Linked List: December 17, 2013

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Lots of People Are Saving Money Thanks to Obamacare ★

True story: I’m self-employed, so for several years we’ve been paying out of pocket for a family health insurance plan (me, my wife, my son) from Independence Blue Cross here in Pennsylvania. We have no group to join, no company plan; we effectively buy health insurance at retail cost. Our rates have steadily increased every year, to the point where as of today, we’ve been paying $1500 a month to cover the three of us, for a plan with good coverage (by U.S. standards) and a $500 deductible.

A few months ago, we got one of those controversial notices that our current plan was being cancelled because it wasn’t compliant with the Affordable Care Act, so we’d have to find a new plan before January. My wife went online, to Healthcare.gov, found a new plan from our same insurer with as good or better coverage — equivalent prescription coverage, same network of doctors and hospitals, same $500 deductible — and our new bill, starting next month, will be $1050 per month. No subsidies or anything like that. We’re just saving over $5000 per year, thanks to Obamacare.

Bee Portraits ★

Fascinating macro photography from biologist Sam Droege at Flickr.

Target Will Not Sell Beyoncé’s New Album Because It Debuted as an iTunes Exclusive ★

But they will sell an MP3 single of the world’s tiniest violin playing the world’s saddest song.

‘Misunderstood’ ★

Clever new ad from Apple. Might be their best spot all year.

Update: Two things. First, I’ve asked around and a little birdie tells me that the footage for the kid’s video was actually shot using an iPhone 5S. I thought so, but impressive nonetheless. Second, as several observant readers have noted (I love that DF attracts such pedants), yes, there’s a mismatch in orientation — our protagonist is always shown holding the iPhone in portrait, but his video is comprised entirely of footage shot in landscape. I say forgive this slight cheat, let’s not niggle — it helps sell the twist, and it’s a damn good twist.

Update 2: “Teddy told me that in Greek, nostalgia literally means ‘the pain from an old wound’. It’s a twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn’t a space ship — it’s a time machine.”

Update 3: Apple has posted the entire two-minute “A Harris Family Holiday” film from the ad, “shot entirely on iPhone 5s”.