Quick take a peek at the bottom of your plate, bowl or mug. Do you see the Pfaltzgraff marking?

Chances are you might. These dishes seem to be everywhere.

At least that's the case for me and a few of my co-workers.

When we heard the news that the company was closing retail outlet stores and the local distribution center, we all started talking about how all of our dishes were made by that company.

I remember eating off Pfaltzgraff dishes as a kid in my parents house. What do you remember about the company? Leave a message in the comments section and let us know!

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Jessica Milcetich The working world

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Almost every child in America plays video games, according to this study. I wanted to cry when I read it. I didn't play video games, and about half my friends didn't.

But I'm willing to bet the kids who played video games in my high school class now make more money than those who didn't.

Why?

Posted in Brent Burkey On the job Technology The working world

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We learned the hard way yesterday that you can't do a whole lot of work in the modern office without a working computer network.

It didn't last long (happens to everybody at some point) but it still sparked a flurry of making backup plans, waiting for updates and other behavior akin to hunkering down during a natural disaster.

And me? I dug out that big, yellow book that's more dust-bunny habitat than directory nowadays. People still make phone books, ya know?

Of course, beyond calling a bunch of people and taking notes, I couldn't have done a whole heck of a lot. What does your office usually do when the computer network, or power for that matter, goes down?

Posted in Brent Burkey Office life The working world

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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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See that picture? Students are seeing a whole lot less of that for college in central Pennsylvania.

A private student loan agency in Carlisle is limiting student loans it allocates from here on out, and a newspaper to the north of us is reporting the business isn't taking any new loan applications.

No matter what anyone says about race or gender glass ceilings still lingering in America, the 800-pound gorilla remains having the money for a good education. (Financial disparities are part of the race and gender ceilings, and in the end, money talks.) And like everything else in America, the degrees we buy - like hammers to smash through the glass - are bought on credit.

Credit woes aren't just something confined to people who were snookered on a bad mortgage or who ran up credit card bills at the mall, although sadly, that's part of what's caused the problem. And now kids can't afford college.

The situation with CampusDoor, I'm worried, will get worse. Do you know of anyone who is having problems with student loans this year? Are you worried education will become less available to those groups historically locked into class structures, and locked out of social mobility?

Posted in Brent Burkey Economic Outlook The working world Your money

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The smoking ban goes into effect Thursday, meaning many local businesses will be snuffing out smoke for the first time.

I've got two-part question for you all.

What do you think about the smoking ban? Excited? Angry? Indifferent?

And if you're a business owner going smoke free for the first time, what kinds of changes do you have to make? And what do you plan to do with all of your ashtrays? Seriously, that's so random, but I'm really curious.

Leave a comment and let me know.

Posted in Consumer issues Jessica Milcetich The working world

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Just looking at the AAA fuel gauge report and gas prices are already creeping up in the past few days. Do we thank Gustav?

Posted in Cathy Hirko Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices The working world Your money

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My family stopped using a phone landline three years ago. And we are part of a growing market if you read Jess Milcetich's story on the reasons you either keep or ditch your landline. We did it too to save money. But the story made me revisit our cell-phone plan.

Posted in Cathy Hirko Comcast Consumer issues Economic Outlook Technology The working world Your money

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Another holiday weekend is upon us so before you head off to the beach or your backyard barbecues, here's a quick run down of what you might have missed this week.

Incomes drop a whole bunch.

Local grocery store closing.

Direct bus service to New York canceled.

Blame it on Gustav.

And of course you'll want to check out this week's podcast from the business staff. What can you expect to hear? All about shiny things and dumb people.

Posted in Consumer issues Economic Outlook Gas Prices Jessica Milcetich On the job The working world Week in Biz Your money

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My dad told me at a young age to go to college for the same reasons I imagine a whole lot of York County tells their kids:

Get a better, more stable job than working in the factory ... and financial security.

From the bottom of the labor pyramid that supports this country, where I'm proud to say my father is, the view is that if you can get through college, you'll be on easy street.

Well, yes and no. College degrees might on average earn someone more over a lifetime, but it's far from easy street. Especially for those who took huge loans because mom and dad couldn't pay for college.

Some of those horror stories appeared in today's New York Times.

So a question for those York County parents sending their kids back to college this year: Are you worried about repaying the loans you and your children have to pay for college? And do you still think a college degree is worth the cost in today's economy?

Posted in Brent Burkey Consumer issues Economic Outlook The working world Your money

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