As the real estate landscape evolves, more and more home buyers and sellers are using auctions as an alternative to traditional home buying. Real estate auctions continue to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the auction market. According to the National Auctioneers Association, residential auctions generated $17 billion last year alone.For sellers, auctions can translate into immediate cash and no long-term carrying costs. Buyers can save time and money. A listing can typically sell within 9-12 minutes.

When I was a kid, my dad played Donkey Kong with me on our Nintendo. He wasn’t very good…. His turn would take two minutes. Then my Mario would jump barrels for a good two hours. But it was good times, good times…. just me and my dad.

Now another video game is bringing the family back together again in front of the TV. Guitar Hero is bonding 30, 40 and 50-somethings with their teens and tweens, all squealing out a little Aerosmith and Twisted Sister on the air guitar before dinner. But not only is Guitar Hero getting the family band back together – it’s also introducing kids suckled on boy bands and Britney to gracefully-aging guitar heros such as KISS’s Gene Simmons and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry.

Says a recent CNN report, Guitar Hero may be ensuring that rock-n-roll is not dead, and never dies. The report quotes Geoff Mayfield, senior analyst and director of charts for Billboard magazine, who notes, “A few weeks ago, when the game featuring Aerosmith ['Guitar Hero: Aerosmith'] came out, there was more than a 40 percent increase in their catalog sales. I expect you’ll see that again when Metallica gets the same kind of treatment in a few weeks.” Mayfield said.

So get out your heavy metal and hair band albums, kids, tweens and teens of the 80s. We’re back! Read the full CNN story.

In the early 20th century, most wives stayed at home and if you watch enough old re-runs, wore dresses every day, vacuumed in high heels and had dinner waiting on the table when their husbands arrived home from work. In the latter part of the 20th century, the women’s movement kicked in and well-educated gals traded home-cooked meals and spotless homes for long office hours and Chinese take-out.

But it seems everything that comes around, goes around, and more and more women (with and without children) are choosing to be housewives once again. Why are women putting their well-earned education and work experience aside to stay home and do laundry? Many not-so-desperate housewives say one spouse not working outside the home (or virtually) alleviates stress and allows them to put more focus on things that matter to them personally such as volunteering, being involved with their kids, pursuing creative interests and making sure their home and husbands are taken care of. And to many, that’s worth far more than a paycheck.

A recent CNN article details this growing trend. Click here to read the article in full.

Is a pillow and a blankie on a plane that much of a comfort that fliers are willing to pay $7? Survey says, “No.” And frequent fliers are flipping out over other new al a carte fees, such as paying for sodas, $10+ in-flight meals (they’re not that delicious) and charges for booking flights over the phone.

A recent USA Today survey says who does and who doesn’t charge when it comes to those items most frequent fliers just expected would always be free. Here’s an excerpt:

“The survey found that:

• Only two airlines —— Southwest and Spirit —— have no extra charge for booking a flight on the phone. Cheaper ticket prices, however, may often be available online.

• More than half the airlines charge extra for a preferred seat, such as those with extra legroom, near the front of the cabin or on an aisle.

• Most airlines do not charge a fee to book a free frequent-flier ticket online, but nearly all charge for booking on the phone.

• Most airlines do not charge for a first checked bag, but only Southwest does not charge for a second one.

• An increasing number of airlines are charging for non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, and some meals are being sold for $10 or more.”

Click here to read the article in full.

As more and more big companies look to increase production and profits while cutting jobs and their willingness to give a little bit to keep their best employees, the best employees are giving up on the companies that give less and less while wanting more and more.

A new book by former presidential speech writer David Kusnet puts workers’ growing disatisfaction in writing in “Love the Work, Hate the Job.” Read the review.

Starting in 2009, almost any word will be able to replace “.com” in a web address. This decision was recently made by ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The non-profit wants “to increase competition and choice,” notes CEO Paul Twomey.

Those wanting “.steve,” “.matrix” or “.nothing” will have to pay up though. Prices to establish these new top-level domains may start above $100,000. That’s a lot of “.cash”….

For additional information, read the recent USA Today article.

It’s no day at the beach anytime soon for Baby Boomers coming of retirement age…. According to the Kauffman Foundation, Americans ages 55 to 64 currently form small businesses at the highest rate of any age group, 28% higher than the adult average. Americans 45 to 54 also form small businesses at an above average rate.
         
Baby Boomers on average have broader job skills and more contacts than younger workers. They also have better access to capital, either from their own savings or through their work and personal networks. Boomers are also at a life stage where starting a small business is perceived as less risky and increasingly attractive for work-life balance.

A recent USA Today article says boomers are seeking encore careers that help them give back in a meaningful way to others. Strangely enough, though, this career move isn’t getting much love from the commenteers at the bottom of the page. Somebody’s got to try and make the world a better place… give the Baby Boomers a break!

Utilizing new web-based tools and popular web services, a new form of online companies called mashups has become increasingly popular. Mash-ups are companies that use online services and tools to combine data from several sources to create a new business.  
         
Housingmaps.com, for example, combines data from online classifieds on Craigslist with Google Maps to create a new consumer application. Many mash-ups are started and operated by a single person or small group.

A recent report from Forrester Research predicts that mashups will be a $700 million market by 2013. “As a result,” writes Forrester, “we expect traditional collaboration and productivity vendors like IBM and Microsoft to ultimately come to dominate the mashup platform market, rolling mashup platforms into major products like SharePoint and the Lotus application suite.”

Quick, it’s time to launch your monster mashup idea before someone else does… Get your mash on, people!

A CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey shows that approximately 75 percent of respondents ages 18 to 29 want to start their own business, while only 25 percent want to work for someone else, and each day, approximately 1,600 new businesses in the United States are started by women entrepreneurs.

Business ownership among women is growing at almost twice the rate of all business, according to a study done by the Center for Women’s Business Research. Women increasingly see entrepreneurship as an alternative to corporate life, and a means to break through the glass ceiling or balance family and work demands. 

I can see where these women and other entrepreneurs are coming from, and what they want to get out from under. Having recently had my own (bad) taste of corporate buyout and takeover, I can personally say that the individual benefits (be it good health coverage or a nice dental plan) of working for a big company don’t always outweigh those of being able to work for yourself or a small locally-owned business. A growing number of people are beginning to see via layoffs and downsizing that no matter how much your parent company makes, you are just as likely to lose your job as you would be working for a small company. I was recently offered the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder of a publishing company that had been scooped up by an industry giant, but management noted that I had to start being a cheerleader for corporate policy and mandates, rather than remaining a cheerleader for the people who continued to make the company great with their hard working, idea building blood, sweat and tears. 

I liken the offer I was given to the Star Wars scene where Darth Vader offers the emotionally blindsided Luke Skywalker his outstretched hand and says “join me, together we can rule the galaxy…” Like Luke Skywalker, I refused the hand because my heart and soul told me not to take it.Entrepreneurship seems more and more in the stars for those people burnt-out on uncaring corporate parentage. On that note, if you can’t join them, beat them…

When Transformers, Strawberry Shortcake and My Pretty Pony made a recent comeback, I cheered. Well, not so much for My Pretty Pony… but Transformers and S.S., YES!!! But like many 80s stars before her, rumor has it that Strawberry Shortcake has had a facelift… no, more like a full body lift….

Check it – S.S.’s yarn hair has been yanked for long extensions. She’s got real human hands now, mind you. Five fingers – not just a fat thumb and a mitten hand for the rest. She may be wearing Crocs, I can’t tell. And I’m sad to say, the fine kitty Custard, doesn’t appear to be around anymore. Let’s hope he got another life. Here’s to you, Custard! Good kitty….

Word on the street has it that Strawberry Shortcake’s people have plans for a big comeback for the fruit-scented princess. On top of a new toy line, S.S. gets a new computer-animated movie and a new TV series in what her reps are calling a “fruit-forward” move. They said “fruit-forward,” not me….

A recent New York Times article dishes the scoop on this 80s sweetie. Take a look…. You’re lookin’ good, Strawberry Shortcake, real good….