Week of September 17th, 2012

This week, host Tess Vigeland and Jill Schlesinger of CBS’s MoneyWatch.com will be answering your burning personal finance questions. From 401(k)s to student loans to finding the right money manager and everything in between, you and your bank account won’t want to miss it.

Eduardo de Varona retired early from teaching, after 21 years. He says he was "fed up."

Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam of the Dinner Party fill you in on what stories flew under the radar for your weekend.

Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street and beyond. This week: between 47 percent of Americans and Romney's tax returns, are we still talking about the economy?

Snickers is predicted to overtake M&M's as the top-selling candy in the world this year. The mix of salty and sweet is proving a winning formula overseas.

What we can learn from American history about the presidential candidates' plans for the middle class.

Democratic super PACs gained ground against GOP counterparts and raised big bucks in August

If any of you are a little Appled out this Friday, we can sympathize. But at $658 billion, Apple is the biggest company by stock value — and now its shares are up more than 70 percent. So… is that a good thing? We’ve been hearing over the past few weeks from some of the thousands of teachers in this country who’ve been laid off. But what about the teachers that leave because they want to? Plus, we take a fish-eye view of what exactly makes a person middle class and, on its 50th birthday, we reflect on what about 2012 the Jetsons got right — and where they dropped the hoverball.

Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Homeland and Downton Abbey — what do they all have in common? All of them are on Sundays, all of them are up for Emmys — and none of them air on a major network.

The latest iPhone is released today. And the iPhone 5 is set to support something called 4G LTE. But what is that, anyway?

Well the big news from the tech world this morning is of course the launch of Apple's iPhone 5, which goes on sale around the world today. There's also some news about a device that is being taken off the shelves: Walmart will no longer sell the Amazon Kindle. European leaders are meeting in Rome today. The continent has been in a state of relative calm for a couple of weeks, so what are those troubled nation's talking about today? And new Census figures show good news and bad news for the state of California.

In the '90s, a federal program called "Moving to Opportunity" gave housing vouchers to very poor families in five of America's biggest cities. The idea was to move out of their present neighborhood, and presumably to somewhere better.

European regulators have cleared the way for Universal Music Group to buy EMI. The $1.9 billion deal would create a behemoth in the music world. It still has to be approved by U.S. regulators, though.

It's been 50 years since the Jetsons debuted on television, meaning we're halfway to the futuristic 2060 society the show envisioned. So, are we on the right track for jetpacks and hover-cars? …Maybe not.

The phone offers a bigger screen; it’s faster; and it’s the lightest smartphone in the world. What the iPhone no longer offers? Google Maps, which used to come pre-installed.

European leaders are meeting in Rome today. The continent has been in a state of relative calm for a couple of weeks, ever since the European Central Bank bought time for troubled nations with a plan to buy up unlimited amounts of government bonds.

You know those online display ads that seem to know where you’ve shopped on the web recently? Facebook had been making the most money on them, but new forecasts suggest Google will earn the most revenue from display ads this year. What does this clash of titans mean for mere mortals? For one, Google’s lead isn’t just coming from tech. There are real human beings hard at work selling those ads. Google has about 2,000 people working in New York. And about half of them are marketing folks.

Well the big news from the tech world this morning is of course the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5, which goes on sale around the world today. There’s also some news about a device that is being taken off the shelves: Walmart will no longer sell the Amazon Kindle. European leaders are meeting in Rome today. The continent has been in a state of relative calm for a couple of weeks, so what are those troubled nation’s talking about today? And new Census figures show good news and bad news for the state of California.

You know those online display ads that seem to know where you've shopped on the web recently? Facebook had been making the most money on them, but new forecasts suggest Google will earn the most revenue from display ads this year.

Walmart, following Target’s lead, will stop selling the Amazon Kindle. It’s recognition that the online retailer is a serious Walmart competitor.

Bank of America, bloated by national expansion and saddled with bad mortgages, is speeding up its plan to cut 30,000 jobs. The Wall Street Journal says the bank could reach its downsizing goal a year early.

States across the country are trying to make it easier to fire ineffective teachers by changing the tenure process. But some people are still wondering… what does K-12 tenure mean?

Frank Newport of Gallup drops by to school us on just what factors truly effect how we vote for the president. Spoiler alert: gaffes like Romney's "47 percent" aren't one of them.

The secret to CBS' multi-decade success? One word: syndication. And all you do it take a spoonful after every meal. (It's so tasty too. It's just like candy.)

Fresno, California is one of the nation's poorest regions. Just three hours away, San Jose is one of the richest.

The museum where the Space Shuttle Endeavour will retire is banking on it being a big attraction.

Benetton — the Italian clothing company that courts controversy in its advertising — is making waves again today with its latest campaign. But this time, perhaps, for the wrong reasons: critics say it’s boring.

Kids who moved back in with Mom and Dad now finally have the means to leave home, says newly-released Census data.

More people are texing these days, and that's put our self-confessed "text resisting" commentator Rob Walker in a socially tricky spot.

News today from the U.S. Census had some possibly hopeful signs for the U.S. economy, including the fact that after years curled up in their parents’ dens America’s young adults are finally crawling out into the light (and into employment). Plus, what did America really think of Romney’s 47 percent comment? Frank Newport and the Gallup poll are here to help us parse public opinion. And commentator Scott Walker explores that ancient dilemma in the age of the cell phone: to text… or not to text?

The U.S. seafood catch hit a 17-year high last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has just come out with its annual report. When we think of foods that are safe to eat, rice is certainly up there. But Consumer Reports has just recommended that we limit our rice consumption. That's after tests found arsenic in over 60 rice products. And this week, Russian state media announced the existence of a 62-mile-wide diamond deposit in Eastern Siberia. But the big players in the diamond business aren't all that impressed.

Americans' faith in the news media has hit an all-time low in the history of Gallup polling.

Environmental writer Tim De Chant says gauging income inequality is as simple as looking at a neighborhood's trees.

Shipping across the ice-free Arctic appears closer than ever. The new route will save fuel, but bring emissions and soot directly to the Arctic — possibly accelerating the ice melt.

Researchers have found that while moving out of poorer neighborhoods improves a person's health and general happiness, moving to a better-off region did not improve families' income.

Conservative nonprofit Let Freedom Ring attacks Obama for providing military aid to countries that use child soldiers.

Last week claims for unemployment were down, but just a bit, by about 3,000.

Bank of America is accelerating plans to cut costs by laying off workers. According to the Wall Street Journal, the bank has set a target of cutting 16,000 jobs by the end of this year — about 6 percent of the bank's workforce.

Mitt Romney and President Obama will be crisscrossing the state of Florida today. In recent weeks, one issue is becoming central to the campaign: Whether the government is over-regulating business.

There is a huge strike going on this morning in India, as people protest against the government's decision to allow mega retailers like Walmart and Tesco into the country.

North Carolina is taking a hard line against kids who bully teachers online.  There’s a new law with fines up to $1000 for students putting up a fake Facebook site about the teacher, no tweeting private or sexual info about the teacher or other school employees or doctoring photos. Plus, here’s the definition of a hot ticket: Every month New York Tech Meetup sells out in just four minutes…and the theater’s a big one at NYU. Venture capitalists are here along with engineers,  designers, and start ups both theoretical and already online.

The U.S. seafood catch hit a 17-year high last year. All regions of the country are showing increases. That's according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has just come out with its annual report.

The U.S. seafood catch hit a 17-year high last year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA, which has just come out with its annual report. When we think of foods that are safe to eat, rice is certainly up there. But Consumer Reports has just recommended that we limit our rice consumption. That’s after tests found arsenic in over 60 rice products. And this week, Russian state media announced the existence of a 62-mile-wide diamond deposit in Eastern Siberia. But the big players in the diamond business aren’t all that impressed.

A new report from the U.S Census Bureau shows that since 2010, the gap between rich and poor is widening in more states.

You can measure an area's income inequality in pay stubs, Census numbers and… its tree cover? Environmental writer Tim De Chant argues that sometimes you can't see a neighborhood's wealth for the trees.

North Carolina is taking a hard line against kids who bully teachers online. And every month New York Tech Meetup sells out in just four minutes…and the theater's a big one at NYU. Venture capitalists are here along with engineers, designers, and start ups both theoretical and already online.

Today the U.S. government gives us a list of the most-dangerous jobs. What are the safest?

Analyst says recently declassified Russian diamond field poses little threat to prices.

Between disgruntled union workers and thousands of layoffs, yet more American Airlines flights are being cancelled or delayed. Should travelers avoid the bankrupt carrier?

When the moon is in the seventh house, what’s a Wall Street trader to do? Pay some $300 for a financial astrology newsletter — to go with stock charts.

Growlers — big, refillable beer bottles — are something of a way of life for beer enthusiasts in places like Oregon. Now brewers are asking other states to loosen their growler laws.

September 19, 1982 marks the first day someone typed a colon, a dash and a right parentheses and said: "Hey, look at what this looks like sideways."

The seven days that schools were closed in Chicago felt more like an eternity to parents who had to find childcare during the teacher strike. Kai checks in with Sheila Coleman, whose 12-year-old daughter was actually happy to return to school Wednesday.

Poker is a game of skill, not luck. But that won't stop you from losing a lot of money. Freakonomics explores the hidden side of poker in the casino and online.

In case you haven’t heard, a little company known AEG was just put up for sale — and for a few billion in loose change, it can be yours. We look at who’s stepping up to the auction block. Plus, American Airlines is hitting some rough turbulence as it makes its way through bankruptcy reorganization. The company’s sending layoff notices to more than 11,000 workers, and union pilots are up in arms over possible union concessions. What does that mean for you? A crazy jump in late and canceled flights. Meanwhile, across the Pacific, Rob Schmitz takes a look at what China’s rural poor think about the country’s coming elections and, back at home, Freakonomic’s Steven Levitt breaks down when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em during online poker.

Arsenic occurs naturally in soil, but also comes from manure and pesticides. Rice plants absorb higher levels of arsenic than other crops.

You may not be familiar with AEG, but it's quite likely you've watched one of its teams or attended a concert in one of its arenas. Now, the private company is for sale.

Crossroads GPS and American Crossroads begin $10 million ad campaign that makes them active at all levels of the national election

About 350,000 students in Chicago will be back in the classroom this morning. The oil and gas company Anschutz is planning to sell its sports and entertainment operation called AEG, which is about the biggest name in Los Angeles sports, with the possible exception of Kobe Bryant. AEG could fetch several billion dollars. And the National Association of Home Builders says builder sentiment is at the highest level in six years — so what if you want to get into the housing market right now?

If you're not intimately familiar with the term "mobile payments," get ready to start hearing it a lot more. Basically, it means "paying for something with a smartphone." Right now some of the big players are Google and a company called Square. But today there's news Groupon is getting in on it.

It's back to school today in Chicago. In the next couple of weeks, teachers will vote on the tentative contract deal reached between the union, and negotiators for the school district and Mayor Rahm Emmanuel.

Slow but steady might be the best way to describe the housing market right now. Groundbreaking on new home construction rose 2.3 percent last month, while homebuilder confidence jumped to a six-year high

Russia is accusing the United States this morning of using its aid mission in Moscow to interfere with Russian politics.

The latest owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers have caught the Hollywood bug. After leading the record $2.15 billion purchase of the Dodger baseball team, Guggenheim Partners could soon be placing a bid on Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Staples Center and L.A. Live.

Where is the New York tech scene, and what does it feel like? One way to find out is to take a tour. You could your tour on Wall Street, home of all the big financial firms. Or, you could begin it in the lobby of the swanky Ace Hotel. The long tables are always crowded with young, hip New Yorkers with laptops, headphones and four-dollar coffees. Then, continue on to a very different slice of the New York tech scene, found at 10 Jay Street, in an office building in Brooklyn overlooking the water.

About 350,000 students in Chicago will be back in the classroom this morning. After Chicago public school teachers voted to suspend their seven day strike. The oil and gas company Anschutz is planning to sell its sports and entertainment operation called AEG, which is about the biggest name in Los Angeles sports, with the possible exception of Kobe Bryant. AEG could fetch several billion dollars. And the National Association of Home Builders says builder sentiment is at the highest level in six years — so what if you want to get into the housing market right now?

A woman living in Loudon County, Va., rides an economic roller coaster.

The Chicago teachers union voted to end their strike yesterday, but repairing relations will take time.

As China prepares for the first leadership transition in a decade, Marketplace's Rob Schmitz talks to passengers on China's slowest and fastest trains to find out whether they think country is on the right track.

This is a Marketplace.org Reader

Where is the New York tech scene, and what does it feel like? One way to find out is to take a tour.

This is a Marketplace.org Reader

The teacher's union in Chicago has decided to suspend the strike that's kept 350,000 kids out of school the past seven days.

Mark Fields is one of several Ford executives cruising through American cities today in a 2013 Ford Fusion hybrid. He takes Kai for a spin to talk about the youth market, social media, and Ford's future.

Mitt Romney wasn't wrong when he said almost half of Americans don't pay federal income taxes. Some of those people are retired, some are poor. Another big reason why some don't pay? Tax cuts.

Lower court must prove that the law does not disenfranchise poor and minority voters — or it will be struck down

Alabama joins a slew of lawmakers who are ambivalent about taking funds from the Fed to cover the millions more people who will become eligible for Medicaid under Obamacare.

Mitt Romney said almost half of Americans don’t pay federal income taxes. We look at the numbers behind his remarks. Plus, under health care reform, Medicaid stands to get a whole lot bigger when millions of poor people are added to the docket. So when the feds offer states money to cover the expansion, taking it seems like a no-brainer, right? Not so much. We tell you why at least five governors are saying thanks, but no thanks. We explore why oil prices plummeted yesterday and a Ford executive talks about marketing cars to today’s youth.

A fracking-fueled job boom has erupted in parts of the U.S. and wages of gas workers have increased. But in New York fracking is banned. That hasn’t stopped an upstate New York school from offering training courses for work in gas fields, because many expect Gov. Andrew Cuomo to lift the ban.

From levies on utilities to purchases, the tax man is with us every step of our day.

American Action Network and Congressional Leadership Fund launch ads in four states with more to come

Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans pay no income taxes. What are the numbers behind that comment? We take a look at what's going on with oil prices, why sales of Apple's iPhone 5 may help shipping companies, and explore the reasons behind the rise in transit ridership. Plus, researchers have found that there are more jobs than expected that pay between $35,000 and $72,000 without a university degree.

Mid-day yesterday oil prices dropped three dollars in about a minute — and they have kept falling ever since.

As China prepares for its first leadership transition in a decade, Marketplace's Rob Schmitz talks to passengers on China's slowest and fastest trains to find out whether they think country is on the right track.

Mitt Romney is standing by his words from a private fundraiser that were caught on videotape. In the video, Romney says 47 percent of the country pay no income tax and are therefore predisposed to vote for President Obama.

Apple says it received two million orders for the iPhone 5 in the first 24 hours of availability. That is good news of course for Apple. It's also good news for shipping companies like Fed Ex.

One fresh headline is declaring: “The personal computer is dead.” Might be a bit of an overstatement — but the evidence is that now more memory chips are going into mobile devices than are going into desktops or laptops. The real world lessons here for kids who want to make tech a career? Bedrock assumptions are smashed every couple of years, and we have no idea what the computers of the future will look like. But they can prepare.

Federal regulators are looking into something strange that happened yesterday in the oil markets: Prices plunged more than $3 a barrel in less than a minute.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says 47 percent of Americans pay no net income tax — ergo, they are predisposed to vote for President Obama. We break down the numbers.

You’re going to hear a lot today about a videotape that has emerged from a Mitt Romney fundraiser. It features Mitt Romney describing 47 percent  of the country as people who pay no income tax and can’t be convinced not to vote for President Obama. Federal regulators are looking into something strange that happened yesterday in the oil markets. Prices plunged more than $3 a barrel in less than a minute. And the federal farm bill expires at the end of this month. It appears that rather than passing a new one right now, Congress will extend the current law for a few months until after the election. That means lawmakers will put off decisions, like whether to replace direct subsidies for farmers with new forms of support.

If you commute to work this morning, how are you getting there? The American Public Transportation Association says lots more of us are taking the bus or the train, according to its latest transit ridership report.

Last year, Harvard graduates made less money per year than alumni from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology — which costs about four times less than Harvard to attend.

Researchers find more jobs than expected that pay between $35,000 and $72,000 without a university degree.

An oil well may seem pretty useless when the light sweet crude stops flowing. In Texas, researchers and entrepreneurs see a chance to recycle old wells and create geothermal power.