Google Tips/Tricks & Friday February 27th

The one major piece of information I took away from last week's exploration of Google was the ability to use an 'advance search'. I found it very interesting that for how many years I've used this search engine for relavent materials involving different research projects and never thought to click that little link. After our class discussion and hands on use of Google, I definetly feel more confident in my ability to explore the search engine, dig through the "hits" and decide which ones are reliable, relavent and where they came from.
I also was unaware of using a matilda to yield more results, that could become a very useful tool in my current research project in IM 204 and future courses as well.

I know this is getting off the topic, but my understanding of a blog is a free lance writing outlet and let me say I had quiet an interesting previous Friday. I ended up missing two of my three classes (including IM204) due to the fact I realized when I went to leave my house, I had no car outside. Since there had been a heavy snow the previous night, I knew right when I walked outside what had happened; my car had been towed. After some very colorful language and calling around the city of St. Cloud offices, I finally got a straight answer where my car had been towed. Apparently there had been an "emergency snow removal" issued Thursday night and I was unaware of this and of course my car was parked outside on the wrong side of the road. In hind sight I understand why they towed my car, but it was still frustrating to have to pay $125 to get my car back and still receive a parking ticket from the city for another $20. My question now is, if I have attended SCSU for two and a half years and I'm unaware of the parking regulations in different parts of the city, how many other people have this same concern? I feel the city needs to make it easier for citizens to have access to the rules/regulations of parking in St. Cloud during the winter. Prior to last Friday, I have been parking on different sides of the street each night (previous nights it had snowed as well) without ever being ticketed or warned and then to one morning have my car just be gone is a bit disheartening. I had also never hear of a "emergency snow removal" where regardless of past violations or lack there of, your vehichle is towed. My previous understanding was if you were parked on the wrong side of the road, snowing or not, they ticket your car and then plow around you even if it means plowing you in. How is a college student, who is in his first winter in a St. Cloud house, where there are no street signs in his neighborhood and no official literature was ever mailed to the house regarding winter parking, expected to know policies and procedures? I feel ultimately I am the one who is at fault since it's my car and my responsibility to protect my property, but a feeling of anger and annoyance still lingers about this whole situation.