We all know how the rotten economy is affecting homeowners, and sky high fuel prices are taking their toll on all of us. Also caught in the downturn are teenagers looking for a little summer job experience. More than one and a half million teens typically look for jobs during their three month break from school. Now, with the unemployment rate nearing seven percent in California, many young people are finding this year's job market a bit daunting.
Reporter: Shia Levitt
You might think a sinking economy would be a boon to people selling their wares at low cost swap meets and flea markets -- but you'd be wrong. They're struggling too. We visit one of Huntington Beach's oldest swap meets for an audio postcard.
Reporter: Debra Baer
Music Bridge 1: "Ya Rayah (Sonar Remix)" by Dahmane El Harrachi from the CD "Sahara Lounge" (Putumayo World Music)
Though the U.S. typically dominates summer Olympic sports such as swimming, gymnastics and basketball, that's not so much the case when it comes to badminton. Still, the U.S. badminton team is undaunted. Holed up at their training center in Orange County, they've committed to raising the sport's profile in the U.S. and to beating low expectations in Beijing.
Reporter: Rob Schmitz
Music Bridge 2: "Young Man, Young Man, Look At Your Shoes" by Peter Lang, from the CD "The Thing At The Nursery Room Window" (Takoma Records)
The city of Colma, just south of San Francisco, is known for having 2,000 living residents and more than two million dead ones. The cemeteries of Colma serve as the fog-bound setting of Doug Dorst's entertaining and fantastical first novel, "Alive in Necropolis." Our book critic Oscar Villalon has a review.
Reporter: Oscar Villalon
Music Bridge 3: "Here Live No Fish" by Tango No. 9 from the CD "Here Live No Fish" (Spillhouse Records)
Musicians from as far away as Vietnam, Israel and Africa will be converging on Grass Valley for this weekend's California Worldfest. The California-based Fishtank Ensemble is on the bill too, its brand of cross-pollinated music evoking sounds from Serbia, Japan and Spain.
Reporter: Nina Thorsen
End Music: "Turkish March" by the Fishtank Ensemble from the CD "Samurai Over Serbia"
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