Week of January 27th, 2014

This weekend on Marketplace Money, host Carmen Wong explores the experience of being out of work and knowing your last unemployment benefits payment is on the way. Marketplace reporter Mitchell Hartman joins her to talk about what you can do to prepare – financially and mentally – for more hard times. Also, are women more reluctant to talk about their accomplishments in the workplace? Guests Jessi Smith, a psychologist at Montana State University, and author Peggy Klaus discuss how gender stereotypes affect the earning potential of women when it comes to tooting their own horns on the job. Plus, we look at who’s chipping in to the big pot of money being gambled on the Super Bowl and science writer Mary Roach talks about how her family influenced her financial habits.

Questions on wills, retirement, 401ks, capital gains all tackled.

Some advice to Susi, a 54-year-old professional in Connecticut, who is weighing retiring early to spend more time with her older, already retired fiancée.

In the latest in a series about jobs people have that other people hate, an NFL referee explains why death threats are often part of the job.

More than 70 business groups have formed a coalition to confront the Obama administration’s energy regulation process at every step

Catherine Rampell and Felix Salmon join Kai Ryssdal to bid farewell to Ben Bernanke, analyze Argentina, and argue about calculus

What time is the Super Bowl? (The question is asked more frequently than you'd think).

Amazon  is wrestling with the cost of its Prime program. The membership club brings in lots of loyal customers, but also costs it lost of money. Plus, more than 70 business groups have formed a coalition to confront the Obama administration’s energy regulation process at every step. They want to protect their interests as the EPA regulates coal-plant emissions and then, they expect, moves on to other fossil fuels. Finally: Who has not returned to home ownership?  If housing is a key economic driver Rents are high, and with wages flat, equity growth is a way to make money.  How does the trend affect the economy,

Home ownership hits its lowest level since 1995. Home equity has in the past served as a retirement savings plan for many Americans

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A recent NAACP report suggests 'yes'

There’s a lot of chatter out there about who will be named as Microsoft’s next CEO. We wondered what sort of advice people — not just those who know the Fed but regular folks, too — might have for Janet Yellen, as she becomes the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve. And, this weekend's game is a big opportunity for the pro-pot faction.

Some helpful advice for first steps when your monthly income slows.

How closely have you been following the week in tech news? Take the quiz and put your knowledge to the test.

Venture capitalist Jalak Jobanputra says Silicon Valley is in a bubble, but that those inflated company values are accurate.

You could look to social psychology to examine why the Super Bowl brings out the inner gambler in so many.

Protesters in Thailand have been taking over polling stations ahead of Sunday's elections.

Both teams in Sunday’s game are from states where marijuana is legal.

There’s a lot of chatter out there about who will be named as Microsoft’s next CEO. And there’s questions swirling about whether Bill Gates will step down as board chair.

We wondered what sort of advice people — not just those who know the Fed but regular folks, too — might have for Janet Yellen, as she becomes the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.

Plus, 10 simple reasons to file your taxes early.

Police presence is ramping up before disputed elections in Thailand on Sunday. The government wants to go to the polls anyway despite huge anti-government protests that have been going on since November, while protesters have been taking over polling stations. The unrest is rippling through Thailand’s economy, especially tourism — a big moneymaker for the country. Tax season is upon us. Today is the first day you can file, electronically, or on paper. But is anyone out there eager to fill out all that paperwork? We wanted to know who files first, and why? And, when people talk about Silicon Valley or venture capitalism a question that gets raised a lot is “are we in a bubble”? Traditionally, that means investors are paying more for a company than it’s intrinsically worth. One VC says we’re in a bubble, but those crazy prices are worth it.

It might be number 48, but this weekend’s football game is being called the first mass transit Super Bowl. The game will not be played in downtown Manhattan, but in East Rutherford, New Jersey. And with a Met Life stadium capacity of about 82,000 a lot of technology is being leveraged to actually get the fans to the game via public transportation.

Currency traders are suspected of using a little known number called the "4 p.m. Fix" to manipulate one of the world's largest markets.

A financial incentive to win, courtesy of the Garden State

Commentator Beth Teitell feels for parents stuck at home on snow days

The leader of one of Britain's fastest growing political parties has sparked some outrage

The company looks a lot better to investors than it did a year ago

Big oil companies have to go farther and use expensive, new technology to tap oil deposits

The American economy grew 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter, despite a government shutdown and despite a disappointing holiday shopping season. Businesses are buying equipment, but what are consumers spending our money on? Hint: It’s not household goods, and it’s not cars. It’s not Exxon, either: The company just announced its fourth quarter earnings dropped 16 percent, on lower production and weaker refining margins. Finally, a bona fide high: Facebook stock is up substantially today, thanks to some positive sales news and profit projections. The company looks a lot different to investors than it did a year ago.

Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman is retiring after 20 terms.

Investors are pulling out of emerging markets, and putting their money into older markets. How much does the Fed have to do with it? A proposal to waive tuition at public universities, but grads will have to "pay it forward." And, Cuba looks for foreign investment.

The NHL has converted Yankee Stadium to a hockey arena.

The firm LRN has been surveying companies to see how free they are.

The $957 million overhaul of the port of Mariel, in west Havana, is being financed by Brazil, and is in the heart of a special economic development zone.

Some 3 million Americans have bought health insurance through a state or federal exchanges. According to a new report, contrary to many initial concerns, consumers might actually be getting a pretty good deal.

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt's government is in peril and Danes are protesting after a deal for Goldman Sachs to acquire a state-owned energy company.

A proposal to waive tuition at public universities, but grads will have to "pay it forward."

Regulators are starting to take a closer look at the industry.

Things aren’t looking so great for Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Socialists have quit her three-party coalition government, and Danes are protesting a bid by Goldman Sachs to take over a state-owned utility in Denmark. JPMorgan wants a buyer for its commodity business. The deal could be worth around $2 billion for the bank. Commodities have been profitable for banks in the past, but now several are changing course. And, think about what freedom means to you at work. If you’ve got an old fashioned boss, does it seem like a foreign concept? Or do you want more autonomy, more independence? The firm LRN has been surveying companies to see how free they are.  

All this week, Marketplace Tech has been talking about sports and technology for our “Gaming the System” series. Today, we take you to a hockey rink right about the spot that A-Rod usually stands — that’s right, Yankee Stadium. On the eve of a big outdoor hockey game at New York’s Yankee Stadium, we find out how the NHL is converting a baseball field to a hockey arena.

Harvard Business School's Nancy Koehn says the bottom 90 percent of the population spends money in a way that create jobs

We give the co-owner a call.

The dollar continues to tighten its grip as the world's reserve currency.

'myRA' is a new, government-backed retirement plan designed for low-income workers, who don’t have IRAs or 401Ks.

Two TV stations in Los Angeles want to undertake an experiment: Share their airwaves so they can sell back, for wireless use, the part of the spectrum they don’t use.

Emerging markets are in a tizzy, in large part because investors are reacting to the Federal Reserve’s decision to taper its stimulus program. Plus, the President stumbled over the name of a new, government backed retirement savings account during the State of the Union Address — but he’ll get another shot to get the name right when he touts the “My-R-A” today in Pittsburgh. We explain how it might work, and why  it’s needed in the first place. Finally, two TV stations in Los Angeles want to undertake an experiment: Share their airwaves so they can sell back, for wireless use, the part they don’t use. It’s a step in an FCC plan to take back spectrum used by TV broadcasters who mostly rely on cable now, to use for other essential purposes.

Why our recovery is throwing emerging economies into a tizzy

President Obama focused mostly on domestic issues during his speech last night. How did it go over in Europe? Some say Nintendo needs to ditch the console and focus on games, but Nintendo may still try to save its hardware business. And, the USPS raised the price of stamps by 3 cents last Sunday.

Last night in his State of the Union address, President Obama touched on several economic themes, including jobs, the middle class, health care, and something he has been talking quite a bit about recently — income inequality.

The city of Atlanta is in the middle of a giant two-day snow and ice storm that has left kids stranded at school, people in makeshift shelters, and commuters trying to get two or from work stuck on the roads in miles-long gridlock.

Prosthetic robotic devices connected to the human brain are becoming more common.

President Obama said last night that 9 million Americans have signed up for health care. Did they?

The USPS raised the price of stamps by 3 cents last Sunday.

President Obama focused mostly on domestic issues during his speech last night. How did it go over in Europe?

For almost two decades, farmers have gotten what are called “direct payments” from the government.

Some say Nintendo needs to ditch the console and focus on games, but Nintendo may still try to save its hardware business.

New top-level domains are being launched for brands, product categories, foreign languages.

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Last night’s State of the Union speech was all about the American perspective. President Obama focused on income inequality, wages, jobs, and the U.S. middle class. We check in on how the speech is being received in the rest of the world. Nintendo is having a rough morning. The classic game maker announced that its operating profit fell 6.9 percent for the third quarter. Nintendo already expects a net loss for the year. You could say Nintendo’s facing an identity crisis. For 30 years, it’s made games you can only play on Nintendo hardware. Does it have to change to survive? And, the price of stamps went up 3 cents again. If you bought forever stamps forever ago, you’re probably getting a good return.  

This month, a neuroscientist and his team announced that the ceremonial first kick at this year’s World Cup opening in Brazil would be completed by a paralyzed teenager using an exoskeleton attached to her brain. Prosthetic robotic devices connected to the human brain are becoming more common. You may remember video a few years ago of a woman at the University of Pittsburgh feeding herself chocolate with a robot limb. For today’s installment of Marketplace Tech’s sports and tech series, “Gaming the System,” we’ll hear from a guy working in this field.

Read President Obama's prepared remarks for the 2014 State of the Union.

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President Obama does focus on executive action that he can take to address income inequality.

And Kai asks his American Public Media bosses to tune out for a second

A shave, a trim, and much more

But if you want to be productive, go ahead and check Facebook

Europe has been in the forefront of limiting carbon emissions. Do new European Union rules represent backsliding?

Spoiler: More than we knew

The Chicago Tribune decides to give unsubscribers' doorsteps a break.

Why did President Obama choose $10.10 as the new minimum wage for federal contractors? And, wait, which federal workers are paid minimum wage?

Why did President Obama choose $10.10 as the new minimum wage for federal contractors? And, wait, which federal workers are paid minimum wage? We look at the federal government in the context of the low-wage movement, outsourcing custodial, kitchen and other work to contractors who pay low wages. Plus, the Chicago Tribune will no longer drop Sunday advertising supplements on 5 million doorsteps. Turns out, they’re haven’t been generating much revenue for years. Finally, we revisit the question: “What can the NSA learn from Angry Birds?” Spoiler: More than we knew.  

A reporter's notebook on the challenges of covering the male-dominated tech sector.

We asked on Twitter for #sotu thoughts.

Previewing tonight's SOTU. The NSA and its British counterpart are sucking up data from some mobile apps. And, there’s a lot of code in the Silicon Valley dress code.

Google signed a deal with optical insurer VSP to cover new titanium Glass frames.

Marketplace Tech talks with Jim Stray-Gundersen, who advises Team USA and pumps nitrogen into athletes’ bedrooms to boost their performance.

Eighty percent of Alzheimer's patients involved in a study had evidence of exposure to DDT.

The NSA and its British counterpart are sucking up data from some mobile apps.

Or put another way, there’s a lot of code in Silicon Valley dress.

High demand for heating fuel means high prices in Midwest and Northeast.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership would include 12 countries and 40 percent of the world's economy.

The president has the power to affect wages even without any help from the House or Senate.

Next time you take out your smart phone for a game of Angry Birds or to check Facebook, there’s a chance you’re not the only one who’s watching. Documents leaked by Edward Snowden show that the British and American governments could be tracking data from some mobile apps. Tonight, President Obama delivers his State of the Union address. He’s said it’s unlikely he’s going to get a whole lot of support from Congress on anything. So, if President Obama goes it alone, what could he do? One other thing you may hear from the president tonight is about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The a global trade agreement that covers 12 countries and 40 percent of the world’s economy is a high priority for Obama and an important part of his Asia-Pacific policy. But if you thought the fight over NAFTA was bruising, this could be a lot tougher.  

Have you ever heard the phrase “live high, train low”? It’s part of the strategy employed by a U.S. Olympic Ski Team about to head to Sochi for the games. The idea is to acclimate the body to an altitude with less oxygen, which can boost performance. Today, on the second conversation in our sports and tech series “Gaming the System,” Marketplace Tech talks with Jim Stray-Gundersen, who advises Team USA and pumps nitrogen into athletes’ bedrooms so they can live high and train low.

The NSA stoops to new depths

One teen says "Look at the data." Not on your phone.

A look at what the last few Google purchases could mean for the company.

The currency markets overseas economies took a tumble on Friday. Here's why the United States should keep an eye out — but not worry too much.

Consultant Karen Kelsky says a change in school funding is leaving many grad students buried under a pile of insurmountable debt.

And why does he leave Bibles in my hotel rooms?

If a start-up hopes to get Google's attention, there are a few essentials. First, be brilliant.

Tomorrow, the President will announce that several major corporations have signed a pledge not to discriminate against the unemployed in hiring decisions.  There are practical and psychological reasons that may work against the long- term unemployed: So what are the counter-arguments for hiring them? Plus, on news of New York teachers coming out against the Common Core, we take a look at the controversial curriculum standards, and what happens next. Finally, lots of tech startups aspire to get bought out by a larger company. If you dream of a bid by Google, what must you offer? Hint: A genius-founder never hurts.

New York teachers have come out swinging against the Common Core. What's next for the controversial curriculum standards?