Happy 51st Birthday, Billy!

Happy Birthday,
Billy Idol

Mony Mony

Remembering George Harrison 1943-2001

I can't believe it's been five years since George Harrison of the Beatles passed away due to cancer.  We miss you, George.

When We Was FAB



George's Big Scene From A Hard Day's Night

Dave's Obit on AOL

News of Dave Cockrum's passing has reached AOL News when I signed in tonight to check my e-mails.  There was a link to the obituary on the Welcome screen.

It was interesting to learn that he was wearing his Superman pajamas and underneath his Batman blanket when he passed.  He's going to be cremated in his Green Lantern T-Shirt.

Arch is Leaving WRC

I just learned that long-time Washington DC critic, Arch Campbell, is leaving WRC, Channel 4.  He has been there since 1974.  I grew up watching Arch.  I got interested in broadcasting watching him and his co-workers.  I also learned that Arch's co-workers are leaving too: Sports announcer George Michael and Anchorwoman Susan Kidd.

Times they are a-changin'

Sorry to see them all go though.

Happy Birthday to Two Legends!

Happy Birthday,
Jimi Hendrix
and
Bruce Lee

Purple Haze






Kato vs. Robin

Comic Book Artist Dave Cockrum Has Passed Away

I just learned tonight that comic book artist, Dave Cockrum, died this morning of diabetes and other complications.  He was only 63 years old.  Dave was the one who co-created the X-Men character called Nightcrawler.  Dave's work included the X-Men, the Avengers, the Legion of Superheroes, the Starjammers, and many others.

He had been ill in recent years.  He will be greatly missed by the ones who grew up looking at his work.

RIP Dave

A tribute to Dave by Mark Evanier: http://www.newsfromme.com/
The JBF sends its condolences
IMWAN also has a thread about Dave's passing

Remembering Freddie Mercury 15 Years Later

I still miss you, Freddie.

Queen "Radio Ga Ga"

Happy Birthday, Charles!

Happy Birthday,
Charles Laquidara
Legendary Boston Disc Jockey of WBCN, WZLX and WBOS.

To wish Charles a Happy Birthday, go to his blog called The Big Mattress.

CNN Reports The Real Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

I found an article on CNN's website about Sleep Apnea.  It covers the real risks and the treatments used for the disorder.  It's interesting to learn that 12 million Americans are suffering from Sleep Apnea.  It mentions obesity as one of the major causes for the disorder.

When I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in 2005, my brother James contacted me and informed me that he was diagnosed six years earlier.  Also, I know of two people who have Asperger's Syndrome like also were diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.

I also found while searching CNN's website a blog entry called Inside Autism from the "Paging Dr. Gupta's Blog."  It mentions that CNN's House Call is airing a program about autism Saturday morning at 8:30 am.  Also, CNN is doing a report called "Autism is a World" at 8:00 pm on Saturday night. 

If you have cable and get CNN, please check these shows out.

Bill & Ellen

Former President Bill Clinton was on the Ellen Degeneres Show this week in New York City.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'm spending it in Boston this year which is a first for me, instead of Washington, DC.  Now, I have to get ready for the dinner I'm going to.  It's in Cambridge, near Harvard Square.

Disturbing Statistic: 60% of AS Kids Bullied at School

The National Autism Society (NAS) released what they learned in a research they recently did revealing that 40% of students with autism and 60% of students with Asperger's Syndrome are bullied at school.  The bullying was so severe that their parents had to move them out of school.

Bullying is bad.  I remember being bullied growing up.  It scarred me deeply.  I am still recovering from it, and it's now more than 20 years after I graduated from high school where it was very severe.

Joshua Muggleton, a student with Asperger's, tells his story of being bullied at school.

Open Channel D Please! Happy Birthday, Mr. Solo!

Happy Birthday,
Robert Vaughn!

Robert Altman R*I*P

Sad news in Hollywood today.  Director Robert Altman passed away last night.  He was 81 years old.  His most famous film was the movie called M*A*S*H, which inspired the hit TV series of the same name.

He'll be missed.

True Britt!

Congrats to Britt Lincoln for winning the Employee of the Year Award.  She was born blind and also has Asperger's Syndrome.  A truly inspirational story.  Sucess does happen for people with AS.

Shut Up and Buy This Book! Let the Movement of Imperfection Begin!

Shut up and read this article about two mothers named Gina Gallagher and Patricia Konjoian who wrote a book called "Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid" in order to start their "Movement of Imperfection."  Gallagher has a daughter with Asperger's Syndrome and Konjoian has a daughter who is Bipolar.  They want to raise awareness of who their children and other special needs children are on the inside.  Their book is about awareness, inspiration and humor.  It's a contrast to all the self-help books they read that came across to them as very depressing.

They also started their own business called Shut Up Industries, Inc.

Good luck, Gina and Patricia, with your "Movement of Imperfection."

Ruth Brown RIP

R&B singer Ruth Brown, who played a black female disc jockey in the John Waters' movie "Hairspray," has died after complications of a heart attack following surgery she underwent a few weeks ago.  She had been performing for many decades.  She was 78  years old.

She will be missed.  RIP.

Another Syndrome! Patellofemoral!

I went to see the Physical Therapist at Beth Israel this afternoon for evaluation.  She checked out why I was having so much pain in my knee that is affecting the rest of my right leg, especially the thigh and hip area.

After the examination, she told me about Patellofemoral Syndrome.  My kneecap is out of alignment, thanks to that car accident I had back in December 2004.  It is hard to spot in x-rays and MRIs.

The next step is to do stretching exercises for thighs and calves and meet with the PT once a week for the next few weeks.

I am glad I finally know what's wrong with my right knee.

Publishing Dynasty

Mary Cote-Walkden and her two sons, Greg and Tony, have created their own publishing dynasty in the short time of three years.  So far, they have published 13 books.  Tony, the youngest son, has Asperger's Syndrome.

Check out this article: Family Makes Lasting Imprint.

Ed Bradley - RIP

Ed Bradley, a famous newsman who worked on "60 Minutes," died of Leukemia last Thursday.  He was the one with the earring.  He also got Harrison Ford to pierce his ear and wear an earring too.  He won many awards over the years.  CBS News will greatly miss him as well as the rest of the world.

RIP

"60 Minutes" will be doing a one-hour tribute tomorrow night on CBS.

New Book - My Asperger Soul

A new book called My Asperger Soul is written by a woman with Asperger's called J. Darlynne Worsham.  She talks about her experiences and struggles with employment, relationships, being bullied, and lack of family support.

Thanks, J.  We need more books out there to let the world learn about Asperger's Syndrome.

Simon Baron-Cohen Talks About 2 Minds

 Simon Baron-Cohen, who is conducting research about autism at Cambridge University, writes about the "assertive mating theory," in which both parents of a child of autism have a common characteristic that attracts them to each other.  He details it all in an article called "When Two Minds Think Alike." 

It's very interesting.

Gary Numan Says He Self-Diagnosed Himself

Gary Numan, who had a hit record called "Cars" back in the 1980s, says he self-diagnosed himself with Asperger's Syndrome.  He talks about his problems with socializing and not being able to read facial expressions in a recent article.

God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut!

Happy Birthday,
Kurt Vonnegut!

Also, Happy Veterans' Day!

So Long, Jack!

Actor Jack Palance, star of the movie "City Slickers" and the TV show "Ripley's Believe It or Not," has died of natural causes in California.  He was 87 years old.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061110-063207-5573r

Deval Rocks! Election Night Results!

Deval Patrick has won the Massachusetts Governor's race!  He defeated Lt. Gov. Kerry Healy, Christy Mihos and Grace Ross.  Way to go, Deval!

This is the first time an African American has won the Governor's race.  History has been made.  Also, Martha Coakley has won as Attorney General.  She's the first woman to win that position in Massachusetts.  Tim Cahill has won for State Treasurer once again.

Question 1, the one about allowing wine to be sold at grocery stores and conveinence stores, has gone down in defeat.  The "No" votes outnumbered the "Yes" votes by a wide margin.

In New York, Hillary Clinton has won the Senate race.  Good going, Hil!  Also, Joe Liberman has won in Connecticut and he ran as an independent.  Spectacular, Joe!

Last but not least, Senator Ted Kennedy has won the Senate race in Massachusetts.  No big surprise there.  Can anyone remember that he did have a Republican opponent this year?

Happy Birthday, Herman!

Happy Birthday,
Peter Noone
(Herman of Herman's Hermits)

"I'm Henry the VIII" on the Ed Sullivan Show

New Asperger Documentary - Today's Man

A new documentary about Asperger's Syndrome called Today's Man features a man named Nick Gottlieb.  It was produced by his sister, Lizzie.  It was first shown at the Nantucket Film Festival.  The one-hour feature which will be shown Friday at the Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival at the American Museum of Natural History.

Congrat, Nick!  You're now a movie star!

Dania Takes New York!

Dania Jekel of the Asperger Association of New England (AANE) is quoted in the New York Times article called Students on the Spectrum.  It's an in-depth article about college students with Asperger's Syndrome and the services that are available at their colleges.

It's a very interesting article.

Congrats, Dania, for being in the New York Times newspaper!

What My Shrink Told Me This Week

I told my shrink about my writing in my blog this past month.  "I did a lot of entries in the last few days.  Last night, I made about 8 entries," I informed her.  "Why can't you work on your book instead?" she asked. 

Thus began a lengthy session.  She was right.  I am able to restart my memoir called "Uncommon Bostonian."  I should be spending more time on that and less time on the blog during the week.  I was practically working on my blog Tuesday night for almost two hours, but they were great entries.

Don't assume I am abandoning my blog.  I will be still working on it, but I will be more focused on writing my memoir.  As I discussed with my shrink this week, I want to show the reality of emotional abuse against people with Asperger's Syndrome.  I will be writing about the many times throughout my life that I was emotionally abused by friends, family, co-workers and managers. 

I originally started working on this memoir just before I discovered in 2002 that I have Asperger's Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder.  Despite obstacles like a car accident and employment problems, I held onto my idea of doing a memoir.  I have written a few chapters before I had my car accident in December 2004.  Now, I want to go back and revise what I have written before and start writing new chapters.

I'll keep everyone posted on my progess in this blog.  Also, I will post links to articles related to Asperger's and autism here as I have done in the past.

Stay tuned.