Why Gold Would Be Useless in an Economic Apocalypse  —  Since November, financial advisor David Marotta has been publishing a series of blog posts on how to manage your money in the event of a financial apocalypse—as in a world of hyperinflation, governmental collapse, and anarachic mobs.

Mass., Vt. halt payments to firm behind health sites  —  WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama's health insurance website limps to recovery, at least two states that used the same contractor and are still plagued with malfunctions — Massachusetts and Vermont — are taking preliminary steps to recoup taxpayer dollars.

What's Next?  First, Let Me Say Thanks  —  There is a fundamental optimism that is wired into the DNA of America and its true capital - New York City.  We are a place that people come to improve their condition.  And once here we are unified by a common aspiration - to leave our kids a place better than the one we found.

Five Tea Party Challengers: The Ted Cruz Wannabes  —  By Patricia MurphyDecember 27th 20135:45 AM  —  Come 2014, these five ambitious senate hopefuls might storm their way onto Capitol Hill and change the Republican Party, with Ted Cruz as their hero.  —  If Ted Cruz seems like a one-of-a-kind, give it time.

N.S.A. Phone Surveillance Is Lawful, Federal Judge Rules  —  WASHINGTON — A federal judge in New York on Friday ruled that the National Security Agency's program that is systematically keeping phone records of all Americans is lawful, creating a conflict among lower courts and increasing …

President Obama's Hawaii Vacation: Day 6  —  How President Barack Obama spent the sixth day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii on Thursday:  — GYM: The president woke up early for a morning workout at a gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  After about an hour, Obama returned to his vacation home.

The Fear Economy  —  More than a million unemployed Americans are about to get the cruelest of Christmas “gifts.”  They're about to have their unemployment benefits cut off.  You see, Republicans in Congress insist that if you haven't found a job after months of searching, it must be because you aren't trying hard enough.

Independent voice needed, Larry Pressler says  —  Is South Dakota ready for a comeback from Larry Pressler?  —  Turned out of the Senate after three terms by Tim Johnson in 1996, Pressler will run for the same seat 18 years later.  —  “Today, I am announcing that I am running for the United States Senate …

Yeah.  This'll Help Your Cause, You Psychos.  —  So guess what happened in Cologne, Germany during Christmas mass?  Liberal feminist wackjobs, that's what.  Behold:  —  I made the mistake of visiting the website run by the lunatics involved in this protest.  It's called FEMEN, and it's seriously sick and twisted.

Utah Ruling Means No Respite for the Supreme Court on Same-Sex Marriage  —  WASHINGTON — In June, when the Supreme Court stopped short of deciding whether the Constitution guaranteed a right to same-sex marriage, many thought the court had bought itself several years before it had to confront the question again.

Homeless Couple Gets A Home On Christmas Eve, Thanks To Innovative ‘Occupy’ Group  —  For many couples, the thought of living together in a 96-square-foot house sounds awful.  But for Chris Derrick and Betty Ybarra, it's a Christmas miracle.  —  That's because Derrick and Ybarra have spent …

NY increasing minimum wage to $8 an hour in 2014  —  Demonstrators rally for better wages outside a McDonald's restaurant in New York, as part of a national protest on Dec. 5.  Demonstrations planned in 100 cities are part of push by labor unions, worker advocacy groups and Democrats to raise the federal minimum wage of $7.25.

Many Americans feel economy isn't improving  —  Despite a recent string of positive economic news, Americans say they aren't feeling the improvements.  —  A new CNN/ORC poll released Friday showed people were pessimistic that the economy was improving.  Nearly 70% said the economy is generally …