I really liked the presentation about downloading music. In retrospect, I think I would have liked to research and present more about the ethical issues involved in sharing files. It is such an interesting topic with soooo many different sides of the story. It really got me thinking.

I thought it was really funny that one kid in the group had found a torrent for the book so that it wasn't necessary for him to purchase it. I liked that their presentation was brief and to-the-point. They talked about downloading vs copying cds, and the chances of getting caught. They also talked about itunes, one song sales, and store exclusive cd releases.

I don't know how I feel about downloading music illegally. I do think that the internet has made it much easier for artists to get their work seen (Lily Allen was discovered on Myspace!!!)- this is a good thing. I don't really use limewire or anything, but I am a frequent customer of itunes. I love being able to make single song purchases, and I don't really believe that they hurt the music industry. Physical cds are expensive (last time I bought a new release at Fred Meyer I think it was $16.99!) compared to itunes, and I have more control over what I buy. I think that if the RIAA or artists are mad, they need to do like the newspapers and evolve to make a product that is successful.

I also think it is ridiculous that the RIAA (I think it's them!) want to stop Pandora or make them pay royalties. I understand that they feel they are losing money, but I think that free services like Pandora help the RIAA and artists, because they introduce the public to new artists. Since David and I discovered Pandora, we've bought soooooo much music we've heard on there. If you haven't used Pandora, I suggest you check it out. You put in an artist or song you like, and it chooses songs that are musically similar. It creates a sort of radio station, based on your votes (yay or nay) on the songs. It gives you lots of new music to listen to and vote on. You can also create all kinds of radio stations, and I believe they only ask for your email address to register. Plus, it's free!

The bottom line is that I don't think anyone will ever be able to stop illegal downloads without grossly invading peoples' privacy (which I hope doesn't happen). It's also an issue that DRM (think that Sims game, Spore) really frustrates honest consumers. The music industry must do like the newspapers, and find a way to make their product better, more accessible, or whatever they need to do to make money. I talk a lot, however I have no idea as to how they should do this.

So, as part of our blogging assignment, I'm supposed to blog about the group presentations I saw. I am going to reflect on my own group's presentation, as it didn't go exactly the way I'd imagined. A forewarning: I am a control freak about this kind of thing, and honestly prefer working on my own, because I can get it just how I want it without anyone messing it up.

I think it was a mistake to try to have seven people. The presentation was really long, and I think it would have been better to break it into two presentations or something. I also think that when you get a group that big, it gets hard for anyone's idea to come through loud and clear. It's also hard to organize/gather that many people to work on the presentation.

I put together our powerpoint, and I felt like everyone's piece of the presentation was so different. I tried to edit them so that everyone's was approximately the same length and they seemed more cohesive. I must admit that the book seemed awfully complicated, and like a lot to take on.

I wish I had convinced the rest of my group to just read the Kevin Mitnick book, The Art Of Deception, like I did. However, I did feel like my part of the presentation added an important cap to the end of our group presentation.

I really think that one of the most important parts of controlling/using new technology is the human aspect. Mitnick makes some very serious, scary points, that are important to note. His book opened my eyes, and made me curious about all the times the "yellow pages" called to "confirm" my company's information. Before I was hesitant to help them, and now I refuse to even speak to them. I consider myself to be pretty internet savvy, and I still could have fallen for some of Mitnick's schemes. I like to be helpful at work, and it (customer service) is part of my job. I think it's clever (and scary) to take advantage of traits like this.

I can really see it happening at a place like Microsoft, and it makes me wonder what kind of security expectations/training they have (should ask the dad!). I could totally see a helpful temp admin faxing information or giving it up because they didn't realize this seemingly innocuous information was actually important.

The book was interesting for the most part, and I recommend it. I wish the author had talked more about his own exploits, but he probably didn't want to get himself into trouble (again). I was curious to hear more about things that really happened, and a little disappointed that he didn't share more. I think it's awesome he wrote the book though. Better that someone who is very clever and curious (but not devious) show people these sorts of security holes, than for someone to exploit them.

So, basically I'm blogging to avoid doing my (very tedious) philosophy paper. Anyways, I was thinking about it some more, and I was thinking about how you can be anyone you want to be online. You can choose what parts of yourself to show or not show, and you can downright lie. Take Myspace Angles, for example. Watch this video. I assure you, it is worth your time (NSFW). It's says ten minutes, but you only need to watch part one.
Anyways, I guess the idea is to take anything someone says online with a grain of salt. I know someone who moved here from almost the east coast to be with a guy she met online. They met online, and then in person on xmas eve, and she moved all her stuff over on New Year's Day. Guess how that turned out? Yeah, not good (note to self: don't tell her about your blog). Like with crazy fights and cops and a broken lease bad. Both of these people were sort of odd (I seem to attract the crazies!). Anyways, I'm not saying that online dating is impossible or bad, I'm just saying people should beware (and drop everything to move across the country to be with someone they've only known in person for two days).
Maybe all of this is why I prefer the real world to online? I hate myspace and never check mine (same with facebook). I only made one so I could look at someone's pictures. I think the technology is cool (how else could I look up my best friend from 1st grade who moved away?), but people are WAAAAAAAAY too into it, and I am not. I did Running Start in high school, and I never hung out with people my age (always had older friends) and I think I just kind of missed my myspace crazy when it swept over the high schools. Same with texting... I use it, but not much.

Since the economy has been bad, the new buzzword sort of thing is to have a staycation. It reminded me of the whole talk we had it TINST207 about online community. I think a staycation can be a vacation. You can get away, relax, and have a good time while staying at home or close to home. However, I don't like the idea of an online vacation.
I've never played a MMOG, but my boyfriend David has, and my 14 year old brother is way into gaming as well. I've seen how obsessive they get about games. At one point David was staying up like all night playing Star Wars Galaxies. He totally had friends, and they would all get online at the same time and do missions and stuff. Right now, as I type, he's playing like his 3rd hour of Fable2 (this is the second time he's played it through). For him, it goes in waves. Anyways, I understand that for him, these games are a way to relax. For me, video games are frustrating, and I think vacations are for relaxing.
David and I have both a Wii and an XBOX360, and when I get into video games, I am guilty of getting a little obsessive. It goes in waves for me to- I will play for a couple hours each day, and then not. I don't think I've played Wii for a month.
While online worlds are real, and they exist, they're just no substitute for for real life friends and family. That's why I'm gonna go visit my sister and her husband tonight :D

Was looking through my blog counting TINST207 posts and realized I was missing some that I had written. Looked around some more and saw that they were saved in my drafts, missing parts. I think that since I posted them at work (we have crappy satellite internet) and they auto-saved but the internet crapped out and they didn't fully post.

I'm working on fixing it.

Doing the scavenger hunt for TINST207- we're about 1/2 way done!!!
Monica, Becca, and Kaitlin FTW!

In my group, I am reading The Art Of Deception by Kevin Mitnick, and talking about the human aspect of security. I will also probably be putting the powerpoint notes together.

At first, I wasn't sure about feedtacoma. I thought it was going to be some sort of fundraising, food driving thing.
I loved the presentation Kevin Freitas gave us about his website, feedtacoma.com. It was such an awesome idea, and while it probably isn't the choice I'd make, I admire that he does it for fun, not money. I also liked the design of the site- he keeps it very minimal, clean, and easy to navigate.
I like going there and seeing what everyone is up to and to look at new blogs. It's a great resource for someone who is new to Tacoma. If one learns to use exit133 and feedtacoma, they have access to all kinds of awesome information. You can find reviews on all things Tacoma, see what others are up to, etc. It's amazing. I also really loved his idea of a Tacoma wiki. I think it would be especially terrific if he made each wiki entry have a place for comments. That way, it could also be an aggregate of reviews/experiences.
I don't know about everyone else out there, but David and I use the internet to look up all sorts of things. I especially like reviews I can read before I try something. Also, when David and I look for something (let's say italian food) we are most likely to go to the restaurant with a website and/or reviews.
I'm thinking of contacting Kevin about the Tacoma wiki thing, and also contacting downtown merchants about feedtacoma/their businesses. It would be neat to have information about all kinds of retailers downtown, and it would be even neater to have pictures.
For me, the more details the better! Even if it leads to indecision, I like to have lots of options.

I know I've been slacking with the TINST207 blog posts. I just got writer's block about the online banking/finances one, and felt weird about putting them out of order.
So, I think I figured out that the reason I don't really have that much to say about online banking is that I've always used it. Ever since I got my first checking account at like 15, I've used online banking. When I moved out of the parent's house and had to pay bills, I used the computer. It's weird, but it's almost to the point that using a pen and paper and stamp feels foreign.... I have a sheet of stamps at my desk at work, and I haven't used one in ages. Good thing they are "forevor stamps."
I think that I didn't realize the danger of it until I had become more set in my ways, and I've learned even more from the class. I've never had any problem with banking or shopping online, so I haven't been scared out of it. I am also happy to note that my bank, BECU, will pay for any online bills or fees if their system messes up. My friend had an issue with WAMU's bill-pay where one of the bills she paid literally disappeared. She had that it had been withdrawn from her account, but it never got to the cell company or whatever. It took her like two months and a couple visits to the bank before WAMU refunded her the money. She no longer uses bill-pay, and I can understand why- she had been using it for her mortgage payments, and could have been in some deep trouble.
The last aspect of why banking and shopping online don't scare me is that the benefits definitely outweigh the risks. I can buy ANYTHING online... from rocket caffeine syrup and solar powered lamps on thinkgeek.com, to funny t-shirts on shirt.woot.com. A certain nerd I know who will remain unnamed even bought supplies to make his own fireworks online. All of this stuff is exciting, and honestly it makes me forget about the risks I am taking.

In class we talked about shopping online. Everyone in the class had bought things online. I think this is a generational thing. I've bought all sorts of things online, but my dad grumbles every time he or my mom need to use a credit card online. He's always worried someone will steal his identity, even from sites he's used in the past. My mom can barely check her email, so I don't even think that online shopping or security even enter her mind. I'm excited at the range of things I can order, most of which I couldn't get by shopping nearby. I feel like hanging out with my boyfriend, David, has given me even more of an appreciation/love for technology than I had before.

I, unlike my dad, have bought all kinds of crap online. I've bought tech gadgets/accessories, books, food, toys, shoes, etc. I LOVE Zappos and their free overnight shoe shipping. I think it is amazing to see a pair of shoes I like at noon on Monday, and have them in the office when I get there he next morning... Almost like magic. I also love that they offer free returns and re-shipping (overnight) if the shoes don't fit. I've used many online merchants to purchase all sorts of things and never had a problem. I was apprehensive (like my dad) at first, but I got over it real quick when I realized it was better than going out to shop. I can see 100 different types of the item I want, and read what people who have used them say. There are no lines and crowds of people, and the variety and prices are usually better. I did probably 1/2-2/3 of my Christmas shopping online last year, and I plan to do the same this year.

I don't do Ebay (I have bought and sold on craigslist though!) because I don't trust other people and their descriptions of items, etc. I also don't like PayPal- I've heard of lots of people having problems with them, losing money, and not being able to contact customer service. I am aware of the small, shady internet merchants, and I usually read reviews of a merchant before I buy from them. Also, I normally stick to merchants I have had good luck with in the past. I've never bought anything I'd want to try first (like a car) online, and I won't buy clothes or shoes unless they have free returns. I don't order groceries online (Safeway does free deliveries) because I don't really do grocery lists- I just shop.

Maybe people my age just use the internet differently? Anytime David and I have a question, we look it up real quick. We google the names of restaurants to get reviews before we go. We read blogs instead of magazines. We research the pros, cons, and prices of products we plan to buy (even if we're not going to order them online). We read reviews of books, movies, recipes, and tv shows online. My boss (who is 26 I think) and her dad (the owner of the business I work for) don't even consider using the internet in these ways. They're always surprised that I use the internet to pick out things for the office, and shocked when I "fix" the computers in the office by looking for people with the same problems online. Since I use technology so much differently than people who are ten or fifteen years older than me, it makes me wonder how my (future) children will use it, and whether or not I will be able to keep up.

So I left Wednesday's TINST207 class horrified at the idea that my age, phone number, address, and other identifying information was on the internet for everybody to see. I tried searching different combinations of my name (with middle initial, without, with quotation marks, etc) and was relieved to find that there isn't much information about me. I tried Google, MSN, and Yahoo, as well as the UW site cause I was curious. Fortunately (probably because I am 20 and don't have home loan history/public records stuff, I am not on intelius.com. It sort of outraged me to think that they can post all that stuff online, and anyone willing to pay for a report could have some very personal information about me or even show up at my house.

Some of what I found was hilarious. There were a bunch of mentions of my name related to dog show stuff. This makes sense as I have owned and co-owned a few dogs, as well as participated in loads of AKC dog shows (see picture of Bastian, RIP, my first show dog and true love :)). I also found my Facebook page (which I haven't checked in probably a year). I was surprised not to find anything myspace related. The best thing I found, however, was this. I was in a circus group that performed all over the place. The newspaper and tv station came out to interview us. I was on the morning news, eight years old, in a neon colored spandex body suit, performing my trapeze routine. Crazy, I know. Good to think that since it happened before the Seattle PI went on the internet, there are no picture records of this event online. I do have the fuzzy VCR recording my parents made somewhere though. I was also a little relieved to see that there were no records of my and my ballroom dancing and sequin days.

I understand that privacy is important, and it really bothers me that there is information about me out there which I cannot really get rid of. It also bothers me that as long as the internet exists in its current form, there will be more and more personal details added. Not sure what to do about this- its sort of like telemarketing. I hate it but there's not really anything I can do that will get it to stop completely. I will stop one site, and two more will pop up.... like a leaky boat or the the moles in my parents yard that drive my dad nuts.

In my tech class we talked about the recent layoffs at the Tacoma News Tribune and other local newspapers. It brought to mind the failure of the King County Journal newspapers in early 2007. The group of small community newspapers (I think there were three papers they published?). Their circulation had fallen, and yet a year or two before they made the decision to build a huge in Kent, WA. Everyone wondered why, when newspapers were not doing well, a newspaper company would spend so much money on a new building. Sure enough, a little bit later they went under.

Personally, I think that unless newspapers find some way to make themselves relevant, on the web or otherwise, they will go under. I had a subscription to the Seattle Times earlier this year, and I just never got around to it. The only paper I usually read was the Sunday edition, and even then, I never got through the whole thing. I continued to get my news online while having the subscription. The paper got delivered to the community foyer in the apartment building and my neighbors stole my paper one too many times. I canceled. The called me a couple times a day, despite requests not to, until I got fed up and angrily called them. Their customer service was enough to make me not want to subscribe again.

Another reason I think that newspapers will adapt or go under is the issue of money. Why would I want to pay for the news I read, when I can get it online from blogs and the local news channel websites? Why would I pay money to post something in the classified ads when I can post to something better (CraigsList) for free? It makes the newspaper subscription seem even more unimportant. I don't know how the print media companies can adapt, other than make good websites (I hate when sites are disorganized and poorly built!) and possibly lower the prices of their product.

One cool thing that I've found online, that I think could help print media, is MagHound. MagHound is a website that is sort of like NetFlix but for magazines. You pay a low fee ($4.95 for two mags/month I think- it goes up depending on how many you want). There are a few weekly mags that are "premium" and you have to pay $1.50 extra/month. You can get a bunch of magazines (they add more every week! and you don't have to send them back) and you can switch around which mags you get each month. I like to read a variety of magazines while I'm at the gym, but I like to mix it up and they can get expensive (People is like $5!). They have a great variety of cooking, news, gossip, health, etc mags. I think this is a business model that can work, and so far I like it a lot. I pay like $10/month for 5 subscriptions (11 magazines! 2 mags are every week, the other three are once per month).

The only thing that scares me about getting news online is credibility. The EPIC movie said something along the lines of "the news people get is the news they want to hear." I worry that with people getting news from opinion blogs, that we lose some of the facts. I don't know how much journalistic integrity is involved with print media right now, but I know that tv can be really bad and the internet can be worse. Think of the "Obama is a MUSLIM!" rumors that were spread by blogs on the internet... I think this aspect of the internet could get very scary.

So, being the nerd that I am, I was listening to NPR on the radio this morning and I heard something interesting. I made a mental note to look it up when I got to work, and I ended up finding a very interesting article. It was interesting because my mom had just been telling me a week before that my little sister had gone over on their cell plan minutes and she had sent over 1800 texts the month before. David and I were shocked... 60 texts per day.... 3.3 per hour (assuming she sleeps 8 hrs/day). This was while she was going to school, having a part time job, AND participating on her school's cross country running team!!!

I have a 500 message plan on my phone and I rarely get anywhere close to that.

I wasn't really surprised that texts outnumbered phone calls (think of all the yes, no, what time, I'm on my way, etc sort of messages one sends) but I was surprised that kids my sister's age sent and receive an average of over 1700 texts per month.

I didn't grow up with texting. I wasn't one of the cool kids who got a cell phone when they turned 12. I didn't even start texting until I moved away from home and got my own cell plan. Its useful, but I'm not all that fond of texting. Maybe it's just a phenomenon I don't understand?

David and I went to the movies this last weekend and there were some kids (I'd say 13-14? Too young to drive) who literally talked, texted, and changed seats the entire movie. We were sort of shocked at their behavior- they weren't even trying to have manners. The glow of the cell phone screen was so distracting! Even after being shushed and complaining to the theater people they didn't shut up. Finally, about 2/3 of the way into the movie, David had lost patience with them. Taking advantage of his "big guy" scary adultness, he leaned forward and talked to them. I didn't hear what he said but I did see the look on her face- scared- and was surprised. After the movie I asked him what he said. He told me he said "you little ****s better sit down and shut the **** up right now!" I was shocked at his language! David NEVER talks like that. It made me giggle like a little girl. Maybe we're just too old?

By the way... AMC gives out free movie passes like they're candy if you ask :D

I hate my local post office. I have to go there at least once, sometimes twice per day for my job. We have a medium size P.O. Box (for a small, home run construction business) and they always crumple up the mail before they put it in. If there are a couple days between pickups (lets say the weekend) they shove the mail into the box so hard I can't it out. They never answer the bell at the will-call window for package pickups. I avoid getting help at the front counter like the plague. I even convinced my boss to get a postage meter so I didn't have to wait in line for 30 minutes to buy stamps. The people there are friendly, but incredibly slow and some are not the best with english. I just get angry and impatient thinking about them!

The mail carrier at my new apartment leaves the funniest notes on the boxes. He (or she? I've never seen them...) gets mad when people don't empty their boxes EVERY SINGLE DAY. HE ALSO TYPES THEM IN ALL CAPS. It also bothers him when there aren't apt #s on the mail and he has to look for a name!

So today in class we talked about the similarities and differences between snail mail and email. I thought Fry was just comparing them for those in the class that aren't too tech savvy and need a visual. In the beginning, I couldn't see how the terrible postal service had anything in common with my beloved GMail. However, as our conversation progressed I realized that besides time and cost, almost every word associated with traditional mail also had an email equivalent. This really surprised me because they seem so different. As similar as they are, I'd really rather use my email. I like the ease, the convenience, the informality of email, but maybe that's because I grew up with it?

Oh, and I almost forgot to add this! Here is a neat link to a often imitated, postal service centered art project.

So I'm blogging. Its part of a class I'm taking and I think its going to be fun.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll begin this blog and people will want to hear what I have to say. I'll become a celebrity blogger, like PerezHilton, and even get my own clothing line at Hot Topic. All the cool kids will be wearing it and VH1 will invite me onto Best Week Ever.

I'll have so many hits each day I'll be able to retire with all kinds of Google Ad money.... and forevor be indebted to that one teacher, Mr. Andrew Fry, who made me blog. Probably not, but I can hope (and have fun).