Excel

So far with Excel I have learned several new things. For example, I never knew about the currency function. Moreover, I didn't know how to add different styles to numbers or highlighting certain numerical data. In future classes, I wish we would move at like 80% of our current class speed. I don't like Excel because of all the grids. You kind of get grid vision after class. Moreover, it's not a particularly exciting program.

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Tech Tip

Regretably, I was not enrolled in the class when Joe Hatch presented his technology tips. Fortunately, through the persistence of my classmates, I was able to catch the drift of Joe Hatch's presentation. He stressed the importance of Clear Access, which allows a student or faculty/staff to connect to the internet over a safe connection. It prohibits hackers and viruses. He also discussed why most viruses target PCs. The reason is that over 90% of all computers are run by Windows. Fortunately for me I use a Mac; however, my hard drive still crashed this summer. Also, I read that the best way to protect your Mac is to delete unnecessary files and internet histories to keep it running fast.

Copyright Law Presentation by Jason Hardin

Throughout the presentation, I discovered many new caveats to copyright law. Firstly, I found out that copyright violations and plagiarism are not really the same things. While plagiarism is an academic sin (ethical lapse), copyright violations carry legal implications. For example, criminal penalties for copyright infringement include a fine of not more than $500,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years or both for first offense. Obviously, repeat offenders severe harsher consequences with a fine of not more than $1 million and imprisonment for not more than 10 years. I did not realize the implications that copying copyrighted materials could have. Moreover, I was unclear on when a work was copyrighted. Apparently, anytime a work is created, it is automatically created. However, it is a good idea to get it legally copyrighted. Furthermore, I discovered that Trinity suffers from students violating copyright law. Diane Graves, a TU librarian, sends roughly 7 to 10 take down notices a year. Take down notices is a formal document telling whomever to remove the illegally downloaded files (usually music). On another note, I have always wondered why satirical movies such as Scary Movie (1-4 to infinity) could imitate and parody other movies. But parody and satire are protected under copyright law.

There are several issues in copyright law. For example, when a musician writes an original piece of music and fixes it to a tangible medium, such as lyrics or a recording, it is protected by copyright law. The creator is the only person who can make legal copies. With the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, a work remains copyrighted for up to 70 years after the creator's death. After his/her death, derivative works may be created and profited from. The issue with the music industry is should a person pay for music when they can download it for free. While many people do it, you hear very little about illegally downloaded music. After Napster shut down in 2001, little was said about illegally downloaded music because of new technologies. Mostly peer-to-peer sharing was getting harder to trace. In my opinion, downloading music from a blog is not unethical or illegal. When a website says that the posted music is for promotional use only, one would think it is okay for download. Additionally, think about mixtapes, why is it copyright infringement when the artist or a company releases his/her mixtapes for free? On another note, when a majority of mixtape music will never make it to the radio or iTunes, then I do not feel bad for downloading Kid Cudi's new mixtape.

My Trinity Network Diagram

In designing my diagram, I tried to use the wagon wheel picture that Jared Pack instilled in our minds. Despite Ruth Taylor being the core, it is kind of off to the right side of my diagram because I had difficulties trying to cram all the pictures and text into the document. My diagram shows how my Mac (in Prassel) connects to the Internet through a WAP, Data Closet, then off to Ruth Taylor and then wherever it needs to go in the outside world. Thanks Jared for the tour of our network.

Mystery Photo

This place is seen from a sophomore dorm room. I choose this location out of convenience. First of all tell which dorm it is. Secondly tell me which floor. I changed the photo to make appear as if it was from the 1960s or 70s. I used Picnik to adjust the coloring and other stuff to make it appear as it is. I took it with my Palm Pre and then uploaded it to my Mac. Then I did my adjustments and then posted it to the blog.

Hello

Hi I'm Jordan Snyder. I'm from Kansas City, Missouri; however, I was born in Leawood, Kansas. The distance between Kansas and Missouri is one road (State Line). I travel between Kansas and Missouri 20 times a day. Besides that, my interests include golf, college sports (football, basketball, lacrosse), XDT, watching ESPN, and hanging out with friends. At Trinity, I'm secretary of my fraternity. Additionally, I play varsity golf. 

My computer background is extensive. I have taken computer classes from 1st grade to 5th grade. I additionally helped operate a website with my high school buddies.