A Crane Strain

This morning, the Associated Press sets out to prove that things are looking up downtown -- by revealing how high the demand is for folks to swing that jib and drop that hook 'round these parts. "In Dallas there's more tower cranes up now than I think there's ever been," says Turner Construction's Sam Latona, and keeping them moving is difficult these days due to "booming commercial construction, an aging workforce and more certification requirements," reports the AP.

Turns out that while the home-building market may be in a slowdown, developers are all about building downtown hotels and high-rises. Pay's good too: $21 an hour, plus bennies, and in Texas you don't need a license to operate a crane, just a certification card. So, be seein' ya. --Robert Wilonsky