Using Google search commands and search syntax can help you find information more easily, and with greater accuracy - definitely a good thing in this reporter's opinion. There are, of course, many other search commands, and the best of the bunch are always useful to know:
General search
filetype:, id:, inanchor:, info:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, inlink:, phonebook:, related:, safesearch:, site:, stocks:,
Image
Searchallintitle:, allinurl:, filetype:, inurl:, intitle:, site:
Groups
allintext:, allintitle:, author:, group:, insubject:, intext:, intitle:
Directory
allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, ext:, filetype:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:
News
allintext:, allintitle:, allinurl:, intext:, intitle:, inurl:, location:, source:
Froogle
allintext:, allintitle:, store: