It may seem like a dream job - setting what-the-market-will-bear rates and picking and choosing assignments - but working as an independent contractor has its good and bad points.

A conceptual novelty for years, used and enjoyed by only a few home and business owners, going green is finding legitimacy in today’s world – especially in commercial business, where factors like operational costs and square footage necessitate cost-saving measures and techniques.

When it was introduced in 2006, the Dodge Caliber was so hot that buyers sometimes waited two to three months for the Belvidere-made sporty crossover. But the craze faded. And with the auto industry struggling to find U.S. buyers, Chrysler LLC sold more Calibers to fleet customers — 28,256 — than to the general public — 21,682 — in the first six months of the year.

Weekly business rail, with a look at hip-hop’s biggest earners, tips for women to boost their financial confidence and more.

If there's a downturn in the auto market, Honda doesn't know about it. While U.S. car makers closed factories and announced layoffs last year, American Honda Motor sold nearly 1.5 million vehicles, thanks to gas-friendly cars such as Civic and Accord, said Richard Colliver, American Honda's executive vice president.

She grew up on a farm in Roseville near Monmouth, where her family tended cows and pigs and grew their own vegetables. He grew up in the Longwood subdivision around Devereau Avenue in Peoria, where his mother was a District 150 administrator.

Diebold President and CEO Thomas Swidarski has seen his company beat its financial goals. It is on track to cut $100 million in costs by year’s end. All he wants to do now is cut another $100 million, while moving the company further in the service end of its core businesses.

It's not called the biggest expense of a lifetime for nothing. Purchasing a house is big bucks, and the costs associated with home ownership go far beyond initial purchase expenses and monthly mortgage payments.

Owners of kennels and pet-sitting services say a pet's health and personality are important factors when choosing between using a sitter or a kennel.

As gas prices increase, so does demand for scooters. They come in many sizes and with various levels of engine power. The most common, according to dealerships, are the 50 cc (cubic centimeter) scooters.

Weekly business rail, with a look at the new “Sims” game, tips on understanding Generation Y workers, a look at the best college football coaches for the buck and more.

Already Connecticut has seen half a billion dollars in related spending, said George Norfleet, Film Division director. And Connecticut’s tax incentive prompted neighboring states to sweeten their own film production tax breaks.

If you type “free Web site” into a search engine, you’re going to find plenty of ways to build a Web site on the cheap. If, however, you want a high-quality Web site that you fully control – with your own domain name and without someone else’s graphics and advertisements – it’s probably going to cost you something.

It probably seems as if you just started your career and here you are making plans for retirement. A great deal of preparation is required to move into this next phase of life. By avoiding a few common retirement planning missteps, your so-called “golden” years might shine a little brighter.

I own a 2008 Ford F250 diesel and am interested in buying a programmer for more power and fuel economy. Which one is the best, and do they actually produce as much power as they claim?