Kids may not show much interest in math and science in a traditional setting, but Camp Invention puts a whole new spin on the idea. The camp was created to help inspire children to open their minds and become innovators, reports Bonner County Daily Bee.

“The main mission here is to get kids interested in science,” said Bob Parker, inventor of the digital thermometer, battery charge tester and other thermal-oriented technologies.

It’s a good thing, then, that about 80 first through sixth-graders get plenty of education amidst all the fun. The k

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Bruce Wills has been elected as the new president of rural lobby group Federated Farmers at its annual meeting in Rotorua today.

The leadership vote, the first to be contested in 15 years, sees Wills assume the helm from Don Nicolson who is stepping down from the position he’s occupied since 2008. Nicolson was elected unopposed.

Wills won out against for other candidates who put their names forward for the position, which included South Canterbury high-country farmer Donald Aubrey, Frank Brenmuhl of Christchurch, and Lachlan McKenzie of Rotorua, the body’s dairy spokesman.

Wills had previously served as president of Federate Farmer’s Hawkes Bay chapter.

His election today will be followed by the selection of a vice president, with William Rolleston of Timaru, David Rose of Invercargill, and Stewart Wadey of Matamata, vying for the post. The r

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Over the weekend, Euro-zone finance ministers agreed to finalize a new Greek bailout package by mid September and to disburse a further 12 billion euros, according to a Greek finance ministry statement.

“The 17 euro zone ministers agreed that the fifth tranche of a 110-billion-euro bailout agreed with Greece in May 2010 would be paid by July 15, as long as the IMF’s board signs off when it meets on July 8,” reports Jan Strupczewski and Luke Baker for Reuters.

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Oil N’ Gold

More Analysis and Technicals on Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Gold & Silver

The market was at a ‘risk on’ mode as supported by strong economic data. Better-than-expected ADP payrolls and jobless claims data sent Wall Street higher and raised optimism on the June non-farm payroll which is due today. In the commodity sector, oil price rallied further with the front-month contract for WTI crude oil jumped to a 3-week high of 99.42 before settling at 98.67, up +1.04%, while the equivalent Brent crude contract surged to as high as 118.7 before closing at 118.59, up +4.37%. As crude prices have returned to levels before IEA’s announcement of SPR release, the WTI-Brent spread widened again to as much as $20/bbl.

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The US Dollar is mixed this morning as divergent economic data is coupled with a rise in stocks and a fall in commodities. Thin summer liquidity is also in full effect this morning ahead of the long holiday weekend in the US, causing a spike in volatility. U. of Michigan Confidence was released this morning at 71.5, down from last month’s reading of 71.8, and short of the 72.0 expected. However, ISM Manufacturing unexpectedly surged in June in a sign that the industrial sector is rebounding after parts shortages stemming from the Japanese disasters earlier this year weighed on the segment over the past few months. T

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On this day in 191, inventor Paul Edward Yost was born. He was the inventor of the modern hot air balloon and is called the Father of the Modern Day Hot-Air Balloon.

In the 1950s, Yosts own interests turned toward reviving the lost practice of manned hot-air ballooning. This technology had first been invented in France by in the late 18th century by pioneers led by the Montgolfier brothers, but under the Montgolfier system the balloons air was heated by a ground fire prior to the balloon being released.

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July 1 – Fonterra Cooperative Group has exercised a pre-emptive right to buy the 50% of rural supplies chain RD1 that it doesn’t already own after its Australian partner was acquired by Canada’s Agrium.

No price was disclosed for the transaction. RD1, with 57 stores in New Zealand, had total assets of $137 million and net assets of $14.9 million, as at May 31, 2010, its accounts show.

Landmark, the Australian rural supplies chain owned by AWB, acquired a half stake in RD1 from Fonterra in 2006 as part of a trans-Tasman alliance. Landmarks contribution was a net $35 million to $45 million, according to an AWB statement at the time.

It competes with PGG Wrightson Ltd., New Zealand’s biggest rural services company. Canada’

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