Does Picasa allow hotlinking

From Picasa help site:

Picasa Web Albums can be used to backup your original files under the following conditions:

1. The original file is a JPG.
2. The image can be no larger than 20MB and is restricted to 50 megapixels or less.
3. The image doesn't have any unsaved edits.
4. You upload the image at 'Original Size.'

In all other cases Picasa will create and upload a new copy of your image saved in the JPG format. Examples of when your original file would not be uploaded include:

• The original file is anything other than a JPG (TIF, PSD, any RAW format, etc).
• You have made edits such as I'm Feeling Lucky, Redeye, Crop, etc.
• You select to upload at any resolution other than 'Original Size.'

These are the services/products provided by Google, both are completely different, it is just that they are linked with your common Google ID which you can use for any Google services: Google Docs, Translate, Blogger, Orkut, etc. To see more Click Here. So the photos you upload to Google Plus actually gets saved in Picasa. In short your account is linked with different Google services.