Marketplace: Thursday, August 26, 2004

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A look at today's markets (closing numbers)
DOW 8.33 (-0.08%) ; NASDAQ 7.80 (-0.42%) ; S&P 500 0.13 (+0.01%)

Newscast New census data out today shows that the number of Americans in poverty and without insurance rose last year. Contractors with CACI and Titan implicated in Iraqi prisoner abuse scandals are now being investigated by the Department of Justice. Listen to all newscast items

Features Is the Fed Casting Its Ballot? One of the most important voting blocs in the U.S. presidential election has only twelve members. In this election season, who's the Fed voting for? Commentator: Robert Reich Related Story: "Politics of a Fed Hike" Music Bridge: Warning Sign - Talking Heads Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Wall Street, Investors Punching Holes in Krispy Kreme Visions of dollar signs dance in the heads of any would-be entrepreneur with an idea for the next great widget. The thinking goes: "We'll make our widget. We'll sell it around town. We'll open another store, and another. We'll get so big -- we'll go national. And some day we'll be listed on the New York Stock Exchange!" Well, that is something fun to think about. Until it happens: Take a look at a case in point making news today. Reporter: Lisa Napoli Music Bridge: Sweet Honey Bee - Duke Pearson Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource The Mossberg Effect It's Thursday, the day Walt Mossberg's personal technology column appears in The Wall Street Journal. Moss is feared and respected by makers of computers and other digital gadgetry, because what he writes can have a profound effect on a firm's sales and stock price. Have you heard of "The Mossberg Effect"? Reporter: Marty Goldensohn Web Resource: "Personal Technology" by Walt Mossberg (WSJ) Music Bridge: Love for Me - Guster Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Hydrogen Cars UPS today announced a special delivery... truck. How special, you ask? Well, these three large package delivery vehicles are the company's first powered by hydrogen. The company says this is the first step toward what it hopes will be zero-emission engines for all 88,000 vehicles in its fleet. As it happens, motojournalist Dan Neil has just completed a week in a hydrogen-powered car, and he's written about the experience in an upcoming issue of the L.A. Times Magazine. In fact, he is somewhat sanctimonious about it. Dan writes proudly about what it's like being 'greener than thou.' Q + A: David Brown with Dan Neil Related Story: "Hydrogen cars ready to roll -- for a price" Music Bridge: Just A Ride - Jem Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource Post-apartheid Economics South Africa is celebrating 10 years of freedom from apartheid this year. But the failed policy of racial separation has left a residue of mistrust and imbalance. Blacks in South Africa have gained political voice but little economic power. Whites still own close to 90 percent of South Africa's businesses. A third of blacks are unemployed. Compare that to the white unemployment rate of just 5 percent. Still, there is also a palpable spirit of wanting to set things right. Our report comes from the farming region known as the Little Karoo. Reporter: Eric Whitney Web Resource: "Apartheid" Music Bridge: Many Years Ago - Mzwakhe Mbuli Support Marketplace: Purchase this music from Public Radio MusicSource

Coming up on Marketplace... Getting a room in New York next week will likely burn a hole in your wallet. But a slew of new hotels in an old neighborhood could help drive those prices back down -- and revitalize faded streets.