Beth Braverman

‘I’m feeling very optimistic,’ says fired Village Voice columnist Michael Musto

jimromenesko.com — Michael Musto, who was laid off from the Village Voice last week, tells HuffPost Live: "This outpouring [of support] is amazing. I feel like I'm reading my own obituary while still alive. ... I went from tears of horror to absolutely being buoyed by the joy of everyone I've ever written about, or who has read my column, coming out to support me."

Amateur investors tap 401(k)s to buy homes

money.cnn.com — In order to get in on hot housing markets, amateur investors are buying up homes and taking risky measures -- like tapping their retirement accounts -- to fund the deals. "We're seeing many people cash out 401(k)s or IRAs because they want to take advantage of the market," said Sean Galaris of financial services firm LM Funding, based in New York and Miami.

The Debt Ceiling: What Exactly Is It?

thefiscaltimes.com — Photo: Emily Flake/The Fiscal Times President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner did not wrap-up negotiations or hostilities with the New Year's Day agreement on the fiscal cliff. Lawmakers still have to raise the debt ceiling to keep the government operating. WHAT IS THE DEBT CEILING?

Welcome to the ‘Jobless’ U.S. Manufacturing Boom

thefiscaltimes.com — The new manufacturing robot named Baxter from Rethink Robotics will completely change manufacturing as we know it - and more industries are soon to follow.

When paying more stops paying off

washingtonpost.com — Everyone likes money. Ask people who say they don't care about money if they've ever turned down a raise. Wait for the awkward pause. But money is funny, too. However much it can motivate people to work harder and better, it also has curious-and sometimes counterproductive-effects on their performance.