Free Republic

Comcast is testing data caps for its broadband internet customers that would limit them to 300 GB of data per month, according to The Times Leader. Comcast has started open trials of its home broadband data caps in several large markets around the country. Here are all the regions affected: Mobile, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama Tuscon, Arizona Atlanta, Georgia Augusta, Georgia Savannah, Georgia Jackson, Mississippi Charleston, South Carolina Knoxville, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee All of central Kentucky The entire state of Maine

Exxon Mobil Corp. is studying the possibility of exporting natural gas from the U.S. Gulf Coast and Canada as new shale drilling has unlocked enough natural-gas reserves to meet domestic demand for years to come and allow exports, Chief Executive Rex Tillerson said Wednesday. Exports of natural gas will create jobs, increase tax revenues and help the U.S. trade balance, Mr. Tillerson said at the company's shareholder meeting in Dallas. Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil company and the largest U.S. natural-gas producer, recently has said it was analyzing exports from domestically produced natural gas. Mr. Tillerson's remarks...

The severe drought started in Texas and now ranges up to southeast Iowa. Hay sought by farmers and ranchers for their cattle, and by homesteaders and horse lovers. Those people who have a horse or two or a handful of cattle, goats, or sheep are suffering as bad as the large producers. Why? Small hay bales that used to be $3.00 are selling for up to $9.50 in southeast Iowa. Large bales are well over $100.00 in places.

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. – Fans of Snipes Mountain Brewery's cloudy Hefeweizen relish the subtle wheat flavor of the bright, summery brew, and like beer drinkers everywhere, they know when their favorite brew tastes a little too hoppy or bitter. Connoisseurs could be in for a surprise this year, and they may not be alone. Small brewers from Australia to Oregon face the daunting prospect of tweaking their recipes or experimenting less with new brews thanks to a worldwide shortage of one key beer ingredient and rising prices for others. Oh, and one other thing: Beer prices are likely to climb. How...

<p>LOS ANGELES(AP) - Californians face the prospect of substantial volatility and spikes in gasoline prices next year as refiners switch to an ethanol-based gasoline.</p> <p>Energy traders, marketers and analysts warn that the transition from blending fuel with the additive MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) to using ethanol could bring gasoline shortages next year. They expect ethanol use to make blending and distribution more difficult, while leaving the state more dependent on outside suppliers.</p>