Those "Pop Up" Halloween Stores are Popping Up Around Atlanta

The job market is tough, but there is a welcoming sight all across the country and especially here in Atlanta. Halloween stores are opening all over the area and providing the unemployed a job during these trying times. Halloween Thrills is one of the seasonal stores opening in the area providing both jobs for the unemployed and the filling of vacant retail locations.

To date, Halloween Thrills has hired 20 temporary employees in the Atlanta area. "We've received several hundred applications and have only 60 positions to fill for our three locations at Atlantic Station, Roswell, and Kennesaw," said Al Adkisson, who runs a chain of local Halloween Thrills retail stores in the Metro Atlanta Area. “And, it's not just people looking for an extra job. For a lot of people that work for us, it is the job that's holding them over until they can find something permanent," Adkisson said.

With Atlanta's 10.4 percent retail vacancy rate, temporary stores, like Halloween Thrills, have found a niche. They come in, pay rent for a couple months and then disappear until the next Halloween season. While not a permanent tenant, these seasonal stores offer a boost to the economy every year and landlords and management companies are more than willing to lease the space.

If you didn't know, Halloween is huge.  According to the National Retail Federation, it is estimated that Americans will spend $5.8 Billion this year for Halloween. Not only costumes for adults and children, many are also dressing up their pet or decorating for Trick-or-Treat and Halloween parties. The stores are already fully stocked with a huge selection of costumes for both adults and children and have a wide variety of accessories for the customer who likes to design their own

Craigslist Ad Finds Tennis Pro Looking for Practice Partner

This one caught me a little off guard.

A Craigslist post over the weekend shows that a WTA player who will be playing in the U.S. Open was looking for a sparring partner over the weekend.  Someone actually had to post this?

Wonder if will leak out who this player was.

Lifeguard Sues Beacuse of Skimpy Swim Trunks

A 61-year-old New York man says he lost his job as a lifeguard when he refused to wear skimpy swim trunks for the annual swim test.

Roy Lester tells the New York Daily News, he was forced out of the job after 40 years in 2007 when he wanted to take the swim test in biking shorts instead of the tiny swim trunks.

He filed a lawsuit against the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 2009. The lawsuit had been dismissed but was reinstated by an appeals court last week.

Lester is a triathlete, but says no one his age should be wearing tiny trunks. He says the bathing suit requirement was aimed at getting rid of older lifeguards.

State officials declined to comment.

What could these shorts possibly look like?

A New Candidate for President...Roseanne Barr

Heck with everything that is going on in our country, maybe we need a Roseanne Barr type running for President.

Or perhaps, Roseanne herself.

Has Tom Arnold chimed in on this yet?

Jane Lynch to Host Emmy Awards

Organizers announced Thursday that Lynch would host the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards, airing live from Los Angeles on Sept. 18.

Lynch, a veteran comedic actress now best known for portraying the take-no-prisoners cheerleading coach on TV hit Glee, said she was "tickled pink" by the hosting gig.

"I'm looking forward to singing, dancing and sporting my finest tracksuit," she said in a statement, referring to her character's preferred garb.

Prolific film and television star Lynch took part in past Emmy host Jimmy Fallon's pre-taped and live opening number for the 2010 ceremony, at which she later earned an Emmy for best supporting actress.  She also won a Golden Globe for the role.

"Jane was my first — and only — choice as the host," said reality TV guru and Emmy executive producer Mark Burnett.

"She has incredible comedic timing and is a charismatic, talented actress whose energy leaps off the screen and stage."

Emmy nominations will be announced July 14.