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Technology

Insurance Discount for Having Trips Tracked

Tom Scheck of Minnesota Public Radio reports on how one car insurance company now offers discounts to drivers who allow the company to track when and how fast they drive electronically. Privacy advocates are worried that outside groups could eventually see that information.

Insurance Discount for Having Trips Tracked

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Business

Oil Dips, Remains Close to $50

The price of oil retreats below $50 a barrel, closing at $49.51. Despite lessening pressures on oil inventories, experts are concerned over the broader effects of the rise. A recent International Monetary Fund report predicting economic growth was based on an assumed price of $37.25 a barrel. NPR's Kathleen Schalch reports.

Oil Dips, Remains Close to $50

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Business

Accounting Woes at Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae, the nation's largest source of financing for home mortgages, faces accusations of pervasive accounting problems. Federal regulators say the company, which buys home loans from lenders, deferred $200 million in expenses in 1998, allowing top managers to obtain millions in bonuses. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

Regulators Question Fannie Mae Accounting

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No More Paper Check Returns

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with Day to Day personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary about the pros and cons of Check 21, a new federal law that takes away consumers' ability to retrieve their original paper checks.

No More Paper Check Returns

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Oil Prices Hit $50 a Barrel

For the first time, crude oil prices rise above $50 a barrel in world trading, despite efforts by OPEC to calm markets. The price is a response to the slow recovery of U.S. oil production following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and unrest in key producers Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Nigeria. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.

Oil Prices Hit New Record of $50 a Barrel

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Business

The Big Business of Curing Head Lice

A Silicon Valley dermatologist seeks his fortune in head lice. He claims to have found a new cure for head lice: a non-toxic lotion that suffocates them to death. When he managed to get his findings published in a respected scientific journal, one of the leading venture capitalists of Silicon Valley came calling. NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports.

The Big Business of Curing Head Lice

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Environment

Turning Toilet Water into Tap Water in California

For decades, countries around the world have tackled the problem of depleted water resources by recycling treated sewage into drinking water. Orange County, Calif., is building a huge facility to turn treated sewage into drinking water. Rob Schmitz of member station KPCC reports.

Turning Toilet Water into Tap Water in California

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Books

Office Anthropology: '60 People to Avoid'

NPR's Liane Hansen speaks with Josh Aiello, author of 60 People to Avoid at the Water Cooler, a tongue-in-cheek anthropological study of annoying corporate creatures, including The Pompous General Partner, the Condescending IT Guy, and the Incontinent CEO.

Office Anthropology: '60 People to Avoid'

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Science

The Commercial Possibilities of Sleeping Less

If you think you're working too hard, getting less sleep than you need and generally under too much stress -- you're not alone. Nancy Koehn, a professor at the Harvard Business School, talks about Americans who try to do too much -- and the industries that try to help them. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Koehn.

The Commercial Possibilities of Sleeping Less

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Candidates on Social Security

Campaigning Wednesday, both President Bush and his Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry, offer their visions for securing the future of Social Security. But experts say neither plan will do all the politicians promise. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Bush, Kerry Offer Plans for Social Security

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The Color of Money

Homeowners Insurance Tips

NPR's Noah Adams talks to personal finance commentator Michelle Singletary about the right time to make claims on a homeowners insurance policy -- and whether homeowners should pay for repairs themselves, to avoid the possibility of future premium hikes. Singletary writes the syndicated column "The Color of Money" for The Washington Post, and is the author of 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life.

Homeowners Insurance Tips

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Federal Pension Agency Could Go Broke by 2020

Recent high-profile bankruptcies such as U.S. Airways and Enron have increased the burden on the federal agency that provides insurance for corporate pension funds. Some estimates say the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. could be bankrupt by 2020. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and Joe Nocera of Fortune magazine.

Federal Pension Agency Could Go Broke by 2020

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