Hydraulic fracturing -- or fracking -- is so dramatically increasing domestic production that the United States is projected to surpass Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest oil producer by 2017.

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Hydraulic fracturing -- or fracking -- is so dramatically increasing domestic production that the United States is projected to surpass Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest oil producer by 2017.

Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert chatted with readers Friday on Boston.com. Here are excerpts.
Q. What about the new fall comedies? Anything you’re curious about?
A. I’m curious about “The Michael J. Fox Show.” Could be fun, if they don’t hammer the Parkinson’s jokes too much. He’s done that material on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and on “The Good Wife.” And he should do some on his own show. But it can’t be the only focus of the series, or it will get old. It’s on Thursdays on NBC, along with Sean Hayes’ show, “Sean Saves the World.”
I’m also curious about the CBS Robin Williams sitcom, “The Crazy Ones.” Will he be annoying? Cute? Hyper? Schmaltzy? I’m an Andy Samberg fan, so his “Brooklyn Nine-West” on Fox appeals
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The Bruins tied their 2013 playoff high with five goals in a 5-2 victory over the Rangers in Game 2.
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A treatment known as ortho-k, in which patients wear contact lenses only at night, is increasingly being used to treat nearsightedness.
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Using rubber tanks, sound effects, and illusions of manpower, World War II’s Ghost Army tricked the Germans into believing they knew America’s true plans.
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Rask has had big pads to fill in replacing Tim Thomas, but he looks like he’s up to the task of taking the Bruins on another Cup run.
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I was disinclined to be the finger-wagging priest on whom Barbara Walters was counting in a 1972 appearance on her daytime show, “Not For Women Only.”
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The Red Sox extended their win streak to five games with a 5-1 victory over the Twins.
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Let’s put the brakes on the canonization of Jolie, a person of extraordinary privilege who has exercised an option that’s not available to most women.
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The Boston Fire Department has a tradition of marginalizing outsiders like Fire Chief Steve Abraira, but the deputy chiefs’ letter raises too many public safety issues to simply ignore.
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Meet Chuck — he’s 65 years old, a resolute Bostonian who has encountered waves of disease throughout his life. Most importantly, he’s a fierce audiophile.
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In the aftermath of the Marathon bombings, the city’s semi-professional women’s basketball team, the Boston Bombers, quietly altered its name and did away with the team logo.
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Bostonians may be getting twice as many calories at local American and popular ethnic restaurants.
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Researchers have found that people who consume certain drinks have an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
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After Russia’s security service arrested an American named Ryan Fogle recently, the agency circulated a video showing him wearing a hat and obviously fake blond hair.
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Product labels often don’t reflect the true ingredients, according to a commentary published last week.
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