Parenthood - Writers Roundtable: On Asperger's - Video - NBC.com

Parenthood - Writers Roundtable: On Asperger's - Video - NBC.com

How to Recognize an Aspie

You Might Be An Aspie If...

You Might Be the Parent of an Autistic Child If...

A Humorous Look at Autism and the Autistic Child

Danielle Crofford Fetters, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 14, 2010

As the mom of a thirteen year old autistic child I've had my share of struggles, tears, frustration and just plain old anger. And who wouldn't, Autism is one of the most puzzling and difficult to understand of all of the disorders. There is currently no known cure and what helps one child doesn't help another and no one knows why.

However over the years as I've met other parents of autistic children and shared experiences one thing has become perfectly clear to me, there is humor even in Autism. Although our children are all very different there are certain things that every parent of an autistic child can relate to and even find funny. Call it a common bond between us if you will and know that...

You Might Be The Parent Of An Autistic Child If...

You walk into your child's room and every single toy car they own is lined up in a perfect straight line.

On a hot day at the park your child removes all their clothing and runs around naked and you're not surprised.

ABA, IEP, GFCF, and PECS are more than a bunch of random letters in your world.

Your child can tell the difference between a Cheese Nip and a Cheez It by smell and runs around screaming if you try and substitute one for the other.

You go through at least three VCR's or DVD players a year. They just can't hold up to that constant rewinding and fast forwarding and neither can you. There's only so many times you can hear Barney or Tigger say the same phrase before you go crazy....


Read more at
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2581077/you_might_be_the_parent_of_an_autistic.html?cat=25

How Star Trek artists imagined the iPad... 23 years ago

One interesting characteristic of Star Trek: The Next Generation—one that separated it from the original series and most of the early films—was its widespread use of smooth, flat, touch-based control panels throughout the Enterprise-D. This touch interface was also used for numerous portable devices known as PADDs, or Personal Access Display Devices. These mobile computing terminals bear a striking resemblance to Apple's iPad—a mobile computing device largely defined by its smooth, flat touchscreen interface.

To understand the thinking that led to the design of the Star Trek PADD, we spoke to some of the people involved in production of ST:TNG (as well as other Star Trek TV series and films), including Michael Okuda,Denise Okuda, and Doug Drexler. All three were involved in various aspects of production art for Star Trekproperties, including graphic design, set design, prop design, visual effects, art direction, and more. We also discussed their impressions of the iPad and how eerily similar it is to their vision of 24th century technology, how science fiction often influences technology, and what they believe is the future of human-machine interaction.

Drexler said that to him, the iPad is "eerily similar" to the PADDs used in Star Trek. "We always felt that the classic Okuda T-bar graphic was malleable, and that you could stretch and rearrange it to suit your task, just like the iPad," he said. "The PADD never had a keyboard as part of its casing, just like the iPad. Its geometry is almost exactly the same—the corner radius, the thickness, and overall rectangular shape."

"It's uncanny to have a PADD that really works," Drexler said, unlike the non-functional props made for the TV series and later films. "The iPad is the true Star Trek dream," Drexler told Ars.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/08/how-star-trek-artists-imagined-the-ipad-23-years-ago.ars

NASA - Reflections

NASA - Reflections

This image of space shuttle Atlantis was taken shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at Launch Pad 39A, Thursday, July 7, 2011. Atlantis is set to liftoff today, Friday, July 8, on the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program.

Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Cat gets caught barking by a human and resumes meowing

Frank McCourt loses last lifeline, as Bud Selig shows he thinks Dodgers deserve better

He rejects Fox deal because he says he thinks McCourt is a lousy owner he can't trust, joining list of fans who want McCourt gone. When it plays out, Selig should learn and choose next owner wisely.

Frank McCourt loses last lifeline, as Bud Selig shows he thinks Dodgers deserve better

The Stanley Cup Holds 14 Beers, and Other NHL Trophy Facts | Hockey Playoffs and Championships | Life's Little Mysteries

No other sport's championship trophy is as steeped in history or is as loved by its players (and fans). The Cup itself has been through quite a lot since Governor General of Canada, the Lord Stanley of Preston donated it in 1892.

Standing just over 35 inches and weighing almost 35 pounds, the Stanley Cup makes quite an impression when presented.

The Stanley Cup Holds 14 Beers, and Other NHL Trophy Facts | Hockey Playoffs and Championships | Life's Little Mysteries

Proposed Revision of the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism

The American Psychiatric Association’s Proposed Revision of the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism

As many of you may already know, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recently released their proposed revision of the diagnostic criteria for autism, which forgoing further revision, will appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5 (DSM-5) projected to be published in May 2013. The proposed criteria differs from the APA’s current diagnostic criteria for autism, as described in the DSM-IV, in several ways, the foremost being the inclusion of Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger’s Disorder under the all-encompassing category, autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=94