Spectrum Academy: High School for Autistic Minds

This morning I was reading the news in preparation for my day, when I came across the announcement in the Deseret News of the opening of the Spectrum Academy High School for Autistic children in North Salt Lake.  Intrigued, I read on to learn more.  I've heard of it before, as they had a booth at the Autism Autumn Carnival, but I didn't learn a lot about it because my son is far from ready for High School, and we don't yet know what will be awaiting him for Kindergarten this next year (we find out in the coming months). 

The Spectrum Academy is a Charter School currently serving Kindergarten through 8th Grade, specifically for Autistic children.  They are located just West of Redwood Road and at about 600 North.  Because it's a charter school, they have funding from the State and have flexibility in their teaching methods.  While I am a supporter of public school in general, there are situations like disabilities where a special charter school is very useful.  I just have to look back at the incessant bullying and teasing that my older brother went through in public school to know that a special charter school for autistic children would be just what my son would need.  So, I started checking out their website.

On thing I absolutely love is the curriculum information listed for each grades, so parents can see what their children are using, and can tailor their own home experiences to reinforce their learning.  This is what I would expect from the public school system anyway, though it may be a little difficult to locate.  Handbooks for both the students and teachers are available as well.

What's more impressive is the flexibility the teachers have in managing their student's success.  Gone are the rigid rules about sitting up straight, not using toys as a tactile stimulant while learning, etc.  Children are able to take breaks when they need to in order to gain control of their attention when necessary.  The grade system is based on ability, not age, so there is no worries about being left behind while going through the school system.  Wouldn't it be nice if all schools were like that, as they were once? 

All in all, I was very impressed with the news of the Spectrum Academy.  It's a bit of a way out of my way to work, but I think I could make a special trip to get my son there if need be.  The only thing I didn't like was the lack of fee details, and how much fees would cost.  It being Winter Break (I don't know if they can call it Christmas and New Year's break anymore), I can't get firm information on that, but once I do, I will post it.  Until then, this is definitely a school and school system that needs to be watched!  I see this becoming a more common situation as the needs of Autistic children are met. 

Autism Genetics: Autism and Schizophrenia Possible Genetic Opposites?

The Boston Globe had posted an article on the 15th regarding a study that links autism and schizophrenia as genetic opposites.  I have to say, I was dubious at at first, but the article is well worth reading. 

It seems that Bernard Crespi, Philip Stead, and Michael Elliot identified a the same places within the human genome that cause both events.  The difference is in the number of copies the genes the genome has.  For Schizophrenia, there are multiple copies, for neurotypical people, they have just two copies.  For those with Autism, they have just one. 

So, it seems that Autism could be a genetic opposite to schizophrenia, making similar treatments possible at the genetic level.  The research was completed at the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.  The research is interesting, and it reaffirms the genetic link to Autism.  What's even more interesting, is that once these evidences have been identified, real definitions can be made when it comes to Autism, beyond just the behavioral observance.  Perhaps one day, Autism can be treated as other mental conditions, and families can receive real support in every State.

Autism Christmas Poem

This poem was sent to me by a friend on Facebook, and I had to share it.  Unfortunately, I don't know who wrote it.  If anyone knows who the author is, please post it in the Comments.  I would be happy to give them credit for this wonderful and touching poem. 

Twas the Night Before Christmas
And all through the house


The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse
We tried melatonin

And gave a hot bath
Asleep early for Christmas?
...an unlikely path
The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When visions of Christmas
Ran through my OWN head
Did I get the right gift?
The right color and style?
Would there be a blank stare
Or even, maybe, a smile?
Friends & family come
But they don't understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from bending his hands.
"Just make him stop it," some say
"Just tell him "no",You must learn to be tough.."
On, and on they do go...
We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside

The debate is moot
Let them all take a side
We know what it's like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions.

But what some don't know
And what some don't see

Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity.
He said "hello"!
He ate something green!
He looked me in my eyes
He did not cause a scene!
He peed on the potty!
(Who cares if he's ten)

He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!"
Some others don't realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don't see
Is the joy we can't hide

When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride
We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With envy, with wonder,
Or even distaste.

What we want them to know
What's important to see

Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.
We don't get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings

Children with autism
Try so hard every day

That they make us proud
More than words can say.
They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky
So, to those who don't get it
Or can't get a clue

Take a walk in our shoes
And I'll assure you
That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You'll look at us all
With respect, even shock.
You will realize
What it is we go through
And the next time you see us
I can assure you
That you won't say a thing
You'll be quiet and learn
,Like the years I learned too
When the tables were turned.

                        -Anonymous

The Future of eBooks, Books, and Reading: A Historical, Technological, Consumerist, and Hopeful Writer's View

Lately Nathan Bransford, a literary agent and writer that I have been following for some time, has been posting information about the future of books.  With the Kindle, Nook, and the much-anticipated Apple tablet (which I have been blogging about for 3 years in high hopes), it seems that many people are already writing eulogies for the hard copy, bound book.  Often I'm surprise with the comments he receives from his readers, many if not all are writers in various stages of publication (from established to hopeful, like me). 

The discussion has interested me on four levels: as a trained Historian, a trained Computer Technician, an avid Reader (consumer), and a Writer (instructional and hopeful novelist).  Here is my view of each:

Historian

Books as we know them have gone though a lot of changes ever since man had learned to use writing as a method of communication.  What started as tablets of clay became scrolls of paper and papyri, which then changed to parchment and a codex, or bound book.  The codex didn't change for thousands of years, and now a move from the printed to the digital page is being made.  But is it really so recent?

Computers originally had a "monitor" that was a printer, printing out the results of commands as one navigated, executed, and errored their way through programs.  The digital monitor, the one we know and love today, both simplifies the reading of computer results, but also saves a tremendous amount of paper.  And ever since print could be read on a computer screen, people have been reading books on the computer screen. 

So the idea of an eBook is not new, but rather the mainstreaming of the eBook is what is so scary.  Just as ancient Egypt was afraid of the parchment codex (threatened their trade in papyri), those tied to the old methods of distributing the story both fear and hate the coming mainstream eBook consumption.

Computer Technician

The technology for eBooks have been around for years.  I had eReader on my PocketPC for years, and I loved being able to read while on the go.  But before it could become mainstreamed, there are some factors that needed to be met:

1. Battery Life:  The early PDAs were terrible in their battery life.  This hampered reading, as you needed to either change your AA's or recharge your book within just a few hours of getting into it. 


2. Performance:  There are a lot of old eBook readers out there that were so clunky to use they were not worth it.  I went through several before I settled on the couple of eBook readers I use today.  It all came down to performance.  I was looking for something that was easy to use, easy to customize, and had a small memory footprint (so I could have more books in less space).


3. Storage:  What good is it to have an eBook reader if you can only store at the most 10 books?  If you are going abroad, or spend a lot of time commuting, just a couple of books will not satisfy. 


4. Reputation and Appearance:  eBooks needed to have a good reputation behind them, or come from a reputable source.  Often times some books were, or at least appeared, to be bad copies, which creates distrust.

Others may outline more points, but it is my humble opinion that technology needed to advance to this point before the eBook could have even thought of being mainstreamed.  With ebook readers like the Kindle, Nook, and even with current Windows Mobile, Android, WebOS, and iPhone OS devices out there, we have finally made it to the point where big names feel comfortable in releasing their books in eBook form to reach a profitable audience. 

The thing is, dedicated devices are, at least in my opinion, doomed to a quick death.  Part of the reason why I have an iPod Touch instead of a Kindle or Nook is because I need more than just an eBook reader.  eBooks are a convenience, not a lifestyle.  I want other conveniences to be just as convenient, and preferably on the same device.  This is part of the reason why the iPod Slate (or Apple Tablet) is so important to me as a device, and why I have been so keen on it's release. 

Reader

I love to read, but I find that I have little time at home with the kids, and very little time at work.  But I also have a long commute, in which reading becomes convenient.  It's also convenient to work on my novel, get some work done, and listen to my music/old radio shows.  Suddenly carrying around even one bound book can take up more room than I am willing to give, as my bag becomes overloaded with various other devices.  But carrying an entire library in my pocket, which also will play my music, videos, and allow me to do some text editing; that's the way to go. 

Now I've heard the arguments against eBook readers because of eye-strain.  Well, I don't strain any more with an eBook reader on my iPod Touch than I do with any other book, and I can guarantee that, in the dead of night in winter, when the bus or train is dark, I can read my book without having to have a separate light.  I can also adjust the text on the book to make it larger or smaller based on my needs.  You can't do that with a printed book. 

Also, there is the convenience of purchasing and downloading the books.  I have the Kindle app for iPhone, eReader app from Fictionwise, the Barnes & Noble eReader app, and Stanza.  I have tried each one, and my favorite two so far are the Kindle app and Stanza.  Kindle because of it's flow (they have changed it a lot since Amazon purchased Stanza), and Stanza because it's so convenient to download books from the Gutenberg Press (free books in the Public Domain).  They are easy to configure, and easy to manage.  Within a few seconds I will have several new books that I have purchased and downloaded, ready to read.  It sure beats waiting for a book to ship, I can tell you!

Writer

Some day I hope to be published, as soon as I write something that I wouldn't be embarrassed to have someone else read.  I would also like my book to be quickly accessed by those who are interested, and I want to write a story that will flow well enough regardless of which format it is in.  So you can imagine that the interest in eBooks has had me thinking, and I'm watching this very closely.  Adding multimedia components for higher-end readers or computers (like the Slate, hint, hint!) can change a story as much as adding slides to a presentation, or video to a musical performance.  All of a sudden you have more content to relate to, all at the same time.  It's challenging, it's exciting, and it's a little scary. 

So what exactly will be the future of books?  I think most analysts out there are right:  the codex book will not be going away anytime soon.  There is a feeling of intimacy that comes from reading a well-worn and well-read book again and again that you don't get from an eBook.  Because of this a good hardcover or even paperback will not go away entirely.  But I think you will see a huge shift from the published book to the eBook by casual readers in particular.  The idea that one can turn on their device while waiting in line, riding a bus, or riding in the back seat of a car, read a couple of pages, and then turn around and do something else when the need arises?  It's huge, and it's happening more every day.  Add always-on 3G or 4G networking and integrated media, and you have a revolution that will absorb the mainstream out of pure convenience. 

Are there problems?  Of course!  But there were problems with first Gutenberg Press, the codex, the papyrus scroll, and even the clay tablet.  The real question is not whether or not we will manage with what we have, but rather how soon it will take the industry to adapt and make the situation better. 

Holiday Travel, Disneyland, and Autism: Avoiding the Meltdown For My Son

The Holidays are stressful, to say the least.  There are lots of people you don't normally see during the year that visit and occasionally stay, there are shopping trips, decorating chores, moving furniture, and big stints in the kitchen cooking meals and lots of fatty goodness.  All this extra stimulation is compounded when traveling. 

Now, I love to travel, as does my wife.  We spent a lot of time on the road, and both of us have flown enough times to know that the flight and a long haul on the road can be stressful for everyone.  That goes especially for those children with Autism. 

Now, this is not meant to be the one answer for all children with Autism, as each one is different.  This is what works for my son, so I thought I would share it.  If it's any help for anyone else, by all means, you are welcome to it.  But if your son doesn't respond to this type of travel or these travel tips, hopefully it will help you identify what might help. 

We have taken my son on both an airplane and in the car to San Diego, and he has handled both methods with stellar success.  It all comes down to how we get him to focus his mind, and how to keep his attention on those things he can control so he doesn't have to worry about those things he can't control. 

First off, we find A toy, not many toys, that he likes and will use the longest.  In the past this has been the water pen and tablet tools, or the magnetic stylus and slates.  Both are great because he can practice his letters and numbers, work on his writing, and it keeps his mind off the close quarters of both the car and plane.  Now we use the iPod Touch and the various apps he likes on that.  It's like having 20 different toys for him in one location, and each application we have for him is geared to help him learn something. 

Next, we have some snacks for him, usually fruit snacks.  Anything he will eat is fine, and he loves fruit snacks as a finger food (cottage cheese gets a little messy ^_^).  Finally, we make sure he is comfortable.  We sit with him, talk him through the experience, and walk him through each step as it comes up so he is prepared with what he needs. 

Now, Autism and Airlines have not gotten along in the past.  Southwest infamously forced a family with an autistic child off their planes and stranded them.  And people can be very, um, intolerant with children in general.  As such my wife and I have seen flying as a second option over driving. 

So we purchased a large enough vehicle to fit the family and a few extras for luggage, toys, food, etc.  I'm not saying it will work best for you, but it may work overall.  If you drive, keep in mind that children need to get out and stretch their legs.  Don't eat through the drive-through, but rather get out and eat if you can.  If you can't eat at the establishment you chose, look for a city park or something similar and have a picnic.  The exercise and open spaces can help reduce the stress of close quarters for long periods of time. 

As an example, my wife and I spent the last week in California at Disneyland and in San Diego.  We chose to drive, as we have a very fuel efficient vehicle for it's size.  It took us 12 hours to drive from Salt Lake City to Anaheim with all the stops for eating, changing the kids, and letting them run around for exercise. 

Disneyland was great, particularly because of a special pass available for anyone who is unable to stand in long lines for long periods of time.  It's called an assistance pass, and was definitely helpful for our son.  Instead of waiting for 40+ minutes in line, we were able to go right up to the ride.  For those rides with Fast Passes, it would work as a fast pass.  For those rides without a fast pass (i.e., the new Finding Nemo ride), we would enter through the accessibility entrance, and get placed as soon as possible. 

To get the pass, enter City Hall there at Main Street, and explain the disability your child has, and what would happen if they were to wait in long lines.  The distribution of the pass is not based on disabilities, but rather the results of the disabilities when waiting in long lines.  If you do get one, though, don't abuse it!  We want this pass to remain available for all children with Autism, so make sure you use it judiciously.  We chose to use it only on a select few rides, as our son could manage a 20 minute wait (just not 25, it turned out). 

Well, I hope this ends up being helpful.  If anyone else has any good recommendations that you don't see listed, feel free to post them!

Microsoft Office 2010 Beta: Initial Reactions

I'm a Mac user.  I've been a Mac User since 2007, and before that I was impressed with the Mac OS X line.  Why?  Because it uses UNIX as a core (version of BSD), and I could install retail software on it along with my open source software.  That was huge.  Before Mac OS X, I liked Linux, and used several distributions.  Before that, I used Windows like everyone else (though I preferred the DOS command line). 

But one thing I like about Microsoft is their Office Suite.  It's a great product overall, and very well done.  I've been teaching Office 2003 and 2007 classes since I started at the University of Utah, and the more I teach, the more I like it.  It's flexible, it's clean, and the Ribbon makes it easy to get a lot of things done. 

Yesterday I had a chance to download Microsoft Office 2010's Public Beta and give it a try.  Here are the initial impressions I got while running through the basic tools.

Excel 2010:

• No more Office button:  Now you have the File Tab, which does the same thing.  This is a transition tool that would have been helpful with Office 2007 - less confusion with a button that previously didn't do anything.  Now it's just going to confuse those people who just got used to 2007.  Microsoft, make up your mind and stick with it please!  As you can see, this is a pet peeve of mine.
  


• Sparklines:  I like them!  Mini charts in a cell that are not objects.  I like the concept, and it makes some of the conditional formatting tools obsolete.
  


• Slicers are cool too, because they make using PivotTables that much easier, and I love PivotTables.
  


• Equations:  Now you can write an equation in Excel.  For a program that is all about Math, this was a long time coming.  It also equalizes the Office Suite. 
  


• Adding Screenshots:  I'm not sure when I would use this in Excel, but I like it in Word and PowerPoint!  This is a good tool for training in particular.  Nice work!
  


• Automatic Themes updates:  This is cool, because there is a lot of potential in the Themes formatting tool. 

Word 2010:

• AutoText:  This was seriously lacking in Word 2007, but it looks like it's back in some form in 2010.  I had county clerks that refused to switch to Office 2007 because this feature was no longer available.  They will be happy now!
  


• Insert Table of Figures:  This is just cool. 
  


• Restrict Editing:  Nice, though I suspect it requires SharePoint for it to work.  That and Block Editors, so real-time collaboration can work properly.  Of course, this same feature is available in SubEthaEdit for the Mac, and without purchasing an expensive SharePoint Server.  ^_^

PowerPoint 2010:

• Equations:  Here again, I like it. 
  


• Animations and Transitions Tabs:  I like that they separated the two.  There is so much one can do for each, they needed to be in different tabs.  Not that you SHOULD be using all the transition options, or all the animation options, but it's nice to know you can separate what you want from what you need.  ^_^

Outlook 2010:

• Microsoft wisely didn't mess with Outlook much in 2007, because it is the lifeline of many in the business world.  They let everyone get used to the Ribbon before they threw it in Outlook, which they did in Office 2010.  I like the ribbon in Outlook, because you can see the features for which you normally have to hunt.  The only problem is, will it go over well in the office?  That's going to be an adjustment, and I'm thinking we will finally need to start offering Outlook classes just to get people used to it. 

That's about it!  I didn't get a lot of time to play with it in relation to collaboration, as I was the only person in the office who had it installed, but from what I see it's a good move.  Outlook is the only iffy thing, but other than that I see it being a much improved version of Office 2007.  But there are a lot of changes I'll need to make to my curriculum before I can start teaching the classes.  Luckily I'll have some time in the Christmas Holiday to get it done. 

If you are a Microsoft user and haven't upgraded to 2007, then upgrading to 2010 will be a good move.  Will you need to upgrade from 2007 to 2010?  Probably only if you want to have the new features, or need the new features.  Now I'm waiting (im)patiently for the Mac release, which will probably be Office 2011.

Armistice Day: A Day To Remember Our Veterans

Tomorrow is Armistice Day, Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, or what ever the day is referred to in your country, and commemorates the start of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918 on the 11th month, the 11th day, at the 11th hour.  Since it was delcared by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, it has since become a day to remember all our veterans of any war, at least here in the United States. 

On this day, I thought it would be fitting to mention the veterans in my own family that I am aware of. 

My great uncle Buck was a veteran of World War II.  I don't ever remember meeting him, but we visited his grave every Memorial Day. 

My wife's grandfather who served in the Navy in World War II.

My uncle Bob was a veteran who served in the Army in France, though after the war.

My uncle George served in Vietnam in the Army. 

My father missed Vietnam by 3 weeks, and the Gulf War by 3 weeks.  He has served in the Army, National Guard, and the Army Reserves for years. 

My Father-in-law who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

My big younger brother is currently serving his Nation in Afganistan, and his tour of duty is due to be up in April, if I remember right.  He gets some time on the computer and can post on Facebook, letting us know he is still alive and doing well. 

I have cousins in the Air Force, Army, and Marines.  While I have not sought a career in the Military myself, the plight and concern for our veterans has been of interest to me for years.  My wife as well, as she grew up on a Naval Base in San Diego. 

As the 11th of November comes around, and you go about your daily routine because schools and businesses do not close anymore in honor of out veterans, I want you to think about why we have the holiday.  Take a minute and think on those friends and family that have served and are currently serving in the military, and what they are fighting for.  This isn't a day for political posturing, incriminations, accusations, or attacks on the Military, but rather a day to reflect on the freedoms we have and the freedoms others do not, and who made those freedoms available to you. 

These are the veterans that I am aware of that are close, as of the beginning of World War II. 

The Holidays and Autism: How to Cope With the Noise

Holidays are very stressful times of the year.  People spend money they don't have, cook tons of food that never gets eaten, and invite relatives over to their home they never want to see again.  Outside of the family dramas, stained carpets and floors, and the cleanup from all the gifts that will be returned after the party, there are some families that will have an added stress:  a child with autism that becomes overly stimulated and has meltdowns in the middle of the fish course or the turkey bowl. 

Please note that the above is a worse case scenario, and not necessarily the experience I have every year.  Yes, there is family drama, but no, it's not that bad.  I do want to see my relatives again...  sometime in the spring.  ^_^ 

Anyway, recently Reuters ran a public announcement from Autism Therapies, which I think is definitely worth mentioning:  coping with Autism and the Holidays.  Every holiday is different, and these seem to be focused around gift-giving holidays, but it works for all holidays in general from religious celebrations to reasons to get drunk and fall off the bar stool. 

Some of the suggestions made by Autism Therapies include:

1. Decorating the house in gradual stages:  this gives the child with autism more time to adjust to the change in their surroundings, and as such more able to deal with those changes. 


2. Avoid crowded malls and last minute shopping:  I think this is pretty much a no brainer.  As a rule I avoid crowded malls, and especially so with my autistic son.  But Holidays are a special time of year when the desire to get that special toy is stronger than the safety of other people.  Don't believe me?  I'm always shaking my head at the number of people who get trampled each year on Black Friday.  So, get your shopping done early, or get it done online.  Don't try to get it done at midnight on Christmas Eve, because it's just not going to be fair to your autistic child.


3. Wait until just before the holiday to set out gifts:  Very important in general if you have a child who is curious, but doubly so if your autistic child is curious.  The gifts will be unwrapped faster than you can say "Don't do that!", which to an autistic child is an invitation anyway (they don't hear "n't" in the conjunction, just the "do").  My wife and I have found it helpful to put the tree in a corner, and put gifts under the back of the tree, where they are out of sight.  That may work too, or you can place them in your attic, garage, or other out of sight and reach place. 

Now, I know I've had a little bit of fun with this article with a lot of sarcasm thrown in.  This is mostly because of my feelings about the holidays and the concerns of commercialism and such.  Sometimes I think Scrooge had it right, if you throw in a bit of Tiny Tim. 

Anyway, the important thing is to keep your autistic child in mind.  Don't have massive parties in a small space, if you can help it.  Give your autistic child plenty of space to stretch out and run around.  Often times you may find that some holidays can be booked at a local church or other community center for a lot less than your cleaning bills will be, and your nerves will be less of a wreck. 

If you need to spend a lot of time preparing food or party favors, etc., make sure someone is watching your autistic child, and they KNOW they are watching the autistic child.  My wife and I always make sure we are looking at each other before we say, "You have him, right?"  That way we know the other person is aware of their responsibilities. 

Lastly, find some time during the party or dinner to have some alone time with your child.  I love this bit, because I get out of a lot of games, er, I mean I get to spend time with my son in a quiet corner.  Sometimes it's just sitting downstairs with my son next to me, letting him play a game on my iPod Touch while we watch or listen to a show.  Something like that can help your autistic child decompress and manage to take control of his senses.  He's focused, quiet, and not tearing anything apart.

Come to think of it...  these same rules can work for any family.  Hmm..  What a concept, having a non-stressful holiday.  What will they think of next?  ^_^ 

If any of you out there have some suggestions, feel free to post them! 

The Diagnosis of Autism: A Plea From A Parent

Recently a parent posted a question to one of my autism posts, stating the following (edited for their privacy)"

Hello,
My son turned 5 in March 2009. On Sep. 15 he started to go to K in public school in NE Philadelphia. Yesterday after few call of his teachers we've got a letter from the Principal telling us that his teacher is requesting help from another pro. & my son will participate in small group activities to help him to achive high education program needed...
I called counselor & she asked me about his eye contact & if I ever spoke to our pediatrician about that. I said "no". But since then I'm thinking about it...Can you pls help me with my concern about my little kid?
Thank you

Wow, this brought back a lot of memories, of fear, of pain, of uncertainty.  Here is what I wrote for this parent. First off, I want to point out that I'm not a psychologist, and therefore I'm not qualified to make a lot of diagnosis.  Much of what I state down here is based off of months of research, following that research, and from my own experience.  If you are ever in doubt, consult a psychologist who specializes in autism!

Hello!

I'm going to edit your post to remove your phone number, in order to protect your privacy.

Now, about your son. The first thing I would tell you is that his teachers, as concerned for his welfare as they are, are not psychologists, and therefore are not qualified to diagnose autism. This is probably why they raised their concerns with you, and why they wanted you to talk with your pediatrician, who will probably refer you to a specialist. But before you panic, know that there are a number of different disorders and causes of autistic-like behavior, none of them related to autism. Only a specialist can know for sure.

Next I would tell you that panicking in general is not going to help. Don't start rushing out and looking for "cures". Don't start looking for answers from anyone but those who are conducting clinical trials and studies. Why? Because there are a lot of people out there that continue to pander to fear and fear-mongering. Celebrities, doctors with questionable ethics, and people who feel they just "know". No one knows what causes autism, or I should say what triggers it. We do know there are now currently 22 identified genes that can cause autistic-like symptoms, but no one knows why those genes mutate as they do. So don't panic about vaccinations, gluten in the diet, bad parenting, or monosodium glutamate (for autism, at any rate). Get the facts, which your psychologist will provide.

So, the first thing I would do is check with your psychologist and see what he says. Yes, lack of eye contact is one common behavior characteristic of autism, but it is not the only one. Does your son give you regular eye contact? Does he look at people in the store? Does he respond to his name with eye contact? These are some questions your psychologist may ask of you.

Also, is your son verbal? Has he been speaking all this time? Has that changed? Does he speak less, is his speech slurred at all? Does he say random things out of the blue? These are other questions your psychologist may ask you.

Now, if your son does indeed get diagnosed as having autism by a qualified specialist (i.e., a psychologist), here are some things to keep in mind. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME! Autism is not caused by bad parenting, pandering, or abuse. Regardless of what some radio talk show hosts have said, parents do not cause autism. Doctors do not cause autism. Vaccinations do not cause autism. Heartless corporations do not cause autism. Politicians of any party do not cause autism. Government does not cause autism. No one is "hiding the facts", no one has snuck in poisons to your son to make him autistic. It's a result of genetic mutation(s) that cause the brain to produce too many neurons (causing an enlarged brain or overly dense brain), and/or to slow or halt neuron pruning that begins roughly at the age of 2 and ends roughly at the age of 6. That is autism in a nutshell. All the meltdowns, the social issues, the lack of eye contact, the difficulty in speech, the sensitivity to sound, touch, light changes, etc. all come down to many more neurons within the brain than a neurotypical child.

1. Your son is in good company! Many of the geniuses of the past had autism. Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, and Vincent van Gogh, to name a few. His mind will be thicker, more dense than a neurotypical child, and as such he can process and retain more information and more detail. The only side effect from this extraordinary ability is the inability to judge social situations on the fly. So, he may need more schooling in social interaction. There are a couple of ways to do this, which I will number.

2. Find out if your public school has an autism program. Many do across the nation, though not all do. I'm not sure about PA, so you may want to contact your district and find out. If they do, get to know the teacher and her aides. Do they seem like your son's success is important to them? Do they understand autistic children? My son is lucky, his teacher has an autistic child, and therefore completely understands what we parents go through. If they don't know, or don't seem to care, find another teacher. It's your right as a parent to demand a proper education environment for parents. Make sure they know what Applied Behavioral Therapy is, and how to implement it (It's called ABA, and there is a lot of good info on Wikipedia if you need more info).

3. Get a dog, if you can, or another animal in the house that your son can interact with. I don't recommend cats, because they are only social on their terms, and behave actually a lot like someone with Asperger's syndrome (on the autistic spectrum). That, and they can be less tolerant with children than many dogs (at least our cat is). Dogs are excellent for children with autism, whether or not they are trained as "autism dogs". You may have heard that horseback riding can help with autistic children.. This is true, at least as far as some clinical studies have shown. But it's the same concept: have a connection with an animal that requires some social interaction, but is non-threatening about it. Any animal can help, not just horses or dogs. If you can't get an animal, spend some time at a petting zoo. If there is no petting zoo, see if you have a friend with a dog. Animal interactions are great fun, and do help.

4. Be prepared for frustration, at every corner. Know that people are intolerant in general, and more so if they detect any deviance from what they consider the norm. Learn to grow a thick skin, it's the only way to deal with it. You can't change other people's perceptions, you can only change your own. I would recommend printing up cards that have links to various autism websites that explain autism, should someone suggest your child is just badly behaved or your parenting skills are not up to their standard. While I have never had to give out any, I've come close a couple of times. Though now you are more likely to meet someone who has an autistic child in their life than ever before.

And finally, my last bit of advice is to love your son. Love every new discovery. Love every funny, quirky personality trait. Autistic children are just like other children, but tend to live in a different world, or a different level of the world we are in. Encourage your son in his interests, looking always for a future career. If he has an interest in music at all, go for it! Nothing is better for an autistic child than playing an instrument of some sort. Even if it's the drums, it's something that will teach him creativity and meld it with the mathematical order that will appeal to his brain.

There are so many more things I could tell you, but I want you to have the joy of experiencing them yourself. If you do have any questions, feel free to post them on the blog, and I'll get back to you.

Good luck!

The Diagnosis of Autism: A Plea From A Parent

Recently a parent posted a question to one of my autism posts, stating the following (edited for their privacy)"

Hello,
My son turned 5 in March 2009. On Sep. 15 he started to go to K in public school in NE Philadelphia. Yesterday after few call of his teachers we've got a letter from the Principal telling us that his teacher is requesting help from another pro. & my son will participate in small group activities to help him to achive high education program needed...
I called counselor & she asked me about his eye contact & if I ever spoke to our pediatrician about that. I said "no". But since then I'm thinking about it...Can you pls help me with my concern about my little kid?
Thank you

Wow, this brought back a lot of memories, of fear, of pain, of uncertainty.  Here is what I wrote for this parent. First off, I want to point out that I'm not a psychologist, and therefore I'm not qualified to make a lot of diagnosis.  Much of what I state down here is based off of months of research, following that research, and from my own experience.  If you are ever in doubt, consult a psychologist who specializes in autism!

Hello Marina!

I'm going to edit your post to remove your phone number, in order to protect your privacy.

Now, about your son. The first thing I would tell you is that his teachers, as concerned for his welfare as they are, are not psychologists, and therefore are not qualified to diagnose autism. This is probably why they raised their concerns with you, and why they wanted you to talk with your pediatrician, who will probably refer you to a specialist. But before you panic, know that there are a number of different disorders and causes of autistic-like behavior, none of them related to autism. Only a specialist can know for sure.

Next I would tell you that panicking in general is not going to help. Don't start rushing out and looking for "cures". Don't start looking for answers from anyone but those who are conducting clinical trials and studies. Why? Because there are a lot of people out there that continue to pander to fear and fear-mongering. Celebrities, doctors with questionable ethics, and people who feel they just "know". No one knows what causes autism, or I should say what triggers it. We do know there are now currently 22 identified genes that can cause autistic-like symptoms, but no one knows why those genes mutate as they do. So don't panic about vaccinations, gluten in the diet, bad parenting, or monosodium glutamate (for autism, at any rate). Get the facts, which your psychologist will provide.

So, the first thing I would do is check with your psychologist and see what he says. Yes, lack of eye contact is one common behavior characteristic of autism, but it is not the only one. Does your son give you regular eye contact? Does he look at people in the store? Does he respond to his name with eye contact? These are some questions your psychologist may ask of you.

Also, is your son verbal? Has he been speaking all this time? Has that changed? Does he speak less, is his speech slurred at all? Does he say random things out of the blue? These are other questions your psychologist may ask you.

Now, if your son does indeed get diagnosed as having autism by a qualified specialist (i.e., a psychologist), here are some things to keep in mind. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME! Autism is not caused by bad parenting, pandering, or abuse. Regardless of what some radio talk show hosts have said, parents do not cause autism. Doctors do not cause autism. Vaccinations do not cause autism. Heartless corporations do not cause autism. Politicians of any party do not cause autism. Government does not cause autism. No one is "hiding the facts", no one has snuck in poisons to your son to make him autistic. It's a result of genetic mutation(s) that cause the brain to produce too many neurons (causing an enlarged brain or overly dense brain), and/or to slow or halt neuron pruning that begins roughly at the age of 2 and ends roughly at the age of 6. That is autism in a nutshell. All the meltdowns, the social issues, the lack of eye contact, the difficulty in speech, the sensitivity to sound, touch, light changes, etc. all come down to many more neurons within the brain than a neurotypical child.

1. Your son is in good company! Many of the geniuses of the past had autism. Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, and Vincent van Gogh, to name a few. His mind will be thicker, more dense than a neurotypical child, and as such he can process and retain more information and more detail. The only side effect from this extraordinary ability is the inability to judge social situations on the fly. So, he may need more schooling in social interaction. There are a couple of ways to do this, which I will number.

2. Find out if your public school has an autism program. Many do across the nation, though not all do. I'm not sure about PA, so you may want to contact your district and find out. If they do, get to know the teacher and her aides. Do they seem like your son's success is important to them? Do they understand autistic children? My son is lucky, his teacher has an autistic child, and therefore completely understands what we parents go through. If they don't know, or don't seem to care, find another teacher. It's your right as a parent to demand a proper education environment for parents. Make sure they know what Applied Behavioral Therapy is, and how to implement it (It's called ABA, and there is a lot of good info on Wikipedia if you need more info).

3. Get a dog, if you can, or another animal in the house that your son can interact with. I don't recommend cats, because they are only social on their terms, and behave actually a lot like someone with Asperger's syndrome (on the autistic spectrum). That, and they can be less tolerant with children than many dogs (at least our cat is). Dogs are excellent for children with autism, whether or not they are trained as "autism dogs". You may have heard that horseback riding can help with autistic children.. This is true, at least as far as some clinical studies have shown. But it's the same concept: have a connection with an animal that requires some social interaction, but is non-threatening about it. Any animal can help, not just horses or dogs. If you can't get an animal, spend some time at a petting zoo. If there is no petting zoo, see if you have a friend with a dog. Animal interactions are great fun, and do help.

4. Be prepared for frustration, at every corner. Know that people are intolerant in general, and more so if they detect any deviance from what they consider the norm. Learn to grow a thick skin, it's the only way to deal with it. You can't change other people's perceptions, you can only change your own. I would recommend printing up cards that have links to various autism websites that explain autism, should someone suggest your child is just badly behaved or your parenting skills are not up to their standard. While I have never had to give out any, I've come close a couple of times. Though now you are more likely to meet someone who has an autistic child in their life than ever before.

And finally, my last bit of advice is to love your son. Love every new discovery. Love every funny, quirky personality trait. Autistic children are just like other children, but tend to live in a different world, or a different level of the world we are in. Encourage your son in his interests, looking always for a future career. If he has an interest in music at all, go for it! Nothing is better for an autistic child than playing an instrument of some sort. Even if it's the drums, it's something that will teach him creativity and meld it with the mathematical order that will appeal to his brain.

There are so many more things I could tell you, but I want you to have the joy of experiencing them yourself. If you do have any questions, feel free to post them on the blog, and I'll get back to you.

Good luck!

The Power of Media: The War of the Worlds, and Hitler's Airwaves

With the latest developments of hostility between Fox News and the White House, and the general feeling of incredulity within the Media with this open declaration of hostility, my mind has been focused on the impact of media, if any, on the general populace.  This seemed to coincide with an old tradition that I had and I am now resurrecting:  listening to the infamous original radio broadcast of Orson Wells' The War of the Worlds, and coupling it with the propaganda broadcasts made by Germany to England during World War II. 

In both cases, the Radio was the primary method of external communication to a mass audience.  Sure, telephone existed, and people could call each other using a handset, but to reach a large audience Radio was the method of choice.  And, like all methods of communication, information and entertainment were coupled together in one way or another. 

Germany's use of radio gave rise to Lord Haha and his spread of propaganda touting the strength of the German war machine and the futility of England's defense.  He raised the spectre of the Soviet threat, the willingness of the Germans to let bygones be bygones, and the defeats of Allied forces as proof that England needed to get out of the war.  As with all democracies, Germany assumed that England would capitulate if the people were to rise en masse to demand surrender to the Germans. 

The Brits, on the other hand, were more savvy than Germany I think had understood, having had their face slapped after the Munich treaty was completely disregarded and Neville Chamberlain was disgraced.  They instead remained vigilant against the German propaganda, no matter now disheartening it was, and with the assistance of all the Allies, managed to defeat Nazi Germany, ending what began in World War I. 

The broadcast of War of the Worlds was very different, as a small group of actors used the powerful media of radio to induce mass panic across the American countryside and through all of New York through a clever adaptation of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds.  Because of the realistic presentation, the excellent understanding of their medium, and the credence given to the one mass portal of information, they managed to send the entire East Coast into the hills, running for their lives. 

In both instances, radio was used as a tool, and as a tool to frighten or dishearten people.  What's interesting is the reaction of the target audience.  How much trust can we place in the media, or those feeding information to the media?  It all comes down to where we get our sources of information, and how much we are willing to research those topics in debate. 

Today, with the benefit (or detriment, you decide) of the Internet, first person accounts are more likely to be provided, and collaborative information provided through multiple sources.  If the War of the Worlds were conceived and broadcasted today, Twitter would quickly expose it as a piece of fiction through first hand accounts of people in Grover's Mill stating the lack of a cyllinder in their back yard. 

Does this mean that media has lost it's power?  By no means!  Many people find a single trusted source of information, and makes it their only source.  They don't like getting multiple points of view, because they don't want to take the time or make the effort to do the research themselves.  Instead they trust their news source to do it for them.  Whether they be Liberal or Conservative, the same holds true.

It also means that more complex and devious methods of propaganda, by any group, is easier to distribute.  With the complexity of media outlets now, one merely needs to identify their target audience, and utilize their one favorite method of communication.  It could be Radio, it could be Cable News, it could be Blogs, it could be Google News..  It doesn't matter, because once you find a person's habitual media source, you have them right where you want them. 

So in the end, the more things change, the more things stay the same. 

Ruby On Rails Contract Job Needed By Local Company

Recently a good friend of mine asked me if I knew of anyone who could take over a programming job for their in-house programmers who are expecting a baby soon.  So, I thought I would post here and see if anyone following my blog would be interested in a contract position.

If you are a Ruby on Rails programmer and would be interested, contact Jason Fowler at Freightlink Air & Sea International.  His email address is jason at freightlink.net, and his phone number is 801-264-6130. 

Making Yeast Doughnuts, Sliders, and Ice Cream

A good friend of mine, Joseph, let me borrow his Good Eats episodes a couple of weeks ago.  As we no longer have the budget for other than local television, I've been missing a lot of these shows.  One show recently that I am quite happy with was Alton Brown's yeast doughnut recipe. Now, like many men my age, I love my doughnuts.  When my wife and I went on our honeymoon to Las Vegas, we made sure we stayed in a hotel (or near one) with a Krispy Kremes.  

Since then I have been wanting to make my own, though in the past they have always been too bready for my liking.  Then I got a hold of Alton Brown's recipe. The recipe is linked to Food Network's website, so I won't bore you with the recipe.  But I will tell you how the making went.  

I don't have a Kitchen Aid with both a paddle and a dough hook, so I had to mix it by hand.  Not too bad, though the first time I tried this (on Wednesday), I think they were worked a little too hard.  kneading the dough was fun, and brought me back to the days of making homemade bread with my mom while growing up. I then fried the the doughnuts using vegetable shortening, because it cools hard and has a nice shine to it.  But, I didn't have enough shortening, so I added some canola oil to the mix.  I then tried to heat the required 365 degree temperature, and was called away to take care of the kids.  I came back with the oil too hot, and the candy thermometer, um, no longer useable.  Yes, it heated too hot, as I found out.

I started with the doughnut holes to test the temperature and to see how long it would take to cook to the center.  The recipe said 1 minute, but within 30 seconds a nice dark brown had developed..  Not good eats, as it turned out.  It was very nutty, close to burned on some.  It cooled down a little on the actual doughnuts, though not enough it would seem.  Hence the reason why I didn't blog about it on Wednesday.

Tonight, after missing both breakfast and lunch today, I was feeling hungry.  We also needed to use up some ingredients while they were still, ah, useable.  So I made some real ice cream (not frozen custard, by the way, so no eggs), and some sliders (which was really cool). The ice cream was just two cups of whipping cream with one cup of whole milk, a cup of sugar, two teaspoons of vanilla extract, and two tablespoons of peach preserves.  I heated it until simmering, and then placed it in the fridge for freezing tomorrow.  More on that later, if it turns out really good.  ^_^

The Sliders I made by rolling a pound of ground beef really thin on some parchment paper, and then seasoning them with a quick rub of salt, pepper, and onion powder.  Then I folded the ground beef on itself, cut it into six portions (to fit on the hamburger buns we had), and then threw it on the electric griddle heated to 350 degrees.  They were excellent, and very light with a lot of flavor.

By now the dough had risen for my doughnuts (after an hour), so I flattened it out and cut them out with a part from a sandwich cutter (that has never been used, interestingly enough), and the center cut out with a boiled egg cup (I love multi-taskers!).  I let them rise for 30 minutes more (bench-proofing), and ate my sliders (yes, I only had two).  At this time I also turned on the oil, and without a thermometer, I guessed that one notch below medium would do it (I have an electric stove, more's the pity).

By the time the half hour went by, the oil was ready, I thought.  So, I tested them with the doughnut holes.  I placed them in for a minute, and they didn't seem to heat up very fast.  I was worried it was too cool, but then when I turned them over, I had a lovely golden brown crust.  They turned out great.  I then went through all 20 doughnuts and their respective holes, and let them cool for 20 minutes.

Now I made the glaze.  I made the chocolate doughnut glaze as penned by Alton Brown, and it turned out great.  I had some left over, but as my son loves chocolate now, his fingers were forever in them.  I dunked each of the doughnuts, and quickly finished the doughnut holes myself (hence why they don't show up below).  Needless to say, the second time they were excellent.  I even think they were better than Krispy Kremes, if only because I know how they were made, and everything tastes better when you make it yourself.  Tell me what you think.

Taxes and the Romans: I Look Into History

Lately I have taken to reading Theodor Mommsen's History of Rome under the Emperors, and I have to say I am absolutely enthralled.  I love Roman History, but in particular I like to look at how complex governing systems worked.  Rome was a very complex system from it's Republic to even under the Emperor, and continues to surprise me with every new look.

Lately I have been reading the history under Vespasian to Caraculla, which is the Second Semester in the book.  Here Mommsen talks about the Imperial income, and how the government made money. Now I realize that I will be talking in generalities, so please forgive my lack of specifics.  This was just an idea I had from a night reading over a couple of nights.  I do not have exact numbers, and so I remain vague.  If you would like to provide specifics, feel free to do so in the comments.

Now, current governments make money through taxation.  For the American people, this means taxation at the Federal, State, and even municipal level through income taxes, excise taxes, property taxes, and sales tax.  Income is then generated, and distributed for the good of those governed.  That's the theory, at any rate.  Whether or not it's to the benefit of those governed is a completely different discussion that I want to avoid for this post. 

What's interesting in Antiquity is the method of income:  It's not taxation, though taxes did exist, but rather through government monopolies and land usage fees (rents).  The State controlled all mines, and the wares sold were 100% profit for the State.  Lands were, once a region was made a Province, automatically owned by the State, and any that wished to "buy" it back could do so through annual payments, and even pay it off completely within a short amount of time.  Those wishing only to use land for pasture, planting, etc, could then pay a usage fee based on the type of usage.

Because of these sources of income, the Roman State had roughly a 4% tax it levied on it's citizens, and even less on provincials.  I found this almost incredulous, but yet it was enough to build massive roads and works all across the Empire, not the least of which were in Rome itself. 

So why isn't this same method of State income still in use today?  A lot has to do with the history between Rome and now.  Let's look at property first.  The Feudal period in Europe caused a huge backlash against the idea of a central government taking ownership of land.  Partly because of small feudal families wanting to keep their lands, partly because of the concerns of religious land ownership, it all came down to the right to own property that is protected by the US constitution.

With State-run monopolies, they were generally discouraged (with a few exceptions) with various experiments in various other countries failing.  That, and the fear of Communism becoming the new world economic model starting in the early 1900's. 

Still, it's interesting to see how different Governments have chosen to make their capital, and what they choose to do with it. 

Another Genetic Link Found For Autism: By the U of U!

Another genetic link as been identified by University of Utah researchers, this time focused around chromosome 5 which control neuron development in the brain.  The Salt Lake Tribune has an excellent story on the research done, and the implications of this particular discovery. 

The really good news is the reaction that most professionals are taking of this news:  nothing new, we are aware of it already, so let's start supporting those with Autism with the current treatments that have been most beneficial.  That is the attitude the Autism community needs to have.  Petty arguments as to the cause isn't nearly as important as the need to provide real support for those children suffering with Autism.

So what do you say Legislators?  Isn't it time to take the matter up?  What do you say insurance providers?  Isn't it time to at least cover the costs of diagnosis of Autism?  So many different genetic links have been made, I think it's pretty safe to say that Autism is a real health care concern, not a bunch of misbehaving children that have irresponsible parents. 

Increased Autism Rates: What It Really Means, And What It Should Mean

According to the National Institutes of Health's Parental survey, US estimates for Autism has now gone up to 1 in 100 based on a survey of 100,000 random households.  This is up from the estimated 1 in 150 that was based on surveys done in 2002.  People are panicking because of this news, because Autism seems to have had a massive surge in the past 7 years.  Organizations are calling for answers, quacks are touting their calls of everything from MSG to vaccines as the cause and they were right all along, and the belief in a massive Government conspiracy as a cover-up for increasing Autism rates has become almost religious in it's following. 

What I first want to outline is that the survey started with a specific question, "Has a doctor or Health Professional ever told you that your child has autism?"  From this question the statistics were generated, identifying the health care needs of children with autism versus neurotypical children among other statistical information.  The survey doesn't rely on data from health professionals on diagnosis rates, but rather the parents themselves.

Now, I don't want to suggest that the parents were anything but honest and forthcoming.  No one I know of would joke about having an autistic child when they don't.  But I know a lot of people in general that are paranoid and seem to see Autism where ever they look (I'm aware that's anecdotal evidence, but it's enough for me to view statistical information skeptically until additional evidence backs up the claim).  I would also like to point out that diagnoses tend to spike when public awareness is focused on a condition, like those for ADHD and food allergies.  It's not that they are wrong, but they do tend to come in waves.  For this reason, without doctors and psychologists being surveyed for diagnosis rates for comparison, I would take the actual rate numbers with a grain of salt.

That being said, I fully believe that the attention is nothing but positive for the Autism community!  Now people are looking at Autism with a more serious attitude, and perhaps Legislators and other government officials will start to take notice.  Perhaps now healthcare providers will look to Autism as a condition that needs treatment and coverage. 

What this survey should mean is this:  Autism needs to be understood, and those with Autism need to be assisted now.  There is no waiting, there is no ho-humming that can be tolerated from policy-makers, because we are looking at a significant and growing population of special needs that require help.  The Healthcare debate has yet to include Autism, which honestly needs to be addressed.  Public healthcare or no, Autism needs to be part of the equation in some form (if only coverage for the diagnosis).  Perhaps this will be the wake-up call needed for Legislators at both the State and National level to take Autism seriously.

Job Posting: Looking For Additional PHP, JavaScript, and Database Driven Websites Instructors

We are currently looking for additional instructors for PHP, JavaScript, and our Database Driven Websites classes to help supplement the demand for these classes.  We are looking for instructors with some teaching experience, and hands on knowledge in these areas. 

If you are interested, please contact Inita Lyon at ilyon@aoce.utah.edu with your resume.  Please mention the specific class (or classes) you would like to teach, and your experience in these areas.  Be sure you also check out our main website at http://continue.utah.edu/edtech/ to learn more about our department and the classes we offer. 

Thanks everyone!

Latest Apple Tablet Rumor: E-Reader, and My List Yet Again

AppleInsider recently posted an article outlining an outreach to current print houses to create content for a new platform.  It seems that Apple may be seeking to create a device that would make reading content while on the go simple and easy, but more than that:  They want interactive material to make the content more engaging.

eReaders have been around for a long time with varying levels of success.  I think the most successful device would have to be the iPhone/iPod Touch, though that is my personal opinion.  For dedicated devices, it's the Kindle by far.  Amazon has not only done a great job with the device, but has done a great job marketing the device.  It's all the rage with literary types, and I think mostly because of it's e-ink technology.

But there is one really big problem with the Kindle:  it only does one thing.  Now, I love applications that do one thing, because they can do that one thing really well.  But when it comes to my hardware, I want it to multitask as much as possible.  That's not to say the Kindle couldn't do more than one thing, it's just that it doesn't do more than one thing. 

So enters the Apple Tablet, the much rumored iPod Slate.  Apple has already shown that the tablet platform can be versatile, as shown with the iPhone and iPod Touch.  The iPod Slate would build on that success by providing a more powerful interface, longer battery life, and a larger viewing area.  That is, assuming Apple does things right. 

So, we come back to my list of requirements for the iPod Slate or Apple Tablet:

1. Unrestricted Bluetooth:  Please don't throttle my bluetooth, as it has been on the iPod Touch!  I want to be able to tether my headset I've had for a while, and a bluetooth keyboard. 
   


2. A Mini DisplayPort:  I want to be able to connect the device to a projector for presentations.  I can technically do that with an iPod Touch, but it's not as clean as using a Mini DisplayPort.
   


3. Full Office Software Availability:  I don't necessarily need to have Microsoft Office installed, but at least have a full version of iWork on the thing.  It would allow me to create, edit, and display presentations, spreadsheets, and documents on the fly.  I have a watered down version of Office for the iPod Touch, but it's not nearly to the level I want. 
   


4. Full Operating System:  I want an OS with a Terminal, the ability to manage, and install applications.  The important thing here is the Terminal..  I want shell access to my device, unlike the iPod Touch (without jailbreaking).
   


5. Reasonable Pricing:  I'll be the first to admit, Apple has had trouble with this in the past.  That being said, I've been happy with the iPod Touch pricing, and with the iMac and Mac Mini.  The MacBook Air was a fiasco, because you were paying more for less of a computer.  Don't make the same mistake with the iPod Slate!!!  Price it below the entry MacBook computers.  That would make it solidly in the $800 range.  If you are going to price it here, make sure it's worth it!

So, that is my list.  It's been modified slightly, as the need for USB will eventually be replaced by Light Peak, and with more storage going to the cloud, SD card usage wouldn't be that necessary.  A video camera on the front would be nice as well, but not that necessary.  Mobile video conferencing would be fun, but hardly a requirement. 

But the real issue will be pricing.  It's definitely going to be more expensive than the iPhone, but it needs to be less expensive than a MacBook.  Otherwise, why purchase it?  Why not get a MacBook instead, with all the hardware features you wouldn't have with the tablet?  Apple would run into another MacBook Air issue, where people would rather purchase a full featured MacBook Pro over a stripped-down version that's a little lighter. 

First Quarter, 2010!  Let's see what happens.  

Weekend Roundup: Politics, Autism, and Mac OS X 10.6 Training and Certifications

Today I thought I would throw up a quick roundup of the week that has been keeping me really busy. 

Politics
First, a quick word on politics.  Not really a position, but I want to mention that I finally got a response from my Congressman, Representative Jason Chaffetz.  But not an email, or even a letter, I was called.  That's right, he had an aide call me.  The call basically said they read on my blog that I hadn't gotten a response, and so they wanted to be sure I got one.  They left a message because I was teaching at the time, but still, it's cool.  How many congress members contact their constituents by phone?  I was impressed. 

Autism
Lately there have been a lot of articles on the news again about the MMR vaccine and Autism.  It seems that the National Autistic Society of Britain as finally admitted that the MMR vaccine is not the cause of autism.  This is because of a survey that was conducted amongst adults and children.  It seems that the rates of autism amongst adults and those of children are the same (in Great Britain).  Why is this significant?  Because if autism were caused by the MMR shot, the autism rate would be much higher in children.  The MMR shot has only been in existence since the 1990's. 

Yes, yet another great pillar in the false rumors and fear spread about vaccinations has gone down.  Now, let's focus on the education of those with Autism.  Science has triumphed again, though those who are "convinced" of a "world-wide government conspiracy" to support the MMR shot will probably still claim the same old arguments that have no basis in fact.  Wouldn't it be nice if we just all focused on the problem at hand?  Autistic children need education, and they need it now.

In other news, the question of Autism as a real disorder seems to be spreading.  While looking for specific details on an autism related website, I found this post by someone questioning the existence of Autism, as though it's an excuse for parents to let their children run wild.  I've heard this argument a lot, always from people who have never interacted with an autistic child.  My response was long, not quite as long as their response, and a lot easier to follow because I believe in paragraphs, but it was pretty comprehensive.  Perhaps, one day, I won't have to defend the diagnosis of doctors...  some day, perhaps.  *sigh*

Mac OS X 10.6
With the release of Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.6 Server, Apple Training is preparing to launch their 10.6 training materials.  To date, only the 10.6 Support Essentials and 10.6 Server Essentials tests are available.  Hopefully the exams for Deployment and Directory Services will be made available in October, and I can get those classes ready for Spring semester.  The final class, Mac OS X 10.6 Security and Mobility, which is new, I'm hoping will be made available during the Spring, along with the T3 that I will need to attend.  The T3, I'm hoping, will be less expensive than those in the past, and will allow me to offer the class as the Capstone course in the Summer. 

10.6 Support Essentials training materials will not be made available until late October, and 10.6 Server Essentials training materials not until late November.  So what does that mean for my classes now? 

Well, luckily, not much has changed in Support Essentials, so preparing my students for the Support Essentials 10.6 test will not be that difficult.  Server Essentials is different on a lot of levels, like the setup and a couple of other methods, so that one will be different, though I can still cover a lot of the same material in the 10.5 class to prepare the students for the 10.6 test. 

To date, the podcasts and Trainer exams for those ACT's certified for 10.5 classes are yet to be made available, so I don't have a timeline for the 10.6 classes.  I'm hoping the next Server bootcamp we have coming up in December will be 10.6.  Well, hopefully I'll find out something by next week.

The Autumn Autism Carnival

This last Saturday the Autumn Autism Carnival was held at Wheeler Farm.  My son's preschool teacher informed us of it, and recommended that we pre-register for the event.  We had thought about going before, but was unsure of how our son would handle it.  In the end, we decided to go.  I'm very glad we did.

First off, the parking was VERY WELL MANAGED!  I couldn't believe it!  It took a while to get parked because each car was individually lead to a parking spot.  Unlike other parking experiences for events in the past, this one made sure everyone was well placed, and anyone could leave when the time came. 

Registration was not long, and my son got a t-shirt for the occasion.  We then went directly to the information booths.  Here, I was surprised.  There were so many different charter schools out there that offer Autism classes...  and I was only aware of one up here at the University.  I don't have their information with me now, or I would post each one with links (that will be another post), but needless to say our son has a lot of options if needed once he leaves pre-school.  There were also organizations there that provide assistance for families with an autistic child. 

The games were neat, though our son was not too excited to play with many (other than those with water for him to play in).  Later we found out it was because he had a cold, which wiped him out for the weekend and yesterday.  Still, he enjoyed himself, and didn't have a melt down.  There were plenty of games, a couple of them were even duplicated to allow for shorter lines. 

Lunch was provided, though I don't think there was enough seating space for all.  We had hot dogs, chips, water, gummi fruit for our son, and cupcakes for dessert.  The food was complimentary for those who registered early. 

The staff were excellent, particularly since at least one time they were sent out to find a child that had run off.  I assume the child was found (I didn't hear anything on the news that night), and they were quick and willing to respond.  They were also representing several organizations, each sponsoring an activity.  I was amazed, and even touched by the number of organizations that were present at the Carnival.  It's nice to know so many other people feel compassion for those who are inherently different by birth. 

The day was a great day, until we went to the doctor's office with our sons, both of which had a cold.  Jonathan was winding down that night from all the fun and excitement, and as such would run around the lobby.  The only other people there gave cold, withering looks, and the older woman turned to her granddaughter and said we needed to "control our son".  I had even explained that he had autism, but it didn't seem to phase her.  So the day progressed from the best experience for my son, to one that left me fuming.  Oh well, perhaps one day I'll learn to let those comments go. 

At any rate, for those who live in the area of Salt Lake City, I would highly recommend attending the Autumn Autism Carnival.  The information provided is very helpful, and the experience is definitely positive.  It's great to meet other families with similar experiences, and similar concerns in a non-threatening environment. 

Healthcare Debate: Trying To Get Answers, And Getting Some Without Partisan Garbage

In the United States, the Healthcare debate is bordering saturation, as everyone seems to have an opinion on any one of the 2,000 plus Healthcare bills currently submitted to both Houses by both political parties.  As such, it's very difficult to get a non-partisan view of what Congress is currently trying to get passed, and what the Law will say.  Everyone has their opinions, with wild accusations from both sides being fired at will.

Because of this, it's difficult for anyone to have a balanced view of the debate, as the facts seem to be difficult to come by.  So I thought I would take what I deem the responsible approach:  read the healthcare bills myself.  Unfortunately, there are literally over 2,000 submitted, and I don't have the free time available to read them all.  Instead, I thought I would read the legislation the President has been touting as "The Bill" or "The Bills" on Congress, or the legislation he is supporting.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single reference to a bill by the President or member's of Congress.  Perhaps I was looking in the wrong places (I found I was in the end), but I just couldn't find them. 

So, I thought I would get the information directly from the source:  The President.  Three weeks ago, I emailed the President's office, addressing an Aide, because I don't have any misconceptions that the President would have the time to read my email personally, and asked three questions:

• Which bill does the President support, so I could read it myself?


• If the bill is not crafted, can I get a draft version?


• Why has the President not kept his campaign promise made on Aug. 21, 2008, at a town hall in Chester, VA, to hold televised negotiations for Healthcare?

I had figured, as the President seemed intent on clarifying the wording of his Healthcare Reform initiative as represented by Congress and clearing up any misunderstandings, he and his office would be willing to at least point Americans to read the legislation.  It made sense to me, at least. 

I didn't get a response right away, but that is to be expected, as I'm sure his aides and interns have a lot of email to go through.  So a week later I emailed Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Jason Chaffetz, my representatives, and asked them the same questions. 

It has now been three weeks from the date of emailing the President, and two from emailing my representatives.  To this date, I received two responses:  one from the Office of the President, and one from Senator Orrin Hatch.  I have yet to receive a response from my congressman. 

The Office of the President, instead of sending my any answers, replied with a mass email asking me to post videos for Vice President Biden supporting healthcare reform.  As my questions were related to getting information to decide on whether or not I supported the healthcare reform as currently proposed, I was a little shocked and concerned, but not surprised.  The exact same thing happened to me when I emailed then Candidate Obama with a question:  I instead received invitations to join rallies to support the candidate, when I was as yet undecided. 

As some of you out there know, I am very particular in how my representatives listen to their constituents.  I have voted against local and State officials that have refused to answer emails and letters, while heartily supporting those that do.  Candidate and now President Obama's organization has failed twice now to answer what I consider critical questions.  Others may disagree, but they have yet to earn the support they so erroneously assume I give when asking a question because they fail to answer those questions. 

The next response I received was from Senator Orrin Hatch.  In the past, I have sent emails and always gotten a response, which is why I support Orrin Hatch.  His staff treats me like a valued person, taking the time to respond to my questions.  This time was not different, as he provided an answer to the first question, the only one I would have expected he could give:  the legislation.  I knew he couldn't answer for the President on the third, and as there was drafted legislation, the second didn't need to to be addressed.

But what surprised me was the way it was answered.  I didn't get any partisan statements, mentioning his willingness to fight for what is right, defying the Democrats and their evil ways, Parting the Red Sea, and other such political mumbo-jumbo that seems to be too prevalent in this debate.  Instead, he told me where I could find the legislation, explained about the THOMAS Congressional Record posted by the Library of Congress, which has links on it's main website to HR 3200 (the house bill), and now to the Senate Finance Committee's bill.  It was amazing, it was astounding, a politician that was more concerned with my question than with partisan rhetoric. 

Mr. Chaffetz, I am still waiting for a reply from your office. 

So, for those who are interested in reading the legislation yourself, it is available freely to all.  Perhaps, if we as Americans stop listening to the Partisan bickering and get involved constructively in the process, civility can return to politics.  But then I suppose it wouldn't be politics anymore, would it? 

An Argument For Large Homes: Hiding Our Children from the Masses

As many of my friends may know, I'm not a very social person.  Oh, sure, I joke around with friends and family quite a bit, but I'm not very outgoing outside of the classroom or my circle of friends.  I even get claustrophobic in large crowds.  But that doesn't mean I don't like to go out to a restaurant or go see a movie:  until now. 

One of the realities of today's society is lack of tolerance.  Perhaps I was naive when I was little, but I never noticed the rancor that can be spewed forth from other people as they judge parents, particularly parents of children with autism.  There seems to be a backlash of sentiment against parents for the behavior of their children. 

Now, I can understand that there are some children that do not have any structure because their parents are either not bothered or do not know how to provide that structure.  As such, children try to push against boundaries that are not there, causing issues with their behavior.  Hence I highly recommend watching ABC's Supernanny, because great tips are given in each episode in handling children and helping parents become parents.

But lately people have become downright intolerant of the needs of children.  The Daily Mail ran a story on a family who's 2 year old daughter was insulted by staff members of a local restaurant, and it was written on the check.  The family, horrified, encountered no satisfaction from the staff that night, and subsequently refused even the owner's apology and invitation to dine free the next week.  The restaurant has subsequently fired the staff member responsible, but still sentiment ran free and clear in the comments to the story:  children (those little monsters) should be seen and not heard, and preferably not seen. 

So, this leads to an impossible situation:  children are not welcome in society.  As such, parents need to have a place where a controlled, positive social interaction can occur.  They can't go out to the restaurant, so they bring the restaurant home.  Entertaining at home with friends and their children is becoming the safe, accepted normal practice, for the benefit of the children.

Should it be this way?  That's a matter of opinion.  As a father of an autistic child, I've heard my fair share of criticisms from unknowing, ignorant strangers, unaware of my child's condition.  My wife and I rarely go out together with the children, and this is part of the reason.  There are even some restaurants I avoid specifically because of bad experiences with staff and patrons, and others we frequent because of good experiences with staff and patrons.  But often, we find it more convenient to remain at home. 

So while I like the idea of a small home, it's a difficult to justify in the current social climate.  We are so worried about including other nationalities, sexual preferences, and racial groups into our society, we forget that the most under-represented portion of the population (or children) are people too.  Perhaps it's time society chewed on that.

Childhood Milestones and Autism: Potty Training

For a while now my wife and I have been potty training our son.  He's 4 now, and will be turning 5 in February.  You may think this is a bit late for a child, but potty training an autistic child is a bit different than potty training a neurotypical child. 

For instance, autistic children do not respond to "big boy pants" incentive as they do not recognize the social status big boy underwear can have, nor do they see the social advantage of performance for the pleasure of the parents.  They also don't see the point in changing the current routine that has been firmly engrained within their day.  Why learn something new when the status quo works fine for them?  Also there is the issue of sensory overload within a bathroom setting, with all the noises, echos, and new sensations that come with the bathroom. 

So potty training an autistic child can be very challenging.  That being said, it is not impossible, as my wife and I have found.  There are a few recommendations that we have experienced that I would pass on:

1. Make It Fun:  Potty training should not be a time for anger, but for fun.  Currently my son loves to go to the potty, because we try to make it as fun as possible.  I sing the "potty song" for him using simple words and a simple melody.  Occasionally I'll change the melody to be different to keep his attention.  This helps him both recognize how long to stay on the potty, and make the experience fun. 
   
   This can also mean using incentives to use the toilet, such as a specific toy, a video game, or a puzzle they get to put together only while on the potty.  Find something that works for you. 
   


2. Be Consistent:  Don't miss a beat when training.  Set up a schedule for your child, and keep to it.  If you take them to the potty every hour, then take them every hour.  Don't miss an hour because you are tired, or because your child seems too involved in their play.  Keep the schedule. 
   
   Not sure what the schedule should be?  Start with every hour and keep a record of when the child does go to the potty, which type (number 1 or number 2), and when it happens.  Does it show a particular pattern?  Is this pattern something you can follow?  You now have your schedule.
   


3. Be Organized:  Outline the process for your child.  Make sure they know what the process is, and when each step is complete.  Task completion is very important to autistic children, and can reinforce the benefits of the task itself.  Break the task down into very specific portions: 
   -Stopping play
   -entering the bathroom
   -pulling down pants
   -pulling down underpants
   -sitting on toilet
   -urinating or defecating (as applicable)
   -wiping when complete (as applicable)
   -standing up
   -throwing away wipe
   -pulling up underpants
   -pulling up pants
   -washing hands
   -drying hands
   -returning to play
   
   Feel free to use images or picture communication to outline this process for your child.  
   


4. Be Patient:  Some parents do not see success until their children are 8 years old or older, others may see success early on.  Don't judge your child or your parenting skills based on how soon they succeed.  Remember that success is measured by completion of a task.  The longer it takes, the more exciting it is when it has been completed! 
   


5. DON'T GET MAD!  I can't stress this enough.  Never get angry with your child for not going to the potty, not recognizing when they need to go, or for going into the bathroom.  Sure, they may be playing in the sink or something when you don't want them to, but if you punish them for entering the room, they will recognize that.  The more angry you get, the longer potty training will take. 

Anyway, those are the suggestions that I would pass on.  They have helped us considerably, and I hope they will help anyone else out there. 

Chicken Tikka Masala: Complicated, but Tasty

For a few years now I have been hearing about chicken tikka masala, and I've wondered what it was.  It sounded Indian, and I've had precious little experience with Indian food and seasonings.  But recently I saw an episode of America's Test Kitchen featuring the dish, and saw an episode of In Search Of Perfection on the same dish.  I had some ginger, fresh tomatoes from the garden, and a large onion hanging around that needed some work, so I thought I would try it and see how it would turn out.  It was a very complicated recipe, and I'm not sure I would make it again very soon, in spite of it's magnificent flavor. 

Now, both recipes were similar in ingredients, but the processes were very different.  The Test kitchen used the yogurt marinade as a dip and then baked the chicken, while Heston Blumenthal instead marinated the chicken for a very long time, and then baked the chicken in a make-shift tandori oven.  I didn't have the makings for the tandori oven, so I kind of meshed the two recipes together. 

First, I started the day before and created a salt rub with cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, and salt.  I rubbed this onto my chicken (thighs because of the high fat content and they are cheap), and then let them rest in the fridge for an hour.  I then mixed some minced garlic, ginger, oil, and yogurt together to make the marinade, took the rubbed chicken and let it marinade for 18 hours. 

The next day, I started with the sauce.  I heated some oil and threw in the raw garlic and onion to brown.  Once lightly toasted (not carmelized, not quite), I threw in some ginger, tomato paste, garam masala spice mix, and a couple fresh Santa Fe chilies from the garden.  I let this cook for a couple of minutes, and then added one Green German tomato, one Yellow Brandywine tomato, a couple of Black Plums, and three Sophie's Choice tomatoes, all chopped and I removed as much of the skin as I could.  This was the substitute for the canned crushed tomatoes for which the recipe called.  I then added some salt and sugar, and let it simmer for a while as I pulled out the chicken.

Now, for the chicken, I started with trying to broil them for 9 minutes on each side, but it didn't cook them through nearly enough, so I ended up broiling them for 18 minutes on both side, and popping them into the microwave for a couple of minutes to be sure the internal temperature was high enough.  Next time, I think I would grill them on the barbeque, if I haven't built my tandori oven by then.  ^_^

While the chicken was cooking, I added some heavy cream to the sauce to make it creamy, and then set it aside, covered, so it would stay warm.  I was supposed to add fresh cilantro leaves to the sauce, but decided against it at the last minute.  At this time I also started cooking the rice, which was some left over Calarose rice I had around for a while.  It cooked up beautifully, and was ready by the time the dinner was done.

Once the chicken was finished, I chopped it up and stirred it into the sauce.  By now all the flavors had mixed well, and I ended up with a sweet-flavored sauce that had quite the kick to it after a couple of minutes.  It was delicious, and all that tried it liked it. 

There are a lot of recipes for chicken tikka masala out there, but I found the America's Test Kitchen recipe to be very tasty without being very oily.  You can get it here.  You do need to register for the site, but it's free and you get occasional emails with recipes and book offers.  The only change I would recommend is the marinade time.  It's a long time, but it's worth it!  The flavors have plenty of time to work through the chicken if marinated for a while.

Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: The First Impressions and iCal Delegation

Yesterday I installed Mac OS X 10.6 on my work computer to become familiar with the new operating system.  Unlike other Mac OS X IT instructors, I haven't had access to the seeds for 10.6, so I couldn't beta-test the OS.  But, the wait has definitely been worth it. 

1. The first thing I noticed is the install:  No longer do you have to select the Printer drivers you want to include because it will detect the printers you are using and install only those drivers!  This saves a ton of space on the computer, and part of the reason why the install is so small.  You also have optional installs for Rosetta. 
   


2. The next thing I noticed is automatic software installs on demand.  For instance, I needed to install Adobe Photoshop CS2, which runs in Rosetta, because it's a PowerPC app.  While running the Installer, Mac OS X 10.6 realized that Rosetta was necessary for the app to run, and as such installed Rosetta for me then and there.  Brilliant! 
   


3. In Stacks, you can now navigate through folders within your Stacks folder, so you don't need to open into Finder if you don't want to.  This is far more useful than using Finder all the time, keeping the search all within one flow. 
   


4. Exchange Support:  The first and best thing is exchange support!  Finally!  I don't have to feel like an outcast at the University of Utah because everyone else is using Outlook and the best I could come up with is Entourage (which is embarrassing, to say the least).  Now iCal and Address Book both support Exchange.  When you set up your Exchange email (you don't even need to set up any of the server information if there is automatic configuration available), it will give you the option to configure your iCal and Address Book as well.  And that's it, that's all you need to do.
   
   If you want to add your delegations, you do so through the Preferences.  Click on iCal, then Preferences, and then Accounts.  Select your Exchange calendar account, and click on the Delegations pane.  To add an account you are delegated to, click on the + and start typing in the name of the person you are a delegate of.  It will add the user info, as well as the permissions you have been given. 
   
   To add delegates to your calendar, click on the Edit button, and then the + sign to add a new delegate.  You can set their access (from read only, read and create, read and write, or no access) for both your Calendar and your Tasks.  Click OK, and you are all set!  They can now manage or view your calendar. 

There are a couple of other minor things I like, but that will be it for now.  So far, it's definitely worth the $29.00 price for an upgrade, as long as you have an Intel Mac on which to install the OS. 

YouTube and Autism: Finding Social Stories

This last week my wife found a new use for our Apple TV.  Instead of listening to music or watching videos, she found that she could use YouTube.  In the past she hasn't been that keen on using YouTube, because she hasn't seen the use of it.  To tell you the truth, neither have I, beyond getting demonstrations on steampunk tech and other random videos.  But this last week she found out that several people have recorded their experiences on various Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland Paris rides, and posted them.  This filled at least four evening's full of entertainment. 

But we were not watching these rides just for the sake of watching the rides, but rather we were watching them because we wanted to help our son who is Autistic prepare for his trip to Disneyland in the Fall.  You see, with an autistic child it's best if one can provide social stories, or stories that outline important steps in life.  In this case, we were showing the steps and procedures one takes when getting on a ride.  There is the line, and things to see, then taking a ticket, showing this ticket while getting on the ride, and the parts of the ride.  At this point he is familiar with the steps, and will be able to follow them when he gets on the ride himself. 

And while we were going through these steps, I started thinking about other experiences in life.  Unlike produced material, YouTube is essentially a respository of social stories in the form of home movies.  Granted, just like anything else in the world, one needs to be careful which videos are taken as instructional for social interaction, but with some careful screening by parents, YouTube can be a very useful tool for autistic children. 

My recommendation would be to try doing a search for Social Stories on YouTube, and see what comes up.  You may be surprised.  ^_^

The Modernism Backlash: Smaller Homes, Gardens, Mass Transit, Composting Toilets?

Lately I have noticed a backlash of sorts against the status quo.  Sure, we have seen this in every age when society gets to a specific point, but this one seems to be more extreme, at least in my opinion.  Perhaps it's because I'm looking for this element, or perhaps it's because my attention has been focused in this way, but it seems that the modern world of large homes, expensive vehicles, and modern conveniences is being seen as a distraction.

For instance, the Tiny Home movement talks about living in a small space, between 86 sq. ft. to up to 500 sq. ft. (about).  These are dimentions of homes that have existed for centuries.  Log cabins, tents, cottages, etc. have all been built small.  Why?  Generally because building a home is time consuming, and generally you need to get into the house before the elements become too extreme for survival.  Therefore people learned to live in small spaces out of necessity.  As such, their "private time" was spent outdoors in woods, fields, mountains, etc. 

The really interesting thing about the current housing market is the size of the homes being built are larger than many of the castles built in the Middle Ages, or even many of the Roman villas (with a few exceptions of both, to be sure).  They are built to contain an entire ecosystem consisting of a local pub, dance hall, hotel for vistors with washing facilities, and theatre.  How much really does get used, and for how often?  Then there is the maintenance:  repairs, cleaning, dusting, decorating..  the list goes on, and all for space that is hardly ever used.  How easy would it be to replace it with, say, renting a space at a local restaurant, town hall, church, etc. and save the money you would have otherwise spent yearly for the upkeep of a space you may never use again. 

The tiny home community has worked on building a home that fits their needs, while limiting the excess that has come to represent the modern debt-based economy.  Often times modern conveniences are worked around for convenience to the builder, so things such as toilets are turned into composting toilets or outhouses, again a throw back to the chamber pots and latrines of the early decades. 

Farming is also making a comeback, or at least gardening.  Partly for help in the food expenses, partly because it keeps one's mind busy on something that is rewarding in and of itself, more people are growing vegetables and fruits in their yards than before.  Urban Farming has become a new focus for those in apartments or suburban areas, with window boxes full of tomatoes or salad greens gracing many a home.  This, again, is a throwback to a time when gardening provided a huge amount of variety to the diet. 

Mass transportation has been growing, and more people are buying homes where they can walk or bike to work or to a transit station and commute to work that way.  Before the Model T when the Automobile was king and represented the wealth of those who purchased them, people would often walk if they didn't have the convenience of a buggy and/or horse.  Bicycles were also very popular because of the level of mobility they provided the individual.  All before the automobile became the new standard of travel. 

It's interesting to see how the failing economy that was based on so many unsustainable practices has changed the outlook of people in general.  More people are willing to commute to work, more people are willing to due without the guest wing in their new giant home for something a bit more manageable, or people looking for a deeper connection to their land than a lawn that is only mowed and never walked on. 

The really surprising thing is the move toward more primitive living: i.e. the move away from indoor plumbing.  Perhaps it's just a fringe, but people who currently live in modern homes are building their own dwellings without the convenience of indoor plumbing.  Water is brought in from a well, stream, sistern, or other outdoor source.  The toilet is processed into "humanure", and used for a garden, while gray water is filtered out and used for gardening as well.  Hygenics aside, the fact that people are choosing to make this move is fascinating. 

So I suppose the only question that remains is where this movement will end.  My guess is the housing market will see a reduction in house sizes in response, lot sizes will increase relative to the size of the home, and more gardens will be grown for home-grown produce.  For some reason, though, I don't see the general public giving up their indoor plumbing.