Friday, December 16, 2005

How Accurate is Wikipedia?

Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia to which anyone can contribute, is controversial as a source of research. Some teachers will not accept Wikipedia articles as resources. (I recommend that Wikipedia for cutting-edge topics, but only use it for references at the end of the article, not the article itself. )

This was posted to the discussion group SYSLIB-L (Systems Librarianship) by
Gerry McKiernan, Science and Technology Librarian at Iowa State University:

"Internet encyclopedias go head to head" by Jim Giles
Jimmy Wales' Wikipedia comes close to Britannica in terms of the accuracy of its science entries, a _Nature_ investigation finds.
[ http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051212/full/438900a.html ] [FREE]
ALSO:Wikipedia as Accurate as Britannica
[ http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?print=1&article_id=69780&cat_id=643 ]
The podcast is available from the _Nature_ podcast page
[ http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/index.html ]
The feature includes an interview with the author of the article as well as one with
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia.
In addition, a table with a list of the 50 entries reviewed in the study and the number of inaccuracies found in the Encyclopedia Britannica and Wikipedia respectively is available and located at [ http://www.nature.com/news/2005/051212/multimedia/438900a_m1.html ]

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Research help, WWW Resources)

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Free access to MIT courses

You probably won't feel like it this week during finals, but when you're feeling adventurous, go to http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has course materials available online for free--stuff like animations, lectures, videos, etc. Check it out if you're curious, or just dying to learn Chinese.]

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in WWW Resources)

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Checking out Email Rumors

Don't you wonder about all those emails that get forwarded about "Video captures home Christmas light display synchronized to musical score", or "Bill Gates, Microsoft and AOL are giving away cash and merchandise to those who forward an e-mail message", or virus alerts? Before you compound the problem of forwarding email rumors that may be untrue, check them out at the Urban Legends Reference Pages, AKA Snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com/snopes.asp). Since I've started checking rumors, I've found that at least 3/4 of the ones I get are false. And you find out some pretty interesting stuff at Snopes.com, like an investigation of the old poodle in the microwave story.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in WWW Resources)

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Want to Save Money on Textbooks?

How to Save Money on Your Textbooks:

1. Cuesta bookstore puts out its list of textbooks in early January usually. Order textbooks as soon as possible. Make sure you have the correct edition/ISBN. (I find out what the textbook will be for the next semester by mid-December if possible. Most classes use the same text as last year, but if the text is more than a couple of years old, there could be a new edition.)
2. Check http://www.addall.com/ or http://www.bookfinder4u.com/ for the textbook. Often you will find instructor’s editions for really cheap, which usually is fine. The ISBN won’t be the same as the student’s edition, but that is OK.
3. Shipping times vary, but normally the book will arrive in 1-2 weeks. If that isn’t soon enough for the class, both the San Luis and North County libraries have copies of the most-used textbooks on reserve for two hour use in the library. You can check to see if the library has a copy at webcat.Cuesta.edu/uhtbin/webcat. If that won’t work for you, you can also purchase texts at Aida’s in San Luis Obispo, which will normally be a little bit cheaper (not much, though) than the prices at the Cuesta bookstore.
4. This will not work if you need to purchase a bundled textbook with CD, login code for textbook website, etc. You have to pay retail price for that. The Cuesta bookstore textbook list will indicate if you must purchase a bundled textbook.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Money, WWW Resources)

Monday, December 12, 2005

It's finals week!

The ASCC Social Club will have donuts, bagels, and juice available for ASCC Student ID cardholders this week (SLO campus only). Wish I were there!

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Cuesta news)

Friday, December 09, 2005

Finals week classtimes

Remember, class times during finals week are different. Check your class times here:
http://academic.cuesta.edu/pim/pub/fall05_pdf/Fall2005Exam.pdf

Looking for a little light reading between finals? Check out the paperback fiction at the San Luis campus library, the hardback popular fiction at the North County library, or short story collections like Best American Short Stories, San Luis campus library call number PS 648 S5 B43, one volume for each year from 1985 to 2005. I'm reading the 2005 volume right now myself, and it's nice to read something that takes between 5 and 30 minutes to read all the way through.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Cuesta news)

Thursday, December 08, 2005

That Sony CD problem again

"On Tuesday December 6, Sony BMG and SunnComm made available a patch that was designed to resolve this security vulnerability. We're pleased that Sony BMG responded quickly and responsibly when we drew their attention to this serious security problem. However, the day after the patch was released, Professor Ed Felten and Alex Halderman identified a new problem. We take any security problems identified by these security researched very seriously. They "recommend for now that if you have a Windows PC, you
do not use the MediaMax patch
do not use the previously released MediaMax uninstaller, and
do not insert a MediaMax-bearing CD into your PC." "--from http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/Sony-BMG/mediamaxfaq.php#2

Oops.
Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Technology)

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Rain in the Forecast

It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so dress appropriately! For checking the weather, I use the Weather Channel (http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA0842) or Accuweather (http://wwwa.accuweather.com/forecast.asp?zipcode=93422&partner=accuweather). As you can see from the website addresses, you can specify a preset location to search in order to save time. Handy! Oh, and if you’re traveling, the Calif Highway Patrol website (http://cad.chp.ca.gov/) keeps you informed on current accidents and slowdowns on the freeways.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in WWW Resources)

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Cuesta Faculty Member Gone

Just found out that Mr. Bob Hartwig, who taught broadcasting communications classes here at Cuesta (and was also the chair of the Languages and Communications Division), suddenly passed away yesterday. It’s quite a shock for his family and coworkers. I give my condolences—

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Cuesta news)

Monday, December 05, 2005

Christmas Online Shopping Tips

Online sales are forecast to grow between 18 and 25 percent over last year, according to a couple of new studies. (from Kopytoff, Verne. “Online retail growth forecast :2 studies see sales accelerating as much as 25 percent.” San Francisco Chronicle 1 Nov. 2005.) If you want to join the stampede, read on:

I do a lot of shopping online now. You can check professional reviews of products at Consumersearch.com (http://consumersearch.com/) or personal reviews at Epinions.com (http://consumersearch.com/), both sites recommended in an article from the November 10, 2005 issue of Newsweek.
I like using comparison shopping sites when I’m doing online shopping, like BookFinder4U (http://www.bookfinder4u.com/) which searches 130 bookstores, Pricegrabber.com (http://www.pricegrabber.com/), or CNet (http://reviews.cnet.com/) for computers and peripherals.

Make sure to purchase from a reputable online business. If you aren’t sure that they’re reliable, check them out at the Better Business Bureau (http://search.bbb.org/search.html). I’ve decided against ordering from many different online companies, based on their BBB record.
In my experience, merchandise is received within a couple of days from major online companies like Lands End and L.L. Bean. Amazon is fast with new books, but if you purchase a used book, it depends upon the supplier. Some suppliers are very fast, others take their time.

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Money)

Friday, November 18, 2005

Fun Stuff to Do This Weekend?

Looking for good stuff to do besides study? Here are a few ideas, if you're stuck:

Robert Greenwald's (dir of Outfoxed and Uncovered) WALMART film shows today, Friday, Nov. 18, 7 pm at the SLO Library (Osos & Palm) (suggested donation $5) and Saturday, Nov. 19; 12pm; 2pm & 4pm at the SLO Library (Osos & Palm) . Suggested donation $5; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Here's the flyer: http://www.hopedance.org/new/film_flyers/walmart_11x17.pdf

Holiday Craft Faire - Atascadero
Do your holiday shopping among the arts & crafts from top local artists. All in a beautiful Pavilion next to a charming lake. Date: November 19, 2005 Time: 10 - 3 PM Location: Pavilion on the Lake.

Musical :"Holiday Extravaganza"
See Scrooge recapture his forgotten Christmas spirit. Laugh at the fractured fairy tale version of Rapunzel. Delight in the holiday Vaudeville review. All make up a very special family tradition. Beer, wine, soft drinks & snacks available. Please call about additional performances. Reservations advised. Date: November 18, 2005 - December 31, 2005 Time: Times / Dates Vary Location: Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville, 1863 Pacific Blvd = (Hwy 1) Oceano Parking: Free On Site Phone: 805-489-2499 Admission: $14 - $17

If all these activities look lame, try looking at these events calendars:

Theater showtimes http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/showtimes?z=san%20luis%20obispo,%20CA

Tribune event calendar http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com/calendar/index.cfm

New Times event calendar http://www.newtimesslo.com/index.php?p=hotdates


Have a good weekend,
Tina Lau, North County Librarian

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Sony musc CD problem

Sony BMG announced that it is recalling the CDs with the copy-protection software XCP, which installs hidden files deep in PC users' Windows operating system. Among the 52 affected titles were Trey Anastasio's Shine, Neil Diamond's 12 Songs and Celine Dion's recent greatest hits package. The move comes in the wake of at least two viruses unleashed by hackers that take advantage of a security flaw created by the software.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/8832306/treyanastasio?pageid=rs.News&pageregion=double1&rnd=1132178026519&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.1040

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4445550.stm

Here's the Sony news release from Nov. 16: http://blog.sonymusic.com/sonybmg/archives/111505.html

Here's the list from Sony of all 52 titles:
CD’s Containing XCP Content Protection Technology
Note: We will shortly be releasing new versions of these titles without the XCP software. You therefore need to check this list for both the name of the album and the item number (which can be found on the spine of the CD). If the item number is not listed below, your CD does not contain XCP content protection.

ARTIST
ALBUM
ITEM NUMBER(S)
UPC(S)
1.
A Static Lullaby
Faso Latido
CK92772
827969277225
2.
Acceptance
Phantoms
CK89016
696998901629
3.
Amerie
Touch
CK90763
827969076323
4.
Art Blakey
Drum Suit
CK93637
827969363720
5.
The Bad Plus
Suspicious Activity?
CK94740
827969474020
6.
Bette Midler
Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
CK95107 CK74815
827969510728 828767481524
7.
Billy Holiday
The Great American Songbook
CK94294
827969429426
8.
Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer & Friends
CK94292
827969429228
9.
Buddy Jewell
Times Like These
CK92873
827969287323
10.
Burt Bacharach
At This Time
CK97734
827969773420
11.
Celine Dion
On Ne Change Pas
E2K97736
827969773628
12.
Chayanne
Cautivo
LAK96819 LAK96818 LAK95886
037629681921 037629681822 037629588626
13.
Chris Botti
To Love Again
CK94823
827969482322
14.
The Coral
The Invisible Invasion
CK94747
827969474723
15.
Cyndi Lauper
The Body Acoustic
EK94569
827969456927
16.
The Dead 60's
The Dead 60's
EK94453
827969445327
17.
Deniece Williams
This Is Niecy
CK93814
827969381427
18.
Dextor Gordon
Manhattan Symphonie
CK93581
827969358122
19.
Dion
The Essential Dion
CK92670
827969267028
20.
Earl Scruggs
I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends
CK92793
827969279328
21.
Elkland
Golden
CK92036
827969203620
22.
Emma Roberts
Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts
CK93950 CK97684
827969395028 827969768426
23.
Flatt & Scruggs
Foggy Mountain Jamboree
CK92801
827969280126
24.
Frank Sinatra
The Great American Songbook
CK94291
827969429129
25.
G3
Live In Tokyo
E2K97685
827969768525
26.
George Jones
My Very Special Guests
E2K92562
827969256220
27.
Gerry Mulligan
Jeru
CK65498
074646549827
28.
Horace Silver
Silver's Blue
CK93856
827969385623
29.
Jane Monheit
The Season
EK97721
827969772126
30.
Jon Randall
Walking Among The Living
EK92083
827969208328
31.
Life Of Agony
Broken Valley
EK93515
827969351529
32.
Louis Armstrong
The Great American Songbook
CK94295
827969429525
33.
Mary Mary
Mary Mary
CK94812 CK92948
000768353721 827969294826
34.
Montgomery Gentry
Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
CK75324 CK94982
828767532424 827969498224
35.
Natasha Bedingfield
Unwritten
EK93988
827969398821
36.
Neil Diamond
12 Songs
CK94776 CK97811
827969477625 827969781128
37.
Nivea
Complicated
82876671562
828766715620
38.
Our Lady Peace
Healthy In Paranoid Times
CK94777
827969477724
39.
Patty Loveless
Dreamin' My Dreams
EK94481
827969448120
40.
Pete Seeger
The Essential Pete Seeger
CK92835
827969283523
41.
Ray Charles
Friendship
CK94564
827969456422
42.
Rosanne Cash
Interiors
CK93655
827969365526
43.
Rosanne Cash
King's Record Shop
CK86994
696998699427
44.
Rosanne Cash
Seven Year Ache
CK86997
696998699724
45.
Shel Silverstein
The Best Of Shel Silverstein
CK94722
827969472224
46.
Shelly Fairchild
Ride
CK90355
827969035528
47.
Susie Suh
Susie Suh
EK92443
827969244326
48.
Switchfoot
Nothing Is Sound
CK96534 CK96437 CK94581
827969653425 827969643723 827969458129
49.
Teena Marie
Robbery
EK93817
827969381724
50.
Trey Anastacio
Shine
CK96428
827969642825
51.
Van Zant
Get Right With The Man
CK93500
827969350027
52.
Vivian Green
Vivian
CK90761
827969076125

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Technology)

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Signing up for Spring classes

Spring classes may be viewed online in the Class Finder, and the printed class schedule is now available at all Cuesta campuses. Please check this online addendum to view any schedule changes. Priority online registration for continuing students, enrolled in the fall 2005 semester begins November 17. Check your registration date & time via PAWS. Online registration for new, former, and Enrichment students begins December 12, 2005 by alpha breakdown based on student’s last name. (I cut-and-pasted this from various Cuesta sources.)

Tina Lau, North County Librarian
(in Cuesta news)

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Introduction

Welcome to the Cuesta Library News blog. We will be using this space daily to announce
interesting websites, events at Cuesta, library workshops, community events, whatever catches our eye. Stay tuned!
Tina Lau, North County Librarian