Accessing Websites

One source that I will use a lot will be the New York Times. Some people think that it's too left-of-center, some people think it's become a mouthpiece for the Bush administration. (I guess it's because we all tend to feel that the center is wherever we're standing at the time).

Allowing that the paper has flaws (and you should be a least a little dubious of every source you peruse), it still is a reputable and important news source. As such, I will want to link to it from time to time. Two problems: 1) you can't access the website without a member ID and a password, and 2) the articles that are posted usually only remain online for a week. So if in May you want to check out a link that I posted in March, you won't be able to get to it.

Solutions: 1) Use as your member ID "thscommedia". Use as your password "mrmac". Hopefully I won't get revoked by the Gray Lady (as the Times is sometimes called). 2) Be prompt. (If you really need an article, see me and I can get it for you, but that level of access won't be available to the class.)

Now there are a lot of websites that required registration. A lot of these are free, but they take a lot of time, and by the time you return to that site again (if ever) you've forgotten your original log-in information. (You can do what I did. I have a special e-mail account that I use just for such purposes. And I always use the same password and ID (except sometimes, when I can't). ) A useful alternative is the website called Bugmenot.com. They will give you free log-in information, donated by other people. Sometimes you have to try five or six different ones, but sometimes it can be a big time saver. For the free sites that you will only be visiting once or twice, I don't see anything ethically wrong with it.