Week of December 22nd, 2014

Author Erin Mallory Long shares a few of her small-screen favorites.

Are you planning to jump-start your job search?

Retailers make educated guesses when ordering inventory. Their misfires make great after-Christmas deals.

Disney's latest fairy tale movie is an uncharacteristic exploration of adult themes.

As cyber attacks increase, more firms seek insurance against them.

2015: The return of the raise?

 This weekend, we focus on indulgence, and all the things you can’t live without.  Comedian Cameron Esposito explains what her life on stage is like, and what it took to get there. Karen Giberson, the president of The Accessories Council, talks about indulging in high-end watches, and the surge of sale of so called dumb watches, especially in a world of smart accessories. Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson guides Lizzie through the world of digital hording, and what you can do to let it all go. Plus, is there anything that sells itself? Lizzie and Olivia Mannix, the co-founder of the marijuana marketing company Cannabrand, discuss the brave new world of re-branding marijuana. And as the new year approaches, have you thought about renewing  yourself? How about renewing your job search for 2015?

Health care in the New Year may be more convenient but cost more.

Is 2015 the year we all get a raise? Disney tries its hand at darker movies with “Into the Woods.” And a guide to buying all the things money can’t buy.

Cannabrand helps its clients market cannabis and sell products in states where marijuana is legal

Satirists Sam Weiner and Daniel Kibblesmith on how to buy what you thought had to be earned.

A hacker group takes credit for attacks on PlayStation and Xbox Live networks.

Video gamers can't connect, a look at trade policy in 2015 and life in coach.

Around the holidays you indulge, what do you try to keep from yourself?

You can swap it for a Wal-Mart card, but you'll get less than face value.

Airlines are trying to change your perception of cramped seating in coach by creating the impression of more room with larger video screens and new headrests.

The smartphone maker partners with Boeing on an ultra-secure phone

Airlines are adding back small amenities, like hot towels, to help travelers forget how uncomfortable they are. But some business frequent flyers are choosing coach anyway, preferring to use their shrinking travel budgets for nicer hotel rooms. Plus: A look at if a new self-destructing phone from Blackberry can help save the company from utter annihilation. Also: Coke fizzes out at the end of 2014 with plans to cut $3 billion from its annual budget, including executive perks and about 2,000 jobs.

Airing Friday, December 26, 2014: First up, a conversation with Michael Pacter about the new Samsung and Sony deal. And we talk to Jonathan Zittrain about a recent Internet Monitor report that says 2015 is going to be a big year for technology and policy. We’ll also revisit one of our favorite Silicon Tally’s from 2014, with Marketplace’s Sabri Ben-Achour.

A rare blizzard is leaving snow on the islands.

Food recipes can't be copyrighted. But how come?

The day after Christmas falls on a Friday. Bad news for people who still have to work, good news for retailers hoping for shoppers.

Airing on Thursday December 25, 2014: Ugly holiday sweaters have a renaissance … a must-have Christmas toy still tops gift lists three decades later … and why you can copyright music but not a recipe.

Cat cafes are becoming a new way to find homes for shelter and rescue cats.

Airing on Thursday December 25, 2014: Twenty-one states are raising their minimum wages beginning January 1. That means Walmart, which has a large workforce making the minimum, will have to give raises to a lot of its workers. Plus, we look at why olive oil is getting so expensive. And if you’re particularly fond of the movie “A Christmas Story,” you might want to make the trip out to Cleveland to visit the house from the movie. This year marks a decade since its owner, Brian Jones, bought the house used for the film’s exterior shots for a flat $150,000 from its owners on eBay. It was a dilapidated mess and one of the many victims of the horrid housing market here in the city. But since sinking more than $1 million into its renovation, the Christmas Story house sees 50,000+ visitors annually year-round, and just last year started a foundation where money raised (about $60,000) goes towards helping other homes in the area get fixed up.

Airing on Thursday, December 25, 2014: First up on today’s show, Lee Rainie, director of internet, science and technology research at the Pew Research Center, talks about privacy in 2015 and beyond. Plus, all week, we’ve been revisiting our favorite interviews of 2014. Today, it’s tUnEyArD’s Merrill Garbus, who spoke with us about making music out of the glitches in the machine. And we’ll also talk to Ken Lebrecht, professor of physics at CalTech, about using computers to model snowflakes.  

A lousy crop means high prices. At least for the real thing.

More money in the pockets of Walmart employees could also help the retailer.

Detroit property values are beginning to approach pre-recession levels.

Money raised from tours of house used in the movie helps fix up nearby homes.

The energy sector reacts to oil prices, Detroit real estate rebounds, and cat cafe.

Christmas tree salesman Ernest Parker explains the business of holiday cheer.

Wrapping paper as we know it took off about 100 years ago. Now it's a $3 billion industry.

Film is released digitally. Should you see it? Our live tweets of a screening may hold the answer.

Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson tells us what to expect in the year ahead.

There's a seasonal aspect to the volatility in the markets, making it harder to predict what may be going on.

Popular artists often rehash holiday standards. But why? Consumer demand.

Airing on Wednesday December 24, 2014: It’s been a while since we’ve seen the kind of volatility that the market is experiencing right now. Many say this particular period could signal the end of the bull market. Plus, Sony’s “The Interview” will open in some 200 movie theaters on Christmas Day. It also will be available via video on demand. We look at the economics of a theatrical release competing with streaming services. Finally, we look at the business of releasing a Christmas album. How much money do these artists actually make? Hint: not much.

New York Times mines search-engine data to see what gifts people are searching for, city by city.

The Cabbage Patch Kid still draws fans decades after its release.

Law school enrollment declined again in 2014.

A look ahead to markets in 2015, Uber in South Korea, and trees delivered by elves.

Airing on Wednesday December 24, 2014: More on news that South Korea has indicted the CEO of Uber. And ahead of the final Jobless Claims report for 2014, we take a final look at holiday hiring and its impact on the overall jobs numbers. Plus, in the wake of the Russian economic meltdown, we explore whether or not Russians are taking their money and panic-buying properties in London as a way to safeguard their money.

Airing on Wednesday, December 24, 2014: First up on today’s show, Molly Wood, Technology Columnist for the New York Times, joins us for a look-ahead at TV in 2015. And looking back at some of our favorite interviews of 2014, we revisit our conversation with Guy Kawasaki, the man who sold Apple’s Macintosh to the masses.

Rich Russians eager to move their money are snapping up pricey London houses.

One entrepreneur in Minnesota is hand delivering trees, dressed as an elf.

A look at who wins when travelers are the losers.

Strong seasonal retail hiring boosts the spending power of American consumers.

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

Nine out of 10 of us will watch at least one holiday TV special this year.

A number of economic indicators are showing growth in the U.S., but are families at home feeling it?

There's only one turkey among these gift ideas inspired by holiday films.

New app called Confide makes emails vanish. Company's offering it to Sony for free.

With the Dow at 18,000, GDP at 5 percent, and consumer spending and sentiment up, is the stock market a good reflection of the economy? Plus, Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in the Americas, broke ground on a cross-country canal that it hopes will compete with its rival in Panama. Discussed for centuries, the canal is expected to be built in five years – by a Chinese company. As the project begins, there are concerns about an increasing commercial Chinese footprint in Central America.

Adriene Hill talks to BBC Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg.

Banks pushed firms to give better ratings to companies that are now close to default.

Another private university sent acceptance emails to rejected students.

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

Solid GDP growth, expensive college football, and disrupting Wall Street.

Airing on Tuesday, December 23, 2014: Venezuela, hit by falling oil revenues, is at risk of defaulting on its debts. Oil is a big part of its economy. What can it do? And college football’s new playoff system is shaking up the game off the field too. Some of the big companies sponsoring bowl games defected to another game or dropped their support altogether. Plus, Brad Katsuyama of IEX, joins us to talk about where Wall St and the tech sector converge.

Oil, whose price has halved in the past year, accounts for 95 percent of the country’s exports and 45 percent of the government’s budget.

Airing Tuesday, December 23, 2014: Chester Wisniewski, senior security advistor at Sophos, joins us to talk about North Korea’s Internet outage. Plus, Lindsey Turrentine, Editor-in-Chief of CNET.com, on the hardware developments we can expect to see at CES and beyond. And Leslie Horn, a writer for Gizmodo, talks to us about coming around to the idea of leaving and listening to voicemails after her dad passed away.

College football's new playoff system is shaking up the game off the field too.

The President and CEO of IEX says innovation could right market wrongs.

Grantland's Wesley Morris thinks so.

Sales create a sense of urgency, getting people in the door. Do they work as a retail strategy?

Members of the oil cartel could get higher prices if they cut production but there would be a cost.

A Macy's parade of music, thanks to the talents of an organist and a gigantic 110-year-old instrument.

Pope scolds those who run Catholic Church. His complaints include office gossip and jealousy.

If UPS and FedEx are going to continue to be competitive with Amazon, they need a long-term strategy.

Pharmacy benefit-manager Express Scripts drops one hepatitis C drug in favor of a cheaper new one.

Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson and Marketplace Weekend host Lizzie O’Leary show why we need your support.

Airing on Monday December 22, 2014: Why don’t the OPEC countries cut production and thereby boost prices for the oil they sell? Also, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts chooses a new hepatitis C drug from AbbVie pharmaceuticals as the exclusive option for its patients. We look at how pricing works for hepatitis C drugs and ask if this deal might usher in more overall price competition among drug companies.

Stanford University launches a long-term study of artificial intelligence.

Prescription-drug benefit company makes an exclusive deal with drug-maker.

Prescription neutrality, high rent, and SonyTV.

Airing on Monday, December 22, 2014: More on the news that International Monetary Fund policies meant some West African countries underfunded their healthcare systems, possibly hampering the fight against Ebola. Plus, since gas is cheaper, we look at whether support for higher gas taxes has increased in states where they’ve been proposed. And health insurance premiums have seen dramatic increases that outpace inflation, but one thing has stayed the same: We know as little about the quality that your money buys you today, as we did 25 years ago.

Airing on Monday, December 22, 2014: First up on today’s show, Will Oremus, Senior Technology writer for Slate, talks about the future of connected cars. And from the archives, we revisit a conversation with Neil Young about his Pono high-resolution audio player, recorded at this year’s SXSW.

The new year promises several new Internet-based streaming TV offerings.

Costs keep going up, but what about value?

Many states are running out of money to maintain highways.

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