In the latest labor report, 368,000 more Americans have stopped looking for work, artificially skewing the unemployment stats down. The recent report of 8.1 percent tricks the brain of the casual thinker. Try thinking about this: 12.5 million of your fellow Americans are out of work (Labor Department). Perhaps you are one of them or your child. See: www.money.cnn.com (2012 August jobs report).

It’s true: Mesa has a reputation for being somewhat of a boring bedroom community. But a report released Monday might change people’s minds about the fast-growing city with a small-town feel — and plenty of golf courses nearby.

It’s true: Mesa has a reputation for being somewhat of a boring bedroom community. But a report released Monday might change people’s minds about the fast-growing city with a small-town feel — and plenty of golf courses nearby.

It’s true: Mesa has a reputation for being somewhat of a boring bedroom community. But a report released Monday might change people’s minds about the fast-growing city with a small-town feel — and plenty of golf courses nearby.