Economics and Investing:

Reader P.M. notes: Premera Blue Cross may have laid off over 300 people, and yet won’t talk about it. They are also rumored to be losing money on the individual line of business. The fallout from the poor design of Obamacare continues.

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

A Shocking Number of Americans Don’t Have a Toilet (The Week)

When Financial Bubbles Burst: Real Estate Values are Plunging in Canadian Heavy Oil Patch (Contra Corner)

Interest Rates to Stay Low Longer, Household Debt Remains a Concern – Says the Bank of England (The Telegraph)

Glencore’s Oil Deal in Libya Branded Worthless by Rival Government (The Guardian)

Brazil’s Economic Meltdown: Stagflation Ahead, Goldman Unreservedly Disappointed (Zero Hedge)

5 Steps to Help You Get Started Paying Off Debt (About.com)

7 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft Over the Holiday Season (Washington Post)

The Best Things in Life are Free (Clark Howard)

Simple Christmas Links (Becoming Minimalist)

7 Money Saving, Stress-Less Holiday Shopping Tips (Real Simple)

Banking’s Uber Moment (Business Insider)

Big Banks Accused of Interest Rate-Swap Fixing in U.S. Class Action Suit (Reuters) Hint: Be sure to take note of “who” brought the suit.

Once Ratified the TPP Could Encompass 40% of World GDP (Canadian Progressive)