Week of May 25th, 2015

54-year-old agency wants volunteers closer to its age.

Stigma and previous encounters with police are among the obstacles.

The rules of product development only go so far when it comes to films.

Advertisers consider their investments and responses amid FIFA corruption charges.

As more tents go up, homeless couples are forgoing shelters to stay together.

What's Gross Domestic Product? It’s like if Westeros from 'Game of Thrones' had a Facebook page. Get it? You will.

Airing on Friday, May 29, 2015: What’s a multinational sponsor to do? Amid news that several FIFA officials have been indicted on corruption charges, we explore whether companies are likely to pull their sponsorships from future FIFA World Cup games. Next: With all the problems of race and policing around the country, one solution has to be to hire more minority police officers, right? A no-brainer. But it’s not so easy, as Marketplace’s Mitchell Hartman reports in this next installment of our series, “Behind the Blue Line: The Costs of a Changing Police Force.”  

California's runoff water from snowpack is at zero percent of normal. As in zero. As in none.

This episode of Marketplace Weekend is all about generations and how who we are, from the Greatest Generation to Generation Z, shapes how we live with money. Starting with retirees and working our way to high school students, we take a look at generations in the economy, our psychology and our wallets. The U.S. Peace Corps is actively recruiting boomers. Why? Rosemary and John Bottcher explain. They served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay from 2011-2013 when they were both in their late 60s. Later, Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson talks with Lizzie about what instant messaging says about how your generation communicates. Plus, Marketplace Weekend visits John Marshall High School in Los Angeles to talk with four college-bound seniors about how their lives and their generation are shaped by money. 

How to advertise to a hard-to-pin-down demographic.

How did a community affect your life? Have you paid to be a member of a club?

Reshaping uour identity, relationships and purpose.

Four John Marshall High School seniors are skeptical about the future job market.

NYSE gets a happy hour, and a look at sponsorship for FIFA.

…she's going to ask how to use it. An animated look at the digital classroom.

Airing on Friday, May 29, 2015: With news of the indictment of a former speaker of the House, one key term to know is “structuring.” More on that. Next: venture capital for drones is about to hit an all-time high. We look at what’s behind the abundance of funding in such a specific corner of the tech industry. Plus, we’ll talk about technology in the classroom and what happens when you give a kid a laptop.

Airing on Friday, May 29, 2015: First up, we talk to Sarah Jeong, a tech journalist who has been following the trial of convicted Silk Road drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht. Plus, Molly Wood, Marketplace’s Senior Tech Correspondent, talks about Google’s latest move to make its Android operating system your personal assistant. And 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 Glenn Fleishman, tech journalist, co-host of the Macworld podcast and two time Jeopardy! Champion.

In 2015, investment is set to hit an all-time high.

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

Numbers we're following, stories we're reading and videos we're watching Friday.

How to win over a potential investor? One man got drunk.

It's easier to camp on public land now, and there's less room in shelters.

Subscribers are dropping as more "World of Warcraft" players move to mobile.

"Broadband is the indispensable infrastructure of the 21st century."

Airing on Thursday, May 28, 2015: The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler, is proposing subsidized broadband internet access for millions of low-income Americans. We examine the thinking behind the plan and look at its prospects for becoming reality. Next: for more than a decade, the game World of Warcraft has been an unrivaled juggernaut among multiplayer online games. Yet some news this month has led to speculation that maybe World of Warcraft is showing its age. Marketplace explores. 

Streets are melting under intense 120 degree temperatures.

A newcomer to a homeless encampment tells his story.

Dispatches from Google's I/O conference

Here are the stories we're reading and numbers we're watching Thursday.

An assessment of economic growth, combating algae blooms, and tobacco funding dries up.

Scientists are developing methods to avoid another water crisis.

Technological and political borders conflict.

The tale starts at tobacco shops like Drive Thru Cigarettes in Duarte, California.

Airing on Thursday, May 28, 2015: China’s stock market is an exciting place these days … perhaps overly exciting. We’ll talk to Andrew Wood of the BBC for more. Plus, there’s a bunch of new apps and services that aim to give people a seat at the hottest restaurants – for a price. That’s right: forget greasing the palm of the maître d’, there’s now an app for that. 

Apps make it easy for restaurants and patrons to charge for a last-minute table.

Airing on Thursday, May 28, 2015: First up, we’ll talk with Gartner analyst Tuang Nguyen about why Android has grown into an important platform for developers, ahead of Google I/O. Plus, Google is fighting a decision in Mexico that would have it remove links that cast a tech mogul there in a bad light after he complained. There are fights like this going on all over the world, from Hong Kong to Argentina; we look at the global spread of the internet privacy debate. We’ll also talk to Serkan Piantino, who works on Facebook’s artificial intelligence project as the company’s Director of Engineering, about why Facebook wants to build an Artificial Intelligence system that knows how you want to share.  

So far 14 have been indicted, but not longtime FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

The media company's Chorus publishing system was made for the digital age.

Residents protest the dump that generates millions in revenue for poor rural area.

The city's deal with the DOJ includes costly trainings and computer equipment.

The fast-food chain says it will be removing artificial flavoring and colors from its menu items.

Airing on Wednesday, May 27, 2015: The city of Cleveland has agreed to a police reform package with the Department of Justice. The deal involves more community policing and better training for using force and dealing with the mentally ill. The changes will be costly, and the mayor says he’ll look to the business community to help pay for them. We look at who the mayor will approach for funding and how local businesses might respond. Next: Vox Media acquires Re/code, giving the news site access to Chorus, Vox’s content management system. Chorus brings all the moving parts of an online newsroom into harmony and helps it target ads.             

The company has secured money for 30 stadiums over the years.

Video: How technology can transform a school and its students.

FIFA arrests, the IRS gets hacked, and technology heads to the airport.

Several officials were arrested early Wednesday morning in Switzerland.

Insurance will cover some people. Others couldn't afford the premiums.

It's bleak.

Airing on Wednesday, May 27, 2015: Severe floods in Texas have cost lives, inflicted major damage on the region economically and washed away hundreds of homes. We look at the economic cost, and the situation of affected homeowners who wonder whether their insurance will cover their losses. Plus, with the latest deadline in talks between the USPS and one of its unions looming Wednesday, we check on the biggest elephant in the room: the Postal Service’s pension obligations. Next: we talk to Hal Brill about his latest book, “The Resilient Investor.“

Future technology could eliminate airport lines.

Airing on Wednesday, May 27, 2015: First up, we talk to Michael Lopez-Alegria, a retired NASA Astronaut and independent consultant for space companies, about rearranging the International Space Station to make room for the commercial space industry. Plus, we’ll speak with the Verge’s Josh Lowensohn about how Netflix gets you to watch by running tests and mining your data. And after decades of declines in customer satisfaction, domestic airlines and airports are spending billions to improve the customer experience. Much of that spending is on technology—from wi-fi on international flights to real-time baggage tracking to an Apple Watch app that will ping you based on where you are in the airport, alerting you to gate changes or delays. But are customers actually getting a better experience? Is flying less of a hassle or more enjoyable because of new technologies?

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

One business owner shares her story.

You can now save your eyes from the dreaded term "millennials."

Thirty-five of them focus on dairy. Why? “We have to tell our story."

Young buyers boost the market and economy, but not to pre-recession levels.

Airing on Tuesday, May 26, 2015:  Prices are up for sales of both existing houses and new houses, suggesting that no matter how hard it is to afford a house these days, there are more buyers than sellers, leaving a lot of room for new construction. But are there just not enough houses available? We explore. Next: a much more even match in the cable industry. Charter has purchased Time Warner for $55 billion. So what will these giants do to keep consumers around? We take a look.   

How 'New Charter' could change your cable bill and your relationship with TV.

We're breaking the rules to talk about the sequel to Fight Club.

And why it may go more smoothly than the failed Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger.

An Apple promotion, a "Democratic Socialist" campaign, and a pub for gamers.

Gamers will now be getting their very own bars.

Senator's ideology may hurt his nomination bid, but it's left a mark in politics.

Airing on Tuesday, May 26, 2015: Just confirmed, a $55 billion merger in the internet and TV business. More on that. Plus, as the next durable goods report is released, we look at what durable goods are. Are there some products considered durable that aren’t actually all that durable? We explore. We’ll also talk to Sheila Bair, former head of the FDIC, about her new young adult novel, “The Bullies of Wall Street.”

Think of it as an optimism indicator.

Airing on Tuesday, May 26, 2015: First up, we’ll talk to Geoff Skow, co-founder of Fishbowl VR, about teaching developers how to think for virtual reality platforms ahead of Google’s developer conference later this week. Plus, we’ll also talk to Nathan Schneider, journalist ant author, about the joys of “slow computing.”

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

Airing on Monday, May 25, 2015: Reporter Krissy Clark from Marketplace’s Wealth & Poverty desk explains why a large number of military families are reliant on food stamps, guest host Adriene Hill heads to the Vista Theatre to see how a one-screen venue decides what movie to play (while staying in business), and author Reid Mitenbuler looks at how bourbon became America’s whiskey.

When Shahrouz Varshabi couldn't find work in Iran, he started a business.

Author Reid Mitenbuler tells how to find bourbon's 'sweet spot.'

Frequent moves or a parent overseas take a financial toll on those serving.

It's a cable company-eat-cable-company world out there

Mathematician's game theory work benefited business, politics and social science.

Product recalls happen all the time. Just last week, there were 11 not including food products.

Rules prevent sale of unneeded items. Directors association says its complicated.

Asian markets stay open, cheap fuel but not flights, and inventing a smart smoker.

Continued low oil prices mean airlines are saving billions of dollars.

Part of the curriculum for one engineering class has been cooking lots of brisket.

After a dismal kickoff to 2015, the housing economy is picking up.

Airing on Monday, May 25, 2015: After a dismal winter, many indicators are pointing to a pretty good late spring and summer for housing — typically the most important months both for home sales and new home construction. Next: funeral homes have long been accused of scamming customers, who are spending lots of money when they’re grieving and vulnerable. A recent Federal Trade Commission investigation found fraud increased last year. Plus, Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate … these are some of the economic indicators we look at regularly on this show to frame the big drop in oil prices and drilling rig counts. But as we find out, in the town of Williston, North Dakota, the nation’s second-largest oil producer, there are other telling metrics … like hot dogs and U-Hauls.   

Airing on Monday, May 25, 2015: First up, we’ll talk with Jason Schultz, Director of NYU’s Technology Law and Policy Clinic, about the USA Freedom Act. Plus, on a quest to invent a smart smoker, a Harvard engineering class is partnering with Williams Sonoma. Over the last few months, the junior year engineering students have smoked more than 200 pounds of brisket. We’ll take a look at the results.

What unusual metrics tell us about North Dakota.