Cool Article about Steve McQueen, the King of Cool

I found an article on Matchflick.com called "A Guide to the King of Cool" by Andy York.  He writes about the famous movies that Steve McQueen made:

The Magnificent Seven
The Great Escape
Love with the Proper Stranger
The Thomas Crown Affair
The Sand Pebbles
Bullitt
The Getaway
Papillion

I've seen these movies except for Love with the Proper Stranger and The Sand Pebbles.  Steve McQueen was certainly the King of Cool.  A true Hollywood Icon that is greatly missed.  He started out as a TV star on a show called "Wanted: Dead or Alive."

RIP Evel Knievel

I was shocked to hear on the CBS Evening News that Evel Knievel had passed away after a long illness.  He was in the news earlier this week settling a lawsuit with Kanye West over a video where Kanye calls himself "Evel Kanyevel."  I used to watch Evel do his stunts on TV when I was kid back in the 1970s.

Evel was 69 years old.  E! News wrote a tribute article for Evel called "Death of a Daredevil."

I also Did The Super Villain Quiz

Your results:
You are Mystique

Mystique 76% Dark Phoenix 50% Catwoman 47% Apocalypse 46% Venom 42% Magneto 38% Green Goblin 28% Juggernaut 28% Poison Ivy 28% Dr. Doom 26% Riddler 25% The Joker 24% Lex Luthor 21% Kingpin 21% Two-Face 20% Mr. Freeze 18%

Sometimes motherly, sometimes a beautiful companion, but most of the time a deceiving vixen.

Click here to take the "Which Super Villain am I?" quiz...

Once Again, I've Taken a Superhero Quiz

Your results:
You are Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 80% Supergirl 80% The Flash 75% Superman 60% Hulk 60% Batman 55% Robin 50% Green Lantern 40% Spider-Man 35% Catwoman 25% Iron Man 15%

You are a beautiful princess with great strength of character.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Gray Matters

Researchers say that there is more gray matter in the brains of autistic children than healthy children, according to a recent study.  The brain imaging techniques (diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and apparent diffusion coefficient based morphometry (ABM) have shown an increase of gray matter in the area of the parietal lobes.  It makes it difficult for the brain to process the learn by seeing method (Monkey see, monkey do).

Mirror neutrons were studied.  They are brain cells that activate when one does an action or experience an emotion and when you see someone else do the same thing. 

Good Luck with Your Future, Heather!

I was sorry to learn that Heather, the model with Asperger's Syndrome, was ejected from America's Next Top Model last night.  Her exit interview shows that she is optimistic about her future and that's the important part.

Good Luck!

Remembering George Harrison

It was six years ago today when George Harrison, the Baby Beatle, passed away due to cancer.  A very sad day for all Beatles fans.  I cried my eyes out when I found out.

"What is Life" by George Harrison



George on the "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour"



"Something" by The Beatles (written by George Harrison)

My X-MAS Tree is Up!

My Christmas tree is up, but it's not completely decorated.  At least, the lights are on it and they work.  My tradition is usually when I get back from Thanksgiving vacation I put up my Christmas tree and decorate my home.  However, I had to start today with just putting the tree up because I had other matters to attend to.

Just before Thanksgiving, back on Sunday, November 18, my 10-year-old water heater burst while I was in the shower shampooing my hair.  My building manager had to shut off the hot water.  It was a good thing I spent part of Thanksgiving week with my parents at their house in Maryland.  I would have gone nuts with living in condo with no hot water for a week.  The earliest time for my getting a new water heater was after Thanksgiving.

Also, on that same Sunday my car started experiencing problems while I was driving home from Watertown that night.  The steering wheel creaked and squeeked every time I turned it.  I just got my car fixed today.  Lots of old parts in the steering column deteriorated  and had to replaced.  I just got my car back tonight.  It's working fine for now.

Anyway, I am glad I have my Christmas tree up.  I'll continue to decorate it for the rest of the week.

Back on Monday, I had the new water heater put in

Remembering Two Icons Today!

Happy Birthday,
Jimi Hendrix
&
Bruce Lee

Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix



Bruce Lee vs. Japanese School (The Chinese Connection/Fist of Fury)

RIP Kevin DuBrow

Sad news out of Las Vegas today.  Lead singer of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot, Kevin DuBrow, was found dead at his home Sunday afternoon.  No sign of foul play.  An autopsy is planned, but it will take several weeks to learn the results.  Kevin DuBrow was 52 years old.

RIP Kevin!  Thanks for the great heavy metal insanity!

"Cum on Feel The Noize" by Quiet Riot

Holiday Gift Suggestions!

I got this from Marnie Winston-Macauley, who is part of the Outside In family.  This will help in figuring out what to get for the holidays.

Enjoy!!!!!

“Yiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother” and the “2008 A Little Joy, A Little Oy” calendar and book by Marnie Winston-Macauley.  Andrews McMeel Publishing

 

 JEWISH MOTHERS & THE HOLIDAYS: DID JEWKNOW? 

 

 YOUNG, TALENTED, BLACK – AND JEWISH
She speaks better Hebrew than her bubbe, and keeps the Sabbath! She’s Rain Pryor, the daughter of the late comedy genius Richard Pryor and a Jewish mother.  She attributes a strong sense of Yiddishkeit, to her maternal grandmother who introduced Rain to the holidays and Jewish foods.  Rhe mix turned into a winner with her autobiographical show, ‘Fried Chicken & Latkes.”

 

 WHEN THE WORLD'S FIRST FEMALE CANTOR LED ROSH HASHANAH
Picture it! September 15, 1955.  The place: evening services at Temple Avodah of Oceanside, New York.  Betty Robbins led the congregation in liturgical song. Her appointment as cantor marked the first time that a woman wore the garb and performed the traditional role of cantor. ...

 

 JEWISH MAMAS AND ... GOOD SPORTS
Benjamin Leiner (Benny Leonard) may have been the greatest lightweight who ever lived. At the start, Mama was dubious. "A prizefighter you want to be? Is that a life for a respectable man? For a Jew?" Throughout his career, Leonard,  refused to fight on a Jewish holiday.

 

 These and other fascinating, moving, and humorous anecdotes are in the recently published ‘Yiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother” a book that takes on:
 *Is there such a thing as a “Jewish Mother?” *How & Why The Jewish Mama, indeed, all mothers, turned from revered to ridiculed.  *DidJew Know?  Unusual facts about Jewish Mothers who broke the mold.

 

 A PERFECT HOLIDAY RECOMMENDATION

 

You’ll howl over the Jewish mother who ran for President– her slogan? “Things’ll get bettah with Yetta.”  You’ll be riveted by the pioneer Jewish mother – who shlepped by stagecoach from Arizona to California  to make sure her son was circumcised in eight days. You’ll be amazed to find out why pirate Jean Lafitte attacked Spanish ships. You’ll laugh reading personal celebrity anecdotes ... from Judy Gold, Mallory Lewis, daughter of Shari Lewis (“You’re never too dead to be a Jewish mother”), to Jackie Mason.  And your heart will fill hearing first-hand accounts from legends such as Dr. Ruth Gruber and Caroline Goodman. 

 

This book resonates for anyone who is, has, or has had a mother.

 

The “2008 A Little Joy, A Little Oy” calendar is Marnie’s best-selling Jewish calendar. Now in its seventh year, it’s filled with new material about all aspects of Yiddishkeit.

 Both are perfect holiday gifts.

ORDER THROUGH AMAZON OR YOUR LOCAL  BOOK STORE

 

Uncommon Bostonian's Readability

Cash Advance Loans

http://www.bostonnow/blogs/uncommonbostonian

Outside In's Readability

Cash Advance Loans

So it's a safe guess that anyone can read this blog.

Don't Make Us Normal!

Great editorial by Marc Rosen on Newsday.com called "Don't Try to Make Autistic Kids 'Normal'!"  He points out that some things simply don't exist for those who have autistic spectrum disorders.  He's right about that.

Check out what he says in his editorial.

Belated Birthdays to Ann Marie and Mr. Solo

Happy Birthday,
Marlo Thomas
(Ann Marie from "That Girl" and Mrs. Phil Donohue)
She hit the 70 mark back on November 21!

Scene from "That Girl"



Happy Birthday,
Robert Vaughn
(Napoleon Solo of "Man From U.N.C.L.E.")
He hit the 75 mark on November 22!

1986 ETW segment about Robert Vaughn and David McCallum appearing together on the "Say Uncle Affair" episode of "The A Team" (Robert had joined the cast of that show)

Remembering Freddie Mercury

It was on this day in 1991that we lost Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, to Aids.  A real tragedy.  His voice was great and mighty.

"Somebody to Love" by Queen

Back From Thanksgiving Vacation!

I'm back from Thanksgiving Vacation!  My train was a little bit late.  Only 20 minutes.  I got home to my condo a little after 6 PM.  Storm and Cap, my two cats, were glad to see me back.

Now, back to blogging!

Outside In Song of the Week

I'll be back in town late Saturday.  So, I'll do this early today.  Also, Charles Laquidara is having a birthday on Saturday.  Happy Birthday, Charles! 

There's one group that Charles and I didn't see eye to eye on.  They are called Three Dog Night.  Charles dislikes them because they didn't write their own songs.  So what?  They made great records anyway.

"One" by Three Dog Night (written by Harry Nielson)

Turkey Day

I'm heading off to DC today.  So, I'm saying this a day early.

Happy
Thanksgiving!

Eagle Birthday

I forgot to mention yesterday (it's past midnight now).  He turned 60 on November 20.  He's one of my favorite guitar men.

Happy Birthday
Joe Walsh!
(The Eagles/The James Gang)

Rocky Mountain Way (Live!) by Joe Walsh

Dogs Love Autism

Parents are interested in specially trained dogs for children with autism.  It's been noted that children with autism bond with pets a lot easier than with peers.  Of course, it depends on how the child will react to having a dog and, most importantly, interested in having a dog as a companion.

During my childhood, my family had dogs living in the house as pets.  They were great friends of mine and I still miss them.

Hard to Get to Sleep for Kids with AS

A new study says that children with Asperger's Syndrome have sleep problems.  The results are that there is a high prevalence of sleep disorders and problems getting to sleep and sleep restlessness during the night.

I remember when I was a kid that I had a hard time going to sleep and not getting a good night's sleep.  Sometimes, I went to bed early in the evening and ended up waking up in the middle of the night.  I had a really hard time getting back to sleep.

It was until 2005 when I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.  It turns out that I wake up many times during the night without my knowing it.  I wasn't able to have a deep sleep because of that.  My breathing would stop making me wake up.  That's why I use a CPAP machine to help me breathe through the night.

Of course, I have to take Melatonin, a vitamin supplement to aid the Melatonin that's in my brain to make me go to sleep.

Downtown Belated Birthday

Petula Clark hit the 75 mark back on November 15 last week.  Her music was played often on Joe Martelle's "Saturday Night Live at the Oldies."  So let's pay tribute to her right here.

Happy Birthday, Petula Clark!

"Downtown" by Petula Clark

Two Soap 65th Birthdays

Happy Birthday,
Linda Evans of "Dynasty"
&
Susan Sullivan of "Falcon Crest"

Dynasty Catfight



Falcon Crest Season 1 Opening Credits

Outside In Song of the Week

I'm hanging out this weekend at the Boston Megafest at the Shareton Tara in Framingham.  The guests of honor are Adam West and Burt Ward, better known as Batman and Robin.  Julie Newmar who played Catwoman is also there as well as the Batmobile.  Tons of other celebrities as well like Margot Kidder (Lois Lane) and Helen Slater (Supergirl).

Batman Theme Song

Number 1 Reason David Letterman is a Good Guy

Dave is paying his non-writing employees for "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" until the end of the year.  His production company, Worldwide Pants, is the owner of those two shows, not CBS.

That's so wonderful!  I love watching his reruns. 

Does Florida Have Enough Resources?

The Northeastern Florida school districts are wondering if they have enough resources for students with autism spectrum disorders now that the state has broaden the definition of autism spectrum disorder.  The new definition has increased the number of students that need services at school.

Check out: "Will You Be There for Me?"

NAS VS TA

It seems like there is a battle over in England on the pages of The Independent.  The Natural Autistic Society (NAS) is promoting understanding and awareness of autism.  Treating Autism (TA) disagrees with their approach and says that helping children with autism is more important.

It's all here in this article called: "Autism: What are the Ethics of Treating Disability?"

Lennon Statue Robbed of its Glasses

A thief lifted the glasses off the bronze statue of John Lennon at the Liverpool airport that bears his name.  A temporary pair of glasses are now in place while a replacement pair for the statue is being made.  The artist who created the statue says this is not the first time the glasses were taken.

Pretty sad that some memorabilia hunter swiped the statue's glasses. 

X-MAS TIME at WODS

This past Monday, November 12, WODS-FM in Boston started playing their Christmas Oldies and Holiday Classics 24/7.  So, we'll be hearing this format until December 25.  It's the first time they started this early.  10 days before Thanksgiving.

I'm a lover of Christmas so it doesn't bother me.  I already have my radio at work tuned in.

Hear them live at their website:
http://www.oldies1033.com/

or you can can catch them on iTunes.

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Author! God Bless You!

Happy Birthday,
Kurt Vonnegut!
(November 11, 1922 - April 11, 2007)

Very much missed by me.  I met him back in 1995 after he did a lecture at a writers festival in Boston.  He was very kind.

Check out his artwork at Vonnegut.com

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day!

Honor all our veterans past and present today!

Outside In Song of the Week

I've always been a fan of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) since the 1970s.  One big attraction for their videos is Jeff Lynne's hairstyles.  His hair during that decade was HUGE!!!!

"I Can't Get It Out of My Head" by Electric Light Orchestra

400 Went to an ASD Seminar in Iowa!

An autism spectrum disorder seminar in Dubuque, Iowa, was originally scheduled for 50 people at the Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque's sixth floor board room.  Instead, they were getting more registrations than they expected.  So, they moved it to the Grand River Center.

More than 400 people showed up!  It proves that a lot of people are interested in learning about autism spectrum disorders.  At the seminar, the speakers expressed early intervention and therapies (speech, occupational, etc.) for children.

UCEDD Brings in 90

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) held a program to raise awareness about autism and Asperger's Syndrome.  90 people showed up at the event!  They presented to parents, educators, nurses, and family members the resources available to understand these developmental disabilities.  The program was so successful that they are doing another one at the beginning of next year.  The program was in Malvern, Arkansas.

Bravo!

We're an Untapped Work Force

Great letter to the editor by Laurie Jerue of Naperville, Illinois.  She wrote that employers should hire adults with developmental disabilities because we are "an untapped work force."  She suggest to employers to contact job vocation and special education coordinators.  She also suggests that young adults with developmental disabilities and their parents voice what their job goals are to local city counsels and chambers of commerce.

Great ideas, Laurie!  Thank you!

Secret Birthday Man

Happy 65th Birthday,
Johnny Rivers!

An excellent performer!  I've seen him in concert several times in Boston.  He definitely puts on a great show every time I see him.

"Secret Agent Man" by Johnny Rivers
(This song was used as a theme song for "Secret Agent" starring Patrick McGoohan.  The show was called "Danger Man" in England.)

If Only They had Social Skills Seminars when I was in College

I just read an article about a Dr. Mary Riggs Cohen teaching a Social Skills Seminar who college students that have Asperger's Syndrome at the University of Pennsylvania.  I only wish I had something like that when I was a student at Emerson College back in the 1980s.  However, no one knew about Asperger's Syndrome back then.  Everyone thought I was just a difficult person who didn't want to get along with others.  How wrong they were.

The transition to adulthood was difficult.  So many misunderstandings that set me off angrily towards the other person.  I sometimes felt I was in the "Twilight Zone" because I seem to speaking one language that no one seemed to understand and they were always assuming that I would say or do what was expected of me.  I didn't know what was expected of me.

APN Helps Out in Arizona and Beyond

The Asperger Parent Network, created six years ago in Arizona, goes to great lengths and distance to help parents and children with Asperger's Syndrome.  According to Carolyn Warden, the founder of APN, the better part of 1,000 families have been served in Arizona and as far away as Alaska.

The reason Warden formed the network was that there were no support services around to get information about treatments, special needs education, or even a place for parents to talk about everyday challenges.  Being a parent of a son called David who has Asperger's, Warden has faced her own challenges with misdiagnoses and explaining to schools and the public what Asperger's is.

Her son, David, is now a third-degree black belt in karate and a member of the Mustang club.  Warden disclosed his condition to those communities to achieve understanding and awareness.

APN has recently put together a DVD movie that features interviews with parents, children, relatives, and others that discuss their challenges with Asperger's Syndrome.

For more info, check out http://www.apn.150m.com/

Time Management - Tough Task

I have been preoccupied from one thing after the other these days.  I don't seem to have time to write entries here in my blog or at the other blog (Uncommon Bostonian).  Right now, I am planning my Thanksgiving vacation and that holiday is just around the corner.  Yes, I know I am very late in doing this.

In the past, I was able to get my travel plans done sooner, but so many other things distract me like my looking for a better paying job (no one at my present job is aware of my blogging so it's safe for me to mention my job search here).  I don't want to go into detail about a personal matter involving my family here because that's too personal for the Internet.

When I am planning a trip, I first have to make certain that my cats are taken care of.  They're both senior citizens, and one of them is diabetic and needs insulin twice daily.  Doing telephone tag with the pet sitter is always stressful, but I need her assurance that she will be there to look after them while I am away.  Once I hear from her, I'll feel more comfortable with making my travel plans.

Thanksgiving vacation is always stressful for me because I get into conflicts with my family.  I know it's supposed to be a good gathering for family, but not with mine.  There's always a battle about something.

It's hard for me to sort out the time to do things even on vacation or not.  I have so many things to read like books and articles, etc.  I never have enough time to get to them.  This is probably a side-effect of my Asperger's Syndrome or my Non-verbal Learning Disorder or both.

I just like to write for a living and get paid for it.  I wonder why so many people are able to make money writing while I can't.  I love writing, but the money hasn't followed.  Marsha Sinetar was wrong when she wrote Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow.

70 For Hotlips!

Happy Birthday,
Loretta Swit
(Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan of M*A*S*H)

Classic Hotlips Scenes!

Outside In Song of the Week

It's raining outside heavily because Boston is getting the outskirts of Noel, the hurricane  of the week.  I went outside earlier today it was just cloudy and no rain.  In less than an hour, it started to rain lightly.  Soon, it was raining in buckets and freezing.

"Rain" by The Beatles (Ringo's favorite song)

USA Today: Rise in Autism Reports

A great big article in USA Today regarding the rise in autism reports.  More children have been diagnosed since 1990 because the doctors have been able to recognize different types of autism (i.e. autism spectrum disorders; Asperger's Syndrome).  Services in schools have increased.

The article also talks about that children were labeled as odd and difficult a few decades ago.  Nice to know that people are recognizing what is really going on, instead of labeling them something bad.

Valerie Speaks The Truth: Focus on Strengths

Valerie Paradiz, author of Elijah's Cup and co-founder of The Open Center for Autism in New York, says that people should focus on strengths that a person with Asperger's Syndrome has.  She says that autistic children become less anxious when they have a better sense of themselves.  Once they have more confidence in themselves, it is easier for them to self-advocate and make friends.

I agree with her.  More should be paid attention towards the strengths, not the weaknesses.

Employers Take Heed: You're Ignorant!

Wonderful article by Fiona MacLeod called "'Ignorant' Employers Missing Out" talks about employers discriminating against people with autism.  It says that employers are wary of hiring people with the condition because they fear the unknown.  Simply said, the employers don't know in fact that people with Asperger's Syndrome can be punctual, don't gossip and don't engage in office politics.  They can be the perfect employees.

The National Autistic Society Scotland surveyed 46 percent of employment advisers and learned from them that the employers are ignorant of the condition.