Writing Assignment 9/ File Sharing

I think that file sharing is a huge issue that needs to be solved. I download songs online for various reasons which I find acceptable. For starters, I used to own a very large collection of music, but a certain crazy individual destroyed all of my CDs. Since I cannot afford to re-purchase all of those CDs, I will occasionally download some of those songs. I also own many CDs that are at my parent's house in Texas, so rather than having them ship me the CDs, I'll download some songs that I really enjoy. I don't think this qualifies as theft because they are songs and albums that I have already purchased.

I also download songs that I hear on the radio and enjoy. These are songs on albums that I would never purchase, either because I don't like the artist enough or I know I wouldn't like the CD. This isn't stealing either because how am I stealing something that I would never purchase anyway?

I believe that downloading a song from an independent artist is acceptable as well, as long as it's for personal use and not for distribution. This kind of download could potentially help an artist because a fan could generate more fans through word of mouth.

I would never download an entire album through file sharing. First of all the quality would be horrible. Second, when there is an ablum that I actually like entirely, I prefer to have the physical CD to listen to it on my stereo or in my car. I would never steal a CD from a store because that is just plain stupid. Why risk so much for so little? Shoplifting is an obvious method of "stealing".

I have copied a CD from a friend, and once again I don't think that qualifies as stealing because someone already paid for the CD. Albums are far too overpriced these days so until the record companies lower their prices, I will continue to download songs.

Another reason why I download certain things is because of availability. I love music in Spanish and I am not about to go all they way to the Mission to look for a Latin music store. If the music industry made it easier to access more kinds of music then we wouldn't have to download songs.

I like the idea proposed by the EFF to create a voluntary collective association. I would pay a small fee in order to download unlimited songs without any risk and I think that many others would do the same. We could get safe, high quality music and the profit driven companies could get their money.

Writing Assignment 9/ Mashing Lab

The first link that I found which I think is pretty interesting is a virtual tour of NYC. I'm going to a conference there next month and I've never been there so it was nice to see actual photos and real people in action. This site mashes up with Google maps.
Here is the link: http://www.virtualnyctour.com/index.php

My second favorite link is again related to New York. This one shows everything in Manhattan (at night), from 24 hour pharmacies to cafes. I'm the kind of person that would go out at 2am to buy gatorade so I like this site. It is also hooked up to Google maps.
Here is the link: http://maps.fiftythreedegrees.com/

The third site that I chose was to help find cheap gas prices in San Jose. Although I do not live in San Jose, one of my close friends does, and she commutes a lot so she could benefit from this site. Surprise, surprise, this site is also mashed up with Google maps.
Here is the link: http://maps.fiftythreedegrees.com/

Writing Assignment 8/ Net Neutrality

The issue of the net remaining neutral has to do with the phone and cable lines that companies are trying to take over. First of all, I would like to say that I think these lines should belong to the public- just the way radio waves are said to be owned by the public. This is a huge debate and concern because certain companies want to take over the net and charge certain companies more in order for their links to move or connect faster. For example, a company could charge AT&T more money so that their search results would be faster than google's- thus creating more clients and users for AT&T. The group "Savetheinternet.com" is trying to lobby these companies and avoid these profit driven companies from taking over the net.

On the other side of this debate are groups such as "Hands off the Internet" which are in favor of these companies having more control over the net. To me the name 'hands off the internet' sounds like it's more 'hands on the net' rather than the opposite. This group claims that if opposing groups win this debate, the government will actually have to step in and control this issue.

I really am not buying into the arguements of groups such as "hands off the internet". I wouldn't doubt it if the people leading these groups also had connections with media giants such as Yahoo! and SBC. To me it sounds as if these groups are simply profit driven and not interested in the what is best for their clients. The internet should belong to the public and not to media conglomerates.

Writing Assignment 7/RFID

RFID is a generic name for a new form of technology which is smaller than a grain of salt. This tiny tag/microchip can be placed on items and transmit a signal to radio signal to identify a location.

Companies such as Gillette and Walmart have said that they will be purchasing these microchips and placing them on their items. This new technology can have several benefits but it also causes many concerns and issues regarding privacy.

First of all, many companies can save money from shoplifting because they will be able to track crates of merchandise and individual items. In the event of theft, the company would be able to track the pieces. Companies such as Walmart would have better inventory control. When companies have a better handle on their inventory, they can lower prices for the consumer and be better stocked for their customers as well. Companies also argue that these tags would benefit other areas as well, such as a decrease of lost luggage in airports.

While some people believe that these ideas are great, others also believe that we will turn into the movie 'Minority Report'- where we can be tracked and spyed on at any time. Anything that we purchase will have the possibility of having a tag on it- thus tracking our every move and transaction.

I think that both sides have excellent points, but based on what I have read, the pro RFID side is simply feeding us amazing rhetoric and great PR skills. I don't like this- it seems too phoney. Until there is more unbiased research and more facts, I am not too fond of this new microchip.