New Weather Channel update shines on iPhone and iPad

The popular app from one of the leading sources in weather news and information, just got a great update today.

Version 5.0, available now for both iPhone/iPod Touch and for iPad, offers a whole gamut of exciting new features and its first complete redesign since its original launch back in 2009.

The new interface is slick and clean, navigation is also simpler. The app displays an immediate view of weather conditions and attempts to convey the feel of the weather visually. It also offers increased personalization and social integration.

Cameron Clayton, executive vice president of digital product at The Weather Channel companies states, ?We?ve made changes based on consumer feedback to engage users through a deeper and more emotional weather experience.?

Other new and improved features of The Weather Channel?s iOS apps include automatic updates based on your location, improved management of saved locations, the ability to personalize the background of the app with your own photos, and better notifications of severe weather conditions.

Both apps are free and ad-supported, the iPhone version featuring heavy sponsorship from Lexus. The $3.99 ad-free Weather Channel Max app doesn?t appear to have been updated yet, however.

Discover great iOS games here

mindy mccready mindy mccready cliff harris cliff harris josh turner barnaby barnaby

Louis C.K., Bjork among Webby Awards winners

FILE -- In a Tuesday, June 1, 2010 file photo, Bjork attends Marina Abramovic's "The Artist is Present" exhibition closing party hosted by Givenchy at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Bjork won a 2012 Webby Award for Artist of the Year. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

FILE -- In a Tuesday, June 1, 2010 file photo, Bjork attends Marina Abramovic's "The Artist is Present" exhibition closing party hosted by Givenchy at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Bjork won a 2012 Webby Award for Artist of the Year. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)

(AP) ? When Louis C.K. released his comedy special "Live at the Beacon Theater" by himself on his website for $5, it was little more than a cautiously optimistic experiment.

Less than two weeks later, it had reaped more than $1 million. Already among the most respected stand-ups in the country, Louis C.K. was suddenly a new media trailblazer, too.

On Tuesday, the Webby Awards announced Louis C.K. is their "person of the year" for setting "a new precedent for distribution." Comedians Aziz Ansari and Jim Gaffigan have since similarly released albums online.

The Webbys, which celebrate Internet achievement, announced the winners of its 16th annual awards on Tuesday. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which present the awards, shared the winners with The Associated Press shortly before they were to make an official announcement.

The awards spanned the breath of the Internet, from mobile apps like Instagram and Pinterest that have disrupted social media, to entertainers charting new digital ground, like Louis C.K. and Bjork.

Bjork was named artist of the year. Last year, the Icelandic musician released the album "Biophilia" as a multimedia presentation of music and apps.

She was among the special recognitions named by the Webbys, which also cited the photo app Instagram as breakout of the year. It was recently acquired by Facebook for $1 billion.

"It's been a huge year of change," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a group of about 1,000 Web experts and Internet professionals.

Also specially honored were Juliette Lewis and Graydon Sheppard, who share the award for best actress for the viral video "S--- Girls Say." The video, which parodies common expressions, has been watched more than 16.2 million times on YouTube and spawned a viral sensation of countless similar videos. Sheppard, a male comic, appears in drag in the video.

In more than 130 regular categories, the Webbys give two winners per category: an official Webby award and a "people's voice" pick chosen from online votes.

Ferrell, who co-founded the comedy website Funny Or Die, won best individual performance for a video in which he reprised his impression of President George W. Bush, reacting to Osama Bin Laden's death.

The Onion won for best humor website and its video arm, the Onion Network, earned best writing in an online video for its satirical morning TV show video: "How to Get a Guy to Notice You While You're Having Sex With Him."

The pinboard-style website Pinterest won for best social media app, as well as a people's voice award for best functioning visual design. Best music app went to the streaming service Spotify, which Davies said typified "the intersection we're seeing between social and entertainment."

HBO Connect won for best TV website. The New Yorker's website won for best editorial writing.

One new category, people's special achievement for social change, went to Facebook. The award, which was voted for online, honors "important Internet work that played an integral role in advancing and organizing the masses."

The awards will be handed out in a May 21 event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Patton Oswalt will host the awards, whose winners are famously restricted to five-word acceptance speeches.

___

Online:

http://wbby.co/winners

Associated Press

tax day april 17 boston marathon tu pac hologram shuttle pippa middleton space shuttle discovery

Chronicle of a trial foretold: Breivik is following his manifesto's script

Anders Behring Breivik's manifesto includes instructions on what a 'Templar' should do if tried in a European court.

Among the early headlines from the fourth day of the trial of Anders Behring Breivik for the murder of 77 people last July was that, for the first time, Mr. Breivik did not perform his now-familiar clenched-fist salute upon arrival at the court. Several families of Breivik's victims said they found the salute offensive, and his lawyers apparently were able to convince him to stop and avoid undermining his case.

Skip to next paragraph

But the drop of the salute is not only significant for its effect on his defense's strategy. It also marks a significant departure from Breivik's playbook: his 1,500-page manifesto. Breivik wrote extensively not only about his own beliefs about the alleged activities of "the Marxist tyrants of Europe" and the mission of the Knights Templar, or "Templars," the group to which he claims to belong. He also wrote a comprehensive set of instructions and guidelines for what a Templar should do if tried in a European court. He appears to be following it to the extent he is able.

Breivik wrote a short section on his salute, which he claims to be "the military salutation" of the Templars. He writes that the salute, which he recommends being performed in a white glove, symbolizes strength, purity, and resistance against "the Marxist tyrants of Europe." Interestingly, he claims the salute has nothing to do with either racist "white power" salutes or with the similar, open-palmed Nazi salute.

While Breivik's manifesto does not mention the salute specifically in reference to a trial, its use at trial fits closely into what Breivik argues is the best way to use trials: as propaganda. Breivik writes that after being captured, "the subsequent court proceedings may present several propaganda opportunities." He adds that "This trial is (from our point of view), not against you but rather a trial against the regime."

One of the key openings for propaganda that Breivik saw is the opportunity to present an opening and closing statement. Breivik includes a four-page sample opening statement, which he seemed to use as a source for his own.?

His sample draws parallels between the quest of the "Templars" and that of Native American leaders like Sitting Bull ? parallels he made on the first day of testimony in his own trial. As the Monitor reported, ?Were they terrorists for fighting for their indigenous culture ? or were they heroes?? Breivik asked the court. ?My acts are based on goodness, not evil,? he added. ?If anyone is vicious it is the Socialists.?

In the manifesto, Breivik also outlines a dress code for Templars, which he says should be adhered to in court. "Our dress uniform ... will be used for the sole?purpose of representing the authority of our military order and tribunal during trial," he writes. The uniform is to include a US Marine Corp dress jacket in dark blue or black, dress pants in the same color, and an extensive set of medals and decorations including epaulettes and Templar badges. Judging from the photos of his appearances in court, Breivik seems to have been following his own dress code as best he can, though he has appeared sans pseudo-military decorations.

In his game plan for Templar trial appearances, Breivik shows every expectation of losing. The heading for his sample closing statement reads: "Closing statement ? last day of trial, after judgment (guilty)." But he also expresses hope that the trial may lead to the introduction of stiffer criminal sentences, and perhaps even introduction of the death penalty, which is currently illegal in Norway.

The trial itself may not end up as anything else than a formality where the goal can be to change the law, forcing the parliament of that country to introduce the death penalty, or harshen the penal laws in other ways. Indirectly forcing the parliament of your country to change the laws will be an indirect victory to our movement because it will provide significant media coverage of our cause and thus will contribute to future recruitment efforts.

Breivik echoed this thinking during his second day of testimony, the Monitor reported.

?No, I don?t want [capital punishment], but I would have respected that,? he said, adding that if Norway doubled the current maximum sentence it would ?serve his cause? and ?prove Norway had thrown their principles out the window."

michael buble michael buble teddy roosevelt rita hayworth rita hayworth lakers rumors alfa romeo giulietta

Preferred Stock ETF Investing: A Complete Guide For Investors ...

Eric Dutram: The world thrives on innovation. With the growth and advent of technology, each day marks new developments and creates something useful for mankind. Talking about innovation and

development, the financial world is also not left behind by any means. With time, lots of investment opportunities are being created, domestically as well as globally, for the investors to earn maximum returns by parking their hard earned money.

In today?s world, the investors have a wealth of choices with so many investment avenues available to them. While some ?innovative? financial instruments are viewed as ?weapons of mass destruction?, most of the innovations in the financial sphere have helped investors realize their investment objectives in the longer run.

Therefore, knowledge about your investments?and the number of other choices out there? is of utmost importance. As a result, we would like to touch upon?Preferred Stocks?as an asset class which has been in existence for a long time, but has often been ignored by investors due to lack of knowledge about the inner workings of this interesting slice of the market (see?Van Eck Files For Preferred Security and Global Chemicals ETFs)

The Euro?s Demise Has Been Set in Motion: Are you protected?

"Nationalism will emerge. Healthier countries will not see fit to spend their hard earned money to bail out their less responsible neighbors."

CLICK HERE to get your Free E-Book, ?Why It?s Curtains for the Euro?

Features of Preferred Stocks

Preferred securities as an asset class are hybrid securities, having traits of both equity shares as well as fixed income securities. They are classified as shares having a fixed rate of dividend on their face value (par value) (see?Russell Launches Two New Dividend ETFs). These types of shares generally get preference over equity shares in terms of both dividend payments as well as at the time of liquidation should the firm go belly-up.??

However, bondholders are considered to be creditors of the issuing company and get their share of interest and capital payments prior to the preferred stockholders. Like fixed income securities, preferred stocks also are credit rated based on the past track record of the issuing company and usually carry no voting rights.

Investing in Preferred Stocks has its own pros and cons. While the priority over dividend and capital repayments over common stocks might seem a lucrative scenario, it also involves certain risks. These instruments are sensitive to interest rate movements and have an inverse relationship with them just like bonds. However, the rate of change of preferred stock price with respect to changes in interest rates is much less volatile than their fixed income counterparts (read?Three Financial ETFs Outperforming XLF).

Some preferred stocks are also convertible in nature (i.e. can be converted to equity shares after a given time). The prices of such preferred stocks are also dependent on the equity shares of the issuing company. A price appreciation in the common stocks usually results in a price appreciation for the preferred stocks as well. Therefore, these financial instruments also involve market risks as well.

Preferred Stocks usually do not have a fixed maturity, however, most of the stocks are?callable.?This feature enables the issuing company to redeem the stocks from the open market, at a given point in time. The issuing company can also take strategic advantage of raising finance through preferred stocks, as it can defer dividend payment in a particular year without its credit rating being affected.

This trait of preference shares exposes them to a risk of non-payment of dividends if during any financial year the issuing company is facing cash crunch. Therefore it is very important to select those preferred stocks that have good credit rating issued by great companies that have a solid track record.

ETF approach to preferred stock investing

Three major factors that need to be addressed while analyzing preferred stocks are 1) Liquidity of the preferred stocks (i.e. volume of trade), 2) Credit Quality and 3) Performance of the issuing company?s equity shares in the stock market. The hybrid nature of preferred stocks gives it traits of both equity shares as well as debt securities and their performance largely depends on the interest rate movements as well as fundamental performance of the issuing company in the stock markets.

This makes it very difficult for the layman investor to understand and analyze them and more often they end up making wrong choices. However, investing in Preferred Stock ETF solve this problem for the common investor of carefully hand picking preferred stocks that have good credit ratings, higher liquidity, and securities issued by fundamentally strong companies, mainly thanks to their basket approach of investing and expertise pertaining to this particular asset class.

In the U.S., publicly listed preferred stock are generally issued by a select few institutions including; REITs and public utilities. Banks and financial institutions have the liberty to raise preferred stocks in order to strengthen their Tier-I capital due to regulatory requirements (read?ETF Trading Report: Growth and Banking ETFs In Focus). ?It is therefore reasonable to assume that the performance of the Preferred Stock ETFs will largely depend on the performance of the financial sector as a whole.

On the equity front?in fiscal year 2012 the financial sector has been one of the best performing sectors in the U.S equity markets outpacing many of its counterparts. However, the 52 week data shows that the sector was one of the worst performing segments, mainly thanks to the European debt crisis and the downgrading of the U.S sovereign credit rating, by rating agency Standard & Poor (S&P).

These events increased the borrowing costs for various banks and financial institutions across the U.S, resulting in squeezed margins, thereby leading to a dismal performance by the financial sector as a whole (read?Beware These Three Volatile Financial ETFs).

Many popular financial ETFs tracking the broader markers like?Vanguard Financials ETF (NYSEARCA:VFH) and?iShares Dow Jones US Financial Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IYF), also suffered during this period (late July till December 2011) fetching negative 52 week returns for investors.

However, with favorable economic data coming in domestically and globally, the financial sector has already entered a strong recovery phase and these financial ETFs have already witnessed an uptrend from the start of fiscal year 2012.

On the debt front, it is prudent to note that presently we are still in a low interest rate environment as suggested by the Ten Year yield and its level around the 2% mark. This provides a great opportunity to invest in preferred stock as these securities can pay out yields far higher than their fixed income counterparts while still participating in equity appreciation as well.

Therefore we see that from the equity front as well as debt front investing in preferred stocks presently seems attractive. Below we share with you some ETFs that should be considered by an investor looking for exposure in the Preferred Stock ETF space:

SPDR Wells Fargo Preferred Stock (NYSEARCA:PSK)

Launched in September 2009, PSK tracks the pre expenses price and yield performance of Wells Fargo Hybrid and Preferred Securities Aggregate Index. The Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index composed of preferred stock.

The fund employs a replication strategy holding at least 80%, of total assets in the securities comprising the index. The ETF holds 163 securities in all of which 147 are preferred stock holdings. The rest are either common stocks or bond holdings (see more on ETFs at the?Zacks ETF Center).

The ETF does well in eliminating concentration risk as it holds a mere 17.13% of its total assets in its top 10 holdings. The fund has also seen good inflows in its asset base since its inception and charges only 45 basis points in fees and expenses which is among the lowest in this category. The ETF pays out a solid yield of 6.39%, therefore it should be considered by investors seeking high levels of current income.

PowerShares Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGX)

This ETF tracks the BofA Merrill Lynch Core Plus Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index which is a capitalization-weighted benchmark designed to reflect the total return performance of the U.S. dollar-denominated preferred securities market. The fund has returned 6.97% in the past one year which is one of the highest in the preferred stock ETF space.

The fund holds 123 securities in total and puts 36% of its total assets in the top 10 companies. Heavyweights like Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Barclays Bank PLC etc form a major part of its portfolio. The fund charges 50 basis points in fees and expenses compared to a category average of 0.49%. The ETF is very popular as suggested by its total assets of $1.60 billion which have been amassed since inception in early 2008.

PowerShares Financial Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:PGF)

This product tracks the Wells Fargo Hybrid & Preferred Securities Financial Index which is a capitalization weighted index tracking the performance of preferred securities issued by financial institutions in the U.S. markets. At any point of time, the fund invests at least 90% of its assets in securities from the underlying index.

It has returned a decent 5.96% in the last one year period charging investors 60 basis points in fees and expenses. The expense ratio of this ETF happens to be on of the highest in the preferred stock ETF space. The fund holds 46 securities presently and allocates 52.95% of its assets in the top 10 holdings. Like most of its counterparts, PGF pays out an impressive yield of 6.83%.

iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock ETF (NYSEARCA:PFF)

PFF is perhaps the biggest and most popular name in the preferred stock ETF space. With total assets of $8.36 billion, it is the largest fund in this category and it is widely traded, producing tight bid ask spreads.

As a result, the ETF enjoys economies of scale and this advantage is passed on to the investors by charging just 48 basis points in fees and an expense, which is a basis point lower than the category average.

The fund has returned 4.47% in the last one year and pays out 6.07% per annum as dividends. The ETF holds 237 securities in all and eliminates concentration risk by allocating a mere 16.83% of its total assets in its top 10 holdings. PFF is perhaps the safest bet for an investor looking to get exposure in the Preferred Stock ETF space.

iShares S&P International Preferred Stock ETF?(NYSEARCA:IPFF)

IPFF is one of the newest additions in the iShares Fund Family. Launched in November of 2011 amidst the European debt crisis, the ETF has done well in managing $94.85 million since its inception.

This confirms the investors? appetite in this space. IPFF also enjoys brand equity being a part of one of the most esteemed fund family, which explains the massive inflow in its asset base (see?iShares Debuts Two High Yield Bond ETFs).

It has generated YTD returns of 4.98%, however, it is on the expensive side charging investors 55 basis points in fees and expenses. It holds 63 securities in all and does well to allocate just 26.26% of its total assets in its top 10 holdings.

The ETF is yet to distribute any capital gains or dividend income. However, given the nature of preferred stock ETFs, it can be guessed that like most of its counterparts, this fund will also be a high yielding ETF.

Global X Canada Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:CNPF)

Launched in May of 2011, CNPF tracks, before expenses, the price and yield performance of the Solactive Canada Preferred Index, which tracks the performance of preferred stocks from Canadian issues that trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The ETF has managed to bring in $12.4 million since inception and has returned 1.67% YTD. The fund holds 48 securities in all and allocates 27.90% of its total assets in the top 10 holdings.

The ETF has an expense ratio of 58 basis points which might be considered to be on the higher side given the category average of 0.49%. Like IPFF, this ETF is also yet to distribute dividends and capital gains, but is expected to do so in the near future.

The ETF is a good choice for investors looking for a broad based global exposure in the preferred stock space as it captures the essence of Canadian Preferred stocks, giving a nice international component to preferred stock focused portfolios.

Below is the summarized tabular comparison of the 6 ETFs in the preferred stock ETF space considering the important parameters:

ETF?

Incep.

Returns (%) (TTM when available)

Avg. Daily Volume

% of total assets in top 10 hold.

Expense Ratio?

No. of hold.

Total Assets

CNPF

May 2011

1.67%

12,855

27.90

0.58

48

$12.4mn

IPFF

Nov 2011

4.98%

49,425

26.26

0.55

63

$94.85mn

PFF

Mar 2007

4.47%

1,382,019

16.83

0.48

237

$8.36bn

PGF

Dec 2006

5.96%

349,330

52.95

0.60

46

$1.60bn

PGX

Jan 2008

6.97%

498,111

36.01

0.50

123

$1.59bn

PSK

Sep 2009

4.82%

31,380

17.13

0.45

163

$192.61mn

?Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download?7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.?Click to get this free report >>

Written By Eric Dutram From Zacks Investment Research

In 1978, Len Zacks discovered the power of earnings estimates revisions to enable profitable?investment?decisions. Today, that discovery is still the heart of the Zacks Rank, a peerless stock rating system whose Strong Buy recommendation has an average return of 26% per year.

IYF, NYSE:CNPF, NYSE:IPFF, PFF, PGF, PGX, PSK, VFH

lottery tickets mega lottery sag aftra mega mill power ball april fools pranks livan hernandez

Khloe Kardashian's Rep Denies 'Khloe & Lamar' Cancellation

Khloe and Lamar Odom are not ending reality spin-off, though Odom's basketball career 'is [the] priority right now.'
By John Mitchell


Khloe Kardashian-Odom and Lamar Odom
Photo: Simon Russell/Getty Images

Representatives for Khloé Kardashian are denying a TMZ report that the reality TV star and her basketball player husband, Lamar Odom, are pulling the plug on their "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" spin-off "Khloé & Lamar" so Odom can focus solely on his sports career.

"The show has not been canceled," Khloé's rep told MTV News via e-mail, adding that further production will "depend on their schedules as Lamar's basketball is [the] priority right now."

The former Los Angeles Lakers forward was traded to the Dallas Mavericks late last year. After a difficult season, he was placed on the team's inactive list earlier this month. Odom reportedly clashed with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and issued a statement to ESPN, saying, "I'm sorry that things didn't work out better for both of us, but I wish the Mavs' organization, my teammates and Dallas fans nothing but continued success in the defense of their championship."

There's still a chance the Mavericks will trade Odom to another team, though the team and Cuban have not publicly announced their decision at this time.

The pair will reportedly return full-time to Los Angeles, where Odom is said to have hired personal trainers to help get him back into peak playing form. They will also continue to appear on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," as Khloé was included in the $40 million deal E! reached with the family to keep "Keeping Up" on the air for three more years.

Related Photos

kobayashi roseanne barr margaret sanger paul george eddie long eddie murphy ufc 143 weigh ins

Foxconn Profit Down As Scrutiny Forces Corporate Changes

scaledwm-img_3792Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn saw its profits fall to $509 million from $1.19 billion last quarter. Chairman Terry Gou said this quarter was particularly affected by Foxconn's recent image problem. Improvements in wages, worker benefits, and education accounted for some of the loss, although new iPad and iPhone 4S manufacturing bolstered income last quarter. As a reaction to recent popular criticism on various fronts, the company increased wages by 25 percent this year and is planning to open a hospital and language schools for its employees.

nfl scores gene hackman pineda john edwards heart condition mena suvari joyful noise one life to live

Facebook?s Patent Acquisitions? They?re More About Google Than Yahoo

Screen Shot 2012-04-27 at 6.57.55 PMIn the past few months, Facebook?s patent portfolio has grown exponentially as?a result of acquisitions of patent portfolios from IBM and Microsoft. After acquiring?650 AOL patents and patent applications from Microsoft, the company now has?approximately 1,400 patent assets. Amazingly, only 46 of these assets (24 issued patents?and 22 published applications) were originally filed by Facebook. In recent years, Facebook has consistently looked to the outside to augment its IP?holdings with strategic acquisitions of patent assets. The company paid 40 million for the?Friendster social networking patent portfolio, acquired a group of patents from Walker?Digital, and another from Hewlett-Packard. These deals expanded the portfolio to?approximately 160 patent assets prior to Yahoo?s lawsuit being filed. After Facebook?s?IPO decision, and the subsequent patent suit by Yahoo, Facebook has kicked its patent?acquisition program into overdrive.

justin bieber birthday read across america vikings stadium breitbart dead db cooper fafsa branson missouri