Chris Nolan

I thought Chris Nolan's presentation on how to find good research through the search engines was helpful. Learning about the little tricks to refine searches will help me save time and effort next time I'm researching a topic for a paper. 

I think the resources the library has set up are great, but the websites like Google and Ask.com is what I've grown up with. However, sometimes it takes FOREVER to get the right research. Chris Nolan taught us how to refine our searches using the tools offered by the search engines. Who would've thought? Adding quotation marks tells the site to look only for those together. Minus signs tells the site to look for certain words without other words. The cached key highlights where the words are on the website. This is helpful because it allows the reader to give the website a quick glance to see how relevant/helpful it would be. 

The advanced search key confused me before I knew what I did. This function allows you pick certain domains, phrases, and other specific information.

I've already put these helpful hints to practice. They will sure be a time saver!! 

copyright & the media

Are the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA), and Entertainment Software Association (ESA) targeting college students? From the bias of this college freshman, they totally are. However, it is for the right reasons.

Copyright laws have been around forever! In fact, in the US the first copyrighting laws predated our Bill of Rights. I am all for copyright. I believe what I write should be considered mine and only mine and I would be upset if anyone else tried to take credit for my work. Who wouldn't right? So shouldn't we apply this same method to the musical artist and actors who provide us entertainment?

I get it though us college kids are downright broke from all the money we spend on tuition, book, and living on our own. Money is tight nowadays, but does that justify stealing? Downloading illegal music, movies, games, etc. off the internet without proper payment is stealing! You would not steal the newest skateboard or designer purse if you did not have the money for it right?

Ok, I know the movie stars and musical artists of our day rake in the dough. But what about the people behind the scenes? There was one commerical awhile ago that showed the devastating effects of pirating (or downloading illegally) music. The question at the beginning read, "so who does pirating hurt?". It first started with the musical artists, then showed the producer, then the sound board equipment staff, and on and on. It is a rippling effect that sets off a whole chain of events.

Bottom line: do not download illegally! Besides the utter fear of getting a "take down notice" (which by the way Trinity gets a lot of), it's morally wrong. Just pay the $1 per song or listen to the radio. That is all, thank you!