NYU has acquired the archives of so-called “artist” Larry Rivers who filmed his daughters naked while they were growing up, including the time when they developed breasts. When they complained he told them that they were bad daughters and uptight. This douchebag was apparently big on the beat artist and NYC circuit. Her mother said it “wasn’t a big deal at the time, but now NYU was making it a big deal by not giving up the films.” Now New York University (NYU) has acquired his archives, including the films, which are essentially child pornography. His daughter, Emma, states that the filming caused her to have anorexia, and drove her into therapy. She wants the films back.
But a spokesperson for the archive said he didn’t have the “authority” to go back and figure out which parts of the archive are innappropriate. I say someone from NYU should use a little bit of f-ing sense and get rid of their child porn collection. What do you think?

I have been following the death of Michael Jackson, and not only it [possibly] illustrates the death of another celebrity from prescription medications, but it also shows the importance of childhood abuse and neglect, and how the jerks who perpetuate it get off scott free.

Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, used to watch them rehearse and beat them with a belt if they did something wrong. He would trip them and push them into walls. One time he picked up Michael by one leg and beat him on the buttocks and legs. He took the proceeds of the Jackson 5 for himself. Just looking at Michael’s behavior as an adult it is obvious that he was a victim of childhood abuse.

But then, just in case you were unsure about this jerk, when interviewed by CNN after his son’s death, he said “we’re fine” and then went on to glibly promote his own new record company, taking advantage of the opportunity to be on the camera to promote his own business!

If this man doesn’t crawl under a rock, someone should suggest it to him strongly.

Here is Joe Jackon with the Rev. Jesse Jackon (no relation?) after Michael’s death outside his home. I always thought that Rev Jackson was a twit. What is he a Reverend of anyway? The religion of his own ego?

A paper just out in Nature Neuroscience on the effects of childhood abuse on the brain has been predictably shilled by the NY Times as being the first evidence that childhood abuse can have an effect on your brain. Now before you all get all hot and bothered consider the fact that childhood abuse may have had an effect on your brain but that it is not irreversible. This study reported a change in the gene coding for the glucocorticoid receptor in the hippocampus in abused subjects who suicided compared to controls. The gene can be changed by life experience, and by implication can be re-changed if you will. The fact that childhood abuse can affect the brain is nothing new. In fact this writer showed smaller hippocampal volume in abuse related PTSD back in 1997. So this new report is really not so much news. The blogosphere is invoking Buddhism to deal with what seems to be negative news of irrevocable damage, but I would say that there is evidence of change in the brain with treatment, and that may include meditation (we have studies ongoing on that now that look promising) so don’t give up hope. And don’t freak out every time you see the latest drug shill news release.

Oh btw my mother was a Buddhist and when I went back to our old house after 40 years I discovered that there were three sheep living in the “farm” behind our house. Since my mother was a Buddhist I decided that she may have been reincarnated as a sheep, maybe one of those sheep since she liked that house with its Japanese theme (Buddhism) and all. Anyhoo the current owner is also a Shephardess and spinner of yarn and she gave us some so Mrs. Bremner has been knitting me a scarf from the wool. Kinda like Penelope. LOL!