(Or anywhere on the internet really.)  People will find your images, copy them, and use them for their own purposes.

I mention this because I have just heard about  Flickr user "Lara Jade" who recently discovered that a self portrait she photographed when she was 14 years old was used as the cover for a pornographic DVD without her knowledge.  The responses she has received from the DVD company border on the bizarre and betray an extremely warped sense of morality and personal responsibility.

Sadly for Lara Jade, she cannot afford the legal fees necessary to pursue the matter, especially since she lives in the UK and the photo was misappropriated by a company operating in the USA.

Read her story here.

Those of you who post personal or family photos are advised to publish them as "private" photos -- viewable only by people you name as family or friends.  This is not something I've ever worried about on my blog, but I am now wrestling with the idea of marking some of my photo albums as private.  If that happens, anybody who wants to view those albums will need to create a reader account so I can add you as an approved reader.  I haven't decided what I am going to do.  This could be a good opportunity to just switch to Flickr.  I'll have to think on it.

Those of you that enjoy the thoroughly wonderful blog Aces Full of Links (which is written by my friend James) have probably noticed it seemed to be down for most of the day today, and now although visible is not available for commenting.  James is having server issues and asks that you please bear with him while he gets things back in order.

Here's to you Aces Full.  Get well soon!

Reverend Jerry Falwell is no longer with us, having died suddenly today as reported by the Houston Chronicle:

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority and built the religious right into a political force, died Tuesday shortly after being found unconscious in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said. He was 73.

Falwell was hospitalized in "gravely serious" condition after being found unconscious Tuesday in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said earlier...

I've never made any secret that I don't think highly of Jerry Falwell.  But that said, he was still a human being, and doubtless had friends and family who loved him and who are suffering now.  I know what that feels like and they have my sympathy and my condolences.

Okay, don't have time to write a long article.  Just wanted to pass along this tidbit I found about a recent study that determined that eating pistachios can significantly lower your cholesterol.  So next time you want a snack, have some pistachios... not only do they taste good, apparently they're good for you as well.