While doing research for an upcoming book, I came across a photo of one of the world's first cosmetic surgeries featuring cheek implants. If you're not familiar with the procedure, it's where doctors implant a high-density porous polyethylene (commonly known as Gore-Tex) or pockets of firm silicone on top of a person's cheekbones. The idea is … [Read more...] about The Case of the Exploding Cheeks
The Ancient Reason We Cover Our Mouths When we Yawn
This story may give a clue as to why we cover our mouths when yawning:"Once, a man was standing outside his inn, 'when a black dog came up and stood in front of me and yawned, which made me yawn too, quite against my will, and immediately the dog disappeared from sight and I was seized with fever and my face was turned round backwards.'"*So, according to St. Theodore of Sykeon … [Read more...] about The Ancient Reason We Cover Our Mouths When we Yawn
Friday Funnies–Ancient Style!
I've been doing a lot of research on ancient Egyptian practices lately so it only seemed appropriate to include "mummy" humor:http://www.v5.bearskinrug.co.uk/_articles/2009/10/23/mummy_curse/http://www.bizarrocomics.com/ … [Read more...] about Friday Funnies–Ancient Style!
Friday Funnies–Ancient Style
"Uhmmmm, that's not what I had in mindwhen I asked for your best flute player..." "Wow, it's true--some stories really are timeless!"Plato as a Potheadhttp://www.ashersarlin.com/archives/2005/01/oh_come_on_plat.php … [Read more...] about Friday Funnies–Ancient Style
Getting A Mention on The Atlantic Wire
Well, knock me over with a feather. My brother, Michael Alvear, recently informed me that Cleopatra's Moon was mentioned in a piece on the "The Best of the Girl-Power Books" in YA. In The Atlantic Wire.The Atlantic. The online version of the famous magazine. After I picked myself up off the floor, I fell over again. Because, really, this is just another example of … [Read more...] about Getting A Mention on The Atlantic Wire