Catching the "Big Fish"

He is known in the media as the man who got away with murder. Now with the desire to get back at O.J. Simpson, the FBI is caught in the middle of an alleged set up. If O.J. goes live will the FBI be exposed or has the proverbial “Big Fish” finally been caught?

In FBI resports from the Associated Press, it is discussed that the FBI was aware of Simpson’s “sting” operation three weeks in advance and they chose to do nothing about it. Is it possible that the FBI kept their information secret to set O.J. up? He once got away with homicide and the FBI refuses to have him let off the hook once again. They had him in the plan of their hands. All they had to do was wait for him to go through with it and they caught him red handed. The Las Vegas FBI chapter was completely unaware that the FBI had been given any information prior to the crime. By letting O.J. carry on with his plan, the FBI risks appearing underhanded and deceptive.

Whenever anyone thinks of O.J. Simpson, the first thought that pops into his or her head is how the system failed to catch a cold-blooded killer. There is no doubt that Simpson’s ill image in the media will remain the dominant one throughout his trial.

However, unless the FBI can come up with a good explanation it looks like Simpson might once again be able to slip through the system. The FBI claims that regardless of their information, Simpson still committed a crime. They also asserted that they had no knowledge that any weapons would be used.

Thomas Riccio, a memorabilia dealer admits to scheming with Simpson. He confessed to speaking with a collector named Mr. Beardsley regarding some of Simpson’s belongings that he was planning on selling. Riccio and Simpson wish to go live when confronting Beardsley about the items that were allegedly stolen from Simpson’s Florida home by his previous agent.

The FBI is at high risk of being exposed for withholding information and failing to prevent a crime that they knew was going to take place. If O.J. goes live, the FBI is going to have to explain why they chose to hide the information and what role their actions played in their political agenda. Everyone has wanted to nail O.J. ever since he was acquitted in 1995. Was this what the FBI has been waiting for? They had the perfect opportunity to catch a criminal in the act and they took it, a chance to finally put him behind bars- a place he should have been over a decade ago.

Buying Beauty

Hi, I would like to order one nose job, a tummy tuck, and a boob job please.

Sure, cash or credit?

From Extreme Makeover to America’s Next Top Model, media outlets have created standards of beauty that are forced on to society. Women are not appealing unless they get a facelift, buy a new nose job, or increase a couple cup sizes.

Credible doctors years of training beyond medical school dedicate their expertise to helping people get whatever it is they need to be able to accept themselves and love who they are. She provides them with the self-confidence and self-worth that some people may never understand. Surgeons take pride in the healthy, confident relationship that they offer their patients. Many patients are young and need particular surgeries in order to live and function comfortably. Some patients cannot accept their inner beauty until they are content with their outer beauty. However, the media only communicates the luxury of plastic surgery, not the scary, painful side effects that accompany it. In doing so, they force specific standards of beauty on to society.

Plastic surgery has been around for centuries. For example, the Assyrians were known for their curved noses. With the desire to look like them, Persians would stick bones in their noses to try and achieve that same curve. In addition, injured soldiers would receive reconstructive surgery when severely wounded in battle. However, plastic surgery was frowned upon and surgeons were often ridiculed for trying to “play God.” In certain cultures, it was a severe form of dishonoring one’s parents because parents are responsible for one’s looks and appearance.

American standards have also had profound influences on the plastic surgery profession. In an article on Forbes.com , Allison Von Dusen reports in her article, "TV's Medical Missteps" how the majority of patients consult plastic surgeons based on the knowledge they gain from television and the media. Firstly, the media does not accurately delineate scientific accuracy. Many of the surgeries accompany extremely uncomfortable side effects and stages of recovery.

They are not all completely about beauty and satisfaction. Many teenagers who experience gastric bypass surgery do not realize that in the long run there is extra skin after losing the weight that needs to be maintained. American media is so focused on communicating the necessity for viewers to conform to their standards of beauty that they leave out the important medical information. Dusen states that Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover significantly impacted a patient’s decision to consult a plastic surgeon (Van Dusen 1). Their knowledge of plastic surgery procedures was completely based on what they gained from each show.

American standards also convey to the public that plastic surgery aids in one’s desire to belong. The media perpetuates various beauty expectations, creating an image of what people are supposed to look like. Whatever is popular always catches on. In a sense, American media has driven the plastic surgery profession by bringing them patients. Shows like The Swan, E’s 10 Ways to look like a celebrity, and Dr. 90210 all influence young women in America, instilling a desire to get surgery to enhance their physical appearance. People will beg for what they need and pay for what they want. American standards have developed beauty into a pure commodity. Natasha Singer writes in a New York Times article, "Who is the Real Face of Plastic Surgery?"

“The medical industry has responded by marketing plastic surgery as if it were an

appliance or other big-ticket consumer product: a commodity to be financed with credit

cards and loans” (Singer, 1).

It is no longer something to be valued and cherished because nowadays it can be purchased. When looking for a safe surgeon, do not simply rely on television and the media. It is their job to sell beauty and they will say anything to make a sale. Some credentials to look for in a surgeon include proper residency training, Board certifications, and a certified surgery center. Consumers should understand that plastic surgery encompasses an array of services. Plastic surgery is reconstructive and aesthetic, not solely cosmetic.