North Dakota, which last year became the second largest oil producing state (after Texas), could easily afford to abolish its income tax, much like Alaska did in 1980.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: The State Tax Reformers

Based in Israel, SodaStream is a global leader in the home beverage carbonation market, producing soda making systems that enable consumers to easily transform ordinary tap water into carbonated drinks instantly.

FORBES: Strong Fundamentals Expected To Drive Momentum On SodaStream

In Russia's Black Sea oil port of Novorossisk, for example, a local British businessman, Clive Rumens, wanted to set up a small factory producing a simple additive that makes crude oil pour more easily.

ECONOMIST: A survey of Russia

Microsoft helped fix that by producing versions of its Office suite that create documents that can move easily from one platform to the other.

FORBES: Magazine Article

And chickens across Europe will breathe more easily after the implementation of an EU directive banning traditional battery cages for egg-producing hens.

ECONOMIST: The law may sometimes save an ass

Chevron can easily be a player because it already controls major acreage from wells drilled long, long ago and that are still producing to retain the leases.

FORBES: A Little Bit Louder Now, Chevron Starts To Shout About Davy Jones And The Ultra Deep