Week of December 31st, 2012

A trillion dollar coin? It’s legal for the Treasury to mint and it could resolve the debt ceiling debate. But don’t bet your paper money on it.

Ping Fu talks about her rise from prisoner in communist China to CEO of tech company Geomagic.

Imagine working and not getting paid for it. It's more common than you might think. Wage theft happens when companies cheat workers out of earned income. Labor advocate Kim Bobo talks about the pervasiveness of this problem and how to fight it.

Sara Horowitz, founder of the Freelancers Union and author of "The Freelancer's Bible," shares tips and tricks for getting work, getting by and budgeting on an independent contractor's salary.

This week many of us are doing a double-take at our post-fiscal cliff paychecks. What the payroll tax hike means for working Americans. Also, more people are bucking the tradition of working a full- time job. Freelancing has become the new normal. We’ve got some tips and advice for those of you braving the freelancing world. And some brands thrive on exclusivity. But limiting supply doesn’t always create a demand.

No Child Left Behind, the Bush-era education law, has been due for a rewrite since 2007.

The number of guns owned by Americans is rising, even though the percentage of people who own guns is falling. Turning gun owners into gun collectors is part of the business.

The long-awaited FDA rules focus on preventing outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, rather than tracking after the fact how they occurred.

The U.S. economy adds 155,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate remains steady at 7.8 percent.

The FDA has released their new rules for food safety. Some people are promoting the idea of minting a trillion-dollar coin to prevent hitting the debt ceiling. The Wealthy & Poverty asks people who make $250,000 or more if they consider themselves rich. Freelance workers are looking more and more attractive to companies that want to save money. Author and Geomagic CEO Ping Fu talks about her youth in communist China and her adulthood as a tech entrepreneur. And David Gura reports the number of guns owned by Americans is rising, even though the percentage of people who own guns is falling.

The tax code may put high earners in the top bracket, but they don't always agree that they are rich.

As the creative economy moves toward contract work, headhunters are evolving their approach to business, as well.

Americans are already being greeted with smaller paychecks thanks to new tax rates. How taxpayers at different income levels will br affected.

A new study from New York University says the groups of consumers who feel the most deprived are also those most swayed by their emotions.

What does the president's top economist on the labor market have to say about today's jobs report? What's next for Google after an antitrust victory. Colorado and Washington, get ready to unleash the pot business. And the great Bicholim war of 1640 — turns out it never happened.

We work day after day, year after year, to get ready for a future when we hope we won't have to work. But retirement isn't quite as simple as it used to be, says commentator Chris Farrell.

Colorado and Washington are magnets for new businesses, after voting to legalize recreational marijuana.

Alan Krueger, chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, weighs in on the government's December jobs report

Jumbo mortgages, too large to be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, were hard to come by after the financial crisis. But in expensive real-estate markets like San Francisco, they're coming back.

The Federal Trade Commission has decided that Google is not being anti-competitive when it promotes its own services in search results.

Generation X is aging into a sweet spot for advertisers. The 35- to 50-year-old crowd is ready to buy cars, homes and other big-ticket items. How will established brands appeal to the notoriously cynical, frugal generation?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that unemployment has stayed steady at 7.8 percent, and the economy added 155,000 jobs last month.

Switzerland's oldest bank, Wegelin and Company, has plead guilty to helping wealthy Americans evade taxes.

When it comes to economic growth, is the U.S. more like China or like Europe?

The Consumer Electronics Show is drawing more non-tech companies.

Private payroll data points to an encouraging trend in service-related jobs that are key to economic growth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its December jobs report today, and economists are modestly optimistic. The world’s biggest Consumer Electronics Show kicks off this weekend in Las Vegas, and it’ll be the first one in 15-years where Microsoft has no presence whatsoever. And the Vatican goes cash-only.  

There’s the government’s official employment and unemployment report today, but what about prospects for the kind of jobs you do online? Elance, a company that uses the web to fix up freelancers with jobs has a 2013 forecast with a bold prediction: One out of four college students in this new year will earn money through online jobs. If we said there’s a machine that makes music by itself, you’d be unimpressed. But what if there’s a robot that will improvise music along with you?

Elance, a company that uses the web to fix up freelancers, forecasts that one out of four college students in 2013 will earn money through online jobs. Researchers at Georgie Tech are working to create a robot that will improvise music along with humans.

How can I get my aging parents to talk openly about their financial situation? Is it a smart move to retire overseas? Are there any downsides to credit cards that help pay down my student loan debt? LA Times consumer columnist answers listeners' letters.

According to urban planner Jeff Speck, designing cities for cars makes cities "crappy," but making a city walkable is no easy task.

Al Jazeera buys Current TV but will American audiences tune in?

After a 19-month investigation, the Federal Trade Commission says it found no evidence Google violated anti-trust laws. The company has agreed to license essential patents for rivals' products.

The Federal Trade Commission announced that Google has agreed to allow competitors access to patents on technologies needed to make devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets. Family Dollar lowered its profit outlook for this year. Your disposed Christmas tree may be part of a new sand dune or riverbed. Jeff Speck talks about his new book “Walkable City,” which takes a look at Americans’ desire for cities where you can get around without cars. And Scott Tong reviews the movie “Promised Land,” which is about a drilling company that wants to use hydraulic fracturing in a rural Pennsylvania town.

Family Dollar fared well during the recession. But despite the rebound and recent tax deal, the discount chain lowers its profit outlook for 2013.

"Promised Land," opening nationally in theaters, provides a nuanced account of fracking in rural Pennsylvania — up to a point.

There are all sorts of ways to recycle Christmas trees: Mulch. Sand dune retainers. Even crappie fishermen get in on it.

At the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, TV-makers are expected to unveil technologically enhanced sets. But is the TV of the future here?

New data on auto sales shows bumper year for big three carmarkers. The cost delaying federal Superstorm Sandy relief. Al Jazeera is buying Current TV. And a company known for canned meat is spreading its wings.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all saw significant gains in U.S. sales during 2012.

When asked if the next year will be one of prosperity or difficulty, 65 percent of those surveyed see difficulty in their future.

The company best known for canned and deli meats is taking Skippy off the hands of the huge food conglomerate Unilever for a cool $700 million.

Last year saw the fewest job cuts since 1997 according to a report this morning from the job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

People from all backgrounds weigh in on what makes a person wealthy.

A $60 billion Sandy relief package passed the Senate in December, but House leadership reneged on its pledge to pass the bill before the end of the session.

Professional shutterbugs who take pictures of celebrities see no need for new laws following death of photographer.

As you look back at 2012, who did you most admire? Was it an Olympian? A musician? A business leader?

Talking to the mom who gave her teenage son an 18-point contract along with his new iPhone, with guidelines like 'don't use it to deceive others.'

Marketplace Economics Correspondent Chris Farrell says there is one bright economic spot to look forward to in the coming year: the housing market.

Estimates are Al Jazeera will pay $500 million for Current. In exchange, Al Jazeera will get access to about 40 million homes in the U.S.

Along with death and taxes, finding ways to avoid taxes is a fact of life. Can wealthy taxpayers blunt the impact of the first rate increase in years? People from all backgrounds weigh in on what makes a person wealthy. And what’s ahead for the housing market in 2013?

We check in with a mother in Massachusetts who drew up an 18-point contract listing the rules her 13-year-old son would have to live by if he got a nice new phone. Stuff like: put it away in public, and don’t use it to lie or cheat. And digital photography has been, to say the very least, a challenge for the first instant photo company, Polaroid. Now, the company is testing out a new business model: Physical stores where you go to get prints of the digital photos on your smart phone, while you wait.

Be patient, be persistent, keep your receipts. And you might just have many happy returns.

Steve Presser, proprietor of Big Fun toy store in Cleveland, says although the deal to avert the fiscal cliff eases uncertainty among consumers, the payroll tax increase raises a whole other list of issues.

Planning your next freelancing gig? Before you settle on a rate, take a look at these fee-setting strategies.

The fiscal cliff has been averted, but the payroll tax cut still expired — how might this affect your paycheck? As people begin to work on their New Year’s resolutions, we explore the “gym-conomy.” By one estimate, Hispanic consumers contribute more than a trillion dollars to our economy, with Latina shoppers being the most savvy about their buying. Sarah Gardner talks to the Atlantic’s Jesse Eisinger about his behind-the-scenes article on banking in America. And in the latest “BURN: An Energy Journal” piece, Alex Chadwick looks at what life’s like for the scientist trying to invent a whole new type of battery.

A recent survey finds that Latina shoppers work harder to find deals and use more technology than other consumers.

The short-term stimulus plan had pumped billions into the economy.

The biggest barrier to renewable energy such as solar and wind is storing the electricity it generates. In a university laboratory, a scientist painstakingly re-imagines the battery.

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Health club business soars in January as dieters sign up to make good on their New Year’s resolutions. But most don’t keep up their reps.

After the financial crisis, banks are bigger and are complying with more regulation. That means many more pages in their annual reports, but look closely, and the metrics hide straightforward information about the banks' health.

Your next paycheck could be a bit of a shocker, and we'll tell you why. In corporate news, Avis is buying Zipcar. And is the company Herbalife nothing more than a giant pyramid scheme? Some people think so.

Reading the fine print of the fiscal cliff legislation passed on Jan. 1.

Avis Budget Group, one of the largest car-rental companies, will merge its traditional car rental services with Zipcar's up-start model.

The 2 percent payroll tax rise means that a person who earns $50,000 a year will pay $1,000 more in taxes.

Demand for animal drugs is rising amongst pet owners and livestock and poultry farmers.

European stocks scored gains in early trading after the United States reached a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, but will the optimism last?

Production company Prospect Park considers putting the popular '70s soap opera online.

Anheuser-Busch InBev's purchase of Grupo Modelo would make it an even bigger player in the U.S. beer market.

A recent piece by New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman called “Robots and Robber Barons” took a look at a question we are familiar with: Are robots eating our jobs? Krugman stops by to share his take on automation, technological change, and the future of the work and wages in America. 

There’s finally a fiscal cliff deal in Washington. As you’ve probably heard, income taxes will go up on individuals making over $400,000 a year, but chances are taxes will go up even for those who aren’t rich. A proposed beer merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev and Grupo Modelo could hurt competition in the United States. And, the soap opera “All My Children” might find a second life — online.

Economist Paul Krugman talks about a new direction in 'the technology universe' that has taken shape over the last decade.

After a day of wrangling, the House voted to approve a fiscal cliff deal late Tuesday night. What was the reason behind all the gridlock?

We asked New Yorkers what resolutions they think members of Congress should make for 2013.

Saving more? Not buying your daily latte? Big or small, we want to know your financial New Year's resolutions.

It’s a new year, but there’s still drama surrounding the old fiscal cliff. What’s holding up a deal in the House? And how does Britain feel about the entire ordeal? Plus, some advice for our Congress from fed-up New Yorkers and austerity-worn Greeks. With a new year comes new resolutions. If your pledge was to get in shape, take a listen to our story on personal trainers. We also explore a plan to protect Manhattan from flooding and Oscar voting. Here’s to a great 2013!

British worry that Americans will just keep printing money, rather than focus on our own austerity measures.

Plenty of Americans will resolve to get in shape with the help of a personal trainer in 2013. But the personal training field is unregulated, and clients may not always know what they're getting.

We've got some good analysis on this evolving deal and some informed prognoses on where we go from here, from a couple of heavy-hitting economists of both parties. Then we'll pivot to another controversial topic: Obamacare… And see how one of the most progressive states is doing at setting up its insurance exchange.

Fiscal cliff drama is playing out on American airwaves, but are Europeans paying attention? And what advice can the cash-strapped nations of Greece and Spain offer American lawmakers?

Motion picture academy gives voters more time to navigate new electronic system.

The fiscal cliff was hardly the only important deadline today in Washington. Today's the day for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to tell states whether their plans for health insurance exchanges pass muster.

The Senate deal permanently raises income taxes for individuals making more than $400,000 a year. It delays — for just two months — most of those automatic spending cuts that were set to kick in. And it includes a number of other provisions to stave off the most pressing aspects of the fiscal cliff.

Instead of a  new digital trend for this New Year, how about getting rid of an old one before it hurts more people? There’s an argument that the era of anonymously creeping around the internet being a jerk without consequence is coming to an end. And as we take stock of our lives to start a new year, here’s an unsettling question. What if all that’s left of us when we’re gone is what we did online?

The Senate rang in the New Year around 2 a.m. by pushing through a fiscal cliff compromise. The IRS is one of the agencies most affected by the uncertainty. Until a final deal is closed, it looks like the 2013 tax season could be a tumultuous one. There are rumors the chip-maker Intel could roll out a TV set-top box next week, at the Consumer Electronics Show. This would be Intel’s second run at this kind of thing — so why is it so intent on getting its hardware into your living room?

Educators continue to experiment — trying to find formats that engage kids and help prep the workforce of the future. One new private school near Minneapolis offers a particularly "Minnesota"-style approach.

After superstorm Sandy, there were several proposals about how to protect Manhattan from devastating floods in the future. One plan calls for placing water-proof vaults under the sidewalk.

Two decades after its passage, the debate continues over the trade pact among the US, Mexico and Canada.

The ceiling on FHA loans in high-cost areas will fall by about $100,000.

CAPTCHAs are designed to prevent fraud on many websites.

Intel has been inside computers for years. Now the rumors are spreading that the chip maker is about to announce a major move into TV.

Editor of Mashable Lance Ulanoff declares the end of online anonymous bullying, and imagining a digital archive of all our internet activity.

The IRS faces a ton of decisions, changes and updates in the fiscal cliff deals. But until there is a deal, the federal agency is as uncertain about the future as everyone else.

Author Philip Roth's recent tweets were fake, but some celebrity spoofs have turned into profitable ventures.

Richard Crowe, an unemployed former steelworker living in Ohio, talks about what it's been like searching for a job and what he would do when unemployment benefits expire tomorrow.

The fiscal cliff deadline is tonight — we go over what will and will not happen if a deal isn’t reached by midnight. We look at whether earmarks are to blame. Sarah Gardner talks to an unemployed steelworker about what happens to him if unemployment benefits expire on Jan. 1st. The Pentagon is preparing to notify its entire civilian workforce about furloughs they will encounter if the U.S. goes over the fiscal cliff. Meanwhile, getting consumers to “go green” has proven harder than marketers anticipated. And FEMA is still trying to figure out which damaged or destroyed properties to buy from Hurricane Irene.

Defense contractors are already cutting back as the war in Afghanistan winds down.

'Bridges to Nowhere' and other pork-barrel spending used to be the grease for deal-making in Congress.