Marijuana Legalization in Two States Conflicts with Federal Laws

Since Colorado and Washington voters cast ballots in favor of legal marijuana sales including recreational use, the federal government is primed to combat the issue with lawsuits since the U.S. prohibits this type of drug sale ("How Will Feds Deal with Marijuana Legalization in Colorado and Washington?" The Christian Science Monitor, November 12, 2012). The Justice Department is watching how the states will develop the framework for licensing, regulating, and taxing marijuana commerce. Those interests making money off marijuana sales will find the federal spotlight on them rather than individual users of the drug.

Review selected library titles related to marijuana legalization at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library.

Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:

• drug legalization
• marijuana therapeutic use
• marijuana industry

"Will DOJ Fight Marijuana Law?" from the NBC Learn Higher Ed video database - NBC Universal Media, LLC, 2012.
Note: Login with your Lone Star College ID/library card barcode number to view the video off campus. Washington State passed a marijuana possession law, but it is still illegal to buy marijuana. - video clip summary

Marijuana edited by Noah Berlatsky - Greenhaven, 2012. call number: 362.295 Mar
Includes discussion of such topics as "Is marijuana harmful? -- Are there medical benefits to using marijuana? -- Should medical marijuana be legalized? -- Should recreational marijuana be legalized?" - table of contents excerpt

Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed And What We Can Do About It [Electronic Resource]: A Judicial Indictment of the War On Drugs by James P. Gray - Temple University, 2012.
call number: EBSCO eBook Collection
Note: Login with your Lone Star College ID/library card barcode number to view the eBook off campus. "Gray, a California Superior Court justice, . . .effectively documents a growing coalition of often conservative lawyers, legislators and justices who view the drug war's impotent dream of national abstinence as folly and its shadow effects (from imprisonment of nonviolent offenders to diversion of law enforcement resources) as dangers to liberty. . . The sensible passion of Gray's conclusions will make this a crucial reference for those politicians, voters, activists and law enforcement agencies seeking to reform established policy." - Publishers Weekly review excerpt

Marijuana: A Chronic History
A & E Television Networks, 2011. call number: DVD Collection 362.295 Mar
"Looks at the history of marijuana in America, particularly its medicinal purposes and legalization. Includes interviews with experts and celebrities on both sides of the debate." - production summary

Cybersecurity Inadequate to Combat Attacks on U.S. Banks

An overseas organization may be behind the recent spate of bank websites being overloaded with heavy traffic disrupting online access to accounts ("Cyber Attacks on U.S. Banks Expose Computer Vulnerabilities," Bloomberg Businessweek, September 28, 2012). To stem the tide of these distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) on financial institutions, the White House may issue an executive order to set up new security systems to prevent downtime of "vital computer networks" since cybersecurity legislation is stalled in Congress. This latest round of cyber assaults on banks created inconvenience for customers, but not theft of secure data.

Review selected library titles related to cybersecurity and computer crimes at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library.

Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:

• business data security
• computer crimes
• computer hackers
• computer networks security
• computer security
• data protection
• information technology security
• Internet security

"Uncle Sam Wants Cyber Hackers" from the NBC Learn Higher Ed video database - NBC Universal Media, LLC, 2011.

Note: Login with your Lone Star College ID/library card barcode number to view the video off campus. The National Security Agency sought to hire cyber specialists at a hacker convention to identify and correct security issues. - video clip summary

Computer Security Fundamentals by Chuck Easstom - Pearson, 2012.
call number: 005.8 Eas
"Beginning with a general introduction to computer security, the volume covers topics such as Internet fraud and abuse, denial of service attacks, malware, hacking techniques, industrial espionage, encryption, developing security policies, network penetration testing, and basic computer forensics techniques. . .Easttom is a certified IT professional and the author of several books on computer and networking topics." - publishers summary \excerpt

America the Vulnerable: Inside the New Threat Matrix of Digital Espionage, Crime, and Warfare by Joel Brenner - Penguin, 2011.
call number: 364.168 Bre
"Brenner, a former inspector general for the National Security Agency, raises the alarm about inadequately addressed threats and vulnerabilities to computer and communications systems. This problem has been addressed by administrations unsuccessfully since the 1980s and Brenner believes more needs to be done soon. This alarming account by an expert is worthy of serious attention from policy makers and average readers alike." - Publishers Weekly review excerpt

Cybersecurity: Public Sector Threats and Responses
by Kim J. Andreasson- CRC, 2012. call number: EBSCO eBook Collection Database (see title link to access book)
"Written as a reference, but easily adaptable for classroom use, this book explains the importance of cyber security, why readers should care, and what threats to watch for. It also offers information on how to improve an operating environment and better safeguard the constituents organizations serve." - publishers summary excerpt

Strike-Slip Earthquakes Cause Chain Reaction Worldwide

Major Indian Ocean earthquakes this year triggered aftershocks not only in surrounding areas, but around the world, suggesting that an existing tectonic plate is separating (April Sumatra Quakes Signal Indian Ocean Plate Break-Up, BBC News, September 26, 2012). No tsunami occurred from these 8.6 and 8.2 temblors because they were characterized as strike-slip quakes where plates move horizontally against each other. U.S. Geological Survey's Dr. Fred Pollitz noted that the remarkable result of the April 2012 quakes is that they "effectively extended the aftershock zone to the entire globe."

Review selected library titles related to plate tectonics and earthquakes at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Request" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to reserve for pick up at the library.

Use these subject words and phrases to find more in the library catalog:

• earthquakes
• plate tectonics
• seismology

"Plate Tectonics" from the Films on Demand video database - BBC, 2010.
Note: Login with your Lone Star College ID/library card barcode number to view the video off campus.
"Plates on the earth's surface are continually on the move. If they pull apart suddenly, an earthquake occurs." - database summary excerpt


Waking the Giant: How a Changing Climate Triggers Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes by Bill McGuire - Oxford, 2012.
call number: 551.6 MacG
"The book includes the "science behind the theory that climate change will dramatically increase the number of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. . . The author succeeds at interpreting complex earth science into compelling reading for a popular audience." - Library Journal review excerpt." - Library Journal review excerpt

Plate Tectonics: Continental Drift and Mountain Building by Wolfgang Frisch, Martin Meschede, Ronald Blakey - Springer, 2011.
call number: 551.136 Fri
"This volume presents an introduction to the field of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory which describes the large scale motions of Earth's rigid outermost shell." - publishers summary excerpt