From today’s NY Times:  “Barring a successful last-minute legal challenge by environmental groups, Shell will begin drilling test wells off the coast of northern Alaska in July, opening a new frontier in domestic oil exploration and accelerating a global rush … read more >

From my McClatchy editorial, out for national distribution this week, here is a link to the version in today’s Sacramento Bee:  “Since 2008, taxpayers have spent or provided loan guarantees of $6.5 billion for electric vehicles. That includes $2.4 billion … read more >

“Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways. Thus we have an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection, benefits, subsidies, encouragements, progressive taxation, public schools, guaranteed jobs, guaranteed profits, minimum wages, a right to … read more >

The Federal Reserve released new data today on delinquency and charge-off rates at U.S. commercial banks for the first quarter of 2012. For consumer credit cards, the delinquency rate fell for the 11th consecutive quarter to 3.07% during the January-March … read more >

From today’s WSJ editorial  “Why Oil Prices Will Keep Falling” by Nansen Saleri, CEO of Quantum Reservoir Impact in Houston: “The invisible hand steadying global energy markets is the growing influence of modern technologies. So a case can be made … read more >

Education and learning should be a lifelong process and the Internet is your chance to get a university level education for free, regardless of where you are in life, according to this article, which recommends these three websites to get … read more >

Anthony, KAN. (CNNMoney) — “It doesn’t feel like we’re in Kansas anymore. Oil rigs are springing up in farmers’ fields. “No vacancy” signs hang in the windows of local motels, and a steady stream of trucks barrel through Main Streets. … read more >