Katie Couric Cut Her Hair and a Night at the Movies

Katie Couric cut her hair! While I would like to fantasize that she finally got the message after reading my blogs, the reality is probably that one of the sylists at CBS thought we had seen enough of the bushwoman style. Now it falls to Maria Botaromo, nerd-queen of CNBC to follow suit (as a card carrying Nerd myself I too paid homage to the sensuous Maria until she went bush-woman on me).
As I have been writing and lecturing for years- long hair is for children and adolescnets.
I don't understand what is so confusing. Long hair frames the face and purpously narrows its appearance. So does natural aging. Far from conveying the youthful look the wearer desires, it ages an adult face and makes it look worn.
So thank you Katie Couric and hope you are ready to lead the minions of assertive woman and those who secretly wish to be.
Now on to the movies:
Being Jewish, I think, gives me a license to suffer. After 6000 years of such behavior God probably doesn’t even notice my small pangs of distress. So it is with some anticipation that I go to the movies to see emotionally penetrating movies that remind me of my ancestral preordination.
But Revolutionary Road caught me completely by surprise. My best movie moments have occurred when I have not had appropriate anticipation and my wife and I only happened into this movie because Slum Dog Millionaire was full. However, the next two days were filled with solemnity and introspection as I did a fast forward of my own life.
The story begins with 2 excited youths meeting at the beginning of their journey through life. They select each other as soul mates with what they project will be a life of exploration and excitement. After making a series of poor life choices, all of which can be reversed, they find themselves trapped in a world that evolves as a self fulfilling prophesy and ultimately a life that is dictated to them as a series of decisive compromises. The movie is replete with Greek Chorus in the form of a psychotic individual who is the only character who can recognize reality, and a hero’s fall from grace by dint of a fatal flaw. Lest you think this is made for the high-brow types, one of my patients who is a not-college educated blue-collar worker told me he cried through the entire movie. See this movie at your own peril; however I do recommend we all see it.
Edward Lack MD www.metropolitanmds.com

Patrick Swayze is a Hero!!!

Early in 2008 when we learned Patrick Swayze had pancreatic cancer I was one of the first to condemn his behavior. He went into public denial and claimed his cancer was being cured with chemotherapy. He had pictures of himself smoking cigarettes. He denied the damage that cancer does to individuals and their families.
Tonight on the Barbara Walters interview Patrick Swayze showed himself to be mature, sophisticated, intelligent, introspective, and a leader in the fight against cancer. Whether this represents a maturity, a growth in wisdom from coping and learning from the cancer animal or whether the man was mercilessly misquoted as he was invaded by and dissected by the press, I do not know. Regardless, tonight, the man Patrick Swayze gave hope and solace to millions of cancer victims. And for me, a pancreatic cancer survivor (so far), he courageously led the fight for awareness of pancreatic cancer in a very public forum.
Pancreatic cancer is still the 4th leading cancer killer in the United States and the poorest research funded cancer of the major cancer killers. It is not only a silent cancer until someone discovers that they are one of its victims, it remains silent because government and media will not give it the attention it demands as it devastates so many lives.
I have said before, cancer is not a death sentence, it is a life sentence. It is a chance to live your life as you wish, to grow from the experience, to grow in your own humanity, and your chance to reach out to others with love in your heart as you could never do before. It is a chance for others to reach to you and to have no need for defences because you realize today is the only reality and the only concern. God bless Patrick Swayze. He will be my hero as long as I live.
And by the way, the Pancreatic Cancer Walk will occur next May. I would love to have each of you join us (I think it will be in Grant Park again). If you are unable, MetropolitanMD will again collect funds for PanCan the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Through PanCan we can support research and bring public awareness to this devastating disease.
Edward Lack MD http://www.metropolitanmds.com/

How To Attract Brad Pitt

Our last conversation with Brad revealed how reproducible geometric relationships determine beauty in one’s face regardless of race or gender. Now I asked Brad to describe what qualities in a woman’s face are attractive to him. The following are 6 variables that will attract and enchant Brad Pitt or any other man.
Smile – Simple as that sounds it is not practiced often enough. When I compared before and after pictures of my patients I was amazed at what I should have known. Smiling faces are more beautiful than dull faces. By way of reminder: a smile starts from within. If only the eyes twinkle the smile is communicated.
Assymetry – The French plastic surgeon Roger Amar was the first to point out to me that asymmetry is beautiful. Compare beautiful actresses with beautiful runway models. The latter tend to have more symmetric faces. Yet asymmetry adds depth and a projection of intelligence to our perception (thank you Julia Roberts). The gestalt is very attractive.
Thin – Twiggy is more beautiful now than when she modeled. Cachexia, the appearance of wasting away, connotes illness and sadness. At the least, do not lose weight as you get older. Cheeks do not look good when they are hollow and deep eyes look worn-out. Consider gaining weight or use fillers like your own fat or synthetic products.
No facial movement – Paralysis is the result of a disease. It is neither appealing nor attractive. Botox is best used judiciously so eyebrows rise when surprised and laugh lines are not hidden when you smile.
Hair styles that partly cover the face – Animals have hair on their face. People who wear their hair over their face are hiding. Long hair on adults accentuates the elongation of their faces and makes them look old!!! Wear hair shoulder length or less and behind your ears and look as young as you feel!
Make-up – Foundation make-up was meant for incandescent lighting. That is why they use it onstage. In the sun, foundation make-up looks grainy and fills pores. Skin looks thickened and old. Bronzing gel during the day evens skin tones without caking on the face. Svenguli draws circles around his eyes. Women should not. Subtle is attractive and natural looking.
These tips work for Brad and they work for me. Try them at home and see what happens.