Week of December 15th, 2014

New federal standard to earn commercial pilot's license closes off pipeline of new pilots.

Some of the algorithms that affect our lives the most are the ones airlines use to determine pricing.

In New York City, when it rains, something interesting happens

Lizzie O'Leary speaks with Nancy Scola who covers Tech Policy for The Washington Post.

When a chat window opens up while you're online shopping, who is writing back?

Creating a sort of Consumer Reports for higher education is a "supremely challenging task."

With gas prices down, we're tilting toward bigger cars but still driving less.

North Korea doesn't have much of an economy to sanction.

This is capitalism, people.

Airing on Friday December 19, 2014: The U.S. has promised a “proportional” response to North Korea over the “state sponsored” Sony hack. What might that look like? Plus, after a couple years in the making, the framework for a government college ratings system is out. We look at how hard it is to create a bang-for-your-buck ratings system for American colleges and universities.  

How traditional watchmakers are adapting to keep up with changing technology

The Fed is watching oil just as closely as the rest of us.

The FBI, CIA, and all the rest have their very own stores.

Bill Ratner on his kids, his career and how to create boundaries with technology when parenting.

This weekend, we focus on algorithms, in business, love, and crime. Lizzie O’Leary talks with Guru Hariharan, CEO of Boomerang Commerce, about how online businesses use data and algorithms. Christian Rudder, co-founder of OkCupid, discusses algorithms in love…and what happens when someone lies in their online dating profile.  Marketplace Tech host  Ben Johnson tells Lizzie the story of a Google algorithm that discovered a ring of car thieves. What happens when algorithms start to learn? Lizzie and Patrick Surry of travel site Hopper talk about the best ways to use algorithms to your advantage while shopping for airfare. How do you game the system. And as 2015 approaches, what are your thoughts about indulgence? Is there anything you try to keep from yourself? 

Getting grilled sounds better with a name like PAWS

On trusting data to find a date.

The legal pot industry in America is now worth billions, and it’s growing.

Airing on Friday Dec. 19, 2014: In the last two trading days, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gone up a combined 709 points, 421 points just on Thursday. Sounds like a holiday rally. More on that. And Amazon is launching a one hour delivery service for Manhattan, with plans to expand to other cities. What are the economics of instant delivery and why has it been hard to pull off for e-commerce retailers so far? Plus, the king of shale oil – Harold Hamm – made a terrible, horrible bet on oil prices. His firm, Continental Resources, had hedged against falling oil prices. That is, they pre-negotiated selling prices of $90 and higher even as oil fell. Then, with crude around $80, Continental chose to sell their hedges aka Going Naked. It was a bold bet that oil would rebound quickly. So much for that.   

U.S. officially blames North Korea, as hackers examine what can be learned

Airing on December 19, 2014: Will the unprecedented Sony hack set off an arms race among hackers to one up the North Koreans? Plus, we talk with Jonathan Zittrain, law professor and co-founder of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, about legal issues underlying the Sony hack. And how well have you kept up with the week in tech news? It’s time for Silicon Tally! This week, digital dating consultant Laurie Davis.

Here are the numbers we're reading and watching for Friday.

Billionaire oil producer Harold Hamm predicted a "pretty quick" recovery for prices.

Amazon and start-ups compete for the instantaneous delivery dollar.

How well have you kept up with the week in tech news?

After first oil well was drilled in 1892, derricks became a symbol of Los Angeles.

Many people don't believe the low prices will last.

The price of oil is dropping. Good news or bad news?

Maybe we should be asking what isn't made from a barrel of oil.

Despite thawing U.S.-Cuba relations, full-blown business opportunities are largely years away.

Kai talks with Adrian DeLeon, the mayor of Carrizo Springs, Texas.

If oil prices fall, will tires cost less? The answers are far from black and white.

Kai Ryssdal talks to commercial grain farmer Curt Mowery.

Most of the cost of oil can be attributed to exploration, drilling and pumping.

Airing on Thursday Dec. 18, 2014: Thawing relations between the U.S. and Cuba will open up Cuba to American business. Is this a great business opportunity or just a mirage? Plus, the price of oil is incorporated into many consumer products, including tires. Petroleum is a major component in tires, but don’t expect the price of those wheels to drop any time soon. Finally, we look at what the price of a barrel of oil really means.

Low-performing schools weigh in on how they try to improve.

Vagueness from the Fed, the Sony cancellation, and farmworkers use tech for better wages.

Airing on Thursday Dec. 18, 2014: First up, more on thawing relations between the US and Cuba after the prisoner swap yesterday. The deal also puts the spotlight on the leader of the Catholic Church who was directly involved in pushing Havana and Washington closer. We take a closer look at Pope Frances’ diplomatic efforts. Plus, Nike’s second quarter fiscal 2015 results are out. We look at the power of the shoe, emerging markets, bright spots and challenges ahead for the company. And here’s a gross generalization: Americans are a bold people who made this country great by embracing risk. So what’s with the millennials? When it comes to investing, there’s some data suggesting that people that enter the workforce after the turn of the millenium, people in their 20s and 30s now, are somehow risk averse? 

Unlike lagging indicators, these give us a snapshot of the economy as it stands.

Aired on Thursday, December 18, 2014: First up, we talk to Stephen Cobb, security researcher at ESET, about Sony’s decision to pull The Interview. Then, Andrew Bartels, research analyst at Forrester, talks about the tech industry’s reaction to the volatile ruble. And when you think of “salary negotiations,” picking apples and cherries isn’t the first job that comes to mind. Individual farmworkers don’t control much about their work environment. But in Washington’s Yakima Valley, growers and workers alike say the growing use of cell phones has shaken up the labor market.

The street vs. Wall Street on Nike

Workers in Washington state apple orchards use phones to find best-paying jobs.

The numbers we're reading and watching for Thursday.

Farmers in Eastern Congo try to relaunch an industry destroyed by civil war.

Tacky Christmas cardigans are hot this year thanks to 'Ugly Sweater' parties.

There is a way to silence passing trains, but it takes years and costs millions.

After a crippling hack and terroristic threats, Sony has scrapped the comedy.

A group of Russian journalists decamps to Latvia to strike a blow for press freedom.

Kai sits down with Marketplace's Scott Tong to talk fracking.

Technology helps create a tight job market for young lawyers.

Investors confuse the Cuba Energy Company with the country.

Airing on Wednesday Dec. 17, 2014: Our take on the latest updates from the Sony hacks. Plus, law school enrollment is way down. We look at how that’s related to the cost-cutting going on in the practice of law.

The Vermont family selling that Christmas tree in Brooklyn? They didn't grow it. A big tree farm did.

American students spend six hours a week, on average, doing homework.

The ruble continues to slide, the Sony hackers get serious, and marijuana expands its reach.

Can Bilbo save ticket sales and the Shire?

Aired on Wednesday, December 17, 2014: First up on today’s show, Molly Wood, Technology Columnist at the New York Times, talks about Apple’s iPod music antitrust suit. And Bill Oakley, a TV writer and producer who wrote for The Simpsons, joins us to talk about freeze frame jokes and VCR technology on the 25th anniversary of the first episode of The Simpsons.

Aired on Wednesday, December 17, 2014: First up on today’s show, since the beginning of this month, Russia’s currency the Ruble lost 25 percent of its value against the dollar, triggering the worst financial crisis in that country in 15 years. Today, intervention by Russia’s central bank seems to have slowed the decline. More on that. And McDonald’s restaurants in Japan will start rationing french fries today. Large and medium sized orders will be taken off the menu, so customers will have to stick to small. Fine, but the reasons why are interesting:  an on-going labor dispute at ports along America’s West Coast. Plus, last Friday was, in general, a particularly lousy day for the stock market. But as Marketplace regular Alan Sloan says, enough already with the Dow.      

A look at a retail experience that could be coming to a state near you.

Rattled investors can turn risk averse.

This, and other numbers we're reading and watching for Wednesday.

Iconic guitar company moves into headphone business, leases Tower Records building in L.A.

A Colorado college wrestles with promoting sober academics while surrounded by marijuana.

Hosts Kai and Ben Johnson discuss lingering questions surrounding the Sony hack.

Counting Sheep Coffee comes in two varieties: Bedtime Blend/40 Winks and Lights Out.

Kai Ryssdal talks to Steve Presser, owner of Big Fun Toy Store in Cleveland.

More businesses are selling their services by the month. Unlimited movies, anyone?

Ruble decline hurts Russians most, which could be a problem for everyone.

Dramatic interest rate hikes are a first step, but Russia's economy will need more.

Americans are saving a buck a gallon on gas, giving them much greater spending power.

Airing on Tuesday Dec. 16, 2014: AMC theaters are offering a subscription deal. For $100 a month, you can see as many movies as you like. We look at how businesses are using auto-pay subscription models. Plus, Russia’s central bank raised interest rates overnight by 17 percent in an unsuccessful attempt to stem the continuing decline of the ruble. With the failure of this latest effort to shore up its currency, Russia’s economic turmoil is affecting global markets as investors lose confidence.

Since the mermaid has become ubiquitous, Starbucks tries to stand out by going upscale.

The most discussed academic paper on the web in 2014 involved manipulating social media users.

The Fed reacts to oil prices, the wealth gap for minorities, and the British Museum lends to Russia.

One big reason for the growing divide: The disparity in asset wealth.

Airing on Tuesday Dec. 16, 2014: In the wee hours of the morning, Moscow Time, Russia’s central bank hiked a key interest rate to 17 percent, a dramatic effort to stop the decline of Russia’s currency, the Ruble. More on that. And for people needing medical coverage starting January 1st using those newish federal health care exchanges, the deadline for signing up has just come and gone. But small businesses can sign up anytime, using special exchanges set up for companies with fewer than 50 full time workers. We head to a toy store to find out how one of these things work.  

Aired on December 16, 2014: First up, Lindsey Turrentine, Editor-in-Chief of CNET.com, talks about how social networks use games to make sure their users keep coming back for more. And Russell Brandom, a reporter for The Verge, on what the Sony hack revealed about Hollywood’s fraught relationship with Silicon Valley.

The struggle to shop for health insurance under Affordable Care Act in a "SHOP exchange."

The British Museum is loaning part of its Elgin Marbles collection to Russia's Hermitage Museum.

Cheap oil could make the Fed cautious about raising interest rates. Or not.

The numbers we're reading and watching for Tuesday.

We're bringing back a classic holiday feature, and we want to hear from you.

Dreadful penny and nickel news, but cheaper copper shaves millions off the loss.

Sony says the leaked information contains trade secrets. How damaging is the leak?

Liberal Democrats aren’t happy with White House's choice, investment banker Antonio Weiss.

Airing on Monday Dec. 15, 2014: What have the Sony leaks revealed about the company’s corporate strategy? And what can Sony do to prevent further dissemination and exploitation of this information? Plus, PetSmart was acquired for $8.7 billion by BC Partners. We take a closer look at the buyout. Finally, President Obama nominated investment banker Antonio Weiss for treasury undersecretary. We take a look at the job description for this position.  

The "Cathy" creator talks about two gifts that fit both sides of her personality.

PetSmart, with its brick-and-mortar allure, sells for $8.7 billion.

We're all just Facebook 'people' these days.

More children participate in sports than clubs or music lessons.

The Russian ruble, PetSmart's pricetag, and California's drought.

  First up, we look at forecasts for the price of oil moving forward. Plus, we look at global, economic and social issues for women in the age of big data. Again this year, the richest Americans will lead the way in holiday spending. Back in the recession, luxury retail took a HUGE hit. But now it’s back with a vengeance–buoyed by rising stock prices and incomes at the top.

Women's global economic and social issues are entering the age of big data.

Aired on Monday, December 15: On today’s show, Saadia Muzaffar, tech entrepreneur and CEO of TechGirls Canada, talks about diversity in tech (or the perceived lack thereof). And if you haven’t heard, California is experiencing a serious drought. It’s also the home of that cradle of innovation, We look at what the tech sector is doing to attack the drought.

Luxury retail has rebounded sooner and stronger than the rest of the market.

… even after last year's debacle.

The numbers we're reading and watching on Monday.