WELL, GOOD: Shale Boom in Texas Could Increase U.S. Oil Output. Key bit: “What makes the new fields more remarkable is that they were thought to be virtually valueless only five years ago.”

UPDATE: Reader Roger Baumgarten writes: “It’s only a matter of time before the Obama administration targets them for destruction.”

And reader Bobby Clarke writes: “Another point from that story about Texas oil: Lots of jobs, and lots of money. All sorts of jobs – very well paying blue collar, white collar, supply, support (restaurants and real estate and construction). And the money can stick around for a long long time – Texas got a couple of huge cities, lots of hospitals (world class ones in Houston), University systems, roads – all sorts of good stuff. For the life of me, I do not understand why states that are struggling are not begging geologists to come look for oil.” Good point. Or even paying them to.