Chris Nolan's talk about search engines

I thought I knew as much as I needed to know about search engines, particularly Google, but Chris Nolan showed me so many other advantages of search engines that I had no idea existed.
One thing that I didn't know is that if a webpage you are trying to get to through google isn't working for some reason --maybe its busy or under maitenance or something-- you can click "Cached" next to the link to the website to see Google's copy of the webpage. On this page you are able to see all the key words you are searching highlighted in the document from when google catalogued the site.
When Chris said that more academicly accurate articles are found at the bottom of the first page of search results and on to the second page it surprised me. I had always just trusted the top hits. But it made so much sense when he described why: the top hits are the most popular basic sites and the sites lower down on the results list are more scientifically correct. Most people aren't trying to write a research paper so they need the most basic information and would probably get frustrated trying to understand a lot of high level academic or scientific jargon.

All in all I was really glad to hear what Chris Nolan had to say because now my research will be much easier.

Copyright Laws

In class yesterday, Mr. Hardin was telling us about the take down notices that either the RIAA, MPAA, or ESA will send to the university informing the school that a computer on their network has been violating copyright laws. Usually they are sent by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) because the majority of college students are downloading music illegally. A take down notice will inform the school which the IP address of the computer that is infringing on copyright laws. The school will find the student who owns the computer and inform them of the take down notice. The school is legally obligated to give the RIAA the student's name and address. The take down notices are good for students because it acts as a warning. However, sometimes the RIAA will simply skip the take down notice all together and immediately take legal action against the student. One Trinity student was sued by the RIAA for downloading 12 songs illegally, without the warning of a take down notice. I find this to be unfair. If the RIAA is going to grant take down notices to some students they have to grant them to all students. Its not fair that they randomly decide to take actions upon some students. In the case of this girl student, I find it particularly unfair because so many kids download hundreds of songs illegally. Although I completely disagree with the RIAA's random decisions not to issue take down notices, I can see why they would do that. If they issue these take down notices all the time the copyright owners will never make any money for their losses. I think that they RIAA has the right to do this, but they should decide to do one or the other--either always issue take down notices, or always take immediate legal action. 

Facebook

I greatly enjoy Facebook! Although it can be a distraction sometimes it has kept me in touch with so many people from high school that I otherwise would have lost all contact with. I see so many advantages to it but also a lot of things that I think deserve great caution. 

I think its a great networking device, and its good for getting me connected to people that will be new friends or even people that can get me a dream job. For example, I did this intense research internship the summer after my junior year and I'm a Facebook friend with the man who conducted the selection process and who supervised us throughout the internship. By keeping in touch with him and saying a simple "hello" every once in a while, I know I can always use him as a reference for a job I might want. With facebook he remembers me better and knows more about my goals in life and can write a great recommendation. 

Also the "Groups" application is amazing! A lot of kids check their facebook 10 times more often than they check their email. I'm in a group called TheProject, and when I want to tell the entire group about an upcoming meeting, or send out the notes from a previous meeting, I can use the group to send out a message to all of the members on facebook. I get twice as many responses on facebook than I do on email. 

Adults are right to start using facebook because it is the best way to communicate with the youth. People say that it is decreasing face to face communication and even telephone communication but it is, in fact, a much easier way of communication and a pastime for college and high school kids. Facebook is the best way to reach our generation and generations to come.