van der Valk has built a formidable reputation as a man who can cut through Big Oil's econo-babble with insights that are so simple even politicians and government regulators can understand them.

A resident of Terry Montana, Mr. van der Valk is a Fuel Pricing Analyst and Director of Branded Licensing for 4Refuel Inc., located in Lynnwood, Washington. While we don't always agree with him, we think you'll find his frank and plain-spoken analyses of the oil industry to be useful and thought-provoking.

But, as Bob's grandfather once told him, "If everybody liked the same thing, they'd all be after your Grandma!"