I'm working on a memoir tentatively titled Four Murders and a Funeral. In one of the murders, powdered cocaine plays a role. At least that's what the defendant and his attorney would like us to believe. Whether the drug was to blame for the murder and whether addiction was involved is part of the story I tell. Cocaine Carrie Fisher's use of cocaine never became much of a criminal justice issue. Some feel celebs get a pass for behavior that lands others of us in … [Read more...]
Cleft lip dad adopts cleft lip baby.
This cleft lip news out of Atlanta made my Father's Day last Sunday. The day had been marred by the death of my best friend's wife the day before. However, I then noticed this news about cute-as-a-boot Hattie Pierce, pictured below. Like myself and so many others, Hattie was born with a cleft lip and palate, . Hattie Pierce w cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip dad & daughter duo get surgery at same hospital. She was adopted by Brian Pierce who'd had his lip surgically restored long … [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...]
Disability Freak shows——Hits and misses.
Perhaps you saw the "Side Show" song and dance number during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year production. It intrigued me how the two female leads were able to stay "conjoined" at the hips or shoulders through the difficult dance maneuvers. Conjoined twins. "Side Show"— not-so-disabled twins. Perhaps you've also seen episodes of "Freak Show," part of the American Horror Story anthology broadcast on the cable television channel FX in the United States. It features a variant on a … [Read more...]
Bullies steal prized NFL football from cleft lip Kid
It saddened me to hear that Nationall Football League star Gordy Soltau just died. Football legend Gordy Soltau. A member of the 49ers Hall of Fame, he scored 24 touchdowns and 70 field goals in his career, only one of three players in NFL history to have ever done this.The great receiver and kicker, who died of natural causes at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California was born in 1925, and played an important role in my life. The following, excerpted from my memoir, Cleft Heart, … [Read more...]
Oscar Pistorius’sentencing suggests he’s a psychopath.
Finally, the other shoe has dropped. And the judge has answered our question . . . sort of. The question asked several Pistorius blogs ago was, does Oscar have psychopathic tendencies like Lance Armstrong and OJ Simpson? Because I felt I knew less about Oscar than Lance and OJ and because a different culture and criminal justice system was at work, I decided to let the judge determine Oscar's mental state. Psychopath? By sentencing Oscar to five years—much less than the ten years she might … [Read more...]
Gaga’s Disabilities Foundation Under fire.
Gaga in dodo over disabilities song lyrics? As promised, I'll provide some information about Gaga's beleaguered "Born This Way" Foundation (BTWF) and her mother who cofounded it with her. But first, a few words about the "Born this Way" song, which stirred controversy when she released it. Besides the expected negativity from those who hate gay-friendly lyrics, several … [Read more...]