2013 HEALTH SPENDING grows at the lowest rate in over 50 years. If so, then why are HealthCare.gov average premiums going up in 2015?

My suspicion is that it's because health care utilization is becoming unaffordable. Remember, healthcare 'insurance' isn't the same as health care.

MINNESOTA'S HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES can compete as whatever gender they choose after a policy ... passed Thursday by the [high school] league's board.

Ok-a-ay. Next question: can a student compete as a female on one team and as a male on another?

#GAMERGATE EXPLAINED:



Linked from Instapundit.

FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY: Same old, same old.

AMNESTY INCREASES EMPLOYMENT: DHS on hiring spree to carry out Obama immigration orders.

Government employment, that is....

GIFTS FOR GEEKS: IEEE Spectrum's annual roundup of gifts for techies.

LIFE WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN:

Also life with a prescription drug plan, since they are nothing more than prepaid service plans with (perhaps) a small discount.

HOUSE PASSES short-term tax cut package. It'll help when I file my 2013 tax return; then back to the status quo in 2014 unless Congress can finally attack tax reform over Obama's likely veto.

DOESN'T AL SHARPTON deserve a rest? Yes. A long one. In a federal penitentiary.

OXYCLINTON:



Heh. And if it works, you can expect the 'bad drug' class-action lawsuits in early 2017.

EXPLORING THE NEW COMMERCIAL SPACE ECONOMY: The space race is now in the hands of private companies, and the sky is by no means the limit.

BYRON YORK: For all his success, President Obama will leave his party with a toxic legacy, and two very big problems. I suspect we're about to witness the collapse of the modern Democrat party. Hopefully some good will come from it.

FORT HOOD VICTIMS set to receive Purple Hearts, combat status.

Note that it is a bipartisan Congress that is doing this, not the Obama administration.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE: Automated cockpits affect pilots' emergency skills.

FALL FOLIAGE 2014: Week 9 and the final picture. We were gone over Thanksgiving, so the final photo was taken this morning. All the leaves are gone, except for those pesky 'bitter clingers'. Even the neighbors' pear trees finally gave up and dropped their leaves the week we were gone.

Last week's photo is here, and as you can see, the only real difference is that the winds have again 'redistributed' the leaves so as to leave no blade of grass untouched.

TWEETERS HELP TROUBLESHOOT THE ORION ROCKET LAUNCH: ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again?’

Which, when you think about it, is exactly what they did.

Another try tomorrow, same time (7:05 am EST), same station.

JEFF JACOBY: Quick, hide the spoons!

A POLITICALLY CORRECT GUIDE TO HOLIDAY SHOPPING: "If you’re the type to get so easily offended you’ll never shop at a store again, it’s probably better if you grow your own food and make your own clothes and other products."