Not your father's Cinderella. Striking images of everybody’s beloved cartoon characters appeared online last January. They came, not surprisingly, from a disabled person. Italian artist Alexsandro Palombo, created them to show that disabled people have rights and are part of the world. Palombo’s angst about disabilities is not abstract like the abstract simplification of cartoon characters. It’s real. You see, he became a disabled person a couple of years ago when some parts of his body … [Read more...]
International Authors’ Day———memoir writing.
Today's a special day! For that reason, I'm taking the opportunity to go "off topic" as candidates often do when campaigning and not focus on cleft lips, lookism, craniofacial issues, and the like. I'd like to share some thoughts about what I believe to be a most challenging genre for authors—the memoir. I'm indebeted to Debdatta, the book-loving blogger who set up this blog hop in honor of International Authors' Day. Please visit him and other bloggers involved at the sites noted … [Read more...]
Heart to heart about memoir, Cleft Heart.
As part of the International Authors' Day blog hop hosted by b00kR3vi3ws, I'm going to tackle some of the questions that're asked of me as I do various book events on Cleft Heart book tours. Debdatta, who reviews books at his site, b00kR3vi3ws, claims he's addicted to books. I hope he never goes into rehab. 1. Why now? What made you decide to write Cleft Heart? I finally got some time off from being a professor and decided to have another go at aspects of being a cleft afflicted … [Read more...]
Celeb praises the hero who overcame his cleft lip.
The challenge of a double cleft lip. Combine a couple of American game show hosts—pretty Vanna White and brainy Meredith Vieira*—and what do you get? England's Carol Vorderman who until recently hosted England's very popular game show Countdown.** Ms Vorderman, no stranger to making news, recently praised her 'brave' brother who was born with a double cleft lip and palate. According to WalesOnline news, Vorderman has begun donating her considerable wardrobe of designer dresses … [Read more...]
MTV’s littlest star & cleft lip genetics.
The cast members (mostly pregnant girls) of "16 & Pregnant" had a reunion July 1st, and as a result we've learned a bit more about Courtney, Scott, and their son Dayton. What is Courtney up to these days? Other than staying very busy taking care of Dayton, Courtney has graduated from high school and is currently enrolled in cosmetology school. How is Scott doing as a father? Despite saying he'd always love their son when he heard he'd likely be born with a cleft like Courtney's, … [Read more...]
MTV star has baby with same cleft lip and palate she has.
Cleft lip and palate characters almost never show up on TV, except maybe as villains in reruns of thrillers like "Manhunter" and "Red Dragon." Cleft woman on MTV show. Now, we've got a new star who has joined 8 year-old Mia of "Duck Dynasty" fame. I'm talking about Courtney Ames. She is the young woman on MTV's "16 and Pregnant" series, not the young lady of the same name involved in the "Bling Ring" burglaries of Paris Hilton and other celebs' homes. Cleft Courtney Ames just had a … [Read more...]
Sacrifice a year of life for a perfect face? Cleft lip folks might.
Cleft lip kids discuss the darnedest things. Ever discussed with a group of friends whether you'd give up a year of your life for a more perfect, symmetrical face? Unless you were born with a cleft lip,* you probably haven't. For non-clefts, such a discussion may be akin to those silly debates over whether you'd rather burn to death or freeze to death. Still, the question does bring up our assumptions about perfection and symmetry as they relate to beauty. We often think that we have a best … [Read more...]