Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!

"Monster Mash" by The Late Bobby Boris Pickett with Richard & The Young Lions in 2005



The Addams Family Theme Song

Candy Birthday

Happy Birthday,
John Candy
(10/31/1950 - 3/4/1994)

A greatly missed comedian and one of the stars of "Second City Television."  I was very heartbroken when I heard the sad news that he died of heart failure while making the movie, Wagons East.

"My Girl" by The Recess Monkeys (John Candy, Rick Moranis, and Eugene Levy)



The original version of "My Girl" by Chilliwack

Fonz Birthday

Happy Birthday,
Henry Winkler!
(aka The Fonz from "Happy Days")

I grew up watching him and met him last year at alumni weekend at Emerson College in Boston.

Classic Happy Days Moment

Universal Autism Screening

The American Academy of Pediatrics are recommending that a universal screening of autism should be done twice on 2-year-olds.  They are saying this to get the children into treatment sooner because it would benefit them in the long run.  They say it should be done, regardless of symptoms.

Program to Help with The Transition into College Living

Great article in The Washington Post today about a program called College Living Experience.  Their goal is to help students with learning disabilities make the transition into college life.  It involves setting up schedules for going to class, socializing with friends, buying groceries and balancing the checkbook.

I only wish I had something like that when I started college.

Good Luck to Laura Freeman on going to college!

In Scotland, NAS is Saying "Think Different - Act Positively"

The National Autistic Society Scotland is starting an autism awareness campaign called "Think Different - Act Positively."  This is a result after their research turned up facts that there are ignorance about what autism really is and people with autism are bullied at school and the workplace.  In some cases, people with autism are not getting the education they are entitled to or even allowed to grow and develop their own working careers.

I wish the NAS Scotland were helping us out here in the USA.

Outside In Song of the Week

In 1999, I went to a nightclub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called "The Middle East" and saw Men at Work perform in concert.  This is the song they opened the concert with.  I had a great time there.

Since we're a few days away from Halloween, it seemed appropriate to use this song

"Doctor Heckyll And Mister Jive" by Men at Work

And That's How Big Al Goes!

Alex is a 13-year-old wrestling expert with his own talk show called "Al's Wrestling Talk. " At six, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.  When he's not talking about wrestling, he's raising awareness about autism.  He says that others like him should focus on their unique gifts and talents.

Big Al (the radio name Alex uses) has been selected to be the spokesperson of Wrestling Autism, a fundraising event for the National Autism Associations.

Congrats!

Alabama Autism Awareness Success Story!

Spanish Fort High School in Alabama has a program called "Project Reach" which helps improve communication for students diagnosed with autism and connect with children who don't have autism.  The 13 autistic students have responded well to this program.

The program started last year.  It is the only program of its kind in the entire Baldwin county area.

They All Have Something In Common with Hill

Happy Birthday,
Natalie  Merchant!

Happy Birthday to the others who share a birthday with Hill and Nat!
Cary Elwes
Dylan McDermott
Rita Wilson
Pat Sajak
Jaclyn Smith
Bob Hoskins

"Nowhere Man" by Natalie Merchant

Will Hill Be Our Next President?

Happy Birthday,
Hillary Clinton!

She's running for President.  Will she win next year?  We have to wait more than a year to find out?

In the meantime...

"Hillary Clinton for President" Music Video (Courtesy of Youtube)

Tammet's Mind: Beautiful

An article about Daniel Tammet, author of Born on a Blue Day, is called "A Beautiful Mind," which made me think of John Nash who was the subject of the movie, A Beautiful Mind.  Tammet has Asperger's Syndrome and is the subject of a documentary called Brainman/The Boy with a Beautiful Brain.

Interesting article.

Happy Birthday, Johnny Carson

I always have to acknowledge Johnny's birthday.  He made me laugh!  I loved watching "The Tonight Show."  I started watching in late August/early September 1977, just before Johnny celebrated his 15 year anniversary.

One of my school teachers in junior high told me that Johnny was shy just like me.  That made me feel very happy that day.  I was always picked on a lot at school.  I'm sad that I never had the chance to meet him.

Happy Birthday,
Johnny Carson!

Classic Tonight Show Moment: Johnny confronts Don Rickles over Broken Cigarette Box

In Othe Llanview News: Dr. McBain Puts Man in Hospital

On "One Life to Live," Dr. Michael McBain is in trouble with perjuring himself in court about his knowing for months that his adopted son Tommy is really Todd Manning, Jr. and also not telling his wife Marcie about Tommy's true identity.  In real life, Dr. McBain's protrayer, Nathaniel Marston, has been charged with assaulting three men with a crate early Sunday morning in New York.  He broke one of the men's legs sending him to the hospital.  When police came to arrest Marston, he fought them too.  One officer suffered a cut hand and bruised knee.

A spokesperson for "One Life to Live" said that they are reviewing the incident.

Last week on "One Life to Live": Dr. Michael McBain talks to Marcie on the cellphone after she kidnapped Tommy while Todd, Tommy's real dad, is very upset.

Sad News Out of Llanview: Lee Patterson RIP

It was recently discovered that former "One Life to Live" star Lee Patterson had passed away back on February 14, 2007.  He played Joe Riley, Vicki's first husband and the father of Kevin and Joey, during the late 1960s to the late 1970s.  In the mid-1980s, Lee Patterson returned to "One Life" as Joe's long lost twin brother Tom Dennison.  During that time, he briefly got to play Joe Riley once again while Vicki was in coma dreaming about reuniting with her late relatives and friends.

One Life to Live in 1976: Vicki and Joe Name Their Son Kevin

Dania in The News!

The Asperger Association of New England's executive director, Dania Jekel, is quoted in an article about disclosure called "Your Child with Special Needs: Sharing your private issue with others."  Dania advises that the child should mention that s/he has difficulty with social ability.  Building relationships with the child's peers lessens the onset of bullying and teasing.

Well said, Dania!

Outside In Song of the Week

October 20, 1997 was the day the plane carrying the band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi.  Their final album "Street Survivors" was released on October 17, 1977.  The original cover photo had the band engulfed in flames.  It was recalled and replaced with the back cover photo.  In both photos, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant is wearing a Niel Young's "Tonight's the Night" t-shirt (an album that has a theme about a rock singer's premature death).

Ronnie Van Zant was killed in the plane crash along with band members Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie Gaines.

"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Petty Birthday

Happy Birthday
Tom Petty!

I love Tom Petty!  I've seen him in concert twice in 1998 and 2001.  He's great!

"Don't Come Around Here Anymore" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Barry Scott Gets Lost in The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe wrote a great article about fellow Emerson alumni, Barry Scott.  As you know, Barry has been hosting his radio show, The Lost 45s, for more than 25 years.  Back in the summer, Mayor Thomas Menino gave Barry a proclamation recognizing his show's 25 years of success!

Congrats, Barry!

I went to college with Barry in the mid-1980s so I've known him from the very beginning!  I know a lot of DJs!

The $110,541 Tax Credit Jackpot!

The Youth Opportunities Program in Missouri has awarded the Judevine Center for Autism in St. Louis a $110,541 tax credit.  The Center will be using the tax credit money for the next two years to provide services with youths with Asperger's  Syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.

Congrats, Judevine!

New From NLC: The Question Companion

Natural Learning Concepts, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorders and educated children with ASDs, have created a new product called "The Question Companion."  A series of cards to assist in learning language, communication, socialization and comprehension.  Each pack of cards cover the "Why," Where," "What," "Which" and "When" questions and answers.

Check out Natural Learning Concepts at http://www.nlconcepts.com/

Roll Over Birthday, Chuck!

Happy Birthday,
Chuck Berry!

October is certainly "Rocktober" with all the rock legends having birthdays this month.   Chuck Berry is the man who started Rock and Roll.  He influenced everyone that came afterwards.

"Roll Over, Beethoven" by Chuck Berry

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Happy Birthday,
Gary Puckett!

He's with the Union Gap.  He's gorgeous and a great kisser!

Btw, Gary is going to be at Foxwoods next Tuesday and Wednesday (10/23 - 10/24)!

"Lady Willpower" By Gary Puckett and The Union Gap

Wheat and Gluten Free Diet = Lose Weight?

A new wheat and gluten free diet is helping autistic children by alleviating the autism symptoms, according to a recent ABC News report.  Dr. Jerry Kartiznel has been working with autistic children and believes reducing gluten and wheat in their diets will make them more focused and energetic.  Actress Jenny McCarthy who has a son who is autistic has worked with Dr. Kartiznel and says that her son, Evan, has "come out of his cloud."

The real important question for me is will it help me lose weight.

The Bond Who Has a Birthday Today

Happy 80th Birthday,
Roger Moore
(James Bond and Simon Templar a.k.a. The Saint)

Roger was Bond from 1973 to 1985.  I grew up watching him do his Bond movies.  Last week, Roger Moore got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Congrats, Roger.

Have a shaken but not stirred Birthday, Roger!

The Spy Who Loved Me Trailer

Outside In Song of the Week

I just found this on YouTube.com, courtesy of JohnLennonLivesForev.  Back on Tuesday, October 9, it would have been John Lennon's 67th birthday.  In New York's Central Park at Strawberry Fields, a bunch of people gathered and paid tribute to John Lennon and his music.   This is spectacular.

The Beatles' "Come Together" by The John Lennon 67th Birthday Tribute NYC



Check out the other videos regarding the John Lennon 67th Birthday Tribute NYC
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=JohnLennonLivesForev

Frame's Family Rejects Abrahamson's Opinion

Janet Frame's family disagreed  with Dr. Sarah Abrahamson's opinion that the famous New Zealand writer had autism.  They insist that the late author was very shy but not autistic as Abrahamson claimed in The New Zealand Medical Journal.

The family declared that they were not formally contacted before the story was printed up in the journal.  Abrahamson believes that it is easy to recognize autistic symptoms through a person's writings.

Hall Birthday

Happy Birthday, Daryl Hall!

"Private Eyes" by Hall and Oates

Here Comes the Election Judge!

Congrats to Mason Green for being picked as the only student election judge in Prior Lake, Minnesota.  Mason is a teen with Asperger's Syndrome and a senior at Prior Lake High School.  His interests include math, history, and politics.

Mason is involved in many things: Knowledge Bowl team, Junior Optimist Club, and Eco People.  He is fond of Mexico and everything about that culture.

New Zealand Author Janet Frame Autistic?

Interesting article in The New Zealand Herald says that a doctor named Sarah Abrahamson believes that writer Janet Frame (1924-2004) had high functioning autism.   Dr. Abrahamson came to that conclusion after reading Frame's three part autobiography.  Janet Frame rose to fame as a writer/poet.  She struggled with socializing and was misdiagnosed as schizophrenia.  She was put into a psychiatric hospital and was forced to get shock treatments.  A British hospital revoked the diagnosis several years later.

Dr. Abrahamson states her findings in the latest issue of The New Zealand Medical Journal.

Several months ago, the Asperger Association of New England (AANE) presented a movie based on Janet Frame's three autobiographies called "An  Angel at My Table."

The Greatest Radio Personalities of Boston

Great article about the Greatest Disc Jockeys of Boston of the 1960s and 1970s.  It's an impressive list.

My former DJ mentor, Joe Martelle, is on the list.  Congrats, Joe!

http://www.visitingnewengland.com/top40radio-newengland.html

Happy Birthday to Everyone Else who Shares a Birthday with John Lennon

Happy Birthday,
Sean Lennon
Scott Bakula
John O'Hurley
Tony Shalhoub
PJ Harvey
Sharon Osbourne
Jackson Browne
John Entwistle

They all share a birthday with John Lennon

"Imagine" by Scott Bakula from "Quantum Leap"

Happy Birthday, John Lennon!

Happy Birthday,
John Lennon!
(1940-1980)

He would have been 67 years old today.  Wish he was here to celebrate with us.

"You Can't Do That" by The Beatles



"Instant Karma!" by John Lennon



"Nobody Told Me" by John Lennon

Happy Birthday, Chevy!

Happy Birthday,
Chevy Chase!

He was seen on "Saturday Night Live" during the Weekend Update segment last week.

Here he is back in 1980 in the movie, "Caddyshack."

Modesto Looks for Answers

Interesting article in The Modesto Bee, a California newspaper, called "Looking for Answers about Asperger's Syndrome."  Parents and their children with Asperger's Syndrome talk about their difficulties and the efforts they are doing to make going to school easier for them.

The article mentions one-on-one counseling for social skills and a training course for pragmatic speech.  Ways to learn how to interact with people while at school and prepare them with life skills and how to cope with meltdowns.

I wish I had training and counseling like this when I was a teenager.  While I was a teenager, I spent time in the basement of my parents' house listening to music and reading comic books just to cope with all the stress and frustration in my life at that time.

Ballot Boy Birthday

Happy Birthday,
John Mellencamp!

He's currently on the Ballot for the 2008 Rock Hall of Fame Honors.  Good Luck!

Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp (Back when he was a "Cougar")

Llanview News!

Major news about One Life to Live (my favorite soap):

Christina Chambers is out as Marty Saybrooke after playing her for less than a year.  She was unable to convince the fans that she was good replacement for the original actress who created the role of Marty (Susan Haskell).  No plans to recast the role, but does that mean Susan Haskell is coming back?

In November for three episodes, Phil Carey returns as Asa Buchanan.  This time, he's not a ghost or in a flashback.  Seems like Asa faked his death again.

Eddie Alderson who plays Matthew, Bo and Nora's son and is the real life brother of co-star Kristen Alderson (Star Manning) is starring in the soon-to-be released movie called Reservation Road.

Trevor St. John (Todd Manning) appears in the new Jamie Fox and Jennifer Gardner movie, The Kingdom, that is now playing in the theatres.  An exciting movie!  I just saw it today.  Trevor also is seen in The Borne Ultimatum and is in the pilot episode of the new ABC series, "Dirty Sexy Money."

65 for the former Mrs. Peter Sellers

Happy Birthday
Britt Ekland!
(The second Mrs. Peter Sellers, Ex-girlfriend of Rod Stewart, and Mary Goodnight of the James Bond film, The Man with The Golden Gun)

I grew up seeing her in the magazines and on TV as a Bond girl.

Britt's wedding to Peter Sellers

Outside In Song of the Week

General Hospital: Night Shift has its season finale this weekend.  The 13-week prime time series has had a good run.  I found each episode enjoyable.  It was more fun than General Hospital.  I loved seeing Billy Dee Williams as Toussaint DuBois, former lead singer of The Saints and GH janitor.

This scene is from last week's episode.  The Saints perform Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of The Brokenhearted"

Billy The Kid Wins The Jury!

Jennifer Venditti's documentary, "Billy The Kid," was shown at the IFC Center as part of its "Stranger Than Fiction" series in New York City.  The film won the Jury prize for Best Documentary.

Vemdetti met Billy, a teenager, in a lunch room.  He was nice but blunt and had a temper.  Other people bullied him.  She found him interesting and filmed him for several days.  After the film was completed, Billy was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

"Billy The Kid" is scheduled to be released in late December 2007/early January 2008.

Remembering Janis

Janis Joplin passed away on October 4, 1970.  Major Rock Tragedy.

"Maybe" by Janis Joplin

Countdown King

In England a man with Asperger's Syndrome has made it into the quarter-finals of TV quiz show, Countdown.  His name is Jeffrey Hansford.  He is good at completing complex math puzzles and word problems.

Good luck, Jeffrey!

Chronic Nasal Obstruction Linked to Sleep Apnea

An article claims that a person with chronic nasal obstruction is 5 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.  Nasal obstructions can be caused by 3 things: allergies, rhinosinusitis, or a deviated septum.

I went to an Otolaryngist last year at Mass Eye and Eye Infirmary and she found a deviated septum when she examined me.  She gave something to irrigate my nasal passages with salt water to keep them clear.  It's been very helpful.

Tags: Sleep Apnea, Nasal, Obstruction, Sleep

New DVD: "Autism Action"

It's Autism Awareness Week in the United Kingdom right now, and the Autism Awareness Campaign UK has released a DVD called "Autism Action."  On the disc is Ivan Corea of AACUK calls on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to initiate a national strategy on autism.  It includes ideas of a 10-year program of action hoping to create specialized schools for autism and a national compact with employers.

A copy of the DVD has been sent to Gordon Brown and other political leaders.

Buzzing Birthday!

Happy Birthday,
Sting!
(Gordon Sumner)

I always loved Sting!  He's very talented whether he's with The Police or solo.  A true artist!

"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" by Sting

Tags: Birthday, Celebrity, Police, Sting