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5 Essential Books for Tech Investors

New Year's is upon us, and with that comes goals and aspirations for the year ahead. So what's stopping you from becoming a better tech investor in 2011? Here are five suggested readings for the year ahead.

Profit From a Stalling Rally

Anybody can make money when stocks are going up, and if you know how to sell stocks short, you can profit when stocks drop, too. But what the heck are you supposed to do in a flat market?

A Better Way to Double Your Returns

After the big losses of 2008 and early 2009, investors were in a serious hurry to earn back the money they lost. That created a perfect environment for companies offering leveraged exchange-traded funds, which promise amplified returns from market movements in either direction. Even now, leveraged ETFs are still popular, as speculators try to guess the market's next big move.

Analysts Are Completely Wrong About These Stocks

These are some of the CAPS community's most-favored companies. So why does the professional analyst community look down on them? Who's got it right? The professional class of analysts, sitting in their paneled offices, smoking stogies, or a motley crew of community investors pooling their best thoughts for others to share. We've got an idea on who we think will come out ahead, how about you?

Google Makes Voice Personal

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has upped the ante for its voice search by making the feature a lot more personal. The Mountain View, Calif. company has taken its voice recognition service and personalized it for users. When Google originally unveiled the service on its Android phones two years ago, it had the ability to accommodate a variety of people regardless of age, gender or accents. With this latest update, Google voice search can recognize individual people.

The Lessons From This Week's $90 Oil Price

 There used to be a TV program called This Was the Week That Was, which looked for humor in the more off-the-wall events that had occurred during the past few days. As this week ends, it might be possible to put together such a show on the ups and downs of crude prices.

 

Four arrested for Medicare fraud

Detroit -- The U.S. Justice Department said four people in Michigan were arrested on healthcare fraud charges as part of an investigation that has now included 21 arrests.

John Thomas, a physical therapist, Sherry Prescott, an office employee, and Maira Suleman and Myra Jones, both patient recruiters, were arrested on charges of billing Medicare for services that were either not performed or unnecessary, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

The four individuals worked for All American Home Care. Jones also worked for Patient Choice Health Care. Both companies are located in Oak Park, Mich.

Authorities charge the scheme, including all of those arrested, has bilked Medicare out of $14.5 million.

AOL's Clock Is a Decade Slow

 It's a pity that AOL (NYSE: AOL) didn't get bitten by the reality bug sooner. Reuters is reporting that the meandering dot-com portal is exploring the sale of its Internet access business and combining the rest with Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO).

 

AT&T ranks lowest in latest Consumer Reports survey

AT&T Network might have managed to make enough profit after the arrival of Apple’s popular iPhone on its network, however, the carrier never managed to provide satisfactory service to its iPhone users.

3 Stocks That Blew the Market Away

 Don't settle for ordinary quarterly reports. Every week I take a look at three companies that beat market expectations, since I believe that's the biggest factor in a stock beating the market. Leaving Wall Street's pros with stunned expressions can be a good thing. It usually means that the companies have more in the tank than analysts figured. Capital appreciation typically follows.

 

Man accused of hitting police horse

Houston -- A Houston man who allegedly struck a police horse outside of a Houston Texans game has been charged with interference with a police service animal.

Harris County sheriff's deputies said Sgt. Richard Castillo briefly lost control of his horse after it was struck on the hindquarters by Jeff Siebert, 30, outside of the game Sunday at Reliant Stadium, The Houston Chronicle reported Thursday.

The sheriff's office said the horse jumped and struck a barricade marking off a pedestrian area before Castillo, who was working an off-duty security job, was able to regain control.

Siebert was released after posting $5,000 bail. He is due in court next week.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

Ondrasik organizes CD to thank troops

Washington -- Musician John Ondrasik and 13 other artists are thanking U.S. military members for their service by offering their talents for a CD called "For the Troops IV.

Starting Wednesday, the album will be available for free download to active duty service members, veterans and their families worldwide with a valid military ID at shopmyexchange.com.

An additional 200,000 hard copies of the CD will be sent to military bases, USO centers and other locations across the nation and overseas, courtesy of TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Operation Homefront.