RIP to Two Music Legends

Last week, two music legends passed away: Bobby "Boris" Pickett and Tommy Newsom.

Rest in Peace!

Bobby "Boris" Pickett doing "The Monster Mash" at the Chiller Theatre Toy, Model, and Film Expo in New Jersey on October 28, 2006.



Tommy Newsom with Doc Seversin and Ed Shaughessy doing "Here's That Rainy Day" in memory of Johhny Carson on "The Late Show with David Letterman" in January 2005.

Stephen Shore, The New Star of YouTube!

Here's the Asperger Association of New England's Stephen Shore, author of Beyond the Wall, showing how to do the Badgers Dance at the Vancouver Autism Conference this month.  Remember that it's all for raising the awarenes of autism.





Special Thanks to Karen L. Simmons, Founder, CEO Autism Today, for the YouTube Clip.

What A Breezy Perspective!

A great opinion editorial written by a sophmore called Steve Borowsky in the James Madison Univeristy student newspaper called The Breeze.  It's called "Breeze Perspectives: The Mystery of a Madman" regarding the killer of the Virginia Tech Massacre.

Pay attention to the first line of the second to last paragraph of this editorial:

"We must attempt to recognize those around us who need help."

I agree tremendously.  For years I walked around feeling angry and depressed.  Most people wrote me off as being a bitch or a really bad person when, in fact, I was a person who really needed a lot of help with my personal and career problems.  I remember when I was growing up in public school in Montgomery County, Maryland, my fellow students thought I was just a girl who was just mean and wanted to beat up people whenever they teased me.  They thought I was being different than them on purpose, that being different was my decision.  It wasn't my idea to be different from everyone else.  I told them that, and they didn't believe me.

Is it any wonder that I don't bother to communicate with them in the present?

I like what you wrote, Steve, and thanks.

DC, The Ground Zero For Autism?

There's an interesting article by Dan Olmstead called "The Age of Autism: Ground Zero" that talks about the Maryland suburban area outside of Washington, DC.   He writes about a government research center in Maryland where a father of one of the first autism children worked with an ethyl mercury compound to kill plants during the 1930s and 1940s.  Then, he mentions that the very first autistic child discovered by child psychiatrist Leo Kanner at Johns Hopkins University had a father who also worked with chemicals including ethyl mercury during that same time period in suburban Maryland.

The suburban Maryland towns of Greenbelt, Riverdale, College Park, and White Oak are all nearby this research center that is located in Beltsville.  Olmstead believes that the "Big Bang" for autism happened in this area because the first diagnosed children were living in that part of Maryland when Leo Kanner diagnosed them at Johns Hopkins.

I find this facinating reading because I grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of DC.  My father was a dentist, now retired, who used mercury to fill cavities.  He went to the Dentistry School of Howard Univeristy in Washington, DC.  He graduated in 1950.  Btw, my mother went there too and met my father around the same time.  They married the same year he graduated.

Happy Birthday, Oscar!

Happy 85th Birthday,
Jack Klugman!

I loved watching "The Odd Couple" starring him and the late Tony Randall.  I laughed A LOT.  Loved the Password episode with Allen Ludden and Betty White.  I also loved watching Jack on "Quincy, M.E." and those Twilight Zone episodes he did.

The Odd Couple: Together Again Promo and Opening Credits

Wow! That Was Quick! Rosie's Leaving!

Rosie O'Donnell is leaving the daytime talk show called "The View" in June.  That's not even a year after she replaced Meredith Viera last September.  She managed to raise the ratings for that show, but she said a lot of excessive over-the-top comments on anything and anyone (like Donald Trump) that irritated her.

Although she is leaving the show, she will sometimes come back for special shows like a planned show about autism.

I'm not a big fan of "The View."  I've watched occasionally.  Never got hooked though.

AT LAST! She's Gone!

Heather Mills has been booted off "Dancing With The Stars."  So long!  Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Now, I can end my boycott of the show and start watching.

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Happy 70th Birthday,
Jack Nicholson!

The very last scene of "About Schmidt"

New Therapy - Sensory Training in CT

Darien's Sensory Training Institute uses a $200,000 machine to give new therapy to children with autism and ADHD.  A patient is placed in a bed that does a circular motion to relax the patient.  During this, the patient watches colored lights above and listens to music played at different frequences on headphones.  Steven Freedman, who manages the Instute, says that the combination of motion, light and sound help the patient relearn how to process information.

Freedman has a 10-year-old daughter with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and APD (Auditory Processing Disorder).   Brain McKay, a chiropracter who runs the Sensory Training Institute out of his practice, has a son with Asperger's Syndrome.  McKay says that there are no side effects to this treatment.  The results have been positive.

Thanks, guys!

New Zealand Idol Up For Radio Host Award!

Terry Shore, radio host of Access Radio's "Terry's Songwriters Show," has been nominated for Successful Radio Host in the 2007 New Zealand Radio Awards.  Two years ago, he got recognition on "New Zealand Idol" singing "Life is a Rollercoaster" and was nicknamed the "na na na na na" man.

Since then, Shore has been plagued by people who come up to him and sing "na na na na na" to him on the street.  Several years ago, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

Ignore the people on the street, Terry!  And Good Luck at the awards show on April 28!

Teddy Courageous!

A young student named Teddy Willis is on a mission at his school to raise awarenss about autism during Autism Awareness Month.   He attends both regular and special education classes at Goodnoe Elementary in Pennsylvania. 

One day, he told his mother that he had the best day of his life because no one at school picked on him.  The fifth-grader believes that raising awareness will lessen the misunderstandings.

You're courageous, Teddy.  Thanks!

Autism in The Enterprise

A great article called "The Autism Disconnect" in Kentucky's The Elizabethtown News Enterprise about a brother and sister who both have high-functioning autism.  They are both good at Tae Kwan Do and are honor roll students at the school they attend.  In the Hardin County area where they live there seems to more occurances of children being diagnosed with autism.  One teacher says that now she has a classroom that has at least seven children with autism. 

Tragedy at Virgina Tech

The news of the massacre at Virginia Tech was a shock to hear on the radio while I was at work yesterday.  One of my nieces went there several years ago.  Thank God this didn't happen while she was a student.

How can anyone predict that one of their fellow students would come into a classroom and start shooting everyone?  It is scary.  The thought that you can be a random target of a lunatic with a weapon can make you paranoid.  How can it be prevented?  Would gun control help or should they have more security on campus?

Why are there so many young people wanting to shoot up students and teachers?  Something is wrong out there.

Dancing Ice King

Michael Finlay is a 27-year-old with Asperger's Syndrome and Dyslexia who has won Special Olympics medals in ice skating.  He loves to dance on the ice as well as doing freestyle.  He has been ice skating since he was 12.  He talks about the sport with passion, despite the fact that his social skills are developmentally delayed due to his Asperger's.

His other passion is Karaoke.  He loves singing ABBA's "Dancing Queen."  According to his parents, he has a rack full of medals from Special Olympics and regular professional ice skating competitions.

Keep up the good work, Michael!

Indiana Mother Speaking about Autism

Carole Sparks, an Indiana mother with a 4-year-old daughter named Peyton who has autism, is speaking up about autism to raise awareness to other parents.  The statistics in Indiana public schools about one in every 128 children being diagnosed with autism is, according to her, alarming.  Only seven years ago, the statistics were one in 400 children.

Thanks for helping out with Autism Awareness Month, Carole!

It's a World

I just came across a great opinion piece by Robert Moran.  It's called "The Advocate: Autism is a World."  Moran is a person with Asperger's Syndrome.  The points he makes are good.  It's all about perception and patience.

Thanks, Robert!

Will This Verizon Soap Opera Ever End?

It took me three weeks to get a new DSL modem from Verizon.  When UPS finally delivered what Verizon ordered for me on April 3, I received two packages!  I assumed (which is a bad thing to do) that they shipped me a duplicate modem.  I only opened one package and had it connected to my eMac computer with the help of a Verizon technical support person on the telephone.

Last Tuesday, I called Verizon in order to get a return postage slip to put on the other box.  The person in Billing told me that the other package that I didn't open has a different modem, a Westell Model 327W that is a wireless network modem.  I was suprised.  Both packages were identical.  I had no idea.  She suggested that I have someone in the Tech Support office help me install it onto my computer when I have the time.

I just did that this afternoon and talked with a Tech Support Person.  This modem is working great.  Now, I have to pack up the other modem, a Westell 6100, and send that back to Verizon.

Right now, the modem is one and no problems.  So far, so good.

Remembering Smokey, My First Cat!

I always think about my first cat, Smokey, because it was on this day in 1993 when he was put to sleep.  He had fallen ill two days before.  He was very old.  In human years, he was in his early 20s.  In cat years, he was well into his 90s or maybe older than that.  My family and I never knew his exact age.

His death hurt me a lot.  I cried for days.  I remember hearing the song, My Best Friend, by Queen playing on the clock radio the day after Smokey was put to sleep.  I cried heavily.  At the time, I only had Cap, my black cat, with me in that apartment I was living in.  It was a few blocks away from Prudential Center and Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts.  Cap was good at comforting me during those difficult days.

Smokey gave me tons of joy while I was growing up in Suburban Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC.  A lot of kids at school didn't like me and picked on me without mercy.  Smokey was the only best friend I had during those years.

Thanks, Smokey!

"My Best Friend" by Queen

Dave is 60!

Happy 60th Birthday,
David Letterman

Dave introduces The Fab Faux singing "I am the Walrus" on February 9, 2007.

My Favorite Writer, Kurt Vonnegut, Has Died. And So It Goes!

I heard the sad news this morning on the radio that my favorite writer, Kurt Vonnegut, died yesterday at the age of 84.

God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut!  You were a major influence on me when I decided to pursue writing as a profession and not just as a hobby.  I enjoyed reading your novels starting with Cat's Cradle back when I was in high school.  I told you that when I met you in 1995 at the First Annual Writer's Festival at the Boston Center for Adult Education.  It was great to shake your hand and tell you that I loved your lecture.

I read his last book, Man Without a Country, and enjoyed it.

RIP, Kurt!

Writers Praise Kurt Vonnegut!

CNN Story about Kurt's Death

GREAT NEWS! CBS Dumps Imus!

CBS Fired Don Imus!

Good riddance!  When I first heard about Don Imus, a famous radio talk show host, hurling racial, sexist slurs at a basketball team of young black women, I was disgusted.  Why did they have this jerk on the air?  When his show started airing in Boston in the mid-1990s, I listened only once and found it very uninteresting.  I never understood why he was in the radio business at all.

I once saw him at a book store signing.  I didn't bother to buy his book, but I was amazed how ugly he looked!  It's worse than what you see on TV.

I, for one, am glad they fired him.  He had no business at all to say those slurs at those young women.  They had made remarkable accomplishments, and that dirty old man just callously slandered him.  What he had nothing to do with free speech.  He was painting a very negative picture of black women.

5 Years Ago Today...

It was on this day in 2002 when Dr. Ross told me about Asperger's Syndrome.  It really changed my life.  I finally knew what was causing my life-long problems. 

Bunny Day

Happy Easter!

I went to Church today and learned that two of my fellow churchgoers are expecting babies in November!!  What a delight! 

Also in baby news, the former pastor of my church is expecting to have a son next month.  It does come in threes.

Now, I only wish I was expecting a baby.

M*A*S*H Memoir - "Just Call Me Mike"

Back on March 29, I went over to Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner and saw Mike Farrell, B.J.  Hunnicut of "M*A*S*H" fame, talk about his memoir, Just Call Me Mike.  He talked about becoming an actor and an activist.  He, of course, talked about "M*A*S*H" and "Providence" also.

I later met with and he signed his autograph into my copy of his book.  His wife, Shelly Fabres, was there also.  She starred in "The Donna Reed Show," "One Day at a Time," and "Coach."  It was great meeting both of them.  I am enjoying Mike's book very much.  Btw, I also read Alan Alda's memoir last fall and enjoyed it too

A scene from M*A*S*H

Belated Happy Birthdays To E & E

I wasn't able to wish "Happy Birthday" to two my favorite rock stars because of my broken modem.  So here they are.

Happy Birthday, Elton John!
(March 25)

Elton at his 60th Birthday Bash at Madison Square Garden singing "Empty Garden"



Also, Happy Birthday, Eric Clapton! (March 30)

"Tears In Heaven"  The Unplugged Version

Two Books Go Deep into the Autism Enigma

A recent article talks about two recent books about Autism that are written by parents who have autistic children.  One book reveals interesting information about how autism used to be perceived as other psychiatric conditions and how other cultures look at autism.  The second book is a closer look at children with autism and how they interact with the world in their own way.

The books are:

Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism by Roy Richard Grinker

Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock The Hidden World of Autism by  Portia Iverson

Both are worth checking out.

Valerie's Son, The Comedian!

Elijah Wapner is the son of author Valerie Paradiz who wrote Elijah's Cup.  He is featured in the documentary called "True Life: I have Autism."  The 16-year-old with Asperger's Syndrome is a stand-up comedian now.

Keep us laughing, Elijah!

Amy The Advocate!

24-year-old Amy Gravino was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when she was only 8 years old.  Since then, she has spoken at conferences about her condition.  She has a memoir coming out called "Scrunchie Around My Wrist" where she talks about her experiences.  She has declared herself as an Advocate for the Outcast.

Thanks for your help, Amy!

Taking the Myth Out of Asperger's

ABC News is doing another story about Asperger's called"Asperger's Syndrome: Separating Myth From Reality."   It talks about what Asperger's is and centers more on the lack of social skills in a person.  We are not quirky on purpose.

Earlier this evening, I saw Charlie Gibson on ABC World News Tonight doing a segment called "Echoes of Autism."  He talked about kids with Asperger's Syndrome being bullied.  The kids, fortunately, went to another school where bullying is not tolerated.  They were also teaching them how to converse socially.

I wish a school like existed when I was a kid.

ABC Nightline Talks About Asperger's

I got a tip from my friend, Gordon, about Nightline doing a segment about "Kids With Asperger's Syndrome: Bullied On A Daily Basis."  It's great the major broadcast networks are raising the awareness of Asperger's.  The show airs tonight at 11:35 pm.

I remember very well the years that I was bullied at school.  It was hard and difficult.  I recall meeting a girl in junior high and thought she was my friend.  Instead, she decided to side with the other students in bullying me.  Not very nice at all on her part.  I got into a fist fight with her, and both of us ended up suspended for one day.

Those so-called "Wonder Years" were very emotional.

Back From Exile!

The new DSL modem came at last!!!!!!!!

It's been more than 3 weeks since the old DSL modem broke!  It took me half-an hour tonight with a Verizon representative to install the new modem into my computer.  They don't want me to do things like that by myself.  I had to call Verizon to get back online.

Now, I have to get dinner ready and watch "Boston Legal."  I'll start making my usual entires tomorrow night.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK ONLINE!