Netlibrary ebook for December

December 2009
NetLibrary eBook of the Month
A monthly showcase of new and notable eBooks
The Modern Baker: Time-Saving Techniques for Breads, Tarts, Pies, Cakes and Cookies
By Nick Malgieri DK Publishing, 2008 Product ID: 279478

With the right teacher, simplified techniques, and step-by-step photo tutorials to guide the way, everyone can make freshly baked loaves, crisp flatbreads, savory tarts, and rich desserts – in record time.
Written by baking Hall of Famer Nick Malgieri, this collection of 150 straightforward recipes with gourmet appeal, strives to bring success to even the busiest of bakers, with the bulk of the preparation taking under one hour. Malgieri distills years of teaching and experience into these detailed recipes for baking everything from bread to biscotti to puff pastry to old-fashioned layer cakes. Recipes are thorough and include descriptions of how batters and doughs are supposed to appear at each stage of preparation. The Modern Baker is as necessary and essential as a good oven; Nick Malgieri leads cooks through the simple art of creating an international assortment of delicious sweet and savory baked goods, interweaving techniques and helpful sidebars.
Designed to increase awareness of online resources and highlight the value of your eBook collection, the December eBook of the Month is provided through the generous support of DK Publishing. Don’t miss the opportunity to share this comprehensive collection of recipes and time-saving techniques.
The Modern Baker will be provided with free, unlimited access December 1-31, 2009.

posted by Tina Lau, North County Libraian

5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping (article from Kiplinger's)

by Cameron Huddleston

November 17, 2009

Shopping online is a great way to find deals (as I wrote recently). But, if you're not careful, you could be putting your personal information at risk of being stolen by identity thieves.

Michael Gregg, a cyber security consultant for Fortune 500 companies and the federal government, says the volume of attacks that target Internet users has been on the rise this year. However, he says there are several steps you can take to protect yourself while shopping -- or doing anything -- online.

1. Never shop online from a public Wi-Fi connection. Hackers can tap into Wi-Fi connections at hotspots, such as coffee shops, airports and hotels, to capture your personal information. If you must use public Wi-Fi, you can download for free the AnchorFree HotSpot Shield to hide your IP address while you're online and protect your computer from snoopers. Also, never use a public computer to shop or check accounts online.

2. Don't use your smartphone to shop. Hackers can use the same tactics for tapping into your smartphone as they use for your laptop or PC.

3. Don't use your debit card for online shopping. If hackers steal your debit-card information and raid your bank account, you must report any misuse within two days to get the same $50 limited liability as you would with a credit card. Miss that deadline but report your loss within 60 days and you could be liable for up to $500. After 60 days, your liability is unlimited. If you don't like using credit cards, though, consider using EBillme to make secure cash payments when shopping online (see Shop Online ... With Cash).

4. Shop online only at known retailers. Don't let a search engine pick a site for you because it could be bogus, Gregg says. Even if you're using a site that you think is legitiamte, look for security labels, such as VeriSign and Cybertrust, and for https:// to appear in the url on pages that prompt you to enter personal information. Also consider downloading McAfee's free SiteAdvisor, which tests sites for dangerous downloads, spamming and more.

5. Don't click on pop-up ads. Hackers recently have posted bogus ads with malicious software on legitimate sites (NYTimes.com, for example). Online retailers will be susceptible to these attacks, Gregg says.

posted by Tina Lau, North County Librarian

Tax credit for textbook purchases

Receive a Tax Credit for Hitting the Books!

Course Materials Now Qualify for Tax Credit

Attention Students and Parents!

SAVE YOUR COURSE MATERIAL RECEIPTS –
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TAX CREDIT UP TO $2,500!!

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) newly created American Opportunity Tax Credit, textbook and other course material expenses – along with tuition and fees incurred in 2009 and 2010 not covered by scholarships or grants – may be claimed as a tax credit on that year's tax return!

You must keep a record of your expenses to be eligible!!

[information from http://textbookaid.org/]

Tina Lau, North County Librarian

Netlibrary book for March

March 2009 NetLibrary eBook of the Month A monthly showcase of new and notable eBooks

Two Billion Cars:
Driving Toward Sustainability

Daniel Sperling and Deborah Gordon
Foreword by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Oxford University Press, 2009
Product ID: 259499

At present, there are roughly a billion motor vehicles in the world. Within twenty years, the number will double to 2 billion, largely a consequence of China's and India's explosive growth. Given that greenhouse gases are already creating havoc with our climate and that violent conflict in oil-rich nations is on the rise, does this mean that matters will only get worse? Or are there hopeful signs that effective, realistic solutions can be found?

In Two Billion Cars, transportation experts Daniel Sperling and Deborah Gordon provide a concise history of America's love affair with cars and an overview of the global oil and auto industries. They zero in on reforming our gas-guzzling culture, expanding the search for low-carbon fuels, environment-friendly innovations in transportation planning, and more. Promising advances in both transportation technology and fuel efficiency together with shifts in travel behavior, they suggest, offer us a realistic way out of our predicament.

If you are on campus, go to www.netlibrary.com to access the book. Off-campus, login to your myCuesta account, link to NetLibrary from the library channel on the Resource ta.

Tina Lau

North County Librarian

Financial aid tips for your FAFSA

I just found some good tips for filling out your FAFSA from the Kiplinger's blog:
http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/01/avoid-student-aid-traps.html.

Tips included things like not waiting until you've filled out your income tax return.

Tina Lau
North County Librarian