There is a paradox at the heart of these body modification practices. On one hand, they are experienced as self-expressive and liberating; on the other, they can be seen as socially determined, economically driven, and culturally enmeshed.

Body modification is a phenomenon that spans generations. We are looking at these issues through a cross-generational lens and we expect to have a large cross-generational audience. It is clear that people of all ages have a lot to teach--and learn from--one another.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.

[The heart] is the household divinity which, discharging its function, nourishes, cherishes, quickens the whole body, and is indeed the foundation of life, the source of all action.

Aspirin prevents the blood in the body from clotting, and because stroke and heart attack are both caused by the formation of blood clots in the body, anything that prevents blood clotting from forming would be expected to have a beneficial effect in those diseases.

We all felt the majesty of the body. As we saw the artificial heart beat the feeling was not aren't we great, but aren't we small.