Week of December 29th, 2014

Cuomo's 1984 "Two Cities" speech has influenced politicians of all stripes.

A weekly roundup of what we learned at Marketplace.

After a public relations disaster, a mainstay of Domino's ads disappears. Zachary Crockett shares the strange story.

This weekend we are discussing renewal in 2015. Marketplace reporter Sabri Ben-Ancour takes us to the Democratic Republic of Congo to explain how child soldiers are rebuilding their lives and renewing their confidence. Mark LoCastro, an expert shopper from DealNews.com, talks to Lizzie O’Leary about what will be going up and down this year in price. Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson guides Lizzie through the new ways people are getting their entertainment, and what effects that might have on piracy.  Are you thinking about getting a new job in 2015? Well, Arnie Fertig from jobhuntercoach.com gives practical advice and how to land a new job this year.  Next week, we’re focusing on inheritance, and specifically, what you inherit financially. We’re not necessarily talking about money… habits, mindsets. For better, or worse. How do you handle what gets past down?

One likely result of college football's first playoffs? An eventual expansion to eight teams or more.

Airing on January 2, 2015: The first college football playoffs are upon us, and they are a huge moneymaker for football and colleges. The biggest question may be how quickly they can be expanded. Plus, we uncover the story behind a notoriously creepy Domino’s mascot from the 1980s, the Noid.

More than 100,000 ring in 2015 in an Uber as demand for service is strong.

Turning your dad's jeans into profit.

Mark LoCastro made a list of several things where we'll pay a little extra in 2015

What are some of the things that you've inherited over the years?

Foreign currency shifts, ads before "I Have a Dream," and broken new year's resolutions.

Airing on Friday January 2, 2015: The U.S. and European economies go their separate ways. And a look ahead to education stories to watch in 2015. Plus, the children of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. have been criticized for overly protecting his speeches and writings but also commercializing them for profit. One result: you can watch the “I Have a Dream” speech on YouTube, with a Doritos commercial.

But will users be happy when Pinterest takes a turn toward online mall?

Airing on Friday, January 2, 2014: First up on today’s show, we talk to Wall Street Journal reporter Christopher Mims about tech startups in 2015. Plus, 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 science and technology reporter, Rose Eveleth.

Why almost half of people with gym memberships are no-shows.

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

Temporary tax increases expire, reducing Illinois revenue amid budget shortfalls.

Markets were on the rise this year, but plenty of investors are still stinging from the economic crisis and they’re unwilling to jump in. Then: Lithuania is the 19th country to adopt the euro today. We look at outlook there and the pros and cons of joining the common currency. Finally, the Internal Revenue Service’s commissioner predicts that the upcoming tax season will be “miserable.” Big funding and staffing cuts, new mandates and the last minute extension of several dozen tax breaks are making things complicated.

Crowdfunding comes to the research lab, and websites spring up to vet projects.

More than 20 states raise their minimum wages, so millions of workers get a bump in pay this year.

With New Year's Eve in the rear-view mirror, we tackle a timely topic: Hangover cures

In 2000, the CIA made 70 pages worth of predictions for 2015. They didn't get everything right.

Hangovers have existed as long as overconsumption of alcohol. (That is to say: as long as alcohol.) But even though every few years a new technique or pill is offered as a cure, the task may be futile. Plus, most housing market watchers are predicting that 2015 will be better than 2014. How much better? Some expect home sales to increase about 10 percent this year.

Home sales could increase by 10 percent but weak wage growth may cut down on potential buyers.

We're not lovin' it: McDonald's earnings hit a new low. Are custom burgers an answer?

It's the 19th state to adopt the euro.

Plus: the "Internet of things" at CES and a look ahead at 2015's big tech stories.

Happy New Year, you can now apply for college financial aid for the upcoming school year.

A trend that's expected to be big in 2015: Everyday items connected to the Internet.

As a new year stretches out before us, a look at the numbers that defined 2014.

Raise to $10.10 per hour was promised in last year's State of the Union.

It’s a new year, and one of the first items on the calendar for the new year is CES – the Consumer Electronics Show, starting next week in Las Vegas. We take a look at what might be top-of-mind among the many technology giants and start-ups in attendance. Plus, we’ll talk to Matt Novak, who writes Gizmodo’s Paleofuture blog, to revisit the future that never was in “Back to the Future Part II.”

How Close Did We Get?

Funding cuts, new mandates, tax breaks to complicate tax time, IRS commissioner says.

Investors are twice bitten, thrice shy.

During 2014, oil prices dropped by half. Except more of the same in 2015.

Inventors came up with glasses for New Year's 1991 but market was eventually flooded with knockoffs.

Trend toward renting designer gowns picks up steam. Next up: Rental work clothes.

Ashton Carter oversaw Pentagon acquisitions from 2009 to 2011 and tried to trim wasteful spending.

A deadly tree disease and decreased demand are among the problems facing citrus growers.

The story behind the birth of the Times Square ball.

Airing on Wednesday December 31, 2014: As nonprofits work hard to get your end-of-year donations, some will also try to get something else: permission to share your information with other charities. Plus, the weight-loss industry is on a diet of its own. Weight Watchers has endured seven straight quarters of losses. Jenny Craig got dumped by Nestle. NutriSystem’s sales have been falling since 2008. One big reason? The growth of fitness trackers and weight-loss apps.

D-Day at Netflix, women's fashion choices and the questions you've always wondered … just a few of our popular stories from 2014.

More than 30 AP courses are offered but not all are widely available.

Interest rates for 2015, Uber's big night, and AirTran gets grounded.

After four years, Southwest Airlines officially acquires AirTran.

Airing on Wednesday, December 31, 2014: First up, a Chinese court takes a stand against pollution. And we’ll also look ahead to climate policy in 2015. Plus, American Apparel is cutting hours and laying off workers at some of its factories “to conserve funds.” We look at what’s behind the move and what the implications are for the company. 

Airing on Wednesday, December 31, 2014: First up on today’s show, we talk to Tal Klein of Adalom about Sony attacks. Plus, New Year’s Eve is Uber’s equivalent of the Super bowl – its busiest day, or night of the year. It’s also when the company gets the angriest tweets for its use of surge pricing. What strategies does Uber have in place this New Year’s Eve to meet consumer demand while not infuriating its customers when they see the tab? We’ll also talk to Ustream CEO Brad Hunstable about their plans for a special New Year’s Eve internet broadcast.

As the company welcomes a new CEO, will changes boost American Apparel's bottom line?

Bed times, ball drops, public drinking and a very, very expensive Uber.

The L.A. Times traces the life of private detective Samuel Marlowe.

Leaders of Fuhu don't want company to lose entrepreneurial spirit amid all the expansion.

The auto bailout cost taxpayers $9 billion. Was it worth it? Mostly.

At a Boston conference, a panel plans to embrace "economics humor."

Airlines compensating grieving families can essentially pay what they see fit.

Airing on Tuesday December 30, 2014: How AirAsia will handle the insurance payouts to families of victims. Plus, the federal government’s final reckoning of the auto-industry bailout shows it lost $9 billion on an $80 billion investment. So what did the industry and the economy get for that $9 billion?

The mnemonic device you've been waiting for: Limerick defines a fiscal year.

All but seven states have adopted the Common Core standards, but what about American island territories?

The state of the markets, consumer confidence, and manufacturing in the U.S.

Airing on Tuesday, December 30, 2014: First up on today’s show, we talk with Alp Işın, an artist in Charlottesville, VA, about staying with friends to squeeze more money out of his apartment on Airbnb. Plus, Gerardine Botte, Director of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Ohio University, talks about converting urine to water and energy on the Mars One mission.

Airing on Tuesday December 30, 2014: First up on today’s show, stock markets in Europe are down again on Tuesday, influenced by the general election that’s on the way in Greece. More on that. Plus, we’ll talk about healthcare trends in 2014 and 2015. We focus on hospitals buying up physician practices.

“People expect the economy to improve, and their personal finances to improve."

College gives coach a salary worthy of the pros. Expect more universities to follow.

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

And the danger of heralding the return of manufacturing to the U.S.

Just as for-profit companies share your data, so do some charities.

Tony Fernandes made flying affordable for Asians and became a media star.

Throwing around "bae" doesn't make a brand cool. You heard me, Pizza Hut.

Marketplace correspondent Amy Scott talks about what will make education news in 2015.

Airing on Monday December 29, 2014: It’s Black Monday, the day after the end of the NFL regular season when many losing teams fire their coaches, starting a mad dash to hire new ones. Plus, Greece faces economic uncertainty after its parliament today rejected the presidential candidate put forward by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. Finally, the search for the AirAsia airbus with 162 people on board continues over Indonesian waters.  What do we know about this airline?

The regular season ends, and losing pro football teams fire their coaches — again

Programs to rehabilitate child soldiers in Congo have mixed records.

Greece has called early national elections next month. They could bring to power a party that opposes current bailout deals.

As Walgreens preps for a big merger, we look ahead to the economics of 2015.

Eileen Fisher celebrates 30-year anniversary by bringing back original clothing designs.

Downloads of “The Interview" give a healthy nudge to trend away from seeing movies in a theater.

Enrollment at two- and four-year colleges declined 1.3 percent between fall 2013 and 2014.

Merger with UK-based drugstore chain would greatly expand company's reach.

The White House is working with businesses to find ways to prevent more cyber-extortion like the Sony hacks. How easy will it be for them to work together when the two sides are so frequently at odds over national security and government regulation? Plus, shareholders vote Monday on whether Walgreens should purchase the remaining 55 percent of the European drugstore company Alliance Boots that it doesn’t already own. We examine what’s behind the purchase and what will it mean for the American consumer.

Is it time to invest in open security architecture?

Airing on Monday, December 29, 2014: First up on today’s show, Professor Anne-Marie Chang talks about the importance of turning off your tablets before bed. We’ll also speak with reporter Richard Macauley about Uber’s new partnership with Chinese Search Engine, Baidu. And New York magazine’s associate editor, Maggie Lange talks about a thief who was identified after her picture was posted on Tinder by the owner of the startup she burglarized.