Here's an excerpt from a Harvard Magazine piece that covers many of my favorite blog topics: cleft lip, cleft palate, restorative medicine, patient care, and the role of doctors. Are they just healers or are they prophets? Are they sometimes heroes, villains, or fools? In the story told below, there's a transformation, almost a miraculous one.Transformation.To set the stage: the piece below is also about writing and storytelling—activities I've had to master, esp for the most … [Read more...]
Cleft lip hero QB Peyton Manning faces accusations.
Talk about hitting a player after he's down. An "allegation" about cleft lip Bronco quarterback Peyton Manning using prohibited Human Growth Hormone (HGH) surfaced while Manning was sidelined by a foot injury (partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot). The idea that Peyton Manning is now the backup QB for the Broncos jars all of us who consider him a hero as a five-time NFL league MVP. If you are a die-hard Manning fan, this one-two punch hurts. As readers know, I've celebrated Manning in … [Read more...]
“Heroes and villains” & Brian Wilson’s psychological disorders.
The overall theme of this website is Heroes, Villains and Fools, tho admittedly I concentrate on the heroics of kids (and their helpers) who overcome bullying and facial differences stemming from, say, a cleft lip and palate. So, it's no wonder that I've been intrigued by the Beach Boys' song "Heroes and villains" over the years. Turns out it's got a complex history, not unlike that of Brian Wilson whose battle against mental illness was told in the biopic "Love & Mercy" which hit theaters … [Read more...]
Boy hassled by bullies in film has new life.
Bullies got more than they bargained for when Alex Libby, one of the students in the 2001 "Bully" documentary, flowered and began to thrive in a new school. Tho Alex still has the flattened nose and Asperger's that triggered much of his earlier bullying, he's a confident happy kid these days.Columnist Tony Leys of the Des Moines Register wrote this follow-up story on Alex recently. Here it is in its entirety: Bullies find unintended consequences of their acts. Alex Libby, who was featured in … [Read more...]
Announcing the Launch of an art gallery.
World premiere.It's opening night (or day, depending on your time zone ) for a new art gallery.Kinda exciting. After hoping to do something like this for years, the stars aligned and a gallery for paintings and prints materialized.Click here for the gallery. I trust the crowds at the opening aren't overwhelming. Probably won't be because there aren't free cheese, crackers, and wine. Back in the day, I used to almost subsist on gallery openings and their food in New York City.If paintings or … [Read more...]
Heroines, bullies, and Batgirl’s final bow as a hero.
As I noted earlier in the week on various social media, Batgirl, whose face graces my "Heroes, Villains, and Fools" home page, has died. Ms Craig was a heroine to the kids of prior generations who were unused to superheroes at every turn. Superheroes could mainly be found in comic books. Among other villains, Craig fought bullies.Craig was trained as a dancer, which helped her perform her own stunts as Batgirl in the iconic 1960s TV series "Batman." Craig died at her home in Pacific Palisades, … [Read more...]
Cyberbullying——actresses Willis and Patridge talk.
Last March and early April, I blogged about cyberbullying and featured Monica Lewinsky's Ted Talk about it. Well, two more celebs have weighed in about being cyberbullied: Rumer Willis (daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore) and Audrina Patridge (reality star and TV personality).Cyberbullying – The Fastest Growing Faceless Crime.As I noted in prior blogs, Patti Agatston, PhD— from www.cyberbullyhelp.com—defines cyberbullying as "using the Internet or other digital devices to send or post … [Read more...]