Before you brave the nasty weather on the way to your car to start your weekend, here's some quick headlines you might have missed this week.

Public places are now smoke free.

Fewer homes sold last month.

The newest iPods were revealed this week.

If you want to hear why Sean isn't a fan of the new iPods or why Jess thinks they sound cool, take a listen to this week's podcast.

Posted in Consumer issues Jessica Milcetich Real estate Technology The working world Week in Biz Your money

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On July 4, the nation celebrated its independence. Well, it seems that some people in my neighborhood believed that the holiday extended to the liberation of lawn ornaments. At some point that night, a thief or thieves walked up to my front yard garden and stole about five gnomes. Go ahead and laugh. Yes, my front yard mulch bed had been filled with the little plastic and ceramic guys with pointed ears who prefer to wear cone-shaped hats. I had motion-sensing gnomes that spoke when you walked by, solar powered gnomes that switched on at dusk and the regular statue variety. And, they could be funny.

Posted in Real estate Sean Adkins Under Armour Your money

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With just a few hours until the weekend, it's time for your dose of business news.

Gas still too high; people want to share rides.

Local businesspeople get their groove on.

Green-collar jobs on the rise.

And for the latest from your biz staff, check out this week's podcast for a look at the real estate landscape and what first-time homebuyers need to know.

Posted in Consumer issues Gas Prices Green business Jessica Milcetich Office life On the job Real estate The working world Week in Biz Your money

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This weekend, my wife and I are planting a few trees in our backyard. We're hoping that we'll gain some privacy and add character to the yard. We decided to sink some money in fixing up the yard rather than spend cash on a vacation to some tourist trap. I think its paid off. We're getting some exercise, not wasting gas and increasing the value of our property. Have you taken a vacation this year? Can you afford the trip?

Posted in Gas Prices Real estate Sean Adkins Your money

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One of my blog buddies point out this really cool Web site. Punch in your address and it will rate your neighborhood on how car dependent it is.

My neighborhood in Manchester Township scored a pathetic 37 out of 100, which means I basically have to drive everywhere.

I plugged in the address of my friends' apartment building in the city, and they scored a whopping 88 out of 100. That means they can walk to almost anything they need.

Posted in Consumer issues Green business Jessica Milcetich Real estate

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$3.89! $3.89! $3.89!

I figured for sure it would get over the $4 hurdle this time around, but gas prices are falling pretty quickly this week. I watched a pretty steady price of $3.95, down a few from that $3.99 high, dwindle to $3.92 and now to $3.89 this morning.

Thank goodness gasoline is cheap again. Finally, I can get back to my All-American to-do list! I thought we were all in trouble there for a sec.

1. Buy a house 75 miles from my job with no money down, on a plot of land that was producing food this time last year ...

2. Get that extra credit card so we can finally afford to go out to a nice dinner on Friday and Saturday nights ...

3. Cancel that order for a Prius. That thing looks like a shipping box after a disgruntled employee vented his or her aggression anyhow. I hear Hummers are pretty cheap nowadays ...

And lastly, 4. Do something even bigger and better than 1, 2 and 3 within six months of accomplishing to-do list items 1,2 and 3.

Viva Pax Americana!

Posted in Brent Burkey Economic Outlook Food prices Green business Real estate The working world Your money

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I don't mean that I'm literally getting fatter over here, but I thought some of the information in this TreeHugger series is really interesting.

First the blog includes this map showing the obesity percentages in each state.

Posted in Consumer issues For Investors Gas Prices Jessica Milcetich Office life On the job Real estate The working world Your money

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Either to save on cost or just to have pride in a job well done, many homeowners take on do-it-yourself projects rather than call in an expert.
From bathrooms to basements, weekend contractors often attempt tackle even the most daunting home improvement ventures.
What home projects have you completed?
E-mail Sean Adkins at sadkins@ydr.com with before-and-after pictures of the your most recent home projects.
Include your name, phone number and a description of the project.

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Real estate Sean Adkins Your money

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This sheriff sale has just wrapped up. The last property has been sold, and most people here are heading out.

A few sales were postponed until later dates, but for the most part it seemed like a lot of the properties sold.

The prices of the sales ranged from a little below $2,000 to more than a million (although that was the rare exception.)

Posted in Consumer issues Jessica Milcetich Real estate Sheriff sale Your money

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We just had a bid for $1,357,000

And after that about half the room cleared out.

The ladies behind me are still here and so are the power player lady for the previous post and Sean's sources.

But this room just went from really crowded to less than half full.

Posted in Consumer issues Jessica Milcetich Real estate Sheriff sale Your money

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