Week of August 4th, 2014

The drought is impacting more than just water.

Joe Weisenthal from Business Insider and NY Mag's Jessica Pressler discuss the economic issues out there. Plus, it's the weekend…

New FICO score calculations will lessen the impact of unpaid medical bills.

The massive drought across the west is hurting businesses and farmers across the country. We take a look at how some groups are making money off the drought. Plus, according to a recent study from the Urban Institute, an estimated 1 in 3 adults, around 77 million people, are so far behind on their debt that their account has been placed in collections. We’ll talk with David Lazarus, Consumer columnist from the LA Times, an explore what you can do to get back on your feet. Actress and musician Alicia Witt tells us a time about when she played a costly prank on her dad, and Jessica Pressler and Business Insider’s Joe Weisenthal join Lizzie for brunch.

Turns out men say "uh" more as they get older, and women say "um" less.

Is it too late to regulate 'too big to fail' banks?

According to a study from the Urban Institute, an estimated 1 in 3 adults, around 77 million people, are so far behind on their debt that their account has been placed in collections.

People with lots of unpaid medical bills could be getting a break on their credit scores. Fair Isaac Corp. says it is changing its FICO calculations to lessen the impact of medical debt that is already in collection. Median scores could rise by as much as 25 percent. We look into why they treat medical debt differently. Plus, the London-based system for setting the price of silver is getting scrapped next week for a new electronic-based method. How will this affect the price-setting mechanism for gold, the Gold Fix? 

After a series of benchmark rigging scandals, London's gold fix looks tarnished.

IAC/InterActiveCorp owns Match.com, OkCupid, Tinder,HowAboutWe and more.

Actress and musician Alicia Witt decides to teach her father a lesson about handling his cash

The EU approach to privacy is like a blanket. In the U.S., it's a patchwork quilt.

ISIS militants now have control of the country's largest dam.

Maybe the dismal science is good for something.

FICO announced it is changing the formula it uses to score credit.

The NCAA has voted to give schools with the biggest sports programs more leeway.

MIT lays out the future of online education and it may not include classes.

A conversation about the week that was.

Changing credit scores, tougher scholarship requirements, and Cleveland preps for the Gay Games.

New rules will require under-performing service members to pay back their tuition.

Malaysia Airlines has lost two airliners this year with 537 people gone. The company’s been burning through its cash and now the Malaysian government is stepping in ahead of some kind of restructuring. Plus, the broadcast TV network with the most viewers these days is CBS, which revealed better than expected profits after the market closed yesterday. CBS has the NCIS franchise, Big Bang Theory and all of the Showtime cable channels. We’re now most-of-the-way through corporate-earnings season for the second quarter now, with Bloomberg News calculating that profits at S&P 500 companies will be up around 9-and-a-half percent. More on what this growth means. Also, the Obama Administration is forcing states to cut greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants. The rules, which came out in June, leave some states with tougher assignments than others. For instance, Kentucky’s targets for cutting emissions seem comparatively lenient. But Kentucky relies almost exclusively on coal to make electricity, and that presents a special challenge.  

First up, Chester Wisniewski, Senior Security Advisor at Sophos, talks about news from the Black Hat and Def Con security conferences in Las Vegas this week. Then, we speak to Carl Howe, Vice president at 451 research, on why Google’s partnership with Barnes and Noble is an attempt to undercut Amazon’s ebook business (by selling real books). Finally, how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? It’s time for Silicon Tally! This week, host Ben Johnson takes on Megan Garber of The Atlantic.

Corporate America shows profit growth, but global troubles cloud the future.

Books and videotapes are sharing the shelves with some surprising devices.

Kentucky's manufacturing industry is based on cheap electricity produced by coal.

How well have you kept up on this week's tech news?

Gay Games 9 visitors are expected to bring $40 million to the Cleveland area.

What reassurances do homeowners, investors, and governments now have?

Following on Bank of America’s $16 billion settlement with federal regulators, Mark looks at this broader question, “After five years and dozens of settlements, where are we?” We look at what reassurances homeowners, investors, and governments now have. Plus, Russia is banning food imports from the West as retaliation against sanctions. How will this effect U.S. agriculture, which  was already hit last year by a ban on beef imports because of an additive used here. Finally, we chat with the studio behind “Sharknado” and many, many other great bad movies.

The Asylum hasn't lost any money on the more than 200 "mockbusters" they've made.

Using more natural gas is costly, but the state's producers will benefit.

Encrypted websites will receive higher search rankings from Google.

Politicians wanted upfront cash from a victory over Big Tobacco, and bankers obliged.

The Washington Post added up how late he's been through 2014.

BofA's settlement, new legislation for the VA, and Mexico changes its oil policy.

First up, Cyrus Farivar, Senior Business Editor at Ars Technica, talks about what a post-password internet would look like. Then, Kashmir Hill, who writes about technology and privacy for Forbes, joins us to discuss whether or not it’s common for security companies to charge for information about major security breaches. Finally, Aaron Smith, senior researcher at Pew’s Internet Project, on experts’ divided opinions on artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future of work.

First up, Moscow is retaliating against the new round of economic sanctions imposed by Europe and the U.S. for Russia’s role in Ukraine and its response to the downing of the Malaysian jetliner. President Putin says agricultural and food imports will be targeted. Also, one-third of the counties analyzed in a new report have surpassed their historical averages for income-to-price affordability percentages since 2000 – making them less affordable now than they have been on average over the last 14 years. Why are homes so unaffordable now? And will that change? Also, we take a closer look at a Fortune Magazine from 1948, which includes a photo essay about a hotel under construction in Cincinnati that might have been America’s first boutique or hipster hotel; a mid-century triumph of art meets business, it said.  Why an article in this 66 year-old Fortune magazine entitled “Business and Ethics” is both quaint and prescient. 

Will the $16.3 billion dollar bill fix the beleaguered VA healthcare system?

How rumors in research end up misleading people.

More on one of the biggest business and policy stories of the decade.

One third of counties are less affordable now than they have been in 14 years.

Europe's search engine policy repercussions might surprise us in a bad way.

Tesla has started building, but the factory and jobs could still move.

One reason Walgreens chose not to move to the UK: it's a consumer-facing company.

Repairing the damage will cost billions. But Gaza still won't have an economy.

Wikipedia denies a photographer's request to delete a photo since a monkey took it

Rebuilding Gaza after Israel’s attacks will cost billions. But that’s simply to restore Gaza to a prison refugee camp. What would it take to create a true Gaza economy? Plus, we look at the calculus a consumer facing company like Walgreens makes when it’s considering an inversion, particularly when it factors in the effects of adverse public pressure.

If approved, a new proposal will give the Big 5 conferences more autonomy.

Yelp turned ten this year, while posting a profit for the first time.

Ikea will use an MIT project to set wages in its stores across the U.S.

What if colleges could grow their endowment by being environmentally friendly?

Students prefer fast talker in online video lectures.

Walgreens stays local, a bad day for mergers and acquisitions, and green colleges.

First up, more on the news that Walgreens has abandoned the idea of moving its tax headquarters from the US to Switzerland. This would have been a huge example of what are called “inversions”: controversial, but presently legal, maneuvers to lower US tax bills. Walgreens is, however, going ahead with a $10 billion dollar deal to buy full control of the pharmacy chain Boot’s, which has a real headquarters in Britain but a tax headquarters in Switzerland. Plus, marketers know where we’ve been and what we’re buying. The NSA — and Google — may be reading our email. But what about our kids, and the data gathered by their schools, the states, and the educational tech companies clamoring to get into the digital classroom? Some parents are unnerved. Politicians are reacting.  

Web traffic to Android is higher than iOS for the first time in history, showing that Android users are getting more engaged with their devices. Does this mean developers will ditch iOS in favor of Android? Or is it just a minor embarrassment for Apple? Then, Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, talks about Google’s responsibilities to report instances of child pornography, and the difference between monitoring and scanning when it comes to these images.

More states are passing laws to protect the privacy of all sorts of student data.

Web traffic to Android is higher than iOS for the first time in history.

"We have this…fascinating phenomenon of a sci-fi writer playing real war games.”

Energy shortages are an obstacle to business and an opportunity for investment.

These loans resemble the subprime mortgages that led to the financial crisis.

The media giant is spinning off its digital and broadcast side and buying Cars.com.

Banks still don't have realistic plans for an "orderly failure."

The media company Gannet, which owns the newspaper USA TODAY, announced plans to separate its broadcast and digital division from its publishing division. The company added that this move will give the new separate companies ‘increased opportunities to grow organically’. Why has Gannett made this move now and will it pay off? We investigate. Plus, President Obama announced that U.S. corporations have pledged $14 billion worth of investments in African countries. We look at the kinds of projects U.S. companies are pursuing in Africa and where they are happening. Also, the DOJ is investigating GMs auto loan business amid speculation of fraudulent. The auto loan business isn’t so big that a loan freeze will create a systemic problem for the financial system, but if the government clamps down, people will suffer. 

Devices and apps will face lawsuits from daredevils, but probably won't lose.

Should the public know how much stores take in through federal food stamps?

John Bemelmans Marciano says the U.S has basically gone metric, if not officially.

An interview with Michael Malone, author of "The Intel Trinity".

Credit unions have seen a spike in membership since 2011.

Stock market corrections, food stamps, and Missouri infrastructure.

We look at how states are looking at upping taxes to fill the holes in our roads.

The World Bank is pulling together 200 million dollars to bolster the overburdened health care systems and quarantine efforts in West Africa as troops and medical personnell work to contain the outbreak of deadly Ebola. Plus, Missouri voters are headed to the ballot booth today to decide whether to increase sales tax. Money raised would be used to fund roads and bridges. More on why your state might be next. And Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore and other cities across the country have their share of vacant or abandoned buildings and are struggling to figure out what to do with them. Fix them up or tear them down, is typically the binary choice. But now there’s a third option: paint ’em and wait.  

First up, Brian Fung, technology reporter for the Washington Post, talks about Comcast expanding its Internet Essentials program by offering debt forgiveness for low-income families with outstanding Comcast bills. Then, what does it take to turn your town into a tech hub? Sometimes, having a wealthy resident can help. Aaron Mendelson reports on how the city of San Leandro is trying to make this transformation.

What's it take to turn your town into a tech hub? A wealthy resident helps.

Getting recognition for your work isn’t always about the work.

One way to ensure your property prices don't fall: spruce up your neighborhood

Social media is changing the nature of the customer service industry.

'Hashtag' is worth 14 points.

Toledo residents can drink tap water again, but what does the future hold?

Portugal uses a good bank/bad bank strategy to rescue Banco Espirito Santo.

Portugal is dealing with the thorny issue of the near collapse of the Banco Espirito Santo by using the not-so-new solution of spinning off the bad assets in the bank. It’s called a good bank-bad bank strategy, and we last saw it used during the financial crisis. We investigate. Plus, the Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, says resident can drink tap water again…if they want to. But with algae blooms increasingly common in Lake Erie, what does the future hold for the water supply for Toledo and many other cities?

AMC is spending $600 million to add reclining seats.

Leaders from across Africa are in Washington for the next few days to talk about trade, economic development, and combating poverty.  Trade between the US and Africa is down, as demand for one of the region’s prime export commodities, crude oil, is lower in the US.  The summit also comes at a time that China has been working to be sub-Saharan Africa’s best friend. Plus, how are things the Monday after the worst week for the stock market in about two years? Also, flight delays and cancellations cost airlines billions of dollars a year and since our time is also worth something, it costs passengers enormous amounts as well. But what if better weather data — info gathered by planes themselves — could mitigate delays? 

Educators and legislators are tackling questions about student-data privacy.

After big glitches last year, the de-bugged Common College Application is here.

The bill will lift residency requirements for vets who attend public colleges.

Market Baskets protests, benefits of the new VA bill, and "mini" muni bonds.

First up, Chester Wisniewski, senior advisor at the online security firm Sophos, on the Black Hat security conference happening this week in Las Vegas. Then, Adriene Hill joins us from a student data conference looking at the uses of collected student information.

Market Basket employees and customers stage an "unprecedented" protest.

A look at this week's Black Hat and Defcon security conferences.

Denver hopes to attract a whole different class of bond buyers.

Planes create a moving picture of weather data as they take off and land.