Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Book Reviews from 'Master the Art of Reading' Summer Reading Club participants Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer: Not as expected. Storyline bounces around. Journal of Abraham Van Helsing by Allen Kupfer: It was very scary at first but, it also gave readers an insight into the life and works of Van Helsing. On the other hand, the movie "Van Helsing" was a lot better. The Given Day by Dennis Lahane: Very good. Disquiet by Julia Leigh: This is a sad book about a depressed family with their individual problems. Based at a childhood home in France, it chronicles the downfalls of some in the family and the revival of others. Rosie by George Mair and Anna Green: This book gives a very insightful view of how Rosie grew up and how she got started in the comic business. She is truly a great comic and woman. Navigator by Eoin McNamee: Great listening to while on a long car ride with older kids-if you like Futuristic. Obama: From Promise to Power by David Mendell: From the most powerful man ever to govern this country, Barack Obama tells of his hopes and his promise to be the best president this country has ever seen. Best book ever! Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard: Good, quick read. Couple of surprises. Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama: This book gives an insightful view of how Barack Obama grew up and the dreams that his father had for him. This is definitely a book that I would suggest. Stone's Fall by Iain Pears: Interesting cast of characters-historical novel-full of surprises. 10:52:34 AM     Muskegon Reads! Fifty nine people participated in our summer reading club, Master The Art of Reading during the first week, and read 144 books! The winners this week were: Sarah Shaw-Gift certificate to McDonald’s Candies, Jennifer Darling-membership in Lascko’s Comfort Care Program, Susan Holkeboer-$50 gift certificate to Alpha & Omega Antiques, and Blake Weinert--$50 gift certificate to Alpha & Omega Antiques. Author Title Adams, Douglas Restaurant at the end of the universe Allen, Tim I'm not really here Baird, David Frommer's Texas 3rd ed Bittner, Roseanne Walk by faith Boyle, Elizabeth Something about Emmaline Brown, Rita Mae Puss'n Cahoots Brown, Rosellen Before and After Butcher, Jim Backup Charles, Leda Hussey Place Degeneres, Ellen My point, and I do have one Degeneres, Ellen The Funny thing is… Deveraux, Jude Princess Dolezal, Robert Birds in your backyard Glock, Allison Clay Aiken: Learning to sing Green, Charlene One Man's treasure Handeland, Lori Farmer's Wife Haskin, Leslie Between heaven and ground zero Hegamin, Tonya Pemba's Song-a ghost story Krakauer, Jon Into the wild Kupfer, Allen Journal of Abraham van Helsing Lehane, Dennis Given Day Leigh, Julia Disquiet Maier, George Rosie O'Donnell McNamee, Eoin Navigator Mendell, David Obama: From promise to power Mitchard, Jacquelyn Still Summer Obama, Barack Dreams from my father Pears, Iaion Stone's fall Picoult, Jodi Handle with care Rand, Ayn Anthem Reed, Annette Hemingses of Monticello Roby, Kimberla Best of Everything Schreiber, Ellen Vampire Kisses #1 Smith, Anne King's Grace Vander Ark, Steve Lexicon Verne, Jules Journey to the center of the Earth Warren, Richard Purpose driven life Gattuso, John Colorado Murdock, Gilbert Princess Ben Noble, David Gallery of Best cover letters Shamboosie Beautiful Black Hair Kennedy, Joyce Cover letters for dummies Poe, Roy Buisness Letters Reed, Kit Enclave Harris, Charlaine All together Dead Oliver, Vicky 301 smart answers to touch interview questions Kimball, Cheryl Business Letters Jackson, Lisa Cold Blooded Jackson, Lisa Shiver Harris, Charlaine Ice cold grave Jackson, Lisa Deep freeze Fletcher, Donna Return of the Rogue Sparks, Kerrelyn For love or country McGrath, Patrick Grotesque Baker, Kage Graveyard Game Hill, Sandra Frankly my dear Doherty, P C Death of a king Hall, Parnell Puzzle in a pear tree Ruiz, Don Miguel Four Agreements Tolkien, J R R Shaping of middle earth Pattison, Eliot Lord of death Russell, Mary Doria Thread of grace Tolkien, J R R Silmarillion Grace, Carol That's amore Christie, Agatha Hollow Gohlke, Cathy I have seen him in the watchfires Habila, Helen Waiting for an angel Christie, Agatha By the Pricking of my thumbs Willin, Melvyn Paranormal caught on film Tolkien, J R R Tales from the precious realm Ray, Francis Way you love me Blume, Judy Summer Sisters Eisler, Barry Requiem for an assassin Lutz, Lisa Curse of the spellmans Spinelli, Jerry Stargirl Box, C J Three weeks to say goodbye Howell, Hannah Highland Heart Napoli, Donna Jo Alligator Bayou Fleming, Alice Martin Luther King, Jr A dream of hope Adiga, Aravind White Tiger Brown, Sandra Treasure worth seeking Browning, Marie Metal Crafting Addison-Medeiros, Wendy Marbling Techniques Yue, Rebecca Chinese Calligraphy made easy Zane Caramel Flava Feehan, Christine Murder Game Myers, Tamara Batter off dead Johnson, Craig Dark Horse Emerson, Earl Cape Disappointment Hamilton, Laurell Lick of Frost Hamilton, Laurell Swallowing Darkness Isaacson, Walter Einstein: his life and universe Butcher, Jim White Night Raymond, Henry Learning in the car: Italian Tyler, Ann Digging to America Updike, John Seek my face Evanovich, Janet Fearless Fourteen Twain, Mark Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Bittner, Roseanne Into the prairie Soto, Gary Afterlife McNish, Cliff Breathe a ghost story Sparks, Nicholas Message in a bottle Rapoport, Roger 2 to 22 days in the Rockies Naylor, Phyllis Dangerously Alice Miller, Linda Lael Montana Creeds: Tyler Woodward, Bob War within Klusmire, Jon Colorado Donohue, John Tengu Brier, Bob Secret of the great pyramid Borgnine, Ernest Ernie Kramer, Leah Crafter's guide to nifty, thrifty, and kitschy Bunch, Will Tear down this myth Potter, Patricia Behind the shadows Edwards, Jonathan First time gardener Bergren, Lisa Captain's bride Andrews, Mary Kay Deep Dish Gellman, Barton Angler Andrews, V C Dawn Bartusiak, Marcia Day we found the Universe Brands, H W Traitor to his class McGraw, Phillip Life Strategies Weiner, Tim Legacy of Ashes Williams, Todd Stone of Farewell Masello, Robert Blood and ice Slaughter, Karin Fractured Brockmann, Suzanne Defiant Hero Birmingham, John Without warning Thomas, Jodi Texas Rain Thomas, Jodi Texas Princess Brockmann, Suzanne Over the Edge Thomas, Jodi Tall, Dark and Texan Brockmann, Suzanne Unsung hero Stockett, Kathryn Help Gardner, John Moriarty Kingsbury, Karen Sunset Johnson, Y A Ghostbusters Strobel, Lee Case for Christ Downie, Leonard, Jr Rules of the Game Brown, Sandra Chill Factor Boulle, Pierre Planet of the apes Meyer, Stephenie Twilight Powell, Eric Chinatown and the mystery of Mr. Wicker Sandler, John Culloden Casewit, Curtis Off the beaten path table producing by T2T 10:20:20 AM     The Credit Scores You Don't Get to See [Credit Report] . You have a right to see your credit score once a year, but that's not the only credit knowledge lenders and sellers base their decisions on. MSN Money runs down eight "secret scores" that the credit world keeps on you. Photo by TrinityCreditServices. These non-FICO scores don't factor into that seemingly all-important trio of credit bureau numbers, but they do affect how credit issuers and contracts will be negotiated. Besides looking at credit histories to determine if a borrower is likely to be late or go bankrupt, credit histories allow companies to fine-tune their marketing to you, even if you've been strong-willed in the past: Attrition-risk score: Attrition risk refers to the likelihood a user will stop using a card, and attrition-risk scores are typically used in combination with other scores to determine what to do next if you look ready to bolt. If your account generates a lot of revenue and is deemed at low risk for default or bankruptcy, for example, the issuer might aggressively try to keep your business by jacking up your credit limit, lowering your rate and pelting you with convenience checks. If your account isn't that profitable or is deemed risky, on the other hand, the issuer might just let you go. Hit the link to see seven other "secret" scores the junk mailers and lenders of the world are looking at. 8 secret scores that lenders keep [MSN Money via Get Rich Slowly] [Lifehacker] 10:14:24 AM     Senate Gives Michigan Promise Scholarship a Haircut. Students currently eligible next school year for the state's $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship may not know for weeks how much cash they will receive, if any at all. The amount could be less; the number of students receiving it could shrink. On a near party-line vote, the Republican-run Senate on Tuesday eliminated nearly all of the program's funding but signaled it was willing to negotiate a compromise during what will be a summer of budget talks. Attempts to restore the program by Democrats were rejected as Senate Republicans argued that severe cuts in all state departments would be required to close a yawning gap in the 2010 state budget. Lt. Gov. John Cherry reiterated support for one of the Granholm administration's signal achievements, a scholarship with Republican origins that rewards both achievement in high school as well as college. Eliminating it "breaks a promise," Cherry said. "We have two graduating classes, 96,000 families who expect and were planning that the scholarship be a part of how they were financing post-secondary education." As passed by committee, the $1.6 billion budget financing higher education next year would be cut by $140 million by immediately terminating the Michigan Promise program effective Oct. 1. In a 19-17 vote, the Senate breathed a little life back into the program by keeping it in the budget, though with a token $100 in funding. But whatever happens between now and final completion of the budget, the scholarship is likely to change from its current form. Cherry said, like all state programs, the $4,000 amount would probably take a "haircut." Sen. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi, broke with her GOP colleagues in supporting the scholarship but confining it to students who qualified through high school testing. That would return eligibility back to the standards of the old Michigan Merit Award. She also proposed cutting the award in half, to $2,000. That approach would gut the policy change made a few years ago when the award was boosted to $4,000. Students who may have not qualified in high school can still receive the full amount by earning two years of college credit. Democrats are likely to insist on retaining that dual eligibility, but said they could embrace another big change Cassis offered. Currently, the scholarship is available to all students. Her proposal would confine it to students coming from a household with a maximum of $100,000 in income. Sen. Liz Brater, D-Ann Arbor, argued the program should be kept as is, saying it was critical to improving degree completion rates at universities in a state where students are struggling to stay in school due to the rising cost of tuition. "If we are going to reinvent the Michigan economy for the 21st Century we will need a higher rate of graduation from out colleges and universities," Brater said. Sen. Tony Stamas, R-Midland, countered that with an overall budget deficit of nearly $2.5 billion, "the reality is that we don't have the dollars. We also made a promise to balance the budget." The Senate-passed budget bill, which includes $60 million in cuts to other scholarship programs from current-year levels, now goes back to the Democratic-controlled House. After likely rejection there, a House-Senate committee will begin hashing out a compromise beginning in July. The deadline for an overall budget agreement is Sept. 30. Cherry said the administration would press lawmakers to avoid delay given that coming budget changes would have a real impact on Michigan residents. "No matter how these decisions play out, people need to know well in advance what they're facing," Cherry said. For the full article, see Peter Luke, "Senate cuts funding to Michigan Promise scholarships, but budget negotiations continue", MLive, June 23, 2009. For another, see Tim Martin, "Advocates: Mich. students' financial aid in danger", Detroit News, June 23, 2009. For another, see Chris Christoff, "Michigan can't afford to cut college grant, Cherry says", Detroit Free Press, June 23, 2009. [Red Tape Blog] 10:13:54 AM

© Copyright 2009 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 7/1/2009; 10:01:32 AM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien