Week of August 12th, 2013

A small business owner in Cairo came to work today, despite danger in the area.

The Federal Trade Commission is fielding complaints from consumers who say they have been scammed with fake offers related to the rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

Michael Price, writer and co-executive producer of "The Simpsons," talks about his first job.

A new wine aiming to make a splash is labeled "for dummies." It's the antithesis of wine snobbery, but will it sell?

The death toll in Egypt keeps mounting. What’s it like trying to run a business in the midst of all the chaos? In the U.S., there’s confusion about Obamacare and how it will work. That’s giving scammers an opportunity. Why are more women taking unpaid internships? It’s a “major” issue. Our Weekly Wrappers break down the latest new from Wall Street. Also, this weekend, FOX launches two cable sports channels it hopes will bring down ESPN. Will it work? Host Kai Ryssdal checks in from Sioux Falls, S.D., as part of the latest in our “American Futures” series. And would you buy a wine with the label, “For dummies?”

Catching up on the business news of the week, from a reality check in the markets to Europe to the London Whale.

If Facebook isn't already making you feel depressed, don't pay attention to this story about its new VIP app.

I love to listen to your podcast while I work in the lab. I'm a doctoral student at MSU and my fiancée works as a technician in another lab. I have three years of school left, and I earn a meager stipend on an assistantship as I work towards my degree which includes health insurance coverage. My fiancée has a savings of about $20,000 that we have wondered what to do with. We will probably buy a house in the coming years, but we're not sure where we'll end up, depending on the position I'm able to get after my graduate work. What's the best thing to do with this money? He has no debt whatsoever, and I have about $37,000 in government student loans that I am making payments on while they are in in-school deferment right now. Is there a better investment to do with his savings than sitting in a low-interest savings account that we could still have access to somewhere in the next 5 years? Amber. East Lansing, MI

Let’s face it, there are money conversations that make you squirm — especially when they occur within your family. Like when your sister asks to borrow money. Or you have to approach your parents about selling their house to pay for retirement. Or when you have to discuss a budget with your partner. This week, a guide to talking about money with your family.

A look at Egypt as companies plan their responses to widespread civil unrest. Ashton Kutcher plays Apple CEO Steve Jobs in the first Hollywood film about the visionary Silicon Valley legend. It could also impact his side vocation as a tech company investor if he doesn't get it right.

Economist Diane Lim offers callers advice about family loans, inheritance, and helping your parents deal with their finances.

Ford will pay owners of the hybrid car after being sued for misleading customers.

One of the most difficult financial realities to face is the decision to delay having a family for people who want children. A pair of listeners share how they talk with their partners about the cost of children — and the choice to put off parenthood.

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Marketplace is partnering with The Atlantic, covering what the American economy looks like today, from smaller cities and towns across the country. First stop: Sioux Falls.

Sorting out your financial relationship with your parents can be more crucial than you think.

Listeners share their families' advice about money.

A look at Egypt, as companies plan their responses to widespread civil unrest

Here's a conversation that might prove tricky: a young adult who tells her parents that she plans on giving away her inheritance.

What are you doing tomorrow? Google already knows.

The closed dictatorship just released its very own smartphone with an Android operating system. Now all they need is some internet access.

ESPN has been king of the hill in TV sports for three decades. But now FOX Sports aims to do to ESPN what Fox News did to CNN.

The group supporting Bashar al-Assad hacked a service called Outbrain in order to target WaPo, CNN, and Time.

A run on India's currency presages trouble in other emerging markets.

An index of the 50 finest Ferraris and Porsches increased by 53 percent over the past two years.

Ashton Kutcher plays Apple CEO Steve Jobs in the first Hollywood film about the visionary Silicon Valley legend. It's a an opportunity to move Kutcher's career from TV to the big screen. But it could also impact his side vocation as a tech company investor if he doesn't get it right.

Today, India’s currency hit a record low, amid moves by the central bank there to limit the amount of cash that Indian business can send out of the country. One U.S. dollar is currently worth about 62 rupees, compared to 54 rupees back in the Spring. On Sunday, Disney will release “Infinity,” a video game for children. It’s a mix of new tech and some very familiar characters. The game could be an important test for the company, which has languished in the profitable video game industry. And, ESPN’s three decade rein as America’s sports network will face a serious challenge tomorrow for the first time in its history with the launch of FOX Sports 1 and 2.

The so-called Syrian Electronic Army can add a few notches to its hacking belt — one for The Washington Post, CNN, and Time magazine. Those are just the latest media organizations to be hacked by the group that supports Bashar al-Assad. This week brought us news that North Korea was getting into the smartphone business. State media announced that the country was producing the new Arirang “hand phone” with an Android operating system. The smartphone’s true origins are in dispute.

The Bureau of Reclamation declares the first water shortage for the Colorado River basin, which provides water for tens of millions of people and large agricultural regions.

What can one of America's favorite sitcoms teach us about family and money?

What happens when multicultural families have to deal with different financial upbringings?

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 36 percent of Americans who drink alcohol say that beer is their beverage of choice.

What happens to business when a country is in chaos?

This Saturday, NBC will start broadcasting English Premier League games, having paid $250 million for the privilege. But will it catch on with Americans?

Goldman Sachs says that the number of all-cash sales in the housing market has more than doubled over the last seven years. What does that say about the housing recovery?

A new report by Goldman Sachs reveals half of the homes bought last year were purchased with cash. What’s that say about America’s housing recovery? Walmart reported disappointing earnings today. So, what are shoppers buying these days anyway? Small businesses have reported higher optimism about the state of the economy. Two owners tell us why it’s the right time to open up for business. Plus, how is the international business community reacting to what’s going on in Egypt? And stories on NBC’s big bet on soccer, why beer consumption is on the decline, and how new domain names could change the way we use the Internet.

Fadi Chehade, CEO of ICANN — the organization in charge of assigning names and numbers to Internet addresses — talks about changes coming ahead for domain names and websites.

A sign of rising confidence? On Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, two new stores open a few months apart.

Bleacher Report co-founder finds out the hard way how to not launch a website targeted to women.

Zainab Khalifa, a jewelry store owner in Cairo, discusses how her business is faring and what her hopes are for the future of Egypt.

Foreclosures are down, but the housing market isn't quite moving yet. Retail earnings disappoint on slow economic recovery. And is long term care insurance worth it?

We can now add Microsoft to the list of companies trying to woo users by producing original TV shows.

The rate of foreclosures in July was down 32 percent from a year earlier, according to RealtyTrac. That sounds like good news, but it masks a stubborn reality.

New York City has plenty of things we want but maybe don't need, like artisan pickles and baby yoga. What's the latest? Classes for dogs to learn how to use iPads.

How the company translates tidal waves of real time data to make renewable energy plants more efficient by predicting the weather.

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Diane Swonk, chief economist with Mesirow Financial, discusses the latest retail earnings.

Long term care insurance is expensive and only getting more and more costly. So, how do you know if it's worth it for you?

While crimes like rape and assault are specific, cyberbullying can be hard to define.

It’s been a big week for activist investors — with Bill Ackman resigning from J.C. Penney’s board and Carl Icahn taking a big stake in Apple.

A look at business in Egypt during a state of emergency. Global retailers such as Walmart and H&M have promised to improve workers safety in Bangladesh, but conditions in many textile factories remain bad. And what’s with all the activist investors? 

One of the next big frontiers in the energy business is being smarter about collecting, storing and delivering energy. So let’s talk about wind farms in China, where IBM has been developing legions of small weather sensors. The sensors translate tidal waves of real time data to make renewable energy plants more efficient by predicting the weather. And New York City has plenty of things we want but maybe don’t need, like artisan pickles, baby yoga and now, classes for dogs to learn how to use iPads.

Milllions of textile workers still work in unsafe conditions four months after the Rana Plaza factory near Dhaka collapsed, causing 1,100 workers to lose their lives. There is much pressure for change, however.

The "African lion" was caught…barking.

Estee Lauder began marketing makeup to minorities in the U.S. during the recession, launching its M.A.C. stores. Now that line is the biggest selling makeup in several countries.

Britain's government supports fracking as a source of cheap gas and jobs but his plans are meeting stiff resistance in the countryside, where New Age protesters and rich conservative country-dwellers want none of it.

One brand of hummus is hoping to appeal to more male consumers across the U.S.

Thousands of farm workers marched today in favor of promptly legalizing undocumented immigrants. Some farmers, however, want to hold out for a better deal.

A new art exhibit in Los Angeles looks at the history of housing in America and how our views on the home have changed over time.

Today the military-backed government of Egypt declared a month-long state of emergency — as supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi continue to clash with security forces.

Faced with declining diet soda sales, Coca-Cola launches campaign to defend the safety of artificial sweetener.

Egypt has declared a state of emergency. What’s that mean for its economy? Trader Bruno Iksil, nicknamed the “London Whale,” is cooperating with the government in its case against JP Morgan. Who should be worried? In the U.K., tempers are flaring over the possibility of the government drilling fracking holes in the countryside. In California, farm workers are headed to the office of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to persuade him to advance immigration reform legislation in the House. Also, a look at what hummus wants to do with sports fan and why Coke is running an ad defending artificial sweeteners. Plus, a Los Angeles-based artist discusses her latest work, “Dream Home Resource Center.”

Thanks to cooperation from Bruno Iksil, a.k.a. the London Whale, the Justice Department's charged two people for allegedly hiding the size of JPMorgan's $6 billion trading loss.

It takes two quarters of economic shrinking to be called a recession, but just one quarter of growth to end one. What are some of the strategies businesses are using to respond to the fast-growing Latino market? And what are the challenges? And, quiz time: In which category does the U.S. rank first in the Global Competitiveness Report?

Advertising fraud now comes in video form.

The penalty for taking a dangerous risk that shakes financial markets is what, exactly?

In which category does the U.S. rank first in the Global Competitiveness Report?

The Grey Lady's website went down for more than an hour today, leading to some creative workarounds.

What does a company do when it's suddenly left without a CFO?

It takes two quarters of economic shrinking to be called a recession, but just one quarter of growth to end one.

After a long recession, there’s news today that the 17 countries that use the European single currency are growing after a year and a half of contraction. The collective growth rate, annualized, works out to be .3  percent — not much, but more than expected. It’s a key week for retailers. Macy’s reports profits this morning, with Wal-Mart and Kohl’s following tomorrow. But the company may offer guidance on the key back-to-school shopping period, which started very early this year. Retailers are borrowing a page from the end-of-year holiday shopping playbook. And, a look at a firm that finds companies temporary CFOs.

Parents want to make sure their children are safe when using the internet, but at what point does monitoring your kids become needless spying?

It's a big week for retailers, with several releasing earnings reports that will give a glimpse at the strength of the back-to-school shopping season.

A startup seeks to make your smartphone into your PC.

The electronics giant introduces a new curved screen model that allows viewers to watch two different programs on the same television at once.

As more viewers move to tablets, phones and computers, TV manufacturers are trying out all sorts of interesting new features to catch the interest of consumers. At a big event  in New York, Samsung unveiled a new set of high-end televisions. And, here’s an idea so simple it’s shocking it doesn’t already exist: We have these super powerful tiny computing devices that walk around with us. Why not make one so that turns into a proper desktop or laptop computer? One company wants to do that.

What are some of the strategies businesses are using to respond to the fast-growing Latino market? And what are the challenges?

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With classes starting soon, college students are heading back to campus. But you might not recognize where they are living. In fact, you might be jealous.

Big banks are in the cross hairs of the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission, as authorities push for tougher punishment for misbehavior.

Credit card delinquencies fall to their lowest level in nearly 20 years. One reason: people are paying their credit card bills before other bills.

A key consumer protection of the Affordable Care Act that limits out-of-pocket expenses that a consumer might have to pay for their own health care has been pushed back until 2015.

The Justice Department's anti-trust division and several attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit challenging the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good on the future of the energy industry.

Activists on both sides of the immigration debate use the Congressional recess to pressure lawmakers.

The Department of Justice has blocked the American-U.S. Airways merger on anti-trust grounds. Why now? Speaking of setbacks, a cap on out-of-pocket costs that’s part of the health care law has been delayed. Are Americans making more of an effort to make timely payments on their credit cards? The credit card delinquency rate is on the decline. Plus, the latest in our Conversations From the Corner Office series — the CEO of Duke Energy discusses energy diversification. Also, stories on American exceptionalism and luxury housing for college students.  

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to block the merger of the two major airlines. Here's what you need to read to catch up on the news.

People were, in fact, out shopping and buying during the mid-summer. Mexico is sitting on 87 billion barrels of untapped oil, yet production has dropped 25 percent in the last decade. And, tourism industry leaders say early school start dates cut into attendance and revenues at state fairs and other summer events.

Apple is expected to roll out new iPhones next month, and rumor has it a cheap one is on the way.

People were, in fact, out shopping and buying during the mid-summer.

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Mexico is sitting on 87 billion barrels of untapped oil, yet production has dropped 25 percent in the last decade.

NBC News just bought a new startup that aims to revolutionize news gathering.

A new book explores 'American exceptionalism' in a historical context.

"Smart homes" that can be unlocked by smart phones are around the corner, but so are hacks that will unlock the front door.

Three-hundred-year-old resentments over a British colony play into Spain's new restrictions on Gibraltar.

It's been a busy day for some activist investors.