Shoppers are discovering the joys of secondhand stores. Only people short on cash used to frequent such shops. Now ordinary shoppers are hunting for used bargains. And the shops sell not just clothing and kitchen supplies, but also audio equipment, musical instruments, and computers. What’s more, all products are tested by shop employees. If customers are not happy with an item, they have 30 days to return it. “We spent a lot on shelves, lighting, and layout to make our store look nicer than a typical secondhand store,” said the owner of Nine Lives, a secondhand store in New York. “The atmosphere and the quality of the products are like a real department store,” said one regular Nine Lives customer. No longer are shoppers afraid of the word “used.”

PenTech seeks a skilled part-time web designer with at least 2 years of experience who is responsible, disciplined, and able to work from home. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an excellent understanding of HTML and CSS. Basic understanding of Japanese is preferred but not required. Work hours are flexible with a minimum of 12 hours per week. Work can be done from anywhere, as long as you can be contacted during business hours. You must have a bank account in Japan. Base pay will start from $13/hr. If you are interested in this position, send your resume and cover letter to pen@aabxyz.com. If you have any questions about this job, call 123-456-789 and ask for Bob White. You will be required to take a short test online. (No preparation required.) Only interested parties will be contacted.

Australia is a very dry country. So water restrictions are in place in many regions in response to chronic drought. These rules differ from state to state. Because of the water shortage, people try to use less water in their everyday life. Washing dishes is one example. Many people wash dishes in warm sudsy water and then skip rinsing them. They shake off the suds and then place the dishes directly on the rack. Some people would be surprised to see this unique way of washing dishes. But it’s a very eco-friendly way of using less water and less detergent.

“Without You” is K.J.’s fifth single. One of the leading pop singers in Japan, K.J. is best known for his catchy melodies. “Without You” is no exception. But in this song, he also focuses on the lyrics. “This song has a story within, the story of my first love,” he said in one interview. As always, you can see his pursuit of the “simple is best” concept. This song is also his first attempt to sing in a band. For those used to seeing him perform solo with a guitar, his performance with a band might come as a surprise. The CD also comes with a karaoke version of “Without You,” and a remix of his latest hit, “If Only.” Based on his true life experience, this song will be another one of his masterpieces. It’s definitely a must-buy!