|
|
|
21 Oct 2002 |
 |
Improving Nature?
On the left, Michael Jackson appearing in court
last week.
Plastic surgeons who have seen this and
other recent photos are saying that he appears to have had at least 5
surgical reshapings of his nose alone, and that quite apart from the
psychological aspects, repeated operations like this are medically
dangerous; for with each intervention, the blood supply to the
area decreases, and the risk of scarring and infection increases.
On the right, Jocelyne Wildenstein, sometimes unkindly known as
the Bride of Wildenstein. She was a
(very beautiful) Swiss girl who married
Alec Wildenstein, heir to a $10bn art fortune. Then came
her forties, and she decided that she was losing her looks and that
Alec's eye might start wandering. So she had plastic
surgery, and the initial results pleased her. So she had
more, and more, and more again.
Now she has lost not only
her husband, but also her looks.
The saddest irony of all is that with that
sort of money the odd flaw in your natural looks probably doesn't
matter too much: my guess is that with a billion or two in the bank
there will be a whole queue of people who find you a fascinating
person - "just for yourself, of course, and not for your money". Sometimes you've got to
suspect that money twists
people's minds.
|
Unselfishness
You don't need billions to have a twisted mind, of course.
Here's a couple of stories I found in the American Press (Oh yes, I
do get around):
From The Times-Picayune, New Orleans
Herbert Toney, 36, and
Latisha Washington, 29, were arrested in October in St. Bernard
Parish, just outside New Orleans, and face several charges including
deserting their 8-year-old son. According to police, the couple
instructed the son to go into a Winn Dixie supermarket and steal
groceries and beer. When a security guard stopped him, the boy pointed
out his parents nearby, but Toney and Washington matter-of-factly
denied knowing the kid and walked away. Deputies brought the couple in
again a while later, but Washington said only that maybe she had seen
the boy around the neighborhood a few times. Finally, she admitted he
was hers. From CBS News
New York City landlord Denise M. Lyman announced she would not allow
the family of Sep 11 victim Danielle Kousoulis into Danielle's old
apartment to secure DNA to help detect her remains
- because Danielle had
breached her Sep 01 2001 lease by failing to give three months'
notice before "abandoning" the apartment. |
|
|
|
PROPERTY
WITH PARKING |
|
If you want to buy a new home, how
about moving to Bowcombe Creek in Devon?
The property's an
ordinary double garage - and it's priced at
£135,000.
The price comes from the small chance that you
might get planning permission to turn it into a house. Could
be a bit "parky" in the winter!
Jennifer
Lopez's Nipples
Seems there's some guy paid to tweak Jennifer Lopez's nipples. He's
an aide
to Ms Lopez, and one of
his duties is to make sure the nipples are in prime condition when
she's getting
photographed.
Well, I suppose somebody's got to do these jobs.
THIS
WEEK'S QUOTES
All Rise!
Usher opening the court enquiry into Viagra on the NHS.
Last night I dreamt of the 3rd
person singular pluperfect subjunctive.
Ann Widdecombe in an article. If she really does dream about Latin grammar then
she's got to get out more.
Volunteers for the Widdecombe job,
please. I'm sorry I can't do it myself, as I'm already
committed to any Lopez vacancy that comes up.
|
|
TERROR ALERTS |
|
Government
ministers have taken to issuing vague warnings about terrorism.
Why are they doing this? It only causes alarm, and in default
of actual advice from the Government - like watching out for
unattended baggage - there's just nothing the ordinary citizen can
do.
I seriously wonder if they're scared
that in the event of a terrorist attack, some people will blame them
for not giving warnings. But what can the government say? Don't come
to London? Run a mile if you see an Arab? Of course not.
People need to be reminded of sensible security precautions - and to
be informed of any credible and specific alerts - but scaring them
to death with vague warnings just isn't on.
|
|
HOLY CHAPATI |
|
Thousands of
pilgrims are flocking to a church in India to what they believe is
the image of Christ on a chapati.
From stories of
Mother-Teresa-in-a-bun to St-Peter-in-a-toadstool, there seems no
limit to people's credulity.
Do these people
really believe that God reveals himself to the world through burnt
chapatis?
|
|