Thursday, December 31, 2009

“Book Reviews - MLive.com” plus 4 more

“Book Reviews - MLive.com” plus 4 more

Book Reviews - MLive.com

Posted: 27 Dec 2009 05:03 AM PST

By The Saginaw News staff

December 27, 2009, 8:00AM

"A Quilter's Holiday" by Jennifer Chiaverini

Simon & Schuster, 2009, $19.99

 278 pages

In the latest installment of the Elm Creek Quilts novels, readers follow the quilters as they gather at Elm Creek Manor for the unofficial start of the quilting season.  Although threatened by an early winter snowstorm, they meet to work on a variety of quilting projects. Through a series of vignettes, the book delves into the lives of each quilter, their projects and why they chose each quilt pattern. This is a story of hope, tradition, generosity and holiday spirit sure to be enjoyed by quilters and non-quilters alike. 

Lori Sugden

Reference librarian, Zauel Library

"Gentlemen" by Michael Northrop

Scholastic Press, 2009, $16.99

256 pages

Recommended for grades 7 and up

"Gentlemen" is the story of four troublemaking high school boys. When one of them disappears, the others become suspicious of their own teacher. The plot would interest young male readers if the story was not so slow paced. Too much inane detail in the narrative will make it hard for the target audience to read past the first 20 pages. Although it is not exceptionally gripping, this is Northrop's first novel and he does show promise for future works.

Jessica Shepherd

Clerical library assistant, Claytor Library

"Flood" by Stephen Baxter

ROC Book, 2009, $29.95

490 pages 

Four political hostages released after five years of captivity in 2016 find the world changed beyond all recognition. They vow to keep in touch, and their stories over the next 40 years show attempts to save the planet stymied as rapidly rising ocean levels wipe out major cities and even continents. In the end, Earth will survive, but will the human race? Eco-fiction fans will be intrigued by the hard science and theoretical plausibility of the doomsday scenario offered by this best-selling author.

Sherrill Smith

Assistant to the director, Public Libraries of Saginaw

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Table of Contents - News & Review

Posted: 31 Dec 2009 12:26 AM PST

GREEN GUIDE


Sustainability Green dorm foodUC Davis transformed a student cafeteria into a sustainable eating haven.

Homegrown Good EggsWhen it comes to sturgeon farming, exceptions apply to the rules.

Plug'd In Dig it and swap itBundle up and start planning a home garden and crop swap.

LOCAL STORIES


Feature Story Decade in reverseGood times, bad times, you know we had our share.

News Tilting at windbagsThe Thomas Paine Society fights back against Glenn Beck.

ARTS&CULTURE


Arts & Culture Three men and a decadeThirty movies that should have rocked your world in the aughts.

Stage A lot of voilà!Here's a peek at what the board treaders and set builders thought of Sac's 2009 theater scene.

Scene & Heard Adventures in the nation's capitalArmed MILFs, Al Franken smackdowns, chili doggin'.

Poet's Corner SnowA poem by Kathleen Lynch of Sacramento.

Night & Day Pick Cool riderGet your motor running for a motorcycle exhibit at California Automobile Museum.

Night & Day Pick Love at first growlBeauty and the Beast with a groaning French accent.

Stage Pick of the Week It's some kinda strange magicXanadu puts '80s pop back in the limelight for Broadway Sacramento.

Book Reviews Think like ObamaThis new book by SN&R contributor Sasha Abramsky looks at how the president forms his ideas and views of the world.

Book Reviews Come one, come allRichard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution keeps it simple: Evolution is a fact.

Book Reviews MidflightZoe Keithley's new poetry collection moves as if on air.

Ogg's World Ogg's WorldWelcome to the bizzare world of Doug Ogg.

Curtain Call Keep the lights onImages Theatre Company has hit a rough spot and needs tax-deductible donations to keep the doors open.

DINING


Eating Comfort and styleThe Corner does it well.

Smorgasbord Hot potatoFries are perfection across the Rubicon.

Corner Table Sparkle like diamondsSparkling wine is a New Year's Eve partier's best friend.

Food Stuff Cheese heavenCheese used to be a way to preserve milk—imagine putting that on morning cereal.

MUSIC


Music Feature Bright eyesAnton Barbeau, rising YouTube star, talks about his new album.

Sound Advice The end is yearThe best music of the decade.

Music Pick of the Week WTF, it's NYEWe're saving your ass with this last-minute NYE pick.

Music Pick of the Week Thurs, Dec 31, Sister SwingNew Year's Eve don't mean a thing if it ain't got Sister Swing.

Music Pick of the Week Fri, Jan 1 John Lee Hooker Jr.Get those blues out.

Music Pick of the Week Sun, Jan 3, Fish Cat FishFunky soul on a psychedelic trip.

Music Pick of the Week Sat, Jan 9 The English BeatThe (English) Beat goes on.

FILM


Film Reviews Sherlock HolmesDoes anyone who wrote this film actually understand the English language?

Short Reviews NineRob Marshall takes on … Federico Fellini?!

OPINIONS


Race to the Bottom Future schlockIn which the writer stares deeply into a somewhat cloudy crystal ball.

Bites Beyond blunder domeFormer Kings owner tells how to get shit done.

Popsmart Zeroed outNow we stand at the dawn of 2010, pausing for the most micro of nanoseconds before we continue this hurtle toward the abyss.

Ask Joey Good son gets angryA prodigal son returns to the anger of a teenage brother. Drama, drama, drama.

Letters Letters for December 31, 2009Love, hate, indifferencereaders express their opinions, sometimes about each other.

Editorial Hot/not 2009Sacramento's hits and misses for 2009.

15 Minutes Playing with swordsTwo fencing maestros bring classic techniques into the modern age.

Editorial Cartoon Editorial CartoonThis week's cartoon from the mind of John Kloss.

Essay Return to CamelotCan public service become thrilling again?

Greenlight Fresh choicesWhat Al Gore and my daughter taught me.

Ask a Mexican Year-end hate mailThe Mexican thanks la Virgen for employment, looks back at '09, deals with more bigots and announces Sacramento's winning Mexican restaurant.

Cut&Paste From the SN&R blogs.The greenest tech of all; Opposition growing in Uganda.

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Uncertain Times Herald Motivational Book for the New Year─The 99th ... - PR.com

Posted: 31 Dec 2009 05:20 AM PST

Raleigh, NC, December 31, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The 99th Match, by Author Vinny DiGirolamo, is packed with simple but powerful, life changing perspectives for everyone facing personal trials or adversity of any kind. It is a quick read and intended for youth, teenagers and adults of all nationalities and religious persuasions.

The story takes place at the legendary Brentwood High School on Long Island, N.Y., when their six year historical record of undefeated wrestling team matches is caught in the balance between an unlikely third string wrestler and a decisively fierce match against seemingly insurmountable odds. The school is real. The events are real. The odds are real. The 99th Match is about wrestling with real life.

"During difficult times, we'll find ourselves in various roles; sometimes we're the wrestler and at other times we're the coach, the cheerleader, the referee, or even the spectator," commented the author. "But regardless of our role, it's through our trails and the choices we make that determines the outcome."

The 99th Match is the kind of story that gets into the reader's mind, changes their perspectives, positively affects their relationships, and increases their understanding of why things are the way they are. The author effectively weaves the languages of adversity and achievement into the story which he claims is "guaranteed to inspire and lift the human spirit."

"It has a familiar spirit and language we're all acquainted with. Given these uncertain times and the hope the new year brings, now more than ever is the time to consider its universal messages," DiGirolamo continued.

Book Reviews are posted on www.celestinepublishing.com and include several of the following:

"A great story the world needs to read." (Freight Broker)

"Best book I've read this year. I couldn't put the book down."(Cancer Patient)

"I started to speed read to keep up with the action and to find out how it turned out." (Elevator Inspector)

"I was on the edge of my seat throughout my flight reading the book. A must read!" (Software Developer)

"I taught for so many years, and I was always looking for good fiction to assign to 14, 15, and 16 year olds. I was happy to see that this book was able to relate teenage issues without inappropriate language. I found the characters to be very appealing, normal teenagers to which teenaged readers can relate. I found the description of Michael's match against Franklin riveting ... I noticed my heart was racing… I truly felt as if I were at the match, rooting for Brentwood!" (Career English Teacher)

"I would highly recommend this book to every school that has a wrestling program anywhere in the U.S. Further, I think every coach would want their team players to read it as well." (Retired Air Force Colonel and Educator)

"It's not just a wrestling story meant to entertain. It has some important messages for those who are struggling with real challenges and everyone gets something a little different out of each reading," DiGirolamo summarized. "It's a fun story with a little bit of romance too."

The 99th Match may be purchased online at Celestine Publishing.

It is also available through Amazon.com, Lulu.com and on EBay at The Lavender Rose Country Home Store. Celestine Publishing, LLC is home of the Principles with Promise concordance series.

###

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An Old Book Yields Six Types of Dividend Growers - Seekingalpha.com

Posted: 31 Dec 2009 06:10 AM PST

This time of year I like to pull old books off the shelf to remind myself of what I've forgotten, but maybe shouldn't have.

Peter Lynch, the consummate stock picker whose Magellan Fund trounced the market for a couple of decades, wrote several books that are old now.

In one, Lynch proposed a nifty classification for stocks that's not based on market cap or sector or style box or yield, but instead on how stocks behave and what investors might expect of them. He named his categories Stalwarts, Slow Growers, Fast Growers, Cyclicals, Turnarounds and Asset Plays.

Lynch didn't use these classifications to categorize dividend stocks, but I thought I'd give it a try because I wondered whether it would shed any insight on dividend growth portfolios.

Stalwarts to Lynch were blue chips like Bristol Myers (BMY), Coca Cola (KO) and Johnson and Johnson (JNJ). Steady earnings growers you might not brag about, but that would probably make money for you over time.

For investors seeking dividend growth, these might be the Dividend Achievers and Aristocrats at the core of many portfolios. Examples include JNJ, KO and Proctor and Gamble (PG) in healthcare and household staples, but also a consumer cyclical like McDonald's (MCD) or steady retailer like Walmart (WMT). Long-term holdings that compound yield-on-cost, year after year, steady as she goes.

Because these represent such high quality stocks, I would not be surprised to learn this category, along with the next one, is heavily weighted in many dividend growth portfolios.

Slow Growers are exactly what they sound like. Not much earnings growth, so not much capital appreciation or dividend growth. But these can be high yielding workhorses that plow for income an investor can spend right now or reinvest in new shares.

In Lynch's day, prototypical Slow Growers were utilities. That's probably still true, though skilled yield hunters seem to find solid but slow growing stocks in telecom and others industries as well.

And some Slow Growers can provide stellar returns. Dividend raiser DPL, Inc. (DPL), a 4% yielding Midwest utility, outperformed the S&P 500 over the trailing 2-years and 5-years, and has maintained strong performance over more recent periods as well.

Fast Growers are also exactly what they sound like. Lynch loved these. And who wouldn't, their earnings and stock prices are twin skyrockets.

The problem here for dividend investors is whether they are willing to trade off current yield for future growth. Take a stock like Factset Research Systems (FDS), a midcap technology Dividend Achiever that typically yields 1% to 1.5%.

Chintzy, sure, but FDS earnings grew an average of 23% over the past 10 years, so even with two bears taking a bite, the stock doubled since the year 2000.

And true to Lynch's typology, the search for fast growers needn't be limited to tech stocks yielding 1%. How about 3% yielding Dividend Achiever Meridian Bioscience (VIVO), a maker of diagnostic tests in the healthcare sector?

VIVO has racked up 10-year earnings growth averaging 27% annually. The stock? Up 400% from the market top in the year 2000.

Lynch would love these two. And I feel lucky to have discovered them in time to catch some large profits. Because Fast Growers are often lower yielding and less known than Slow Growers and Stalwarts, I would not be surprised to learn they are underrepresented in many dividend growth portfolios.

Granted, investors maximizing income for current spending might not have room in their portfolios for such stocks. But what about investors who are accumulating capital and won't tap portfolio income for decades?

Cyclicals, by Lynch's thinking, are easily misunderstood stocks that can lose lots of your money if you get your timing wrong.

Tell me about it, I own General Electric (GE).

But investors looking for dividend growth can also find industrials here like Dividend Achiever United Technologies (UTX), and others, that provide exposure to international infrastructure build out, and to business investment in general.

Experienced investors have learned it's better to add to these positions when economic recovery is still uncertain and subtract when the economy is booming, because doing it the other way around is a formula for losses.

Broadly, of course, cyclicals would create growth potential during economic rebounds in portfolios include lots of Stalwarts; while industrial cyclicals diversify portfolios that otherwise might rely too much on consumer spending.

Turnarounds, in Lynch-language, are troubled stocks that bottom fishers dredge for. Companies healthy enough to pay dividends wouldn't sink to the bottom of this murky pool, so the more relevant lesson might be that bottom fishing is slightly less treacherous with proven dividend growers, especially if they are being pulled under by a thrashing market or sector.

Several posters on this site have had success at this type of turnaround, which can result in outstanding yield-on-cost and substantial capital gains. But it is much easier to say it than do it, so kudos to those with the skills and stomach to do it well.

Asset Plays would also be different, I think, for dividend growers than what Lynch originally proposed. Specifically, dividend growth seekers can find commodity-related investments, such as REITs, and energy and mining stocks, to provide an inflation hedge. After all, gold bars and commodity futures contracts don't pay growing cash dividends.

But REITs like Dividend Achiever Realty Income (O) provide a 6.5% yield, while commodity producers like Australian miner BHP Billiton (BHP), which has a "progressive dividend policy" of regular increases and a 2.2% yield, can also offer currency diversification, though not all dividend investors find that a compelling benefit.

So Peter Lynch's One Up On Wall Street, first published in 1989, goes back on the shelf. But not before I got a different view of my stocks than my portfolio tracker gives me.

My main finding? Though I added to some current positions when the market pushed them into the "Turnarounds" category, I did not initiate any new positions in such stocks. That could have been profitable, based on stocks on my watch list. Ah, well, what might have been!

Finally, for brief profiles of some of the stocks mentioned here, and an in-depth laugh at GE, follow the Seeking Alpha links below.

There's also a link to Lynch's old book, though if you'd prefer to check out new books about real life adventures of a globe-trotting bond trader, or the economics of old-time pirate crews, follow the links to my Seeking Alpha book reviews.

References and Links

DPL, brief profile in "The Best and Worst of Recent Dividend Hikes," December 14, 2009.

FDS, brief profile in "Three Midcap Tech Stocks with Rising Dividends," August 24, 2009.

GE and brief discussion of UTX in "Earth to GE: Boost Your Dividend," December 07, 2009.

O, brief profile in "The Super and Stupor in Recent Dividend News," December 17, 2009.

Peter Lynch, One Up On Wall Street, 1989.

"Risky Adventures in Riches Among The Ruins, by Robert P. Smith," October 2, 2009.

"Pirate Economics: The Invisible Hook by Peter T. Leeson," December 4, 2009.

Disclosure: Long BHP, FDS, GE, JNJ, KO, O, PG, UTX, VIVO, WMT

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Books Sandwiched In program starts Jan. 11 - Island Packet Online

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 08:59 PM PST

Friends of the Beaufort County Library will launch the 2010 Books Sandwiched In program Jan. 11 at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church on Lady's Island with a review of the prize-winning mystery "White Tiger."

The 23rd season of the Books Sandwiched In program features eight book reviews from 1 to 2 p.m. every Monday starting Jan. 11 and continuing until March 1 at the church. Participants should bring their own lunch prior to the review while the Friends will provide a dessert.

This year's program includes:

• Jan. 11: "White Tiger" by Aravind Adiga, review presented by Marilyn Harcharik

• Jan. 18: "Whatever It Takes" by Paul Tough, reviewed by Sallie Stone

• Jan. 25: "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell, reviewed by Rick Toomey

• Feb. 1: "American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century" by Kevin Phillips, presented by Joseph Foutch

• Feb. 8: "Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth" by Derrick A. Bell Jr., presented by Don D. Doggett

• Feb. 15: "Exile" by Richard North Patterson, reviewed by Sherry Hirsch

• Feb. 22: "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas, presented by Fred Devyatkin

• March 1: "AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service and How it Hurt Our Country" by Kathy Roth-Douquet and Frank Schaeffer; presented by Kathy Roth-Douquet

Details: 843-470-6522

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