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Foodstamp Nation In Turmoil: EBT System Goes Dark, "Glitch" Blamed

Tyler Durden's picture




 

In the past five years it has become apparent that America can survive a near-fatal financial system collapse, an economy teetering on the edge and kept ticking only thanks to the Fed's now perpetual QE, a collapsing standard of living for everyone but the wealthiest 0.1%, declining wages, zero interest rates, surging food, energy, rent, tuition and welfare costs, and pretty much everything else, as long as the welfare state keeps humming along. Any be welfare state we mostly mean providing the daily bread to the nearly 50 million Americans living in poverty and surviving only thanks to the only thing to have exploded to epic record highs under Obama (in addition to the Fed's balance sheet of course): foodstamp usage. However, the true stability of the US may be tested very soon following reports that due to a "possible computer glitch" the Electronic Benefits Transfer System, aka EBT, ala Foodstamps, is offline. Cue mass panic among the best-weaponized population in the world. Naturally, this latest fiasco involving a country that has grown accustomed to sucking on the government's teat was immediately blamed on a "glitch" - just like everything else that is slowly but surely breaking in the New Normal.

CBS reports:

Reports from around the country began pouring in around 9 a.m. on Saturday that customers’ EBT cards were not working in stores. The glitch, however, did not appear to be part of the government shutdown. At 2 p.m., an EBT customer service representative told CBS Boston that the system was currently down for a computer system upgrade.

 

The representative said the glitch is affecting people nationwide. She could not say when officials expected the system to be restored.

 

People calling the customer service line were being told to call back later.

 

State officials said they were preparing a statement to further explain the issue.

 

The federal EBT website was unavailable due to the government shutdown.

AP adds:

People in Ohio, Michigan and several other states found themselves unable to use their food stamp debit cards on Saturday, after a routine check by vendor Xerox Corp. resulted in a system failure. Shoppers from Maine to Oklahoma had to abandon baskets of groceries because they couldn't access their benefits.

 

Ohio's cash and food assistance card payment systems went down at 11 a.m., said Benjamin Johnson, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's cash system has been fixed, however its electronic benefits transfer card system is still down. All states that use Xerox systems are affected by the outage.

 

Xerox spokeswoman Karen Arena confirmed via email Saturday afternoon that some EBT systems are experiencing temporary connectivity issues. She said technical staff is addressing the issue and expects the system to be restored soon.

As a reminder, this is how many Americans and households were on foodstamps as of the most recent monthly update (hint: a record).

 

And now, it's time for the sequel to @MrEBT's hit masterpiece: "My EBT... has been rejected."

 

 

Xerox Statement on Temporary EBT Systems Outage

During a routine test of our back-up systems Saturday morning, Xerox’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system experienced a temporary shutdown. While the system is now up and running, beneficiaries in the 17 affected states continue to experience connectivity issues to access their benefits. This disruption impacts EBT beneficiaries who rely on the system for SNAP and WIC. Technical staff is addressing the issue and expect the system to be restored soon. Beneficiaries requiring access to their benefits can work with their local retailers who can activate an emergency voucher system where available. We appreciate our clients’ patience while we work through this outage as quickly as possible.

 

In short: Cue panic, because while the Nasdaq may be down for 3 hours and only a few vacuum tubes would notice, take down EBT, and you will have a full-fledged revolution in no time.

 

Via Twitchy,

EBT cards in many states aren’t working today, and as you might expect, some Walmart shoppers aren’t very happy.

Then again, every cloud has its silver lining:

Welcome to the Obama economy.

 

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Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:16 | 4048422 y3maxx
y3maxx's picture

...Ex Governor Jessie is the first public figure, to step up and have the guts to denounce the American Political Party system...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhSJgJZspnU

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 11:31 | 4049940 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

Bloviating; WHEN has it been any different? The REAL problem is education, and Ventura is an example of a short-coming in that area ...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:17 | 4048427 Ineverslice
Ineverslice's picture

 

Top 10 Reasons the U.S. has become a Foodstamp Nation:

go 4 it michael snyder.   zzzzz......

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:15 | 4048428 fonzannoon
fonzannoon's picture

here is a live feed from the upper west side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKMlCRSFE7U

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:22 | 4048455 Ineverslice
Ineverslice's picture

 

Upstate colleges experiencing outages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BplarHcB0Es

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:33 | 4048489 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

Containment failed.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:15 | 4048429 Fail2Deliver
Fail2Deliver's picture

Confirmed! Just  returned home from my local Kroger. They have posted on the doors "Georgia EBT is DOWN"! Is this just Georgia or nationwide?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:22 | 4048447 overmedicatedun...
overmedicatedundersexed's picture

down in maryland, attention: walmart customers pay in cash or get the hell out: no they really said, sorry but ebt is down and we do not know when it will be back. can you starve if you are already 50lbs over IBW??

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:22 | 4048452 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

It's not likely. Food Pantries will be drained, that's for sure.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:30 | 4048474 Pure Evil
Pure Evil's picture

I guess the inner cities will have to fall back on tried and true methods to obtain sustenance.

Armed robbery and rioting.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:35 | 4048486 DaddyO
DaddyO's picture

Nothing like looting the Dollar General to fill up the ole larder...

DaddyO

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:06 | 4048944 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

Don't forget cannibalism! Why hello gentrifying Hipster! Buying a home in the hood? Poor choice, that...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:22 | 4048448 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

Not directed at you personally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEz-Czt69IU

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:41 | 4048874 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

Wait, you have internet service in Georgia? I always thought Georgia was like N. Korea but with a less intelligible accents.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:17 | 4048438 Beatscape
Beatscape's picture

It appears that free carbohydrates is all it takes to keep the masses complacent and corpulent.  Better make sure that the EBT bits and bytes keep flowing.

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:17 | 4048439 q99x2
q99x2's picture

REVOLUTION CANCELLED::

Banksters witnessed at airports and marinas running from the scenes of their crimes.

Should have got them before they had a chance to got away.

Back to work.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:34 | 4049021 grunk
grunk's picture

"Come on. Come with me. It's the only way out of here tonight. Roth is dead. Barack. Barack! Come with me. You're still my brother!"

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:21 | 4048445 andycrazn
andycrazn's picture

wish i can eat good on candy and chips

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:22 | 4048446 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Completely OT, but I needed to share this piece of outrageous information. I just stepped outside for a smoke - it's a beautiful fall day, perfect temperature, making myself comfortable in the chair, looking up to see the sky, and kapow! What do I see? This shit:

http://i42.tinypic.com/2s18a3n.jpg

WHAT THE FUCK! Someboday do something!

edit: ZH and contributors, could we have some in-depth pieces on the fuckery that is advertising? Both online and in real life, it runs the show and moves a shitload of money around. Layers upon layers of indirection and middlemen middlemenning to more middlemen... fuck man!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:26 | 4048465 Unstable Condition
Unstable Condition's picture

GEICO

G overnment

E mployee

I nsurance

C O mpany

Must have MOAR govt!!!!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:53 | 4049346 WillyGroper
WillyGroper's picture

The Oral of Omaha.

Buffet

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:21 | 4048631 JustPrintMoreDuh
JustPrintMoreDuh's picture

Corporate sponsored chemtrails ... its all the rage these days.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:16 | 4048969 oddjob
oddjob's picture

Gratuitous air travel subsidizes chemtrails.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 11:40 | 4049976 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

Downvoted on account of insanity ...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:23 | 4048450 Waterfallsparkles
Waterfallsparkles's picture

Now there will be riots.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:31 | 4048476 reload
reload's picture

And riot Dogs

Dont forget the Dogs - they would be the first to go hungry if the outage was lasting.

A pack of hungry dogs is no joke.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:34 | 4048483 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Your post reminds me of this song. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxTCx-yGM8g

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:23 | 4048451 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

When you see "Geico" printed in the sky it means you have less than 15 minutes left.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:56 | 4048544 knukles
knukles's picture

Busted out laughing.

Most excellent

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:02 | 4048569 GrinandBearit
GrinandBearit's picture

LOL  very good.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:48 | 4048716 seek
seek's picture

Ah, the updated version of "White Christmas" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Frequent_Wind "Option 4")

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:24 | 4048454 killallthefiat
killallthefiat's picture

I LOVE that video!  (We are doomed.)

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:25 | 4048460 lasvegaspersona
lasvegaspersona's picture

not to worry Taxes! from those who extend will be rolling in by Wednesday.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:27 | 4048461 Motley Fool
Motley Fool's picture

Tyler

You may not be aware of this err 'gem'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzspsovNvII

Something to keep in mind when to topic pops up again, I suppose.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:28 | 4048467 TaperProof
TaperProof's picture

NASDAQ, CME glitches, EBT glitches, obamacare glitches.. and i'm sure soon there will be bank/ATM withdrawal glitches.  Probably a "glitch" that transfers all your funds to the government for a bail-in.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:29 | 4048471 Haloween1
Haloween1's picture

Obamacare, EBT, SSi, NSA.  All these big systems run by the government.  Only a matter of time 'til they get hacked or just decay and blow up, taking everything with them.  Says a lot for decentralization over centralization, doesn't it?

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:35 | 4048490 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

Local. Local. Local.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:50 | 4048727 seek
seek's picture

Don't forget the top 3 internet conspiracy message boards went down -- to the minute -- with the rest of the government web sites when the shutdown started.

Further evidence ZH is legit, running like the swiss watch it is.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 01:36 | 4049472 MrPoopypants
MrPoopypants's picture

which three?

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 20:57 | 4051528 seek
seek's picture

Abovetopsecret, godlikeproductions, and lunaticoutpost. I'm familiar with the first two, there's a lot of sketchiness already surrounding godlikeproductions (namely if you mention certain keywords like Tavistock, you get banned instantly. A couple years ago simply having the word bitcoin in a post would get you banned as well.)

ATS claimed they had a DDOS attack, but the timing (to the minute) makes that pretty suspect. Monitoring sites like isitdownrightnow.com picked it up right along with the government shutdown, though I think the history has since scrolled off.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 04:53 | 4049549 IrritableBowels
IrritableBowels's picture

I'd like to know, too

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:28 | 4048473 All Out Of Bubblegum
All Out Of Bubblegum's picture

“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.”

-Thomas Jefferson

 

Seizing even more power in the USA seems to always be the design of ambition these days. Cracking down after a few cities go beserk because they can't get their Cheetos and Diet Coke is a new one in history, but it'll work.

 

You all be careful. Shit is about get very fucking weird.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:19 | 4048625 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

Let's put it this way -- I fully foresee being thrown to the streets within the next 2-3 weeks, and people very close to me dead.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:54 | 4048738 sunnyside
sunnyside's picture

What does that third part "prepares fit tools for the deisgns of ambition" mean ?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 21:27 | 4049159 Borrow Owl
Borrow Owl's picture

...produces a a well-trained herd that can (usually) be expected to act in a predictable manner when subjected to various  pre-programmed stimuli.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:32 | 4048481 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

Hello 911, I'm out of Cheezy Puffs, help me!!!!!!!.....

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:34 | 4048484 TaperProof
TaperProof's picture

A lot of hating on the "lazy" people without jobs.  The problem is two fold.  There are a lot of lazy people sucking off the government but there is also a terrible employment environment created mostly by bad government policies. Not to mention the fed that helped create a predator 0.01% class of vampires. Bad trade policies, bad tax policy, bad monetery policy.  The government dun fucked up, yo.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:03 | 4048563 DoChenRollingBearing
DoChenRollingBearing's picture

.

The government dun fucked up, yo.

 

Yes, it did, worse than ever before.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:33 | 4048487 q99x2
q99x2's picture
World top bankers warn of dire consequences if U.S. defaults

They say they are worried and have shut down the EBT as a form of tinancial terrorism to get politicians to do the right thing.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:01 | 4048553 ziggy59
ziggy59's picture

Isnt JPM the bank for EBT?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:43 | 4049039 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

indeed

a warning shot across the bow?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:35 | 4048488 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

Can anyone tell me what the participation rate of the workforce is once you strip out the unemployed, the disability recipients, the jailed, the armed forces, half the banking sector, homeland security, half the NSA, the congressional barber shop, the lobbyists, and half the government departments?

The reason I ask this is that all these people are a bigger drain on the system than food stamps.

So if we think food stamps is an issue think about the other groups mentioned above.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:44 | 4048500 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

Considering that the participation rate is already at around 57%, if you get all that out, it's probably below 50%... easy. There's 800k people working in the banking sector. 4.4 million working for the feds. Local governments = 14+ million.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:46 | 4048884 acetinker
acetinker's picture

In other words, too many on the take, and too few producers, thus the national debt.  Who thinks this will end well?  Show of hands?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:32 | 4049312 Boondocker
Boondocker's picture

If you live in the city, remember that when you flush your toilet.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:33 | 4048491 jvetter713
jvetter713's picture

Oh please let it last at least a week.  Please!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:24 | 4048639 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

If you honestly believe that, you better find your guns fast.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:43 | 4048880 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

MAH BABY NEED NEW SHOES!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 23:38 | 4049396 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

I hope you are joking. If Bath House does  not turn them back on by Monday, there will be trouble in the slave quarters.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:33 | 4048493 lizzy36
lizzy36's picture

SO Q4 earning's misses will now have TWO scapegoats, federal government shut-down, and EBT card failure......The former may have something to do with the latter. 

Obama can't create MAD through -15% in equity markets, maybe he can get the shepple to riot over EBT card failure.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:50 | 4048720 Arius
Arius's picture

you thinking tooooo far ahead ... Q$ reporting ... how about this weekend and next week ... you assume all is well ...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:45 | 4048496 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

Keep it dark for a few days... then just say it's the republican fault for shutting down the government, most of these tards will believe it... and the republicans will have no choice but to accept a raise of the debt ceiling and opening the government. Obama puppet-masters lack imagination in their evilness... and that's a good thing.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:53 | 4049345 tenpanhandle
tenpanhandle's picture

Oh please... how many people on welfare vote Republican?

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 05:27 | 4049560 ForTheWorld
ForTheWorld's picture

You'd be surprised. I personally know people who say they vote Republican, and only Republican, yet they receive welfare cheques even though they work.  This is purely anecdotal, but they do exist.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:37 | 4048497 WallowaMountainMan
WallowaMountainMan's picture

"this latest fiasco involving a country that has grown accustomed to sucking on the government's teat"

 

uh, as sucking goes, the rich are getting much much more than a 'teat', so start there.

 

:)

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:39 | 4049036 Arius
Arius's picture

the rich also pay a lot in taxes ... ever heard of the trickle down prosperity?  probably not.

it is easy to blame it all on the rich

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 09:37 | 4049705 Harry Dong
Harry Dong's picture

...and then we told them it would trickle down!

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 13:41 | 4050346 WallowaMountainMan
WallowaMountainMan's picture

"ever heard of the trickle down prosperity?"

yeah i've heard of it....began back in the reagan days i think...i forget the boy wonder who started it all...stockman or something or other.

so far so good for the ones upon whom the trickle was supposed to flow down upon. not.

"it is easy to blame it all on the rich"

yup. especially when its their fault. to think that it was the poor that manipulated the laws to futher concentrate wealth in an ever increasing amount for an ever decreasing number of people takes stupidity.

:)

 

p.s. you've been around long enough that you could have been posting sarcastically. if so, :)

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:36 | 4048501 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

Good thing I was hoarding non-perishable foodstuffs back in 2007.  I still remember the look on the face of the cashier gal at Costco the day I bought some full cases of sphagetti noodles.  Her expression was like, "what the fuck is the matter with you?".  I had my Ron Paul 2008 shirt on.  I saw this shit coming a long time ago and I knew it was going to be a long slow ride down to economic hell.

How long are these fuckers going to drag out the inevitable conclusion to this economic fuck up?  Yellen will save us?  No, and you know full well that they will try price controls next...

 

http://www.boatingaccidentnews.com/soviet-toys/

 

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:47 | 4048892 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

Spaghetti noodles? WTF man? Low Carb! Buy cases of lard and salt pork.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:06 | 4048939 robertocarlos
robertocarlos's picture

Does anybody have a can-opener?

?

God damn it.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 03:33 | 4049520 Parrotile
Parrotile's picture

Lump hammer & cold chisel will suffice

Alternatively any one of the many multi-function poclet knives (Wenger, Victorinox, Gerber, Leatherman), or even a cheap "Stainless Steel Credit Card Sized Survival Tool" via E-bay

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:36 | 4048502 mtthw2
mtthw2's picture

Michigan down.  

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:04 | 4049253 zelator
zelator's picture

err...  Go Blue!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:12 | 4049263 mtthw2
mtthw2's picture

Not tonight

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:39 | 4048503 TaperProof
TaperProof's picture

If this glitch lasts beyond the weekend I call bullshit.  The odds of this happening like this, at this exact perfect time for the administration are slim.  

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:27 | 4048646 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

I'm becoming fully in the camp that this is a test of what comes in the next three weeks -- or, just the decision to start it off now during a three-day weekend and leave it at that.

We'll see as the day and night and weekend go on.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 23:49 | 4049412 lesterbegood
lesterbegood's picture

Yep. Why now and who benefits?

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 11:49 | 4049994 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

 

You morons, lacking the basic knowledge of how servers and data centers operate, how power systems/battery plants can fail, so therefore ALL you can do is cite 'conspiracy theories' fabricated out of whole cloth; YOU are the 'useless eaters' to me ...

 

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:41 | 4048507 MedicalQuack
MedicalQuack's picture

The government and the public is now seeing how complex the IT infrastructures are...this is just one more...as I read the article Xerox went in to do an upgrade that caused this to occur...I'm still reading what else is coming in...

You know as well as sending data reports back to the government they are selling anonymized data on what people buy here as well...just insurers want to know what junk food you buy..

http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/05/health-insurers-and-others-trying...

Takes a while to reboot servers and IT has pretty much been able to work around this over the years, but we might be headed back in that direction again...

It just really grinds on me with some of the math business models being used and run and just like what's in the markets, United Healthcare fire about 5500 doctors for no apparent reason other then they were not in the parameters of their cost goals, and they couldn't get that right..some were fired by mistake and now with the shut downs quite a few Medicare Advantage folks left out in the cold to change policies, doctors or so on, right in the beginning of open enrollment...heck they don't know if their doctor is or is not in network...more of the Killer Algorithms out there as I call it..

http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2013/10/insurance-company-in-network-comp...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:55 | 4048901 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

EBT Emergency Report from PA! The Hotel I am in is still accepting green rectangles for 32 oz craft IPA drafts!

We seem to be in the eye of the hurricane here in PA at the moment. Will continue testing the viability of Benny Bucks as long as I can remain upright!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 21:33 | 4049170 NuckingFuts
NuckingFuts's picture

The country thanks you for your research into the FRN/IPA situation.  Please keep us informed of your progresss.

 

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 05:34 | 4049563 ForTheWorld
ForTheWorld's picture

Meanwhile, in Australia, PBR (which, because it's from the US, is "imported" and therefore special) is $55 for a 24 pack.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:45 | 4048509 Element
Element's picture

relax folks, a mouse-clicker went down, they've swapped it out and all good again.

 

UPDATE: Attn citizens, a precautionary replacement of all mouse-clickers is underway to reduce the risk of a systemic fault developing. This work is expected to be completed by around midnight on Thursday. That will be all.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:12 | 4048792 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Also your  chocolate ration  is doubled from 40 gramms per month to 20g.

Have a nice day.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:41 | 4048867 acetinker
acetinker's picture

Orwellian.  You know more than you're lettin' on, don't you?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:31 | 4049017 Element
Element's picture

ok, that was funny

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 11:51 | 4050009 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

" relax folks, a mouse-clicker went down, they've swapped it out and all good again. "

Like you'd know any differnece; degree in what again? How much time in defense-related industry?

 


Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:43 | 4048516 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

Earnings season is going to be a bloodbath next quarter. At least they won't blame it on the weather..

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:46 | 4048526 jballz
jballz's picture

Hey don't fuck with my food stamps pal. I worked hard on the forms to fill out to get those.

Well I actually lost my ebt card on a tragic boating accident so I guess it makes no difference to me anymore. But your Walmart stock will go down and the price of ammo will go way up so be careful what you wish for.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:56 | 4048915 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

Never lost my EBT YO! I wear it on a gold rope around my neck showinz da bitches I can bring da bling yo!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:49 | 4048528 yogibear
yogibear's picture

All some hackers have to do make it look people used their EBT cards at the begining  of the refresh cycle. Cause mass riots. Lock it up for a while and watch the fun.

Just lock it up Lock it all up.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:05 | 4048574 Element
Element's picture

 

 

"... Readers of Alborz news website responded to the information by warning individuals not to disclose any more information about Ahmadi because it could give the wrong people personal information that could be further used against Iran. “It sounds like a hit…Counter-revolutionaries will take advantage of his murder,” said one post. ..."

http://rt.com/news/iran-assassination-report-cyber-662/

 

Maybe they retaliate via making revolutionaries ... elsewhere?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:59 | 4048548 SIOP
SIOP's picture

I used to do credit card processing software (First Data Corp) and the more I think about it, this "outage" looks just a tad suspicious to me. There is this thing called redundancy and fail over servers, this looks like a coordinated outage to me.

Just sayin.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:04 | 4048566 the grateful un...
the grateful unemployed's picture

like the power outage in last years superbowl. which team pulled the cord? me thinking obama because he wants the sheeple to see what happens when the repubs are winning.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:31 | 4048654 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

The NFL did, knowing people were leaving the game as the Ravens were routing the 49ers.

Now you have players in the game all but admitting this was the case.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 11:56 | 4050029 Ident 7777 economy
Ident 7777 economy's picture

 

 

" Like the power outage in last years superbowl. which team pulled the cord? "

 

Idiots. You guys didn't read the report, do you? Another believer in 'fairy dust and unicorns' ...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:07 | 4048582 jvetter713
jvetter713's picture

Yup.  Perhaps just another test to gauge reaction.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:29 | 4048832 TaperProof
TaperProof's picture

I'm an IT super nerd and usually there is a way to roll back any production changes... which is why I was saying I'm giving them until the end of the weekend then I call BS.  If there was a history of the people operating EBT being idiots and causing outages routinely i'd say otherwise.  ..but this is the first time i've heard of this happening.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:41 | 4048873 homiegot
homiegot's picture

Probably they forgot to configure something simple like ports. Wait for a real outage that lasts for days. Lock and load.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:16 | 4048972 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

SuperNerd, it sounds like they decided to test their backup systems - and they failed.  And now they can't roll back to production.  This is after all usually how it goes.  When NYSE went down during Sandy they didn't even *try* to run on their backups, LOL, they stayed shut for days instead.  Probably wise.  DR systems tests are nightmare events, but maybe even worse is never testing them.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:23 | 4048988 TaperProof
TaperProof's picture

What makes you think thats what happened?  

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 00:02 | 4049430 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

The article, and a tad of interpretation.

after a routine check by vendor Xerox Corp. resulted in a system failure

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:27 | 4049002 scrappy
scrappy's picture

I like AppAssure for BU and DR.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:26 | 4049289 spinone
spinone's picture

Agreed, there's a dev, test and prod environment.  No way a test of the system brings down the prod environment.  Hopefully this is a shot across the bow and not the real thing.  But it was intentional.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:58 | 4048551 the grateful un...
the grateful unemployed's picture

end this system and i guarantee food prices will go down, suppliers can't make money selling just to the 1% (or the 50% who pay cash) deflation will reek havoc with bernankyellens inflation targets.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:05 | 4048578 Robert of Ottawa
Robert of Ottawa's picture

EBT is morally wrong and subject to massive fraud. Give money away for doing nothing, and people will do nothing and take the money.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 17:59 | 4048554 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

So the idiots supporting Wal-Mart slave labor are the slaves taking EBT? It all makes sense now.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:00 | 4048559 GrinandBearit
GrinandBearit's picture

They are testing the sheeple to see how they react.

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:32 | 4048657 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

I think, at this point, they want to see when it finally goes off.

Pray they don't get an answer.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:03 | 4048561 natty light
natty light's picture

No money mo problems.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:03 | 4048562 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

I heard the soylent green trucks had trouble getting through on the decaying highways, best to cut down on the shoppers for now...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:04 | 4048567 SMC
SMC's picture

My sympathy and charity will start when they start to look like this:

http://www.barnhardt.biz/2013/10/11/history-rhymes-obamacare-website-and...

Otherwise, welcome to the Obummer's weight loss program.

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:10 | 4048598 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

How many times would you have to masturbate to starving people before your charity would start?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:34 | 4048849 gatorengineer
gatorengineer's picture

Bobby,  Nobody is stopping you from helping a brother out.  Please empty your bank account, buy the man a frappacino....  Its your right, nobody is challenging that.  However to take money from my pocket under the threat of imprisonment, sorry, that is wrong.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 22:15 | 4049272 Bobbyrib
Bobbyrib's picture

I'm not saying the whole system shouldn't die a horrible death, but to post pictures of starving people and say this is how dead you would have to be before I consider charity is a bit narcissistic IMHO. Also just because you are against paying into the horrible food stamp program, doesn't mean if they did away with it, you still wouldn't be taxed as much. How long has the government been running a deficit? Since before the douchebag in the White House took office? So even if they shrunk the food stamp program or got rid of it, you would still have to pay as much into the system to support some other form of government spending like the military industrial complex (either through direct tax or monetization).

Only a Neo-Con would want to see our military continue at its current size. We are already protected, we don't need military units that are designed to go into some country no one gives a shit about and "liberate" their people.After Iraq was proved to be a total fraud, I didn't take to the message boards and say the government is putting a gun to my head and telling me to fund it. I knew the truth. With or without my money, they are going to Iraq. Whether I agree with the war or not I have to fund it by paying the income tax.

That being said, when I was employed I did contribute to food pantries (especially when the downturn hit). By pretending that if only the food stamp program weren't in existence the private sector would make sure people wouldn't starve is ridiculous. Especially when you have people like the OP saying that he would wait until the point where you have to feed someone through an IV. How many people in that picture lived 5-10 years after that picture was taken? Probably not too many.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:04 | 4048568 W74
W74's picture

Sell WMT.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:03 | 4048571 alangreedspank
alangreedspank's picture

Ahhh so that's where this zombie outbreak in World War Z started, an EBT outage. I see...

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:26 | 4048644 css1971
css1971's picture

I'm glad someone gets it.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:03 | 4048572 Serfs_Up
Serfs_Up's picture

I thought "The Walking Dead" premiered it's new season tomorrow. Please don't tell me what happens (:

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:04 | 4048577 NoFool
NoFool's picture

Can't let a good disaster go to waste now can we? Guess there wasn't enough pain being caused (felt?) in the goobermint 'shutdown', eh?  Why don't the sheep realize the morons in Washington (and particuarly at 1600 Penn Ave) are the ones putting this into action? Never mind....I know the answer.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:05 | 4048579 yogibear
yogibear's picture

"NOBODIES EBT CARD IS GOING THRU AT WALMART"

Make it look like the cards are maxed out.

Lock it up, lock it up, hack and lock up the EBT.

This would be a challenge for those Chinese and Russian hackers.

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:05 | 4048584 the grateful un...
the grateful unemployed's picture

saturday night and i gotta spend the liquor money on groceries, no fuggin way

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:06 | 4048587 Robert of Ottawa
Robert of Ottawa's picture

EBTCOIN anyone?

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:08 | 4048588 dizzyfingers
dizzyfingers's picture

Gov wants to declare martial law? This is the excuse to do it. Ears to the ground.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:23 | 4048616 knowshitsurelock
knowshitsurelock's picture

Government shutdown (not really, but theater) of "non essential"  (get that?) workers (oxymoron) while the debt ceiling is in jeopardy of not being raised (ironic) with the truckers heading to DC to protest the draconian regulatory system, and food stamps are cut off?

All just coincidence I'm sure.  Now all we need is a stock market crash, even though the last week saw the market come roaring back to almost new highs on the notion that the morons in Washingtron are "TALKING"?

We live in a bizarro world.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:15 | 4048618 TheFulishBastid
TheFulishBastid's picture

Swipe, Swipe, I just love my EBT!

 

DAMN! Just found my new ringtone!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:15 | 4048619 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

So, when all of his previous dirty tricks have failed to provoke Flouride Nation, Bath House pulls the EBT system down.

"Dammit, Joe, I need this Dicktastership!"

"Show 'em boss!"

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:21 | 4048630 monad
monad's picture

Think. Which financial institution runs the EBT system nationwide? Who exactly pays them? Otherwise I'm enjoying this.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:25 | 4048642 wisehiney
Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:28 | 4048650 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

Never waste a good crisis!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:28 | 4048652 Racer
Racer's picture

A recent BBC Watchdog program showed that out of a £5.00 bottle of wine, only £0.20 went on the wine itself, more that 50% was tax. And to buy that £5.00 tax/20p wine you had to pay tax on your earnings so you could buy that tax/wine in the first place

So when you pour your next bottle, see red! They are fleecing you beyond belief!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 20:32 | 4049014 Arius
Arius's picture

EBT is the answer!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 21:13 | 4049129 kareninca
kareninca's picture

Fortunately it is very easy to make your own wine for next to nothing.  If you don't care if it's good, anyway.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:31 | 4048653 sethstorm
sethstorm's picture

Perhaps businesses could stop trying to circumvent the law and start looking for ways to hire (in good faith) the legitimate portion on these programs. 

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:38 | 4048672 Bobportlandor
Bobportlandor's picture

I bet someone tried to use their EBT card to purchase Obomers healthcare.

 

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:52 | 4048899 Emergency Ward
Emergency Ward's picture

^^^thread winner....

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:37 | 4048675 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

5:2

"walmart EBT" is the top YouBoob search phrase for Sunday 10/14/13.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 19:26 | 4048828 W74
W74's picture

Except that today is Saturday and the 14th is Monday.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 21:27 | 4049153 CPL
CPL's picture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-VO9u3o0fs

 

Group of guys go apeshit on a decline at a fast food place...the security videos are trickling in now.  Sort the youtube search of EBT by short and Upload date.

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 03:18 | 4049515 ItsEvolutionBaby
ItsEvolutionBaby's picture

that video is older than the internet, i seen that years ago

Sun, 10/13/2013 - 12:15 | 4050073 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

well i did mean today Sunday (takes a while for the news to flow).

thanks for the date correction, should've taken the bet, you would've won on a technicality :)

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:40 | 4048683 mrmister
mrmister's picture

This is a test of the National EBT system...This is only a test....cue music EBT EBT YO EBT.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:47 | 4048710 TheFulishBastid
TheFulishBastid's picture

Swipe, Swipe, I just love my EBT!

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:42 | 4048697 One of We
One of We's picture

You muppets weren't missing the park rangers enough so Barry pulled out his negotiating piece.  "Fund my Obamacare or I loose my army of moochers."

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:53 | 4048729 darkstar7646
darkstar7646's picture

I would not be so sarcastic there.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:56 | 4048739 Duc888
Duc888's picture

Phuck YEA!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

Sat, 10/12/2013 - 18:59 | 4048750 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

"....finally appearing in his bemedalled Field Marshall's uniform, Bath House unleashed his Free Shit Army to wreak havoc upon the Republic."

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