Marketplace AM for May 15, 2007

Segments From This Episode

• Sex offenders still lurking on MySpace

  by Marketplace Staff

  MySpace is back in the hot seat. Eight states have asked the social networking site to hand over info on registered sex offenders and remove their profiles. MySpace says it's already working on the latter, Pat Loeb reports.

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• Freelance-onomics 101: Bosses are for suckers

  by Marketplace Staff

  Something just doesn't feel right about having to answer to a boss, no? Freelance speechwriter James Braly explains that you take a big chance putting your livelihood in one person's hands. Better to spread the risk around. And give him a condo already.

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• (Cafe)Press your politics and profit

  by Sean Cole

  If you can think it up, you can sell it on a bumper sticker. Coffee mug. T-shirt. Thong (yes, the underwear). CafePress.com makes it easy to market your political views or random thoughts. A lot of people are doing it — and making money, Sean Cole reports.

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• Tinkering with Chrysler

  by Steve Tripoli

  Cerberus may have picked up Chrysler for a steal if it can get the automaker back on a profitable course. We sent Steve Tripoli to find out whether analysts think a comeback is really in the works and what it'll take.

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• Food prices spike on demand, energy costs

  by Janet Babin

  A new federal report says the sticker shock at many American supermarkets is directly related to the rising cost of energy and a bigger appetite across the globe. Janet Babin reports.

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• China launches ‘charm offensive’

  by Scott Tong

  Vietnam and China haven't exactly had the friendliest history. But time, as they say, heals all wounds and recently the winds of trade have been pushing the neighboring countries closer than ever. Scott Tong explains.

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• All the news that’s fit to buy

  Reuters and Canadian publisher Thomson have a $17.2 billion deal. Combined, the companies would create the world's biggest provider of financial news and data, but the proposed merger could face regulatory and union problems, Stephen Beard reports.

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