I checked all my links on the internet-resources' WordStuff page yesterday, using the handy dandy Free Link Checker as a first pass and then following with a check of all the other links as a cleanup sweep.

One of the links the free link checker found was a definite 404. (Robin Queen's collection of linguistics links ... The page was 404 and after I found her UMich faculty Web site, seems her collection of links is no more, or not what I remembered.)

I went looking for the substitute link or another link just like it.

And found this.

ovablastic.blogspot.com has cut and pasted and reformatted my wordstuff links page onto its blog -- a blog, I might mentioned, that is surrounded by ad stuff.

No mention that the links and commentary aren't its.

No mention that link collection is mine as is the commentary.

No mention of my collection of links and how to get there.

Now ovablastic itself found that little nest of links through Stumbleupon, which does point people to my site.

Why did it cut and paste the HTML and pop it on its blog with no hattip or pointer to my site?

Because it's clueless and a thief. Yeah. That could be it.

n.b. for allz of you who may say, "But links are links and not copyrightable!" The collection of links with the associated commentary is copyrighted. 'tis just not worth it to go lay sue papers in ovablastic's mailbox. I'd rather mention here that someone with ads on its site stole my content and is a thief.

(Hi, ovablastic! Hope you Google your nym every once in a while! If you'd had an e-mail easily available on your blog, I would've dropped you a note. This is the next best bet.)

Labels: blog, peeves, URL, wordstuff

   posted by Sal Towse at  12:57 PM|| |

(1) Folks, it is AGAINST THE LAW IN CALIFORNIA to talk on your hand-held (as opposed to hands-free) cell phone while you're driving. STOP IT!

We were headed over to Kaiser Hospital yesterday, trying to make a left turn off Union onto Gough. Light changed. Waited for person using crosswalk. After that person cleared our runway, we would've turned but a guy in large vehicle was heading straight through the intersection. SLOOOOWLY.

Turned out he was talking on his cell phone. Holding it with one hand as he drove SLOOOOWLY (did I mention SLOOOOWLY?) through the intersection. Woman in her Beemer behind him was catching up with him at a fast clip so when he had finally cleared the intersection, we didn't have any time to turn before she blew through.

So we waited some more.

Folks, as of midnight July 1, 2008, it is illegal in both Washington state and California to hold a cellphone to your ear while you drive.

Granted, just talking on your hands-free cellphone is also distracting and dangerous, but it is AGAINST THE LAW to hold your cellphone to your ear while driving (whether you're talking or just listening).

STOP IT. You either drive too fast, too maniacal, or too slow. You aren't paying attention to the other cars around you or the pedestrians or bicyclists.

STOP IT.

Labels: legal, life, peeves

   posted by Sal Towse at  8:20 AM|| |

(1) People who refer to BART as "the BART" -- Take a bow, San Francisco Hyatt Regency - Embarcadero.

I also cringe at hip DJs and traffic reporters who refer to our freeways as "the 101" and "the 280." That sort of terminology is fine for people south of the San Berd'o line, but we are living in Northern California.

(2) Writerly folks who still write (on this the thirtieth anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre) that Jim Jones' followers committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid.

FLAVOR AID, folks. FLAVOR AID.

All that "don't drink the Kool-Aid" advice is based on a reference to the wrong powdered drink. Stop it. I'm sure the Kool-Aid folks join me in this request.

Here's some little known Kool-Aid history and trivia. Enjoy.

Labels: life, peeves

   posted by Sal Towse at  7:16 PM|| |