In which I confront a dirty rotten plagiarist
January 23, 2008 – 8:25 amCross-posted on Seattle Mom Blogs for maximum indignation…
I’ve even had it happen on a small-scale to me.
But this! THIS is too much.
I was checking my email one last time before going to bed when I read this:
From: Moosh
Subject: You’re getting ripped off, did you know?Did you know about this blog (link removed to avoid sending traffic) ripping off all your stuff?
Is it your secret side project?
Is its some sneaky way to make money? If so let me in on it.
If it’s not I figured you should know someone out there is stealing your gold and making it garbage.I’m in Wii coma, let me know if I was wrong.
kiss kiss
Casey
And couldn’t believe my eyes.
My latest posts, ONE AFTER THE OTHER after the other, were displayed on another blog as if they belonged there. There was no link to me. There was no MENTION of me. Just my writing. Oh, and a whole boat-load of ads.
SOMEONE, some dirty rotten low-life scum, was making money off of MY WRITING.
(this made me slightly angry)
Quickly I did some research. This is what I learned.
1) People can’t steal your content without your consent. Not only is this immoral, despicable, and downright dirty… it’s also illegal. Copyright is implicit, and doesn’t require you to register or display a copyright symbol. What’s yours is yours, period.
2) Usually when people steal your content, they’ll take it down if you email them. If that doesn’t work you can email the hosting company and they will often help you. Or if you have an uncle in the mob you can arrange to blow up their car. Sadly I don’t have such an uncle.
So I looked up the domain name of the offending site at http://whois.domaintools.com/
Eww.
I sent the BAD JENNY this email,
Subject: Copyright infringement notice
Attention [bad] Jenny,
This email is to let you know that your site, www.stupidplagiarist.com is in copyright infringement for displaying my original content from my site www.absolutelybananas.com without my permission or approval.
Please remove all content that has been copied from my site within 24 hours or I will contact your hosting company to request that your site be shut down.
Jenny Blackburn
www.absolutelybananas.com
And the next day I get THIS back,
Dear Jenny Blackhorn,
I am sorry but I don’t think you understand the definition of “copyright.” For one, when you post information from other people’s sites on your own blog, that is not copyright infringement (if so, then your own information on your website, such as information taken from seattlemomblogs.com, would be copyright infringement). In order for something to be copyright infringement, it must violate a copyright, and posting a blog does not make your content copyrighted. If you don’t wish for other people to use the content from your site, I strongly encourage you to disable your RSS feed, which is how this information was fed off of your site and onto mine. You maintain an RSS feed, and thus my site was able to feed your site’s information to my own via the RSS. As long as you maintain an RSS feed through your site, other sites have the ability to use content from your site directly on their own via that RSS feed.
For information on how to LEGALLY copyright your information and protect your information, please visit this article:
http://www.todays-woman.net/article1347.html
Unless there is copyright warnings on your posts and on your RSS feed, you have no legal standing in this matter as content on your site is not automatically “copyrighted.”
Your content was removed from my site, however, but you would not be able to contact “my hosting company” as I am my own hosting company lol. That is quite a silly threat to make to someone. Just FYI. Please be more informed on how to protect your content from auto scraping programs such as the one that used your RSS feed to post content from your site on mine. As long as you maintain a full text RSS feed without any copyright notice on it, this is going to happen to you from other websites.
Thanks,
[bad] Jenny
Oh if only you could have seen the smoke pouring from my ears.
she doesn’t think I understand the definition of copyright…
LET ME AT HER!!!
Of course I had to set her straight.
[bad] Jenny,
Sorry but I don’t think you understand the definition of “copyright.” All original work is automatically protected under US copyright law and it is absolutely illegal for you to take it and publish it as your own whether on a blog or elsewhere. (see http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#mywork if you’re confused; “Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.”). It does not need to be registered or explicitly say “copyright” in order to be copyrighted. Call an attorney if you don’t believe me.
As the author, I own the copyright to all my work and can publish it wherever I like, whether on Seattle Mom Blogs or elsewhere. The difference is that I, as the author, am entitled to do this. It is also legal for other bloggers to post my content with my permission. See, as the author, I get to decide where my work shows up. As not the author, you don’t get to use my work without my permission and make money off of it. In what world would THAT be legal?
Jenny
So why am I still so ANGRY?
One more thing. To all potential plagiarists please be forewarned that I now have NEW FEATURES on this blog like the fancy copyright you see below and the super-secret hidden BOOBY TRAP which will EXPLODE YOUR HEAD if you try and steal my content. And then I’ll STEP ON YOU with my big enormous feet. Go ahead, try it… make my day.
***
Don’t forget to subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed
©2008 Absolutely Bananas. All Rights Reserved.
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Mother. Coffee drinker. Information seeker. Skeptic. Creative. Dreamer. Schemer. Absolutely Bananas.
By Ria on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
WOW!! Absolutely amazing is all I have to say. Why on earth would bad Jenny want to pass off your life as her own. I have to admit that this is one the funniest blogs I have ever read but I would never try to pretend it was mine. It’s a little scary, creepy and psycho to me. Anyone you know cut their hair to resemble yours lately. Reminds me of Single White Female. LOL!
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By carrie on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
OMG. I can’t believe that “bad” Jenny, Jenny. I hope she learned her lesson.
So, how the heck to you get your content protected? Inquiring minds need/want to know!
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By Mrs. Fussy Fussypants on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Dude, good thing the Moosh has got yo’ back!
Someone ripping off my fellow (funny head) photoshopper? Unacceptable!
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By ktjrdn on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
eww, I feel dirty even thinking about it. That’s just wrong.
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By Jessica @ A Bushel and a Peck on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Oh My Goodness!!! What brass balls she has…and good for you for teaching her the error of her ways!!!
So what DO you need to do to keep your content protected???
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By Colleen on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE!!!! I am disgusted that she would even think it is alright to do this. If she does it again, we can all send her hate mail! ;-)
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By Jenni on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Holy crap! I knew there were dirty, rotten scoundrels, but this? This is unbelievable!
I’m guessing there will be a lot more disclaimers on our sites from now on.
And I am NOT the bad Jenny!!!
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By The Mom of 'em on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I would be mad TOO!!! I think it was the “tone” of her e-mails…the way she laughed at you…you poor little thing that doesn’t understand copyright. GRRR. It does bring up a question for me though. I often (not always - but often) pull content from other blogs…like let’s say I read about a cool site or contest - I might write about it -but I ALWAYS, ALWAYS reference where I read it…so I might say - thanks to Jenny over at Absolutely Bananas (and then link to it of course) for alerting me to this one…or something like that. That’s proper blog etiquette, right? I did have someone completely steal my post verbatim before though - and it ticked me off! She did it several times…but she’s now quit - without a threat on my part. You’d think if you have a blog it is because YOU have something to say…strange, isn’t it?
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By Sunshine on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Smoke is coming out out of my ears on your behalf. What a biotch. She’s a very condescending little thief.
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By WorldsGreatestMommy on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Bad Jenny is an absolute idiot. An RSS feed does not automatically give someone the right to steal your words, slap some ads on them, and sit back making money on something that isn’t theirs. I’m furious for you!
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By nell on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
OMG! I’ve heard of content being stolen, but the nastiness of her email was unbelievable! I’d still be mad too, and that’s the part that makes me the most angry is the way these arrogant a**holes with the gall to insinuate that somehow you were asking for it can make you feel awful for days without any real repercussions. Argh.
Also, you response was elegant and concise. Just so you know.
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By Gnightgirl on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I’m dumb-jaw’d over here. If you don’t mind, I’m going to send people over here to read this. K? With your permission?
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By Summer on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Just the fact that they stole my content in the first place will keep me boiling mad for days, even if they remove it. I’ve had the same problem.
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By All Adither on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Her attitude is what makes her so insufferable. How arrogant. We work so hard on our blogs and for her to think it’s okay to steal it so she can make a buck is wrong wrong wrong. I would totally sick my (attorney) husband all over her ass.
Angie
http://www.AllAdither.com
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By Hillary on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Way to put bad Jenny in her place! By the way, how do I make one of those copyright symbols of my own?
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By Maureen on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Wow, I can’t believe the nerve… that is just not only lazy, but sick to pawn off another’s work as their own. Good for you. Can you give us some direction on what we can do to protect ourselves too?
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By Sherry on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Wow. I can’t believe she would even THINK that would be ok. I’m glad you set her straight, Jenny! Way to go!
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By pootandcubby on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Wow. I’m so impressed by your response. I was seething just reading her e-mail and it wasn’t even my content being stolen! What a complete and total b*tch! I can’t believe she acted like it was YOUR fault. Grr. I’m glad she at least took the content off of her site.
-andi
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By skiplovey on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
The nerve! First off to take your writing and try to make money off of it, then, THEN sass you about it when confronted??? I’m pissed just reading the story. What a lousy, uninformed person the bad jenny is, unreal.
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By Stacie on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
OMG, seriously? the nerve of people.
I hope you set her straight and she learns from her mistake, however, I don’t think she has or will.
Great spot by Casey @ Moosh in Indy.
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By Rachel on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
OMG!! What a bitch. How dare she get angry at you because you caught her stealing YOUR writing!!!! Were your photoshop pics on there as well? Good for you for telling her what’s up!!
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By Ali on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
plagiarists stink. boo!
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By jennifer on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Thank goodness Sherlock Moosh found the splog. What a bitch!
This kind of stuff really ticks me off, the nerve!
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By Jen on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
That’s horrible! I can’t believe how low some people will sink. You handled that so well though.
And I hate to hear about Bad Jennys. It makes people think we’re all like that.
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By Cathy on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I am still reeling from the gall of that horrible person.
Stupid AND arrogant. AND a thief.
Of course you’re still angry.
I’ll bet anything if you check back again, she’ll be stealing someone else’s.
Good on Moosh for finding it and letting you know.
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By Hippo Brigade on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
WTF? Who does that?You can almost hear her villainous laugh in her email response. Hooohhhhaaa. What a bitch.
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By Shauna Loves Chocolate on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Bad Jenny is really bad. And an idiot. Completely.
Hope you gave Casey a big smooch!
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By Trenches of Mommyhood on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I’m stunned. Good for you for setting her straight though. So if we don’t have the powers of Moosh, how do we find out if someone is stealing our content? Are there ways to check?
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By Mommy Cracked on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
This is happening so often and people don’t even realize it. I’m glad you put the smack down on her!
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By BostonPobble on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I got here from GNGirl and have a theory: You’re still so pissed because she Is That Stupid and stupidity is more piss-off-a-ble than even plagiarism. At least it is in my world. I write for a living and STILL get more angry over stupid than plagiarism so maybe it’s just me. Of course, that and a buck fifty.
LOVE the blog. Glad I found it, even if it took stupidity to get me here.
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By The Daring One on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Oooo!!!! I’d be so mad too. I am mad, in fact. I’m so glad you stood up to her. You so totally rock Jenny.
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By moosh in indy. on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I have a feeling I’m next on Bad Jenny’s list of blogs to rip off.
*sigh*
Do you think Jesus has my back on this one?
Glad I could be of service.
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By Chrissy on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
That is pure evil. And did she actually try to use an article from “Today’s Woman” as sufficient legal evidence? And then have the nerve to use “lol” in her response to you?
Pure evil.
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By Erin on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
How some people could be so stupid is beyond me. I really enjoyed your letter back to her. In what world, indeed.
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By Bananas on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Ok, somehow reading all of your RIGHTEOUSLY INDIGNANT comments makes me feel 150% better. Still, I am madly researching methods for SPOTTING and CATCHING and DEALING WITH plagiarists in case Moosh isn’t there to sniff them out for me next time. Once I get my head around it I’ll post my newfound knowledge for us all to learn from!!
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By Smiling Mom on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I think I would have been annoyed but with that last email to you? Fuming!!
What a condescending b*tch.
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By MamaGeek on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
NO WAY. Wow. That makes ME mad on your behalf.
You’ve just inspired me to add the same copyright text (although I’m fairly certain nobody in their right mind would re-use my crap).
Jenny Blackhorn? I can only shake my head at that.
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By Chilihead on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I am posting about this tomorrow at BB101! I can’t believe you got scraped. That is so low.
And I can’t believe (well, yes, I can) that she tried to intimidate you on the copyright stuff! She has nerve.
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By Chris on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Oh my!! Well, I guess in a weird round about messed up world way..it’s a compliment that your stuff was good enough to steal :-D
But that really is nasty of anyone to do! It’s on thing to quote and give credit where credit is due…but that’s just crazy.
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By Amanda on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
you should poke that gal in the eye. hard! :)
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By thediaperdiaries on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
I just found one of my posts on someone elses “blog” today too with no reference to me. It also had no reference to anything coherent as my post on fashion was edited to include a rant from Bin Laden, but I was confused. However when I just went to look at it again, the blog no longer existed. Very odd indeed. What is the purpose of this? These people need to GET A LIFE!!!
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By subarcticmama on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
Nasty! I’m glad you posted this. We should all beware.
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By Stephanie on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
oh my GOOOSH. That is UN-believable.
And she called it her own content? Incredible!
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By AFRo on Jan 23, 2008 | Reply
You are going to have to post a blog and teach us all how to get a copyright symbol for our blogs. Kudos to you for standing up for yourself in the face of total bitch. I say we should all send her hate mail now. Screw waiting on her to do it to someone else!
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By Kimmylyn on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I cannot get over this BS. I am pissed off for you. I am disgusted to even read this.. some people are just so evil. Good for you for putting up a fight!
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By marta on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
i am sorry this happened to you. i completely understand the feeling of frustration, anger and feeling totally violated. am glad to say that she has taken her site down, the one that my stuff was on. i appreciate your blog about it and warning to others. keep up the good blogging, sister!
have written a little about it on my own blog. thanks for the 411.
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By gab on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I have never heard of this new type of plagiarism and I am horrified!!! found you through marta, who had a similar experience and I will be sending others your way.
Thanks for the warning!
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By ARay & TK on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
OMG. Bad Jenny is actually a little Crazy as well! I can’t believe that someone would have the kahoona’s to respond in such a way.
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By Believer in Balance on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I’m so glad you whipped bad Jenny’s ass into shape! Good Jenny Conquers Evil! I’m also grateful for the information on copyrights. That’s been on my list to research.
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By monkeysandmarbles on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
oh. my. God! are you serious??? i have people taking snippets of my posts and posting them on their blog with tons of ads and a link back to my blog for the entire post…i thought that was bad (not sure what i can do about that), but this is awful!
i guess even small-time bloggers like me should have a copyright shown on their work just in case!
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By Carla Stream on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I am sorry. That stinks! I love your emails to her! Go Jen Go!
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By Queen of her Castle on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
All I can say is that she has real balls to think that stealing your blog and passing it off as her own is acceptable. In my world, we call those kind of people SCUM. And believe me, I know how to get rid of that stuff. LOL!
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By Worker Mommy on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Holy crap. Sorry to be late but I can’t believe this.
You know we Seattle Blog moms can posse up and give this bad Jenny a beat down if you like
(and of course I’ll want more details when I see you next. I promise I won’t tell ) ;)
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By Darrin on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Gosh! I couldn’t imagine! I wouold be Sooooo pissed! You handled it nicely though!
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By Fightin' Mad Mary on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
I love confrontation like that!!! Way to stick up for yourself. If you ever need help Fightin’ Mad Mary has your back. I’m from New Jersey ’nuff said.
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By Stephanie on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Plagiarists are idiots. Glad you got her to remove your stuff, even though I don’t have the high profile site that you do I’m going to start adding that copyright info at the bottom.
Sorry you had to go through this! Ugh.
Do you think it would be illegal if you added her email address to spam newsletters? Just a thought.
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By PinksandBluesGirls on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
That is such BULL! I can’t believe the nerve of that little twit. We’ve all got your back, yo.
Jane, Pinks & Blues
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By jennyonthespot on Jan 24, 2008 | Reply
Dude. You are the shizzle.
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By Slackermommy on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
You go on with your big bad ass!
My stuff has been ripped off also. Will you kick their ass for me?
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By Sweet Mummy on Jan 25, 2008 | Reply
Well, I’ve heard it all now. I never even thought of this kind of thing happening. WHOA!
SO, here’s 2 questions:
- I have my little copyright “This blog is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial- No Derivative Works 2.5 Canada License ” info at the very bottom of every one of my pages. Is that enough, you think, or do I need to put copyright info on each post? (I got that at Creativecommons.org. I found it very helpful and it even gave me the code for my little button.
- How do I get that info into my RSS feed? ‘Cuz I want to be sure to let EVERYONE know (especially those BAD Jenny type folks) that my stuff is my stuff. In that case, I would have to put it on EVERY post? (That’s probably a whole coding issue that I might get to delve into with my non-blogger blog…)
Anyway, I’m SO sorry you had to go through this, but it’s sure going to help all of us protect our stuff better! Thanks for the INFO. I’ll look for updates on what you’re learning.
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By Mom of 5 on Jan 26, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for the information. Go on with your bad self. You put her in her place.
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By Mom of 5 on Jan 26, 2008 | Reply
I am commenting again to let you know I found my blog entry from TODAY on another site!!!!! WORD FOR FREAKING WORD. With no reference to Davisgang or me, and with a ton of ads and links for weight loss. I am so pissed it’s unreal. Time to send an email before I blow a gasket. What the ever living f*&*& is wrong with people????????
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By Loralee Choate on Jan 27, 2008 | Reply
I know I am totally late commenting here but THIS SUCKS.
People never fail to disappoint and amaze me with their hideous levels of suck.
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By Liz on Jan 28, 2008 | Reply
this may be a stupid question, but how are you finding your own blog entries on someone else’s site?
are you just randomly Googling your post titles or snippets?
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By ReesePie on Jan 30, 2008 | Reply
Unbelievable. That BIATCH! I’ll beat her up the next time I’m in Seattle if you want…
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By AimeeJ on Jan 31, 2008 | Reply
Hey there,
I came across your blog and I wanted to drop you a quick email to introduce you to PopCap.com a leading provider of casual games. I don’t want to scare you with the term “casual games” - but currently 5,000,000 users visit our site and play our games per month. A massive 78% of those are women and the average player is a married woman who has at least one child.
One of the main reasons for PopCap’s success is that the games appeal to the human brain at a fundamental level which appeals to just about everyone!! PopCap make fun games such as Peggle, Chuzzle and Bejewelled that users can play online before they buy so they know what they want. In fact, they actually have a “mom test” to determine if a game will work…that is, the founders sit their mothers down to play and to assess a game’s potential success!
As well providing great entertainment value there are many health benefits associated with playing these games. Many people play the games as a form of ‘mental break’ – playing on the bus en route to work or for 15 minutes during lunch. In fact, studies have show shown that playing a casual game helps lower stress levels by reducing blood pressure, slowing breathing and heart rate and tests prove that just five minutes a day on http://www.popcap.com has considerable stress reducing benefits.
They worked with the Stress Management Society and ex-Atomic Kitten and young mum Natasha Hamilton to communicate these stress relieving properties. Check it out on own Natasha’s blog …..
http://www.liverpool.com/bloggers/natasha-hamilton:-popstar-and-restauranteur.html
Rumor even has it that the Queen herself is a PopCap fan!!!!!
Anyways, just wanted to give you some information because I thought it might interest you. If you do hear any more about their games or interesting studies just let me know.
Take Care,
Aimee
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By Clink on Feb 1, 2008 | Reply
I am so sorry that this happened to you but really happy that it has brought me to your blog as a reader (via Andi)…I feel so conflicted!
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By pluckymama on Feb 2, 2008 | Reply
This has happened to me too!!!
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By Be Inspired Always on Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
Yikes, that is a scary thing for sure. I’m an author and I have someone steal my writing passing it off as their own. I understand how angry that can make a person. Your words are your own and they should stay that way.
I’m glad you confronted this person.
Jillian
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By annenahm on Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
I just came back from seeing you make a comment on my blog and I think I have a complete girly crush on you over seeing this post. Wow!
I have found a couple of people stealing stuff, but that is just dumb luck of googling myself and having people leave my name in the post. Not sure how to protect myself against people who remove the name.
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