European efforts to resolve its debt crisis stand in disarray. France and Germany are divided over how to finance bailout programs for Greece and other highly indebted countries. The question is who will back down first.

The MTV reality show The Real World posted an ad on Craigslist earlier this week seeking Occupy Wall Street protesters as cast members. The news blog "Talking Points Memo" picked up on the posting, and called the production company to confirm. An executive there said the protest is "something that's in the zeitgeist of young people."

Critics say Microsoft is staid and lacks vision, but the company keeps churning out sizable profits. The quarterly numbers released late Thursday were driven by strong corporate sales of PCs.

President Obama first called on Congress to pass his whole jobs bill. When that failed, he started calling on lawmakers to pass it piece by piece. The measure rejected by the Senate Thursday night was aimed at helping state and local governments avoid laying off teachers and firefighters.

The nation's largest private employer will no longer provide a healthcare plan for new part-time employees, according to The New York Times. Walmart is also raising premiums for many full-time staff. The reason is rising costs, according to a company spokesman quoted in the story.

The Franco-German relationship is so dramatic — so theatrical — it's best to tell it in song.