Police in South Africa fired on striking miners yesterday and more than 30 people were killed. We look at how the incident could affect the mining industry. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have new bailout repayment terms which could make the government delay some tough decisions. Online auction site eBay is putting a ban on all supernatural products. Kai Ryssdal talks to Jess Walter about his new book “Beautiful Ruins,” on 1960s Hollywood and the American Dream. And Sylvester Monroe looks at the difficulties with economic mobility where Chicago’s housing projects used to be.
Segments From this episode
Small Talk
Small talk: Printing a house, music to wake up the Mars rover
by Marketplace Contributor
Aug 17, 2012
The news that didn't quite make the headlines. This week: The Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws program, the morning playlist of the Mars rover Curiosity, and a printer that can make a house.
eBay puts a hex on supernatural sales
by Eve Troeh
Aug 17, 2012
Spells, curses, potions and psychics are being dropped by the online auction site.
Shelf Life
Exploring the 'Beautiful Ruins' of the American Dream
by Kai Ryssdal
Aug 17, 2012
In his new book, novelist Jess Walter crosses the globe and four decades, digging into the American Dream and what it means to succeed -- and fail -- in love and work.
Weekly Wrap: The sluggish U.S. economy
by Kai Ryssdal
Aug 17, 2012
Reviewing the week's headlines on Wall Street and beyond. This week: On the latest consumer sentiment survey and what's going in Europe.
Mortgage giants face new carrot -- and stick
by Marketplace Contributor
Aug 17, 2012
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac get some slack on repaying government bailout funds. But they’ll have to shrink their businesses faster than planned.
Economic mobility in Chicago's projects
by Sylvester Monroe
Aug 17, 2012
Marketplace's Sylvester Monroe visits his childhood home -- a demolished public housing project in Chicago -- to see who made it out and who's moving up the economic ladder.
Demand for metals may be root of South African workers' unrest
by Marketplace Contributor
Aug 17, 2012
More than 30 people were killed after police in South Africa fired on striking miners. How might the incident impact the nation's mining economy?