Face off and on

Doctors are pioneering the first face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic with 7 women and 5 men who have suffered debilitating disfigurement. Dr. Maria Siemionow is spearheading this endeavor with the assistance of several doctors she enlisted to study the faces of the patients in preparation for the procedures.

Back in 1997, John Travolta and Nicholas Cage starred in John Woo's Face/Off about an FBI agent (Travolta) whose face is transplanted with that of a "maniacal terrorist" and his archnemesis (Cage) who claimed the life of his young son. A cool movie although Cage and Travolta are conspicuously different in body shape and size so I don't know how they thought they could get away with it. Maybe a brain transplant would've better explained that; that's a whole other entry and operation though.

chocolat

Boule: because I love chocolate.

Vonnegut makes a return

Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite fiction writers of all time, Cat's Cradle being my favorite novel and Welcome To The Monkey House, my favorite collection of short stories. I am ill-read of his non-fiction except for essay which I thoroughly enjoyed (God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian), so I'm very interested in reading moe. He's published a collection of short non-fiction on topics from Bush to the environment entitled A Man Without a Country. CNN.com published a short piece on the popularity of the recently released collection in which Vonnegut is quoted as saying "My father, like Hemingway, was a gun nut and was very unhappy late in life. But he was proud of not committing suicide. And I'll do the same, so as not to set a bad example for my children."

Burlesque Against Breast Cancer

My friend, Cori, is holding a big fundraiser for breast cancer funding for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation called Burlesque Against Breast Cancer in honor of her mother who passed away from the disease three months ago. Her mother, Maribeth, was nicknamed Miss Hollywood and was beloved by her friends family. Detail follow: join us as we celebrate the wonderful life of Maribeth and help a great cause. Also, there are fantastic raffle prizes, so what are you waiting for?

The Miss Hollywood Follies Presents:
Burlesque Against Breast Cancer
Performances by: The World Famous Bob, Miss Dirty Martini, Nasty Canasta, Little Brooklyn, Jo Boobs, Molly Crabapple, Insectavora
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
8pm
The Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street
General Admission: $25/person
VIP Seating: $150/couple
Buy Tickets Now!

4 Year Anniversary

In remembrance of those we lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, and blessings to their families and loved ones; for the firefighters and police officers who did more than their jobs and sacrificed for the good of the many. My thanks can only be demonstrated by contributing to the greater good and peace of this world using the talents I have so that your sacrifices will not be in vain.

God bless you all.

Hurricane Katrina

A friend of mine from New Orleans once told me that if a category 5 hurricane were to sweep over New Orleans, it would wipe it off the map. Earlier this week, Hurricane Katrina made his bleak statement a reality. Thousands of people have been left displaced and are doing whatever is necessary to survive in this dire situation. It's taking longer than expected to get supplies, food, medicines, and manpower to New Orleans which has turned into a city of looting and violence; where desperation and a shotgun can get you a ride out of the city, assuming you aren't stopped by a crowd of people walking to find shelter and care.

In addition, the flooding poses a serious health risk for survivors. Hepatitis-A, E. coli, leptospirosis are just a few viral infections that could affect the survivors of Katrina. The high humidity and heat, the lack of food and clean water, and respirtory illnesses that could infect the refugees in the Astrodome are the most prevalent dangers.

The Gulf Coast companion and farm animals have been seriously affected as well. Dogs and cats are being rescued and transported to the Houston SPCA to be adopted out, and others will hopefully be reunited with their owners. There are a few pet-friendly shelters that have welcomed both owners and pets. Livestock has been lost to the hurricane resulting in not only animal loss, but loss to the economy and food source for a majority of America. Chicken feed and manure have been washed into the flood waters adding to the public health risk in the area.

It's estimated that the hurricane will be the most costly to affect the United States: over $100 billion when all is said and done. This includes the rising cost of oil to power those jacked cars, the loss in tourism for the Gulf Coast area, the closed oil refineries, the loss in business, especially if those businesses relocate to other areas: the economic impact is enormous. But certainly, the most serious loss is that of lives. I'm 1,500 miles away from New Orleans, but the call to help is enormous. Take a moment and donate to those legitimate organizations working to save lives: both people's and animals's.

• American Red Cross
  
• Americares
  
• America's Second Harvest
  
• Habitat for Humanity International
  
• Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  
• Humane Society of the United States
  
• Network for Good
  
• Salvation Army
  
• Samaritan's Purse
  
• United Way of America
  
• World Emergency Relief