Markets finished essentially flat yesterday after three days in rally mode.  Today it is jobs report Friday and we learn the economy added 192,000 jobs in March, both January and February were revised upward.  Governments shed 9,000 jobs and the private sector added 201,000 jobs.  As of March the private sector has regained the 8.8 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. (Reuters)

Americans complain about working too much yet they only take half their vacation time each year. The average US worker gets 10 days of vacation and 9 paid holidays.  That is on par with Canada and Japan, but much smaller than the 30 days of vacation in France and 28 days in the UK.  (Harris Interactive)

Family owned Seneca Jones Timber of Eugene is showing corporate courage in bidding on a tract of timber in the Elliott State Forrest.  Money from the sales goes to the common school fund.  Environmental extremists have threatened bidders for the land with endless lawsuits to stop management of the ground and to reduce the money that would be generated for schools. (Oregon Live)

Northwest Pipe Company has sold its “oil country tubular goods” division to a Texas company for $42.7 million.  The company says the move will allow them to concentrate on their water pipe division and its growth.  The stock was down 23 cents in yesterday’s trading. (Market Wired)