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Hi everyone! This is Jess filling in for Ginger today!

You might remember several weeks ago when I introduced you to a video contest we were running at USA.gov.

Well, I’m really excited to announce that we have a winning video.

Peter Sullivan from Nashville, TN put together this great video that tells the fictional story of a man who moved into a new neighborhood and wanted to get in touch with his representative.

Peter worked on this video around his family’s schedule and even made sure to include his kids.

I encourage you to check out the video and if you want to learn more about how Peter made the video, check out his interview with Federal News Radio.

EeePad is go, according to ASUS’ Chairman Jerry Shen, who will be showing it off this June at Computex as planned. However, a launch date has also been mentioned by the Taiwanese—an early-sounding late July. More »

Bernanke has kept U.S. interest rates ultra-low for years, and if he had his druthers, he’d probably keep them there forever. But dissent is building within the Fed.

The Economist says this makes an interest rate hike more likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Economist:

The most vocal dissident is Thomas Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Fed’s longest-serving policymaker, who has twice formally objected to the Fed’s “extended period” language. That commitment plus zero rates, he explained on April 7th, lead “banks and investors to search for yield… take on additional risk [and] increase leverage”. He argued the Fed should soon raise rates to 1% to “end the borrowing subsidy”.

The next day Narayana Kocherlakota, president of the Minneapolis Fed, voiced a different concern: that the excess bank reserves created by the Fed’s MBS purchases create the potential for high inflation. He advocated selling $15 billion-25 billion of MBS a month, which would clear the Fed’s inventory in five years instead of the 30 it would take for the bonds to mature.

Read more here >

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	Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 crossover revealed Tasty.		Officially Official: Japan EV Club Mira sets Guinness distance record The little kei car goes 345+ miles on a single charge.
	GM’s R&D head says Voltec powertrain not suitable for vehicles bigger, smaller than Volt But it is still good for the Volt, right?	Other news: Beijing 2010: Chevrolet adds five-door hatch to New Sail lineup Earth Day Prizelust: Tesla Roadster on “Price is Right” is most expensive freebie ever BMW confirms Megacity electric car for 2013

AutoblogGreen for 04.23.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re one of the millions of BlackBerry users dying to get their hands on RIM’s upcoming OS 6.0, you may have to wait a little longer, but until then Ryan Hamrick has designed an OS 6.0 inspired theme for the BlackBerry Bold 9700, Curve 8900, Tour 9630, and Storm series. It features premium crisp icons, which look pretty close to the screenshots of OS 6.0! It’s quite a nice theme and can be yours for only $4.99. If you want to grab a copy of I Dream of 6 follow the link below.

Check out I Dream of 6 in the BBSync Store for $4.99

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I Dream of 6 – BlackBerry OS 6.0 Inspired Theme is Now Available!

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Filed under: Health, Healthy Eating, 30-Day Nutrition Challenge

The following is an email conversation between one of our participants in the 30-Day Challenge, Carole and the Healthy Foodie. It’s presented here so others participating in the challenge can get some helpful tips and advice. If you missed our other … Read more

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We’ve already discussed the (finally) officially released draft of ACTA — which only came out after a ridiculous amount of public pressure, multiple leaks and a total beatdown by the European Parliament. While the official version shows that the leaked versions were quite accurate (this version only has the few changes made at the recent New Zealand negotiations, which came after the leaks), some are noticing what’s missing. Jamie Love is pointing out that the leaked versions clearly showed which countries were pushing for which provisions. But the different country positions have been conveniently deleted from the “official version”:

“It’s late, very late, and missing a key element of transparency — the country positions. Governments had to be forced by civil society groups to make the ACTA text public. Let’s hope that the precedent for the future is to publish the texts, and to publish them much sooner. Now that the text is out, it will be easier to have public debates about its contents. It is unfortunate that the country positions were eliminated from the published version, but positions as recent as January 2010 are available from the earlier leaked texts…. Clearly the text goes way beyond counterfeiting and copyright piracy, into several categories of intellectual property rights, including patents, semi conductor chip designs, pharmaceutical test data and other topics. Governments should engage with consumer groups, civil rights organizations, educators, libraries, generic drug manufacturers, technology companies and others to re-balance the text, or abandon the negotiation if this is not possible in the current political environment.”

Once again, it looks like this “transparency” isn’t quite as transparent as ACTA supporters would like you to believe.

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Howard Lovy wrote:

Don’t get Randal Charlton wrong. The executive director at the TechTown business incubator in Detroit is thankful for a recent announcement of $5 million coming his way to help graduates of his FastTrac business training program launch their companies. But, he says, look at it this way: The money, granted by the New Economy Initiative, a Detroit-area philanthropic partnership, is not being thrown at comfortable entrepreneurs. This is, essentially, aid to the unemployed. And, as such, $5 million barely scratches the surface.

Many of the entrepreneurs to be helped by the First Step Fund, the entity created by NEI’s $5 million investment, are not launching startups because it seems like a promising thing to do. They have nowhere else to go, Charlton says. Their former jobs in the auto industry are gone, never to return. Their choices are to leave the state or try to create their own jobs in Michigan.

In the world outside Detroit, Charlton says, the national unemployment rate of 10 percent is a grim figure that conjures images of the Great Depression. Inside the alternate economic universe of Detroit, with a 15 percent unemployment rate, that 10 percent figure would hail a new era. “If we could get down to 10 percent unemployment in the city of Detroit in the next three years, we’d be holding block parties to celebrate,” Charlton says.

So, March’s announcement of a $5 million investment from the New Economy Initiative to create the First Step Fund is just that-a first step, Charlton says.

The companies chosen to take that first step are:

• Air Movement Systems of Southgate, MI, which develops and sells thermal recovery systems.
• Current Motor Co. of Ypsilanti, MI, which designs and sells, electric mopeds and scooters.
• Clean Emission Fluids of Detroit, which designs and sells fuel blending systems for biofuel dispensing stations.
• NextCAT of Detroit, a Wayne State University startup whose catalyst technology allows for low-cost production of biofuels.

Charlton’s TechTown has been basking in positive international media attention lately as it attempts to fling startups out into the world. Or, as Charlton puts it, each new company is a “bet,” since many …Next Page »

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UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS

Elecite has a very creative team of designers, and the team just announced their latest creation called Polygon. This premium theme features a unique cell structure with a futuristic red colored interlaced. It’s available for the BlackBerry Curve 8900, Bold 9000, Bold 9700, Storm, Storm2, and 9600 series. Here’s a quick excerpt about the theme:

All of the homescreen icons in Polygon are organized in a cell system. Each icon you see represents a category that once clicked, reveals a handful of icons. This allows for quick access to your social, communication, media, options and more, a grand total of 18-19 icons.

Got an app that you’d like on the homescreen that isn’t there already? This theme adapts to you. Just move the icon to the top of your application list and it will be visible in one of the 6 slots in the custom category (star icon).

What’s even better is you can grab the Polygon theme from Elecite right from the BBSync Store for $6.99 – and if you hurry you can still get 20% off with BBSync’s Birthday Coupon Code “bbsyncbday3″ at the checkout.

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Berkshire Hathaway director Thomas Murphy has said that Warren Buffett still has faith in Goldman Sachs, and that Buffett is not worried about fraud accusations leveled at the company.

Bloomberg:

“He’s not concerned with the investment at all,” Murphy, 84, said in a Bloomberg Television interview, citing a telephone conversation with Buffett, Berkshire’s chief executive officer. “He has to see what’s going to happen on it, but I think he has great confidence in Goldman,” Murphy said.

The two men spoke after the Securities and Exchange Commission announced its lawsuit on April 16, Murphy said. Buffett, a longstanding Wall Street critic, has supported a firm that’s become a lightning rod for politicians and people who feel cheated by the recession. Public regard for Goldman Sachs, the most profitable firm in Wall Street history, has plummeted in the year and a half since Buffett, 79, provided the company with capital in the depths of the financial crisis.

“I think he’s awfully secure” in Berkshire’s Goldman Sachs holdings, said Glenn Tongue, a partner at T2 Partners LLC, which invests in Buffett’s firm. “He assessed the culture of Goldman Sachs when he made the investment. He had known the company for decades.”

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The effects of the decision to stop censoring results in China are already starting to be felt at Google. According to new studies, Google lost a big slice of the search-ad market in the first quarter of the year, the first decline since the second quarter of 2009. It’s now clear that advertisers are worried that Google may … (read more)

Most motorcycle boots look tough, but clunky. If you’re going for that bad-boy vibe, but want a sleeker look, check out the new Vitesse motorcycle books. They not only look cool, but they’re practical as ell.

Vitesse – which bills itself as Europe’s avant-garde motorcycle boot company – was inspired by iconic footwear such as work shoes, English gentlemen boots and vintage sneakers.

Because lower leg traumas are the most frequent injuries when crashing on a motorcycle, Vitesse has invented the V-Cockpit, an ankle management device that offers riders protection and comfort. V-Cockpit is featured on every single Vitesse boot, because a crash on a moped can be as bad as a crash on a sport-bike.

The Vitesse boots cost 175 euro (about $240) and can only be purchased directly from the Vitesse Moto Store.

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Today YouTube is celebrating its fifth birthday. Exactly five years ago, a 19-second clip called ‘Me at the Zoo’ was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim, after a visit to the San Diego Zoo. Back then, Mr. Karim was employed at PayPal. Here’s the historic video:

This video is also a throwback to YouTube’s humble beginnings. Although YouTube is now big enough to attract movie premiers and live events, for me the biggest draw of YouTube remains its odd amateur videos. It has spawned innumerable viral sensations including the JK wedding entrance dance, the Numa Numa kid, David after dentist and the keyboard cat. And, I am sure we will see more in the years to come. Happy Birthday YouTube!

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With all the other investment strategies out there, why should investors consider dividend or income investing? There are a multitude of reasons to follow a dividend growth strategy. These include: investment stability, security of cash, continuous feedback, potential higher returns, low maintenance, et. al. But for me the most important reason is the inflation hedge that a growing dividend will provide in my retirement years.

Below are several companies building an inflation hedge for their shareholders by increasing their cash dividends:

TransMontaigne Partners (TLP) provides terminaling, storage and related services to petroleum related companies. April 16th the company increased its quarterly distribution 2% to $0.60/share. The distribution is payable on May 11, 2010 to unitholders of record on April 30, 2010. The ex-distribution date is April 28, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 8.21%.

Citizens & Northern Corp. (CZNC) provides banking and mortgage services to individuals and corporate customers in Pennsylvania and New York. April 19th raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.09/share. The dividend is payable May 14, 2010 to shareholders of record as of May 3, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 29. The yield based on the new payout is 2.94%.

Procter & Gamble (PG) is a leading consumer products company markets household and personal care products in more than 180 countries. April 19th the company increases its quarterly dividend 9.5% to $0.4818/share. The dividend is payable on or after May 17, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2010. The ex-dividend date is April 28, 2010. PG is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 54 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.05%.

Magellan Midstream Partners (MMP) is engaged in the transportation, storage and distribution of refined petroleum products primarily through its 9,500-mile pipeline system. April 21st the partnership increases its quarterly distribution 1% to $0.72/share. The distribution is payable May 14 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 7. The ex-dividend date is May 5, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 6.00%.

Sonoco (SON) is a manufacturer of paper and plastic packaging products serves various industries. April 21st the company
raised its quarterly dividend 3.7% to $0.28/share. The dividend is payable June 10, 2010, to shareholders of record as of May 14, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 12. The dividend yield moves from 3.26% to 3.38%. SON is a Dividend Achiever and has paid a higher dividend for 27 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.42%.

Renaissance Learning (RLRN) company provides computer-based assessment and periodic progress monitoring technology for pre-kindergarten through senior high schools and districts in North America. April 21st the company raised its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.08/share. The dividend is payable June 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of May 7, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 5. The yield based on the new payout is 2.05%.

LSB Corp. (LSBX) provides various financial products and services to the general public primarily in Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. April 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.09/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.73%.

Fidelity National (FNF) is a provider of title insurance, specialty insurance, claims management services and information services. April 21st the company increased its quarterly dividend to $0.18/share. The yield based on the new payout is 4.76%.

Kinder Morgan (KMP) is one of the largest pipeline master limited partnerships (MLPs) in the U.S. April 21st the partnership raised its quarterly distribution to$1.07/unit. KMP is a Dividend Achiever and has paid a higher dividend for 13 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 6.29%.

Ensco (ESV) provides offshore contract drilling services to the oil and gas industry worldwide. April 22nd the company increased its dividend to $0.35/share. The dividend is payable on 18 June 2010 to holders of Ensco’s American depositary shares (ADSs) as of the 7 June 2010 record date. The ex-dividend date is June 3, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 2.78%.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is a leader in the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer products industries. April 22nd the company increases its quarterly dividend 10.2% to $0.54/share. The dividend is payable on June 15, 2010 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 28, 2010. JNJ is a Dividend Aristocrat and has raised its dividend for 48 consecutive years. The yield based on the new payout is 3.33%. See detailed Analysis here.

Sensient Tech. (SXT) produces flavors, colors and fragrances for businesses operating in various industries, including food, pharmaceutical and personal care. April 22nd the company increased its quarterly dividend 5.3% to $0.20/share. The dividend is payable on June 1, 2010, to shareholders of record on May 6, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 3. The yield based on the new payout is 2.53%.

Arch Coal (ACI) the second largest U.S. coal producer. April 22nd the company raised it quarterly dividend 11% to $0.10/share. The dividend is payable June 15 to shareholders of record on June 1. The ex-dividend date is May 28. The yield based on the new payout is 1.45%.

Artesian Resources Corp. (ARTNA) distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal, and utility customers in the state of Delaware. April 22nd the company increases its quarterly dividend to $0.19/share. The dividend is payable on May 21, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 7, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 5, 2010. The yield based on the new payout is 4.19%.

J. M. Smucker (SJM) products include coffee, fruit spreads, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, health and natural foods, and beverages. April 22nd the company increases its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.40/share. The dividend is payable on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Friday, May 14, 2010. The ex-dividend date is May 12, 2010. SMJ is a Dividend Achiever. The yield based on the new payout is 2.54%.

STMicroelectronics (STM) is a global semiconductor company makes various semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices. April 22nd the company increased its annual dividend to $0.28/share. The yield based on the new payout is 2.68%.

For a stock to be an effective inflation hedge it must raise its dividend each year in excess of the inflation rate. For a list of stocks with a long string of consecutive cash dividend increases, see this list.

Full Disclosure: Long PG, JNJ. See a list of all my income holdings here.

(Photo Credit)

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LONDON  The second round of the US-style TV debates between contenders for the UK Prime Minister job is over.

Friday morning British newspaper headlines and instant polls gave the edge to Conservative party challenger David Cameron. “Cameron Wins with Passion,” The Daily Express declared.

Third party Liberal Democrat challenger Nick Clegg, who did so well in the first debate last week, fended off some tougher-sounding  opponents. “Clegg Weathers the Storm,” announced the Guardian.

As for incumbent Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the best he could hope for is that the “…Election becomes a Three Horse Race” as The Financial Times noted.

The debate ran on Fox News sister network Sky News which led the fight for the first-ever party leader face-offs.  They’ve become a big hit here and have made a difference in the campaign.

Last night’s theme was foreign policy. For folks here, how close the UK should be to the troubled European Union was a major point.

The argument over how to handle immigration became as heated as in the States.   A proposal from Nick Clegg for an amnesty for illegal immigrants was batted down by his rivals. 

The US was only a blip in the foreign policy discussion.  Clegg got a bit of heat for his suggestion that the UK’s relationship with America is too close.       

But mostly, US viewers would have been at home with the good old-fashioned politicking on display.

Poll leader Cameron played to the camera like any American debate participant, and acted, if not Presidential, than Prime Ministerial, which is what he wanted. 

Nick Clegg continued to use the equal time debate format to grow his stature like third-party candidate Ross Perot did in the 1992 US Presidential debates.

The un-telegenic Prime Minister Brown, who continues to look a bit like Richard Nixon in the famous 1960 TV duel with John Kennedy, literally tried to put a “brave face” on it all and upped his game a bit.

What was the main catch phrase of the night coming from all three?  You guessed it, “Change”    Maybe even change Brits can believe in… 

…In between the soccer match, the prime time soap opera, and the rare mild UK spring evening, which competed with the debate for attention.

The last debate of the campaign is next week. Election day is May 6^th.

European markets are up as Greece has confirmed that it will formally ask the IMF for help. U.S. futures are up as well so far. Gold and oil are down very slightly, at $1140 and $83.60 respectively.

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HTC passes on buying Palm (PALM), now hope turns to Lenovo. (Not all that many options left, though).  Meanwhile, Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein is doing his best to try to say that company won’t be completely screwed if a buyer can’t be found.

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Karl Schembri looks at the dangers of using portable generators during the electricity crisis in Gaza.

A shop selling portable generators in Gaza City. Photo: Karl Schembri/Oxfam

Oxfam has just launched an awareness-raising campaign for Palestinians in Gaza about the dangers of using portable generators. They have become widely used because of the electricity crisis caused by the Israeli blockade, and by a funding gap for the purchase of the industrial fuel needed to operate Gaza’s sole power plant. As a consequence, Palestinians are increasingly using generators to power their homes and work places to continue to live as normally as possible. However, the misuse of some generators resulted in 75 deaths last year according to the Gazan authorities, and 15 fatalities were reported in the first two months of this year alone – mainly from fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

One portable generator produces as much carbon monoxide as several hundred cars. It is an odourless and invisible gas that kills within minutes. Approaching working generators with a flame or while smoking has already provoked deadly fires in many households. This has prompted Oxfam, together with local partners, to launch an information campaign across the Gaza Strip, distributing brochures and posters to shops, public places, hospitals and schools, and directly to many families.

The main slogan adopted for the campaign is: “Its place is outside. Generators in closed areas kill people. Don’t be the next victim.” The brochures outline step-by-step instructions on how to operate the generator safely before, during and after switching it on.

You will need the latest version of Flash to use the audio player.

Oxfam in action: Gaza Humanitarian crisis

Where we work: The occupied Palestinian territories and Israel

Podcast transcript

This is the sound of blackouts in Gaza. Shops – offices and houses – equipped with mobile generators as daily power cuts disrupt life in the Gaza Strip.

Smuggled from Egypt through the tunnels, generators have become a part of daily life here.

Since the European Union stopped funding Gaza’s energy last December, the fuel needed to operate Gaza’s power plant remains in short supply, forcing people to find their own energy sources.

But besides the headache that comes with the pervasive noise of generators, the rise in their use is also creating new victims.

Last year, a total of 75 Palestinians died from carbon monoxide gas poisoning or fires from generators, and 15 died and 27 people were injured in the first two months of this year.

Enaam Abu Nida, an Oxfam worker in Gaza, nearly died together with her 20-year-old daughter, from the lethal gas coming out of their generator at home.

“When the electricity turned off I had necessary work because I work as a volunteer. In that time I asked my husband to run the generator and to close the door because I was afraid it would be noisy for my neighbours, and worked for about two and a half hours without feeling any dangerous things for me or for my daughter. But suddenly my daughter said to me that she felt tired and had a headache. When I stood up to help her she fell down. I couldn’t stand up to help her because I felt very tired. I’m lucky because my son walked in at that time. I said to him “hurry to your sister”. He called his father to turn off the generator. The problem was from the generator. They took us to hospital and we spent from 3am till 2.30pm, and they gave us oxygen and treatment.”

To prevent more accidents, Oxfam has just launched an awareness campaign informing Palestinians on how to use their generators safely – with messages urging users to keep the machines outside and away from flames.

Oxfam’s food security assistant Basil Kanoa:

“Now Oxfam is working on a community awareness campaign regarding the best use of generators and how to decrease the accidents among the population. We observed some problems brought about by the misuse of generators that lead to death cases because of carbon monoxide poisoning. We will use our community awareness campaign, distributing our brochures and posters among targeted beneficiaries.”

Brochures and posters giving step-by-step instructions on how to use generators are being distributed in shops, clinics, schools and mosques. Oxfam is also distributing the material to thousands of families through its main partners in Gaza.

Enaam says she now wants to use her experience to warn others about generator safety.

“I have learnt and I want to teach many people: take care about generators, don’t put it inside, don’t let children near, or smoke or light fire next to the generators, and it must be outside the room.”

Karl Schembri in Gaza for Oxfam

Don’t listen to people saying the market isn’t reacting to news that Greece will formally ask the IMF for help. The Euro may not look like it has done much over the last 24 hours…

But… Greek 10-year bonds are rallying hard. They had hit 8.80% last night, they were 8.15% just 30 minutes ago, and now they have broken down below 8% according to Bloomberg. Greek bond traders are clearly loving even the latest confirmation. Yields have now gone from 8.80% yesterday now below 8%:

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