The U.S. economy has been hitting some bumps, and jobs still seem scarce. Workers in many industries are nervous that they may be out of work soon, thanks to cheaper labor overseas. But some economists argue that offshoring is part of free trade, and the money saved will be reinvested in new job-creating businesses at home. Here's a look at what's new in the jobs debate from around the Web. (Some links may require registration or subscriptions.)

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HAZZARD'S HIRE: Country Music Television has found their good ol' boy. We told you in March about CMT's quest for a VP of the Dukes of Hazzard Institute whose primary responsibilities include watching reruns and blogging about the show. Curious how New York office temp Christopher Nelson bested nearly 2,000 other hopefuls? A slew of original ideas and a fictional, mustachioed character named Slick landed him his dream job. For his application, Mr. Nelson created a character, called Slick, and a Web site to support Slick's candidacy for the position, slickforvp.org. On the site's homepage, Slick (a.k.a. Mr. Nelson in Western gear and fake mustache) stood in front of a private jet digitally painted to look like the General Lee. Slick also laid out his positions on several social issues. CNN reports, "Most of the planks in Slick's 'campaign platform' could be considered offensive to a significant number of people, so we'll just share one... 'Legalize prostitution as long as it's in an RV...' and leave it at that." Read Mr. Nelson's application.

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BOREDOM KILLS: Unstimulating jobs sure make workdays drag, but can they actually be hazardous to your health? New research from a team at University College London suggests that "those trapped in dead-end jobs develop hearts that are unaccustomed to fluctuations experienced by employees who regularly deal with difficult or demanding situations." The study tracked the average heart rates of 2,000 civil servants with varying degrees of responsibility under different conditions.

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OUTSOURCING TAKES A TRIP: Travel agent Tommy Cook has an interesting idea: plan a vacation abroad you can't afford and then send a local on the trip for a fraction of the cost. You choose the hotel, the excursions, the souvenirs, while at the same time employing needy people in poorer countries all over the world. He explains the cost savings to the Washington Post's Art Buchwald. "This is the Great Wall of China Trip. A Chinese guide in Beijing will visit the Great Wall and send you pictures of it. He will also go to Shanghai and Hong Kong. If you took this trip, it would cost $3,000. My man would do it for $130."

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ENTER THE GIANT: Wal-Mart is making its first foray into the Harbor Gateway area, a community of under 40,000 located in the city of Los Angeles. The Daily Breeze reports that the arrival of the retail giant represents low prices and opportunity for some, but back-breaking wages and hidden costs to others. Nearly 4,000 people applied for a job at the new Harbor Gateway store, 10 times the number of positions that were available. The 414 people who were lucky enough to land jobs seem happy to be wearing a blue vest at the end of the day. Shameka Peters, a single mother raising two kids, says with a smile, Wal-Mart pays "a lot more than unemployment."

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WORST JOB EVER: The National Consumers League recently released its list of the "Five Worst Teen Jobs." Agricultural field work topped the list, with the agricultural industry accounting for 42% of all work-related fatalities of young workers between 1992 and 2000. Rounding out the top five was construction work, landscaping, driver/operator of forklifts and tractors, and door-to-door sales jobs. CareerJournal.com recently set out to list some of the best and worst jobs. While a well-paying actuary job ranked high, the physically demanding, high-risk job of a cowboy brought up the rear. One cowboy, however, disagrees with the critics.

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LOOKING AHEAD: Technology outsourcing is expected to increase this year despite declining satisfaction with offshore providers, a new survey shows. The survey of over 450 executives conducted by consulting firm DiamondCluster also found that while the U.S. and India remain the largest hotspots for outsourcing, China has emerged as another alternative. A Manpower survey found that 57% of U.S. firms see no change in third-quarter staff levels, while 31% plan to increase hiring.

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HARSH REALITY: Have you ever dreamed of becoming a rock star or an heir/heiress? Competition is heating up this summer for some dream jobs on reality television. USA Today takes a look at what prospective candidates have to go through to get these coveted gigs. In an "American Idol"-style audition, the winner of "Rock Star: INXS" will become the lead singer of the rock group INXS, go on a world-wide concert tour with the band and be part of the group's new album. (The band's former frontman, Michael Hutchence, killed himself in 1997.) Meanwhile, good manners, knowledge of table settings and other skills can win you a $200,000 trust fund in "I Want to Be a Hilton."

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BEHIND THE TOONS: Animated film "Madagascar" has grossed more than $120 million at the box office featuring the voices of stars such as Ben Stiller and Chris Rock. While the star appeal of celebrity voices may be a nice way for actors to share their talent with a G-rated audience, some professional voice actors are complaining that they are being left out in the cartoon cold. "Nowadays, you can be unbelievable and you still won't get a job in an animated cartoon, 'cause you have to be a celebrity now," Billy West, a voice-over artist, told Fox News.

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GET IN THE GAME: On July 15, gamers will have a new challenge -- and possibility a new career opportunity. The Navy Recruiting Command is launching an online video game to build interest and awareness of high-tech jobs with their branch of the military. The Department of Defense reports that the game, Navy Training Exercise Strike and Retrieve, will give 17- to 24-year-olds a chance to participate in a "highly sensitive, top secret" mission. Players will attempt to locate and secure documents from a downed plane, while navigating underwater terrain, battling sea creatures and racing enemy soldiers. To search for special codes, players will be directed to Navy.com, where recruiters hope they'll read up about job opportunities.

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BACKGROUND CHECKS: After several recent reports of data theft and bank fraud, India's outsourcing industry is taking steps to prevent future crimes. Information on employees in the industry will be compiled in a central database, a trade body said. Once the system is up and running, companies will be able to run background checks on potential employees. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that within four years, India could be facing a labor shortage of a quarter million workers. A federal Planning Commission official said only a fraction of India's graduates are ready to be employed straight out of school. The president of India's technology trade body, the National Association of Software and Services Companies says, "Companies are able to select only eight or nine people out of 100 who apply."

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BUMPING JOBS: Outsourcing has taken hold of the travel industry, and sometimes, it's costing companies customers. As the New York Times reports, United Airlines million-mile frequent-flier David Fink recently showed up five hours early for a flight, hoping to get a standby spot on an earlier flight. The ticket agent told him to buy a seat on Independence Air if he wanted to leave early. The agent wasn't a United employee, but rather a subcontracted employee. Airlines and other travel companies have been contracting out jobs like loading baggage for years, but recently, outsourcing has expanded to positions that involve contact with customers, as well. And analysts predict outsourcing in travel and tourism will increase 12% to 15% every year through 2008.