Ok, so I recently wrote a quiz about Dan Brown's latest book. Try the quiz and let me know how it was.

	Finding "The Lost Symbol" (10 questions)
	Dan Brown's third novel featuring the popular symbologist protagonist Robert Langdon is "The Lost Symbol". First published in 2009, test your knowledge of this interesting novel.

Well, today I had an epiphany, and in that fleeting moment of clarity I realized the importance of a blog. It's not for you, constant reader (if I may so blatantly steal Stephen King's term) to read, but for me, the anguished writer, to express myself. At once I realized that I need this outlet, and I would do better to have it available. In fact, I could make a habit out of it and you could read it.

The wonders of Internet anonymity. Even if you could figure out who I am, it wouldn't matter. Even if you do disapprove of some of the stances that I may take while writing this, then so be it, because those are my own, and I'm just writing what I think. Feel free to approve and feel even freer to disapprove. Most of all, feel free to leave a comment.

In any case, right now I can think of a million-and-one topics I could write about in the days/weeks/months/years to come: from the existential crises of mankind (whether God exists or not, what is love, why is money so important) to the books I read (which are numerous and varied). From the quizzes I write (and I will shamelessly promote them here) to the sports games I follow (prepare yourselves for the 49ers, Raptors, Lakers, ManU, Federer and more). From things I may have done in the past to things I may do in the present. The possibilities are endless.

Only, I'll start later... ;)

If there's one thing I can't take any more, it's plagiarism.

 

Being an editor here on FunTrivia is really a lot of fun, and quite a challenge. Especially with the 'General' category (though also in my two new categories 'Literature' and 'Religion'), I have to stay on top of my game in many aspects; I need to be eloquent and polite with my responses, I have to make sure my grammar and spelling are impeccable, and I have to know many facts, and what I don't know, I like to be able to research and absorb very quickly and efficiently.

 

Some people are very good to work with. Though they're only human, and god knows all us humans make mistakes, the people who are greatest to work with are the ones who are eager to accept my comments, and the ones who pay attention to detail. Basically, the ones who want their quiz to be the best quiz that it can be, and not the ones who want their quiz to go online for the sake of putting it online. Hey, even I make mistakes, but I do my best not to!

 

On the other end of the spectrum, the worst thing possible to see on someone's quiz is plagiarism. Plagiarism is, in my own personal opinion of course, theft, plain and simple. Someone has posted something, whether it is in a book, essay, website or whatever other media, and has given us their ideas. Then, someone notices it, and decides to use it for their own. They don't cite the original work, they don't give credit where credit is due, they just steal someone else's idea!

 

I'm very good at sniffing out cases of plagiarism in quizzes, probably one of the best. People try to get them by me all the time, and I catch them all the time. It frustrates me that even though it is clearly stated in the guidelines that you risk getting your account here in FunTrivia "toasted", people will try it anyway! Where's the fun? Why take a risk? Why not do your own research, formulate ideas (whether your own, or based on what someone else has thought up, it doesn't matter), and write down everything you want to say in your own words!

 

The worst case I ever came across was someone who tried to sell me back stuff that I had written myself. Of course, the person couldn't have known that I contribute to many websites around the world, but I found it very amusing to read back my own words in somebody else's quiz. And, I was quite insulted.

 

To all those out there who do their own work, I know you care, and I thank you. To all those out there who have the gall to steal other people's work, beware! I am everywhere! You will be caught!

A new quiz of mine has been placed online!  It is in the Quizmaker Tune-Ups category, in General.  This quiz tests your knowledge of how to use numbers in your quizzes, and sets down some of the FunTrivia guidelines that all the editors have agreed upon concerning the use of numbers.

 

	Count Me In!(10 questions)
	Numbers are fun, they're everywhere we go, But to use them in a quiz, their rules we must know! Here you can refine your knowledge of the usage of numbers that appear your quiz. It's all in the numbers!

Well, I certainly have been a while since my last entry, and it didn't even record my new quiz in the Blog, so bully to the Blog! In any case, the real reason that I haven't been around that much in recent times is twofold:

 

First of all, and probably most importantly, it's finals season for me. I have exams coming up to my ears from the university, and some more difficult than others, which aren't that easy either. It's been a reall chore just keeping up, and now I have so much material to review, it's fascinating stuff, but the way it's taught is incredibly boring. I'm sure that there might have been a better way to learn all of this, and to have been prepared for the final exams better than I am right now, but, oh well, I'll manage to get by with a little push from me, and a lot of cramming.

 

Secondly, I had surgery. Nothing serious, and I'm well on my road to recovery, but it still put a damper on my life in the recent weeks. It's good to be functional again, and the weeks I missed were hellish even if I was in bed most of the time. Ties into my first point, because I missed many classes recovering from the surgery. In any case, I'm fine, nothing to worry about, no you can't ask what it was about, and yes, I'm as good as new.

 

In any case, winter doesn't seem to want to arrive in Toronto yet. No complaints from me. I'm enjoying the great weather (by studying indoors all day and all night).

This Friday I met some 'old friends' for the very first time for some spaghetti action down at the "Old Spaghetti Factory". The situation would have been socially awkward had it not been for the three people that came to the meeting. The three of us, despite having wide and diverse backgrounds, different upbringings, different educations, definitely different hopes and dreams, we all shared one similar love.

 

So when we met, we didn't talk about that at all, rather, we found the conversation flowing over a plethora of topics, from sports to history to geography to people. There was never really a dull moment. Despite being so different, we found our differences fascinating, and they often helped us find a diferent angle on the subjects we were talking about.

 

Furthermore, the involvement of spaghetti is a great way to break the ice. People generally do not go on a first date when there's messy food involved. I believe in quite the opposite; a messy food situation brings out the best in people, and you can always laugh about it later. Spaghetti was not needed as an icebreaker, but it certainly was fun to eat.

 

I had a great time, needless to say.