For the billionth time in 2 weeks, there are fire trucks outside my building. I didn’t call them this time. I guess they’re heading for the next building over to take care of a call for an ambulance. I remember down in Texas, you got exactly what you called for. If you called for an ambulance, that’s all that showed up. LOL I’m just glad it wasn’t what I thought it was. I thought someone had seen my Halloween lights blinking in my window and thought my apartment was on fire. Believe me, the people in my neighborhood aren’t always that bright.

I got off my butt and walked to the grocery store today. I needed to get bread, but I ended up with bread, chips, and brownies. LOL Then I walked myself back home. Not a bad trip either. A small hill going and a small hill back. Nothing major and I barely broke a sweat doing it. Guess all the stairs I’ve gone up and down the past week at work have helped.

I signed up at iVillage for a walking challenge. Especially with my new job, I’ll have to do something. I missed the chance to join a walking group at work, but maybe I can talk to the gal who was starting it and see if I can get in on it after all. We’ll see. I need to remember to post at Goodbye Blubber as well.

Anyways, I need to get myself off to other blogs and do some posting, do some work on my Wicca classes I take online, etc. Talk to you later!

At least if someone says that about drug or alcohol addiction in this town, they’re going to get it. I kid you not, I know of at least 2 drug rehabs that are standalone programs, as well as each hospital’s psych ward having a rehab program. You have virtually no chance of someone not listening to your pleas for help.

Which brings me to the point of, why is it that you’ll hear a drug addict say they want to kick the habit, but they won’t ask for help? Is it something that goes alone with the drugs? Or is it just our innate human nature? After all, I know very few people who will admit they need help or will ask for it even if they admit they need it. Maybe I should take some psychology classes. I might actually understand for once.

Maybe someone out there can explain this to me. Every time I load up AOL.com, MSN.com, or even Yahoo.com at times, I am bombarded with this celebrity or that celebrity heading into rehab after being caught on video or photograph doing drugs or being drunk in public, etc. My question is, do these people think that because they’re celebrities and they’re “setting an example” by “admitting they have a problem and getting help” that they are earning brownie points with the public?

Myself I feel it’s more of a pathetic attempt to gain even more publicity and to get the public to say “oh how sad, the pressure got to them and they turned to drugs or alcohol but at least now they’re getting help.” Sorry, I’m not that sympathetic. Lots of people are pressured, lots of people are stressed and yes, a lot of them turn to drugs and alcohol. But there are plenty of people who don’t. Besides, lately with half of Hollywood seeming to pop into rehab, it seems to me that it’s more of a fad and the fashion for stars to be able to say “I’ve been to rehab.”

So my question for you is, what do you think of all the celebrities heading for rehab. Is this all legit reasons, or is a sympathy play, or is it the fashion for the stars now?

I was reading an article on MSN Music where Elton John admits that he is the owner of a Nan Goldin photograph that has been seized from a gallery on suspicion that it may be child pornography. The picture is of two naked girls and is entitled “Klara and Edda Belly-Dancing.” Apparently this picture has been shown in galleries throughout the rest of Europe without anyone complaining about it, but now authorities in England have taken action. The question arises in my mind as to when and where do we draw the line between art and child pornography?

In my opinion it’s very hard to do so. Especially when I can’t see how anyone would allow their children to pose for naked pictures that someone else was taking in the first place. I mean, yes, by all means, if your kid is being adorable running around naked or is in the bathtub, snap a picture of it for the family photo album and email it off to the grandparents. But to actually take your children to a studio and be used as naked models in photos? Especially ones that will be on public display? No. Absolutely not. The fine line between what is art and what is pornography is extremely blurry and far to easy to cross in the case of children.

I can’t imagine a photographer who would want to take photos like that and expect not to gain controversy or risk accusation of child porn. Never having seen the photo in question, I suppose it isn’t fair of me to make comments, but truthfully the very thought of such a photo having been taken and then displayed makes me uneasy.

About the only point I can see in this photographer’s favor is that she intended the pictures for the entire world to see, unlike with most child porn which is relatively well hidden unless you know where to go for it.

What is your take on the situation. Do you feel that the photo was inappropriate based on the described contents, or do you feel an artist’s rights and artistic license have been violated?