This fall's ASPS meeting is what the Monty Python crew might call
a piffle -- a sense of "Oh, well, we're downcast but trying to make the best of it."
The Economy. Everyone is talking about it. Business is off, and even the appearance
of the long-in-the-tooth rock band Chicago failed to brighten moods. The opening
ceremonies on Saturday evening were handled like a network-TV awards ceremony,
although ASPS president Richard D'Amico had a few golden grandstanding moments in talking up the greatness of plastic
surgery; and PSEF head Linda Phillips was allowed an emotional moment or so in
describing her elation at being involved in the ASPS. In other words, the
evening was an unbridled ASPS self-love fest, highlighted by Andrew Wexler's intelligent
speech and journalist Bob Woodward's delayed appearance and predictable but
interesting talk.
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