Is plagiarism, journalistic navel-gazing, becoming a trend?

Is it me? Or is on the rise? Or maybe it is just more easily found out? Certainly, my blog spam has increased. I've left Google+ because I had 29 strangers add me to their 'circles', which meant either blocking their stupidity, or removing their inane posts from my notifications. How ridiculous and what a time waster. If I wanted to waste time, I'd be doing that reading about people I like!



Plagiarizm or Plagiarism.
In the meantime, back to my point. Plagiarizm or Plagiarism. Depends upon where you live and write, or steal from!
Plagiarizing politician Koch-Mehrin outrages scientific community

Scientists in Germany convinced Silvana Koch-Mehrin to step down from the research committee of the European Parliament. She briefly joined the committee earlier in the week - after losing her Ph.D. due to plagiarism.
She is the latest German politician to lose her doctorate, since former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned on March 1 after his Ph.D. was rescinded due to plagiarism that earned him the nickname "zu Googleberg."

German defence minister resigns in PhD plagiarism row

Imagine!

Then there was the Canadian medical school Dean who plagiarized a speech to grads. What was he thinking? He resigned as dean, but isn't gone, he's still a professor.

Med School Dean Resigns 

17 Jun 2011 – Philip Baker will stay on at the University of Alberta as a professor after admitting to plagiarizing a speech.

Should Law Grad Lose His Diploma for Plagiarized Speech?

20 May 2011 – Should Law Grad Lose His Diploma for Plagiarized Speech?

With the mess in the UK, journalists hand-in-hand with police, conducting illegal activities, I shudder.

Phone-hacking scandal spreads to other British newspapers

Jul 24, 2011 – Trinity Mirror group, publisher of Britain’s left-leaning Mirror tabloid, is facing allegations of intercepting voicemails

Journalism
Journalism has changed, too. Gone are the days when the journalists would write about the news, they didn't create, or become part of, the news. (This is different from investigative journalism.) Our local paper featured the first person account of one reporter who participated in the 2nd Annual Perth Kilt Run. Seems like navel-gazing to me. Dunno. First-person items that laud themselves, and their journey. I think one needs perspective to write about something as a paid professional. Blogs I can read at my leisure, newspapers delivered to my door I want to have facts and food for thought.

We have several big newspapers, all on-line in Ontario: Ottawa Citizen, and Toronto Star.
What I loathe about these newspapers is that their on-line presence now include time consuming videos, with ads, that slow down my getting information.

I wanted to see Jack Layton, as he spoke at his press conference, 'raw video' that would show his spirit and his demeanour. I had to wait through an ad for cars. The fine print reads, 'Advertisement: video wil start shortly'. What is a pain is that you can embed the video on your own blog, but the ad comes with it.

The big papers in Toronto and Ottawa do not feature many stories about surrounding areas. The Citizen is a little better than the Toronto Star, in that Perth will get covered, e.g., the young man killed in a hit and run [Fatal hit-and-run leaves town reeling July 25, 2011], or the Osgoode man killed in a traffic incident [Single-vehicle crash kills Osgoode man, 22]


But the Toronto Star is hard-pressed to cover a big region, like Muskoka, where a million people might travel on a long weekend.

I love the smaller, more local papers, like Perth Courier (Metroland Media), EMC news. EMC publishes in Smiths Falls, as well as Perth. They kindly featured a story about my interview with Dr. Brian Goldman.

Author's research aimed at caregivers

Posted Jul 14, 2011By Chris Must
EMC News - "It is possible to live and die with dignity, but it isn't always certain," writes Jennifer Jilks in the introduction to her book, Living and Dying with Dignity. Jilks, who recently moved to Perth after living in Toronto, Ottawa, and Muskoka.

I love seeing the sights of Ontario

Along that line: I just heard about a local non-profit blog: The Millstone

  The Millstone is an on-line community newspaper focussing on the town of Mississippi Mills which includes  Appleton, Almonte,  Blakeney, Clayton, Pakenham, and Ramsay Ward,  and on the town of Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada. It provides an intelligent and informed source of news and opinions. Its name pays tribute to the strong history of mills in the area.  

Beaverton memorials to mills
me an' Sir John!

The writers are members of the Almonte Press Club. I like this idea. Having been a published education writer, mentor, and workshop leader in Curriculum and Technology, I am keen on keeping my hand in sharing what I know, what I see and what I do.  (Yes, we old f@rts used technology in our work!)

No longer can I share opinions in the staff room, it is good to be able to discuss world events with remote friends. 

Croaking on the back deck!

See him?

I spent my first 25 years living in Toronto, cottaging from ages 5 - 50 in Muskoka.

hiding in the BBQ cover

There was the odd tree frog, tiny things, really. It wasn't until we moved to Lanark County that I've fallen in love with these guys.

I've told you about Englebert, who lived in the mailbox.

I think the bug situation is iffy these days, and he's taken off, coming back from time to time. After the dear, late Oliver went after him, he was reluctant to live near the front door.


 There are two on the back deck.

Buster spotted him on the deck
then he hopped upwards.

Searched everywhere, but couldn't spot him on the railing!

Delightful little guys. They change colour, chameleon-like, depending upon where they are situated.

I could hear some familiar croaking - for the tree frog song my YouTube video. I looked on the far side of the deck. Looked underneath the deck, fighting the deer flies. And couldn't figure out where tree frog #3 was hanging out!

It took me a day. Finally, I figured out he was croaking behind the thermometer. This one was emerald green. Such a beauty!

On another day, with the temps up to 40 C., he croaked just as Sady walked by. She was curious. Couldn't find him. Sady is still grumpy.

He's behind the thermometer

The males croak to attract the females. Once the females choose a male, the male hops on her back. 

She takes him down to the pond, where she lays her eggs while he fertilizes them. When she is done she croaks, literally not figuratively, and he hops off, back to wait for another female. She doesn't croak at any other time.

Hubby suggested just like a singles bar! A quickie, and back to the bar...

big toe pads

Englebert, on the front mailbox is gray, while this little guy is bright green. They have the ability to use camouflage, and change from gray to green, depending upon the substrate.

giving me the eye - leave me alone, woman!

This yellow characterizes the gray tree frog

Old, abandoned cottages

It truly is sad... I thought it a new development and rode my bike down the road.

Lovely spot!

Vultures were on the roof, flew off when I arrived.

Greenery

Frogs living in the murky pool

Mossy roof

Outbuildings

lots of trees and deerflies!

Invasive species

What are we doing to protect the environment?

Signage helps, but many do not care.

There are several species who are beginning to invade Canada from parts afar.

• Water soldiers
• Zebra mussel
• Sea lamprey
• Round goby
• Purple Loosestrife 
• Spiny Water Flea in the Great Lakes Region - competes with fish for food
• Giant hogweed.

Zebra mussels attach themselves to boats, and are shipped by recreational boaters or anglers wherever those who fish and boat place their vessels. 

purple loosestrife in a field

Remember the big deal about purple loosestrife? It certainly sits in the ditches and competes with the bullrushes.


People who take wood from place to place can provide transportation for insects that will endanger the fragile cycle of life. Predators must compete for food, upsetting the balance of feast and famine.

Giant Hogweed, from Britain, is a phototoxic plant. From Wikipedia...

Its sap can cause phytophotodermatitis (severe skin inflammations) when the skin is exposed to sunlight or to UV-rays. Initially the skin colours red and starts itching. Then blisters form as in burns within 48 hours. They form black or purplish scars, which can last several years. Hospitalisation may become necessary.^[1] 

How frightening.

giant hogweed

The stems are quite large (2 - 8 cm in diameter), lending themselves to pea shooters, and much danger for small children. Immediately wash the area with soap and water and stay out of the sun.

The sun causes the reaction, and much care is required. It causes phytophotodermatitis. Within 24 hours you will get large blisters and emergency care may be required. Phytophototoxicity is amplified by humidity and perspiration. The blisters peak between 1 to 3 days. For more information on identifying or removing giant hogweed, call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or visit InvadingSpecies.com or WeedInfo.ca.

Then there is THIS invasive species...

Skywatch Friday - peachy clouds

A storm was over beyond the trees, I could hear it.
But the sun was there, shining on the tops of the clouds.

Bike ride sights

Without smellovision, I cannot let you smell the beauty of the country. Yes, we have farms, but biking in cottage country, the birch trees in bloom, now the milkweed plants, all give a joyous fragrance, letting me know that the world unfolds as it should in this summer season.

Nearly three hours, and 30 km, it was a great ride. I've been working up to it, and taking lots of water during this heat wave.


Last bike ride, an osprey guarded her nest. This time, a falcon was watching me.

Then a deer crossed the road in front of me.

Farther along, a beautiful bog, with lots of bugs.

A huge snail! I put it back in the water!

From there, I made it to Murphy's Point Park. Lots of campers, with people going to the beach for swims, kids on bikes (no helmets!), lots of motor boats on trailers headed for the Big Rideau.

I had some friends there. This deer fly has such a huge proboscus, compared to other flies.

Horse fly, deer fly

Description: There are over 100 species of horse and deer flies known to occur ... resembles the house fly except that the mouthparts (proboscis) protrude.


They bite through fabric, and leave a wicked welt.

When I arrived home, I was inclined to jump in the lake. Not having the wheels today, hubby out delivering Meals on Wheels, I couldn't go to the nearby beach. I made do!

Felix, ever the explorer, helped me. He didn't jump in but was truly curious!

The problem is I have a leak in the pool walls. I fixed it with a patch kit, so I thought, but there are two more small ones. SIGH.

Also, when you pump up well water, it is pretty darn cold! Putting my feet in was delightful. Eventually, I sat in it. It went from 15 C, to 20 pretty soon. Still, it was another shower for me and a welcome relief.

Tatts for you (not me!)

Traveling around Ontario, as we do, I've collected a few tatto photos.

Just for fun!

This young lady had a fresh tattoo. She worked in a clothing store I popped into.

She'd just had it done in the morning, and said her mom hasn't seen it but doesn't like it! It goes nicely with the butterfly tattoo on her foot...

It says, 'People are people 
and sometimes we change our minds.'

Hope she doesn't change her mind about the tattoo! She was rather red and sore!!!

Brock Zeman's guitar man

Chef in Blind River

His right arm: Angelina

His left arm: Gabrielle, Darien

perfer et obdura
dolor hic tibi
proderit olim

 'Be patient and tough; some day this pain will be useful to you. '

On that note...