We are thrilled here at the Partnership to have David Sheff, parent and author of “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction,” as a guest blogger on our parent-to-parent blog, Decoder.

“Beautiful Boy” is an insightful memoir detailing David’s oldest son’s descent into a methamphetamine addiction. “Beautiful Boy” was also selected by Starbucks Entertainment as the next book to be sold in its more than 7,000 company-operated locations in the U.S, and for which David will embark on a 9-city book tour beginning February 26th in New York City.

Here’s a brief video clip of David. Check back soon or subscribe to the blog feed so you can be alerted when David begins blogging.

• 	Posted by: Joe Keenan | 3 Comment(s)
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Thank goodness the writer’s strike has ended.  (For the record, I was part of the 90% that voted to end the strike.)  In the absence of traditional Hollywood fare, a slew of reality shows developed in their place.  Many of these had a surprisingly high drug and alcohol content.  In case you missed them, here are some scenarios:

Liar, Liar - The West Wing meets Sports Center in this political drama that pits rivals battling it out in Congress.  Only in this drama the rivals aren’t Republicans and Democrats, but a legendary athlete and the trainer who claims to have supplied him with Performance Enhancing Drugs. 

Full (Wine) House - This popular awards show features a star with a drug problem severe enough that the US Department of State won’t allow her a visa to enter the country.  Therefore she has to accept her awards on a closed circuit television.  Amazingly, one of the awards she wins is for a song called Rehab.  (That, children is what we call irony.) 

American Idle - Like the similarly named talent show, this series features an attractive young woman with a good if not great singing voice who, with the help of high production value, big-time packaging and hype, is turned into a superstar.  Only during this series, she doesn’t sing.  She is just a pawn as others move her in and out of therapy and medical care. 

• 	Posted by: James Ponti | 0 Comment(s)
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Did you guys hear about this?:

Brazil Carnival Star Eyes Surgery Record

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian model Angela Bismarchi will dance nearly nude ahead of a 300-person drum corps in next month’s Carnival parade, hoping her sculpted beauty as a “percussion queen” will lead her samba group to the championship.

But she has another goal in mind as well.

In preparation for Rio’s five-day Carnival blowout in February, she’s having her 42nd plastic surgery — closing in on the Guinness World Record of 47 surgical procedures held by 52-year-old American Cindy Jackson, who calls herself a “Living Doll” and now promotes her own skincare line.

“I always was vain,” Bismarchi, 36, acknowledges at the medical clinic near Rio where her plastic surgeon husband has operated on her 10 times. “And for carnival, you have to feel especially pretty.”

Just days before Brazil’s Feb. 2-6 carnival begins, Bismarchi will have nylon wires implanted in her eyes to give them an Asian slant, in line with this year’s theme of her samba group, Porto da Pedra: the centennial of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

***** 

It’s clear to me that people who have a deep sense of insecurity try to medicate it with all sorts of things – drugs, alcohol, compulsive shopping, plastic surgery…  However, whereas in most cases people can satisfy these addictions on their own, in the case of plastic surgery they need an enabler – the surgeon.  Doesn’t a doctor have a responsibility to recommend therapy in a case like this rather than inserting wire in someone’s eyelids?  I think so.

• 	Posted by: Sarit Catz | 0 Comment(s)
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