def obtain_article_status(check = nil)
      article = 
        if check.blank? && !@content.blank? && @content[0].blank?
          @content
        else
          obtain_record(check, 'page')
        end
      !article.blank? && article.has_attribute?('post_status') ? article.post_status : nil
    end
def obtain_article_status(check = nil)
      article = 
        if check.blank? && !@content.blank? && @content[0].blank?
          @content
        else
          obtain_record(check, 'page')
        end
      !article.blank? && article.has_attribute?('post_status') ? article.post_status : nil
    end
returns the status of the given article
 Params:
 +check+:: ID, slug, or name of the article - if this is nil it will use the @content variable (the current page)