Christmas Eve? What a Perfect Time for a Vaguely Worded Obamacare Deadline Delay!

Here’s how the Obama administration celebrated
Christmas Eve: by issuing a vague, kinda-sorta extension of
Obamacare’s deadline to enroll in private coverage by January 1.

Via The New York Times

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it would provide more
time for people to complete their applications for health insurance
if they could show that they missed the deadline because of
problems with the federal health care website.

And how, exactly, will that work? The New York Times
reports that…that is a good question: 

It was not clear on Tuesday how many people would be affected,
or how consumers would prove that website errors had prevented them
from signing up by the deadline on Tuesday night.

The announcement itself was vague, saying only that if website
problems had prevented any consumers from enrolling, they might
qualify for what the government has called “a special enrollment
period.” The administration did not say how long that would last.
Nor did it define what website errors might be involved.

So, that’s helpful.

Remember that this is not the first time the administration has
delayed the deadline to sign up for coverage that begins on the
first day of 2014. The original date was December 15, which was
extended to December 23, which was then extended,
semi-unofficially, to December 24. 

At this point, it’s all got to be pretty confusing for folks who
aren’t, say, spending Monday morning of Christmas week scanning for
the latest in unannounced changes to Obamacare’s sign-up deadlines,
or staying up late on Christmas Eve to find out what new, cloudy
exceptions the administration has in store for the next few
days. 

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/christmas-eve-what-a-perfect-time-for-a
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Amazon Reveals Its Online Shopping Best Sellers

The Chinese population may be engulfed in a gold-buying spree to take advantage of low precious metal prices, but when it comes to sheer breadth of materialistic interests, they have nothing on the US consumer. And while previously we highlighted the products that filled online buyers’ shopping carts during Walmart’s record-breaking cyber Monday sales, they were, in a word, boring. So to get a sense of just how expansive the imagination of the US consumer is when armed with the trusty old credit card, and an internet connection, we go to Amazon which has just laid out it holiday best sellers. So without further ado, this is what Americans just couldn’t live without this shopping season.

Amazon.com holiday best sellers:

  • Tablets: Kindle Fire HD; Kindle Fire HDX 7”; Kindle Fire HDX 8.9”
  • TVs: Samsung 32” Smart LED HTDV; Samsung 40” LED HDTV; Samsung 22” Slim LED HDTV
  • Laptops: Samsung Chromebook; ASUS Transformer Book; Acer Chromebook
  • Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i; Canon PowerShot A2500; Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera
  • Video Games: Call of Duty: Ghosts – Xbox 360; Just Dance 2014 – Nintendo Wii; Grand Theft Auto V – Xbox 360
  • Toys: Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Kit; Spot It; LEGO Green Building Plate
  • Baby: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes; Lamaze Cloth Book; Baby Einstein Bendy Ball
  • Books: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Book 8” by Jeff Kinney; “Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics” by Charles Krauthammer; “Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans” by Rush Limbaugh
  • Kindle Books: “Sycamore Row” by John Grisham; “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak; “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt
  • Music: “Artpop” by Lady Gaga; “Wrapped in Red” by Kelly Clarkson; “The Marshall Mathers LP2 (Deluxe)” by Eminem
  • Amazon MP3: “The Marshall Mathers LP2” by Eminem; “Artpop” by Lady Gaga; “Pure Heroine” by Lorde
  • Movies & TV: “Despicable Me 2” (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy); “Star Trek Into Darkness” (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy); “Man of Steel” (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
  • Amazon Instant Video: “We’re the Millers”; “Man of Steel”; “Monsters University”
  • Prime Instant Video: “Alpha House” Season 1; “Downton Abbey” Season 3; “Falling Skies” Season 3
  • Home: Darice 80-Piece Deluxe Art Set; Black & Decker Dustbuster 15.6-Volt Cordless Cyclonic Hand Vacuum; Swarovski 2013 Annual Edition Crystal Star Ornament
  • Kitchen: Tovolo Ice Molds; Artisan Metal Works Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mat Sets; Cuisinart GR-4N 5-in-1 Griddle
  • Jewelry: Sterling Silver and Amethyst Flower Earrings; Sterling Silver “I Love You To The Moon and Back” Two Piece Pendant Necklace; Alex and Ani Bangle Bar “Tree of Life” Russian-Silver Expandable Bracelet
  • Women’s Clothing: Columbia Women’s Benton Springs Full-Zip Fleece Jacket; Carhartt Women’s Sandstone Duck Quilt Flannel Lined Active Jacket; Columbia Women’s Arcadia Rain Jacket
  • Men’s Clothing: Levi’s Men’s 501 Jean; Levi’s Men’s 505 Straight Fit Jean; Levi’s Men’s 550 Relaxed Fit Jean
  • Shoes: Clarks Originals Men’s Desert Boot; Tamarac Men’s Camper Moccasin; Bearpaw Women’s Emma 10″ Shearling Boot
  • Beauty: Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret; D & G Light Blue By Dolce & Gabbana For Women Eau De Toilette Spray; Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System
  • Health & Personal Care: Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband; Philips Sonicare Essence 5600 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush; Braun Series Pulsonic Shaver System
  • Tools & Home Improvement: Mini CREE Led Flashlight Torch Adjustable Zoom Light Lamp; O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream; WBM Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp with Bulb and Cord
  • Pets: KONG Cozie Marvin the Moose Dog Toy; Nylabone Durable Dental Dinosaur Chew Toy; Greenies Treat-Pak for Dogs, Original
  • Sports & Outdoors: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter; Magnesium Fire Starter; SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop
  • Grocery: Miracle-Gro AeroGarden 7-Pod Indoor Garden by AeroGrow; Donut Shop K-Cup for Keurig Brewers; Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter Set


    



via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/5IujgP6KPRs/story01.htm Tyler Durden

How Debtors’ Prisons are Making a Comeback in America

Apparently having 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of its prisoners simply isn’t good enough for neo-feudal America. No, we need to find more creative and archaic ways to wastefully, immorally and seemingly unconstitutionally incarcerate poor people. Welcome to the latest trend in the penal colony formerly known as America. Debtors’ prisons. A practice I thought had long since been deemed outdated (indeed it has been largely eradicated in the Western world with the exception of about 1/3 of U.S. states as well as Greece).

From Fox News:

As if out of a Charles Dickens novel, people struggling to pay overdue fines and fees associated with court costs for even the simplest traffic infractions are being thrown in jail across the United States.

Critics are calling the practice the new “debtors’ prison” — referring to the jails that flourished in the U.S. and Western Europe over 150 years ago. Before the time of bankruptcy laws and social safety nets, poor folks and ruined business owners were locked up until their debts were paid off.

Reforms eventually outlawed the practice. But groups like the Brennan Center for Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union say it’s been reborn in local courts which may not be aware it’s against the law to send indigent people to jail over unpaid fines and fees — or they just haven’t been called on it until now.

The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University’s School of Law released a “Tool Kit for Action” in 2012 that broke down the cost to municipalities to jail debtors in comparison with the amount of old debt it was collecting. It doesn’t look like a bargain. For example, according to the report, Mecklenburg County, N.C., collected $33,476 in debts in 2009, but spent $40,000 jailing 246 debtors — a loss of $6,524.

Don’t worry, I’m sure private prisons for debtors will soon spring up to make this practice a pillar of GDP growth.

Many jurisdictions have taken to hiring private collection/probation companies to go after debtors, giving them the authority to revoke probation and incarcerate if they can’t pay. Research into the practice has found that private companies impose their own additional surcharges. Some 15 private companies have emerged to run these services in the South, including the popular Judicial Correction Services (JCS).

continue reading

from A Lightning War for Liberty http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2013/12/26/how-debtors-prisons-are-making-a-comeback-in-america/
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Who Drinks The Most Alcohol?

Whether your tipple of choice is a warm dark ale or a clear cool liquor, the price of alcohol is soaring (but there is still no inflation anywhere remember – especially in Europe) and so is demand.  From watered-down beer in the UK to rubbing-alcohol split scotch in New Jersey, stealth inflation is growing. So who is most responsible for this demand-pull (and cost-push) driven inflation in alcohol? Germany and Czech Republic (beer) and Russia (liquor) are topping the charts in per-capita demand and it seems the Italians, not content with spending less on gifts are also not drinking much…

 

Biggest European Beer drinkers…

 

Heaviest European Liquor consumers…

 

h/t @Amazing_Maps


    



via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/bU_o-YT59iM/story01.htm Tyler Durden

13 Reasons Marijuana Just Had The Best Year Ever

Move over Pope
Francis
, because marijuana just had the Best. Year. Ever.

From popular support nationwide to the federal government’s
decision not to oppose Colorado and Washington state’s marijuana
laws, to Uruguay’s marijuana trade legalization, it has been a big
year for the little green plant.

Here are the top 13 reasons why 2013 was the best year ever for
weed:


Read this story at The Huffington Post
.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/13-reasons-marijuana-best-year-ever
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Jailing Photogs and Smokers, Outlawing Chipotle! Plus Halle Berry! (Nanny of the Year, 2013)

“Jailing Photogs and Smokers, Outlawing Chipotle! Plus Halle
Berry! (Nanny of the Year, 2013)” is the latest video from
ReasonTV. Watch above or click on the link below for video, full
text, supporting links, downloadable versions, and more Reason TV
clips.

View this article.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/jailing-photogs-and-smokers-outlawing-c
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What Chinese Consumers Are Rushing To Buy This Christmas

While the US consumer is rushing to spend what little savings they have left and grab that last for 2013 “X% off” deal from the local inventory-clearance bin on plastic Made in China trinkets or marked-down clothing, Chinese consumers are likewise scrambling to buy products. Only, unlike in the US, the object of China’s affection is not some gizmo that will end up in the local landfill within 3-6 months. China News Network shows what it is.

Google Translated from Chinanews:

Gold price lower and lower end of the Christmas rush of people buying

Taiyuan a gold shop gold prices as low as 287 yuan / gram, people flocked buying gold jewelry. Western Christmas in China has gradually become the “Consumer Day”, much of the gold market on this day after discounts, plus the price of gold hovering cheap Christmas discounts, and more gold has broken 300 yuan / gram mark.

With the recent stumble endlessly international gold prices, gold investment income in 2013 or will be achieved for the first time in 13 years is negative. As for 2014, the price of gold, most institutions are still bearish.

Publicly available data show that this year, gold prices fell more than 25%. The picture shows a gold shop in Taiyuan people flocked to buy.


    



via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/IArU3wEidfE/story01.htm Tyler Durden

Turkish Lira Plunges To New Record Low As Government Obstructs "Graft" Probe

Turkish stocks are tumbling, bond yields are soaring, and the Lira is collapsing to new record lows as the prosecutor in charge of investigating the nation’s “Graft” case points out the seemingly obvious (but in public)…

  • *ISTANBUL PROSECUTOR SAYS GOVT INTERFERING IN GRAFT PROBE: NTV
  • *COURT ORDERS FOR SEARCH, DETENTION BEING PREVENTED, AKKAS SAYS
  • *TURKEY PROSECUTOR SAYS OFFICIALS CRIMINALLY DISOBEYING COURTS

Judge Akkas cites clear pressure on the judiciary through the police are affecting his ability to continue the probe into the Turkish government’s potential misdeeds and corruption.

 


    



via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/g6kqTyPJQ2M/story01.htm Tyler Durden

Turkish Lira Plunges To New Record Low As Government Obstructs “Graft” Probe

Turkish stocks are tumbling, bond yields are soaring, and the Lira is collapsing to new record lows as the prosecutor in charge of investigating the nation’s “Graft” case points out the seemingly obvious (but in public)…

  • *ISTANBUL PROSECUTOR SAYS GOVT INTERFERING IN GRAFT PROBE: NTV
  • *COURT ORDERS FOR SEARCH, DETENTION BEING PREVENTED, AKKAS SAYS
  • *TURKEY PROSECUTOR SAYS OFFICIALS CRIMINALLY DISOBEYING COURTS

Judge Akkas cites clear pressure on the judiciary through the police are affecting his ability to continue the probe into the Turkish government’s potential misdeeds and corruption.

 


    



via Zero Hedge http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zerohedge/feed/~3/g6kqTyPJQ2M/story01.htm Tyler Durden

William Easterly Says the Aid Debate is Over

William
Easterly reviews The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest
to End Poverty,
by Nina Munk. Jeffrey Sachs’ formula for
ending poverty was appealingly simple, but as Munk chronicles, it
didn’t play out nearly the way he expected. Easterly believes
that the book provides much insight into the future of the aid and
development debate.

View this article.

from Hit & Run http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/william-easterly-says-the-aid-debate-is
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