I missed a day. And Plagiarism. Yeah, Plagiarism.

I just realized I missed two days. Sorry!

My male turtle, Baruch, has OCD (or autism). Look at what he keeps doing in the back of his tank. I keep messing the rocks up to clean between them, and he keeps rearranging them this way. Wouldn't I LOVE to let him loose on all of the work I need to do around here! (Also, click on the pic so it becomes really large - you will notice he is glaring at me. I think he was afraid I was coming to mess up his rocks again. I can just hear him, "Oy, vay! I straighten and straighten, and for what? So you can come in and mess it up again? Don't call ME crazy, Meshugana!") Crabby old Jewish turtle. He reminds me of a friend I know . . .

This morning, my lungs feel about to explode. I have been working in dusty areas - packing - and have exacerbated the asthma I've contracted since moving to Cinci, I am having a lot of trouble breathing today. It's supposed to be near 80, so I certainly hope my lungs are ready for a dog walk later, or Goggie Girl will be inconsolable!

So, it's interesting. I love Facebook. Love keeping in touch, or reconnecting. Love sharing pictures and memories. Love discussing and debating. Love finding out what others have been up to since high school. HOWEVER, all this love has a downside. Nostalgia and feeling old.

I look back at how long it has been since I have seen a lot of these people, and suddenly I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of years that have passed. All the water under all the bridges. It's a love/hate thing.

I had to laugh the other day. Secretly, because I had to pretend I was mad. I did a Google search of myself (for various reasons), and a website for some diet drug was using part of my blog as a piece of their search engine results. I nearly fell over! I thought it quite humorous - plagiarism or not.

It's interesting, though. I found out from a University librarian (the one who does intro classes to available resources in the library) that in many cultures, plagiarism is not only 100% acceptable, it's expected. Most of these countries - like China - don't have a strong sense of self, I guess. And this website was located in China. I also know a couple of Chinese grad students at UC who were unable to explain further when you asked questions about parts of their presentations. Now I understand why: Either it wasn't their own work and they didn't know, or (as I then assumed), it was the language barrier.

But, plagiarism in education aside, I am sure you all know how much I hate when people are not original. I admit I don't always use my pictures, but I give credit (or you can see the website it's from in the border), and it's because of how random my thoughts are. And all my text, other than credited lyrics, is original, too. Imagine how I feel, then, when on a site I am supposed to be in the "core group" on, there is a plagiarist who will stop at nothing to get herself noticed. I see so much of what I, or others, have written. I swear to GOD she is only posting to see her post-tracking numbers go up. Otherwise, why post if you have nothing to say about the issue? Or, all that you say is from everyone else and not original? It irritates the hell out of me.

I will strongly feel this 'til the day I die:

"It is far better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation."

Herman Melville