The spirit world of New Orleans incubates a volatile and offbeat mixture of religion, politics, race, and fate in this latter-day parable of the interaction of a man adrift in life and a woman rooted in her faith. As efforts by Corina Youngblood — Christian minister, voudou priestess, and botanica proprietor—to stop the construction by a former Cuban padrino of a SuperBotanica, a "Wal-Mart of spiritual supplies," begin to founder, she finds accidental alliance with Gus Houston, Acting Chaplain at a prominent girls’ prep school in the Garden District. Despite a calamity in the Gospel Tent at Jazzfest and a cost to her family, she emerges victorious in the struggle. Thanks go to her Jesus, and her santos, as they have all her life, for such is her way....

Updated to help readers cope with the unusual number of uncertainties that characterize today?s financial markets, this book is a financial primer that will be of special value to first-time investors, but also enlightening to everybody who currently has a personal investment portfolio. The author provides sound fundamental information in clear language that non-experts can understand. Separate chapters give practical advice on how to select a broker and open a brokerage account, and describe how the stock market operates. Readers learn how to cut through the jargon that fills annual reports and other financial statements. They will find clear explanations of mutual funds, stock options, an investor?s legal rights, the tax consequences of investing, market analysis, technical analysis, and much more. Here is information that every potential investor should have before opening an account....