Life After High School: Autism in College

Article first published as Life After High School: Autism in College on Technorati.

To date the discussion of autism has been primarily on the load that is weighing down our public elementary school system. The number of children being diagnosed, the number of children in need of special handling or exceptions, all have become a growing concern to the school system. It then spreads upward to secondary schools for a continuation of those same services. Then what?

There are a number of adults with autism, many of them undiagnosed, and they are also in need of assistance. Many of them are already in college, or at least looking to go eventually, but are not aware of the services that many colleges and universities offer.

As a test, I checked here locally at the University of Utah (of which I am an employee), to see what services are available. Their services are provided through the Center for Disability Services, which is located in the Union building, first floor, in the very back hallway. It's a small office, but don't let that fool you.

So what services do they offer? First and foremost they offer general advising. That is, help in planning their academic future. They will investigate the student's academic strengths and weaknesses to help plan what program would be the best fit for them. They can also refer the student of various other campus and community services that may be available. Utah is not well known for the services they offer, but those that are offered are very welcome to those on the spectrum.

If necessary, they can act as a liaison between the student and faculty or other departments for accommodation needs. They identify the ideal learning strategies for the student, and provide assistance when needed. They can also assist in registration and admissions.

Test taking is very important, because departments need to provide some method of measuring what has been learned. The Center will provide accommodations for test taking (verbal reading of the questions, scribes, and test taking technologies), offer note taker or interpreter services as needed, and so on. They can also provide text books in alternative formats if necessary (such as braille). They also work with adaptive technologies to further the student's learning ability. And, of course, they can work with the student to receive scholarships.

The one thing that the student needs to provide for these services is documented diagnoses for their related disabilities. For autism, that can be a bit of a problem, as many children and adults live without a diagnosis. All the more reason to utilize the University's student counseling center to find a good psychologist that can make such a diagnosis. At that point, the services are available to anyone.

This, of course, is just the University of Utah. All state schools are required to comply with the accommodations outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, and should provide similar services. Some provide more, but I can't imagine any providing less (and not getting a lawsuit).

So if you are wondering what would be the best school to attend for your young adult on the Spectrum, check first to see what services are offered. You may be surprised by the options available.

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Review: What It Really Means

Article first published as Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Review: What It Really Means on Technorati..

There has been a recent preliminary review that has gotten a lot of press lately, as a claim to proof that vaccines do cause Autism. The claim is shocking, as just about every clinical, double-blind study (not falsified with fraudulent data) has conclusively shown that there is no link between Autism and vaccines. Yet still this persists, and now a "Study" can be pulled from the court cases of the Vaccine Courts to prove it. At least that is the claim of many websites, so many in fact that it's becoming a popular link to share.

So, what can one do but review the data? 

The article is very telling. It mentions the past compensation offered by the Vaccine Courts to children with symptoms that can accompany Autism, and then the immediate denial of Autism directly as a cause. They then continue to question the fairness of the vaccine courts in an attempt to identify inconsistencies in the rulings. Nowhere does it claim that vaccines cause Autism, or have any relation to the condition. In fact, on page 482, fourth paragraph down, they say, "This assessment of compensated cases showing an association between vaccines and autism is not, and does not purport to be, science." All the authors point out is that the "finding raises fundamental questions about the integrity, transparency, and fairness of this forum."

So what is the article all about? 83 cases of damage related to Autism had been ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and now the Vaccine Courts no longer rule in that favor. They are just drawing attention to this fact in order to call for a review of the courts themselves.

So what does it mean to the rest of us? Vaccines are still not the cause of Autism, and we need to let that argument go. Worry about what to do for your children instead of who you can sue. The review is there to call into question the legal grounds of each dismissed case, not the scientific causes of Autism.

iPad as a Laptop Series: Floor Plans

I'm constantly looking for new and better ways to design something.  Lately I have had an interest in Tiny Homes by Tumbleweed Houses, and have thought about building a camping and traveling trailer as a tiny home.  But the thing is, I would need to design it to fit up to 8 people (four adults, four kids).  That's problematic with the existing plans at Tumbleweed Houses (most cater to up to 2 people), so I am down to designing my own.  Usually this means pulling out the graph paper to draw it to scale.  But I thought, shouldn't I be able to do this on my iPad?  

Apparently someone else thought that too, as I found several apps for iPhone and iPad that will let you create, edit, and view floor plans and blue prints right from your iOS device.  The one that interested me the most is iPlanit ($19.99) and it's free version, iPlanit Lite, which lets you build in each element you are planning on.

The interface is pretty clear, as it's just drag and drop for each element.  Once placed, you can rotate the item with some difficulty, resize easily with a pinch, and place items quickly.  Within a few minutes I was running through some designs that I thought would work on paper, but clearly didn't work in practice.  It's a great little app, and one well worth it.  The free version has all the functionality of the paid version, but when you export your plans, it includes a watermark over the image.  

Of course, you can use it for more than just planning out trailers!  It's ideal for any kind of building or layout planning within rooms, porches, or even some landscaping.  I would recommend it highly for your iPad.  

iPad 2 Wishlist

A day before the scheduled Apple event, and I think it's time to mention my wishlist for the rumored iPad 2.  For me, the original iPad was a great tool.  It's plenty fast for what I want to do with it, it gets the job done, and it's built very well (it's taken a couple of falls, and a couple of head-butts from my son).  So, in order for me to think about replacing it with the latest and greatest, I would need to see some pretty crazy changes.  What would those be? 

First off, you need to realize that there are two things that make the iPad:  It's screen size for typing and visual display, and the software it can run.  That is what distinguishes it from the iPod Touch, and in the end makes it a truly remarkable device.  The list below outlines the changes I would like to see. 

1. Retina Display:  Obviously, I would want to see the retina display on the iPad.  And, honestly, I'm not sure how you can get any better than that for such a device.  Once the display exceeds the number of pixels necessary for the human eye to distinguish between them..  where do you go?  Rumors go back and forth on this for the iPad 2, and suggest it may not be there until the iPad 3.  We will see. 
   


2. Camera?  Okay, the front facing camera I can almost see for FaceTime.  But a rear-facing camera?  Can you honestly see yourself holding up the behemoth that is the iPad to take a picture or record video?  I don't see it as a practical thing.  Rather, I would prefer to use the camera on my iPhone and then sync it to the iPad.  That would be cool.
   


3. Faster Processor:  Better technology, better performance, better speed, less power.  All that would make the latest iPad a great buy.
   


4. More Memory:  Of course more storage would be great, but I'm also talking about RAM.  I expect both to be available, and that will extend the capabilities of the iPad and software it runs. 
   


5. Expansion Ports:  Currently the iPad only has the 30-pin proprietary connector.  Additional dongles can be purchased for that connector, but for now that's all it has.  What would be nice is to see some other standard ports become available.  I don't think it would be USB (though that would be nice), but I would like to see the new Thunderbolt port for the iPad, perhaps even replacing the 30-pin connector port.  It may not happen with this release, but I would like to see it happen on future releases.  The only problem:  the port would be bigger than the edge of the iPad would be.  Other ports that would be nice would include an SD card slot. 
   


6. Longer Battery Life:  The iPad already has a killer battery life, lasting pretty much all day on normal usage.  But the longer I can go between charges, the more I can do with my iPad. 

So that is pretty much it for the hardware.  Most of these are just wishlist type things anyway, and even if they all happened on the iPad 2, I think I would be fine until the next iteration.  But the one thing I am really looking forward to is an iOS update, a significant one. That is where I would like to see changes.

1. Gestures;  Apple has made gestures a core for their software, and I think taking it further would be logical.  I've seen rumors for a gesture to replace the home button.  That would be awesome.
   


2. Better File Sharing Access:  Right now I'm getting along well with Dropbox on my iPad, but it would be so nice to use a WebDAV client built in to get access to files, as well as an AFP or SMB client.  NFS would rock as well, though I don't see it being particularly useful in a wireless environment.
   


3. Speech:  I would love to see speech to text and speech commands integrated into the iOS.  Why?  Because sometimes I would just like to speak and have the thing done, while I'm typing elsewhere.  It could speed up a lot of processes. 
   


4. Great Remote Management:  Apple has done a fantastic job with it's remote management tools for iOS, and with 10.7 pushing profiles, it's only going to get better. 

So that's my list.  Anything you all would like to see?  Anything you would not want to see? 

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.. A Server In Every Desktop?

I've been following the comments of a lot of friends out there about Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, and how it relates to the Server environment.  It seems that Server services are now going to be bundled within Mac OS X, which means Apple no longer needs to provide a Server version of the OS.  This is what is inferred on Apple's preview website for Lion, and it has created a lot of buzz over it. 

For me, I think it's great!  Why?  Well, because it means that my vision for the computer world is looking pretty solid.  When the iPad came out, I saw the writing on the wall:  desktops were going to be relegated to Servers for storage, sharing, printing, etc. while home computer use will be managed through tablets like the iPad.  There are exceptions to that, obviously, like video editing and rendering, high end photo manipulation, etc, but for the most part Joe Average at home could do most of his computing on a tablet. 

So why even stop there?  Well, the Internet in general is not yet reliable enough for cloud based computing (wonder why Chrome OS is so long in coming?), and there are still a number of desktops out there that could be used for a transition in the meantime.  Apple has taken the step in the commercial OS business to provide an active migration tool to tablets and Servers, and making it easy to set up and manage. 

For those that have used Server Preferences in the past may have known that setting up a Mac OS X Server can be very simple.  For those of us who used Server Admin, we know that Apple is great at simplifying the process.  From the screenshots I have seen (I've yet to get a preview copy), it looks like Lion will have a Server Preferences like app, but it will look like Server Admin now, or actually more like Finder. 

But what about the iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch?  Well, it looks like profiles can be pushed out to the iOS devices using Profile Manager, a new service.  That's exciting!  It's going to make managing iOS devices at home and at work much easier.  And the fact that it integrates with an existing directory service (like Active Directory, Open Directory, Open LDAP, Kerberos, eDirectory, etc.) makes it even easier to throw into a network for iOS management.

There are still a lot of questions that need to be answerd, but as it sits I'm really excited to see this move by Apple.  It's a good move, and with all the other updates coming from Lion, this is going to be one slick OS. 

EEG Test for Autism?

BMC Medicine published an article today on the results of an EEG study to identify children with a sibling with Autism. The article covered an EEG test to check for mental activity within the speech and social centers of the brain for those siblings of a child with Autism (which typically places them in at a high risk for Autism themselves), and the control group for children with neurotypical siblings.  They found, with 80% accuracy, they could identify the children who had siblings with Autism. 

So, let's look a the study, which the authors freely admit is just a stepping stone to additional research.  The study is looking for brain activity, as measured by sensitive electrodes that rest on the scalp of a child aged between 6 to 24 months.  The activity indicate freely firing neurons, which in turn show information processing.  It is assumed that with high activity in this area, the child is strongly social, or will at least develop strong speech and social skills. 

They found that children who had a sibling with Autism tended to have less activity within the speech and social regions of the brain.  They also found that age was a significant factor, as at 9 months the classification accuracy was near 100%, and remained between 70% ad 90% at ages 12 to 18 months.  For girls, the classification was highest at age 6 months, and then declined. 

So what are we looking at here?  Well, on the surface, it looks like it's an ideal way to identify Autism, or at least at this stage show a child has a sibling that has Autism.  More study is needed to prove that Autism can be diagnosed through EEG's.  But something else comes to mind when I read the results of the study:  the accuracy starts to decline at age 9 months for boys, and 6 months for girls. The brain is an amazing organ, and has the ability to retrain itself when given specific stimuli, hence why AAC therapy is so effective with children on the Spectrum.  What's very interesting here is the decline in accuracy may actually be showing brain compensations within the children as they develop.  That's a fascinating idea, and one that we need to get to sooner within the Autism community.

It seems that too many people see Autism as a static disorder, much like blindness or deafness. But because it is a neurological disorder, it's possible the brain can work itself through Autism, and appear quite normal.  As Dr. James Coplan suggested  in his 5th post on PsychologyToday.com, time can make the difference if the child's IQ is sufficiently high enough to work it's way through the severity of the disorder.  Therefore, I see this study as not only significant, but necessary.

And another side note to the discovery:  It yet again proves that Autism is, in fact, a medical disorder, and at least the diagnosis should be covered by health insurance. 

Can the iPad, or any Tablet, Replace your Laptop?

I have found the iPad to be one of the best purchases I have ever made.  It's usefulness has gone beyond anything that I could have imagined, and continues to get better as applications that are produced for the iPad get better.  But could it really replace a full powered laptop or notebook computer?  Does that little piece of glass have what it takes?  My answer, based on my experience, has been yes.  But let me explain how I have come to that conclusion. 

When I purchased the iPad, I bought it for three tasks:  mobile video for long periods of time (like on a flight), bigger screen for reading ebooks, and writing while on the go (literally while sitting on the bus).  These were tasks I found awkward with a laptop, and found that my iPod or iPhone was not up to the task. 

First, for mobile video.  Sure, my iPod could do this, but I wanted something that I could use to share with my kids.  With the large screen of the iPad, I can sit back with the kids and watch videos, for up to 10 hours.  Ideal for along driving trips or plane flights, this worked well.  Sure, I could get adapters for the laptop, but it's clamshell design was not the best for watching video.  Not as convenient as holding it in your hand.

I never liked reading ebooks on either the desktop or a laptop.  The controls were awkward to use, the laptop too heavy to hold, and the battery life was not up to a long period of reading.  No, I needed something with a better battery that was light enough to hold while standing and not get in the way.  My iPhone works great, but the screen is really small and having a larger screen is very handy when reading PDF files.  As anyone who has used a standard Kindle and then got the larger one would tell you, the increased screen real estate does make a difference. 

While a physical keyboard for writing is great, I wanted something that would be more mobile than a clamshell computer.  The flat nature of the iPad makes it ideal, as well as the wide screen size for typing with more than a couple fingers (or thumbs).  What's more, there are full word processor apps that are available for the iPad, as well as very spartan versions that are perfect for writing articles and novels. 

So then I started to think, if it can do these three things that justify (if only barely) purchasing an iPad, what would it need to do in order to justify using it as a replacement for a full powered laptop?  So, I started going through all the applications that I have on my computer, just to see what it is that separates the laptop from the iPad when in use.  What I found was fascinating, and a little surprising.  I found that a lot of the apps I already had could replace to a certain degree the applications I have on my computer.  Here is what I came up with:

Games:  This was a no-brainer, as the iPad and Apple's App Store is at least 25% games.  But what about those specific games that everyone is playing?  If you are looking for a specific game, then you may be out of luck (no Starcraft 2 or World of Warcraft here), but you can get similar games, so the overall experience is not lost. 

Word Processing/Publishing:  I've already mentioned that word processing on the iPad is a great way to get things done.  Recently I purchased iA Writer, and I love it.  I also have Pages, which is phenomenal for creating layouts for my text.  I also have Index Card to organize my storylines, PlainText for taking notes (also works decently for writing novels), and Documents 2.  I even have SpeakPad for text to speech, in case I want to hear the text I'm writing.

Text Editing:  Different than word processing, text editing allows for writing stuff like code.  Often times I'll be sitting on the bus, and I may want to just bust out some code really quick.  Believe it or not, that can be done on the iPad.  Tools like Markup for iPad make it possible. 

Pictures:  The iPad has a ton of picture editors, though I like Photoshop Express for making quick edits to pictures I've already taken,  I also have various sketch apps for releasing more creative ideas beyond a photo. 

Communication:  Along with iPad's Mail, I can use a number of other tools like Skype, Twitter through Tweetdeck, FacePad for the rare occasions I want to check out Facebook, or even Pocket Metaverse to chat with my buddies in Second Life.  And, because of the nature of the iPad, these apps are less distracting than on a desktop or laptop. 

Coding:  I know I mentioned this under text editing, but sometimes you want to test your code.  Well, you can using various tools on the iPad.  Right now there are two Lua test environments for the iPad (iLuaBox and Luna), and JavaScript Anywhere works for JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS.  More are on the way, though I'm not expecting a full on Xcode environment (but that would rock!!!).

Project Management:  There are a number of project management tools for the iPad, but I'm currently looking at Trac Viewer, and Trac as an open source online project management tool.  It's supported by my hosting service, so I thought I would give it a try. 

So that's just off the cuff.  There are some other applications that I don't have and can't to this point, but over all, the iPad makes a great replacement for a laptop for general use.  So much so that I gave up my laptop and got a desktop instead. 

Families and Autism: When Family Members Don't Understand

Recently, I've been running into a common problem that a lot of parents run into:  family members not understanding their child's condition.  In this case, a new behavior that our child with Autism has has been misunderstood. 

It is quite common for some behaviors in managing Autism to be misunderstood as child abuse, particularly deep pressure stimulation. Some parents, while on a shopping trip, may need to initiate deep pressure stimulation to get their child under control.  Sometimes this means laying on top of the child.  In broad daylight, in the middle of the store.  Parents with children on the Spectrum fear this scenario, because they have been reported for child abuse at that moment.  It's embarrassing for the parent, because they are doing what they are supposed to do, but yet it makes them look bad.  It's also potentially a legal issue, depending on how versed law enforcement is on the Autism spectrum. 

Though deep pressure stimulation is usually seen as weighted bean-bags, blankets, or bear hugs, my son craves a somewhat sharp sensation on his arm.  He will use toy dinosaurs to "bite" his arm, stick his arm in the dogs mouth (much to the frustration of the dog), or even in my mouth.  Sometimes, due to the amount of pressure he puts on his arm, this can cause bruising.  We were concerned, and talked with his occupational therapist, which said this was perfectly normal.  They even taught us some techniques of deep pressure stimulation that would help our son focus more at home. 

Well, family members have been concerned about the bruises, thinking that they are being caused by adults mishandling my son.  The frustration is, I know what it looks like, but it isn't the case at all.  It's a sensory need that my son has to get that stimulation.  So, I ended up needing to explain the sensory need my son has.  I'm not sure it registered, nor whether or not family members understand.  Of course, I would hope that all those who know me would trust that I have my son's best interests and safety in mind, and would be alert to his needs, his situation, and any changes in his habits. 

Though the frustration with the misunderstanding is there, it's difficult to place blame on a family member that doesn't understand the sensory needs of a child with Autism.  Why?  Because even if they have worked with a child with Autism before, every child is different.  That is especially true in sensory stimulation.  Even if you have grown up with a child with Autism, all other children on the Spectrum are going to be different.  So how do you help family members understand what children with Autism need, even if it looks odd?

First, you need to set the foundation.  Because of the nature of Autism and the brain, they will need something on which to focus to keep the brain from getting sensory overload.  Often times that means either auditory, visual, or tactile stimulation.  Deep pressure is common with children on the spectrum, and there are a number of ways to apply that pressure.  Most commonly a weighted bean bag will work, or weighted blanket.  You can also use your palms on the arms, pressing the arm between your palms.  And remember, this is deep pressure, so you would need to press hard (not to tears, but until you feel resistance).  Bear hugs also work, or even just a large pet (like a dog) laying on the child or leaning against their trunk. 

Has anyone else had similar experiences, or had the need to explain their child's sensory needs to family members? 

HP TouchPad Preview: What It Does, and What It Needs To Do

PC Magazine has a great article with embedded video on HP's announcement for it's new tablet to compete with the iPad:  The HP TouchPad.  It will be using HP's (formerly Palm's) WebOS platform, and from the demos I've seen from the launch, it looks interesting. 

From a basic view, it's pretty much like the iPad.  The size, resolution, and even the basic look just screams iPad.  They really took a queue from iPad and understand what the tablet should be.  When working in an app, the app takes over the screen.  They even go so far as to have multiple screens of apps instead of app icons to select the app you want to use now.  Orientation is really the same, and I don't see anything that really screams unique in this area. 

What it does have that the iPad doesn't is a forward facing camera, and a dual core processor.  The software also communicates wirelessly with the HP Pre3 using a proximity sensor to transfer data between the two.  That's pretty cool, and I think it would be a neat feature for any smart phone/tablet combination.  Why?  Because it creates a level of cooperation between the two that enhances the experience, and could create immediate need to purchase both for the sake of that tech.  Of course, if rumors are true, the same could be available in the next iPad and iPhone using RFID (much better then using the phone as a credit card that way).  What else does it do?  Well, it runs Flash, but as I have mentioned before, the power requirements to run Flash make it a non-starter for me in a mobile platform. 

So what is it lacking?  Apps.  The WebOS platform, while starting out really promising in 2009, has always struggled in this area.  HP has touted some partners, but the list is still meager.  Though one way to expand app excitement was to introduce a WebOS platform for Windows, making it possible to run WebOS apps on your PC.  That would increase the install base significantly, though how it's going to be implemented remains a mystery.  My guess is it will exist as either a simple development platform, or better yet something like Apple's Dashboard.  Either way it would be of benefit for HP in the long run to have a wider app base than their current platform. 

As of now though, the TouchPad is still more or less in development.  It's not polished, much to the annoyance of Lance Ulanoff when he did the article, and that's a problem because it makes them look desperate.  It's very similar to Motorola's Xoom presentation, which was pretty much just videos of what it could do when finished at CES.  The difference?  HP didn't have an arbitrary date to get everything ready like Motorola did for CES:  this presentation was from HP on their own schedule.  Perhaps they should have waited until the device was done and ready to go. 

So, with the introduction of the TouchPad, the iPad has more competition.  What will this mean for Apple?  It means they will need to wow everyone with the next release of the iPad in order to stay on top.  Do I think that will be a problem?  No, because Apple has a knack for producing wow's at their presentations, even if the initial iPad presentation left many tech pundits feeling confused.  Personally, I think the tablet in general and the iPad in particular represent a fabulous move forward in the future of computing.  I can't wait to see how it all shakes out!

The Delicate Art of Communication

Often times I find myself in the position of having to interpret someone else's words.  Not because they are in German, French, Dutch, Spanish, or even Latin or Ancient Greek, but because I have no idea of the context of their question.  And so, inevitably, I need to ask questions about the context of another's question, when they are expecting a simple answer.  They, missing the reasoning behind my questions, become annoyed and continue to evade the vital piece of information I am trying to gather.  All, apparently, for the sake of avoiding a lengthy but clear explanation. 

So it started me wondering, why do we do it?  It seems, as a culture, we have become married to sound bites.  Little bits of information encapsulated within 140 characters, meant to keep our attention only for a few seconds.  Anything longer than that, we become inpatient, unable to wait for completion.  And so, we have been left as a culture to interpret the same.  And often those interpretations are misunderstood to our detriment. 

In the early days, before the days of television and the associated advertisements, people would enjoy the art of conversation.  Communication was clear, well spoken, and required thought and attention.  While advertisements were available, some with only one or two mentions, usually several paragraphs accompanied to explain the contents and it's relevance to the product.  I recall ads I've seen from the early 20th century, some from the 19th, or even the 17th century from documentaries that were very well versed.  Everything was made clear,

So what happened?  Is it because of Television, the microwave oven, or instant potatoes?  I wonder. 

Personally, I see a growth of assumptions as to what others are thinking as the problem.  People assume you have X knowledge, and base instructions off of that assumed knowledge.  For instance, I may be working on a project for one of my classes when a co-worker will ask me a question about putting OS information into a website.  The co-worker wouldn't explain what website it is, or in what context the OS question is being placed (we work with four different OS platforms), so I have to follow up with questions.  My questions ask what OS is being referred to, and in which context, and the answer I get back is, "I don't know, can you tell me".  Inevitably I need to see what the co-worker is looking at in order to understand the initial question. 

Similar issues in communication happen when I worked for eBay, Salt Lake Community College, and NEC.  Each time I would be presented with a problem that someone else has been trying to solve on their own.  They would then assume I had the same level of experience with this same issue when they call, without clarifying the issue itself.  Therefore it became my responsibility to get more information through probing questions.  It wasn't as though clients, co-workers, or customers didn't want to tell me the problem, it was just that they assumed I had the same level of experience they did, with the answer they needed.  While it was often true that I had the answer, I needed to know the full extent of the question before I could provide it, and have it be correct.

Don't see this as a complaint against customers, co-workers, or clients.  Far from it!  It's more an attempt, through writing, to find a cause for a disconnect in communications. 

Often, as I find with interpersonal relationships, it can be a problem of reading too much into statements and jumping to conclusions.  For instance, I may suggest to a friend that they clean out their storage of anything they have not needed, nor used in the past five years.  As I have friends that are, to a certain extent hoarders, it is a good opportunity to help them take stock of what is truly valuable instead of hanging on to stuff that may be "cute" at one time, or may have some obscure use in the distant future. 

But instead of taking me at my word, often times offense can be taken in assuming I have them throw everything away in storage, even priceless (either monetary or personal) heirlooms.  Nothing could be further from the truth, but it is inferred, and the friendship is strained until a big blowup happens and feelings are hurt.  Easily, the fault could be at my end, as I didn't specifically say heirlooms are safe from the purge.  What seems like an obvious exception in my mind becomes obscure in the face of taking offense.  So, yet again, because of my lack of clarity in all aspects, a friendship becomes strained. 

So, what can be done to repair the communication troubles that seem so common in today's society?  What do you think? 

Motorola Xoom and Android 3.0: What The Videos Show

I finally was able to see some of the videos highlighting the new features of Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and I'm impressed.  There are some features that I think are interesting, making for a unique user experience.  Of course, I have yet to see a device actually use those features (the video for the Motorola Xoom tablet just played videos of the features, but didn't demo them), but the features seem interesting.  Here is what I thought was impressive:

1.  Scrollable Widgets:  I'm not a big fan of widgets on a tablet screen, if only because it should be a launch area, not the point of the interface.  That being said, it's an interesting concept: scroll through your content for your apps.  Where Apple has you go into the app to see your content, you can see a "preview" of your content on the widget. 

2.  Screen Size:  And I'm not talking resolution (though that was impressive), I'm talking about physical size.  Have you ever tried to type with both hands in landscape mode on a Samsung Galaxy Tab?  I did, once.  It was cramped, difficult, and I thanked my lucky stars that I had an iPad.  Motorola apparentlly saw that, and went with a much wider screen.  Tablets aren't about putting it in your pocket, that's your smartphone.  No, tablets are all about replacing your books in your backpack.  And this size that Motorola came up with works, at least in landscape mode. 

3. Buttonless Interface:  This is rumored to be coming to the iPad in version two, and I'm impressed with the concept.  Mostly because both my boys know they can easily exit out of what I'm doing if they press that button.  Argh.  It would be much better if it were gestures, though that could be easily learned by my boys as well. 

So that's what stood out from the videos in the "demo" with which I was impressed.  So does it make me want to ditch my iPad for Android?  No.  Why not?

1.  The Marketplace:  There are thousands of apps for Android..  but where do you find them all?  You can't, unless you check all the various marketplaces.  It reminds me of the trouble I had finding apps for my PocketPC..  you really have to hunt, all over, and through various websites to find the app you want.  Sure, iTunes is closed, but I can find what I need/want, and move on.  Hopefully Amazon can help consolidate the Android Marketplace and make apps easier to find. 

2. Keyboard to Screen Ratio:  I've heard of a lot of complaints about the iPad's keyboard taking up half the screen when you need it..  Motorola's Xoom with Honeycomb takes up at least 2/3rds of the screen, if not 3/4ths.  If you didn't like the former, you are going to hate the latter. 

3. Limited App Space:  Perhaps it was because of the demo, or the videos, but the apps seemed limited to just the lower part of the screen, and you could have only 6 to maybe 8 there.  That's it.  Need more apps?  I think it  changed as you scrolled along the screen, but it didn't seem to make any difference.  Why only the bottom of the screen?  Because the rest of the space seemed dedicated to widgets.  I could be wrong, but it would seem a little..  untidy to have these large widgets mixed up with the little app buttons.  It would soon look cluttered, at least from what I could see.  Hopefully I'm wrong. 

4.  Flash:  Yes, I will admit it, on a portable environment and on the web, I don't like Flash.  It's not because I don't like Flash in general, I just don't like Flash ads on the web.  I love the fact that they don't work on the iPad, and I can just read the web.  It also doesn't drain my battery, as it has been proven to do on Android platforms that support Flash.  Does that mean Flash is dead?  No, I think it's future is tied up in a development platform that can make native, well coded apps for mobile platforms.  But if a website doesn't have a non-Flash alternative, I'm going to one that does. 

And, of course, the most important reason, I love using my iPad.  It's a great tablet, and does everything I need.  In fact, I found that just about everything I do on the main computer, I can do on the iPad with the appropriate apps.  But that's the subject of another post.  ^_^

So, does that mean I think that the Motorola Xoom is going to be just as disappointing as the Galaxy Tab?  No!  I think it's going to be the best thing for both Android and the tablet platform.  Google has raised the bar in a number of areas, which will ultimately push the tablet platform into the main computing experience.  Well done Google, and Motorola!  Let's hope this thing ships, and is affordable for those who choose an alternative for current tablet platforms.  And I can't wait to see HP release their WebOS tablet, and see what they bring to the table. 

The Autism "Epidemic": Looking Past the Fear, Uncertanty, and Doubt

The Big Think has an article on their recently convened Breakthroughs: Autism series that addresses the concern of Autism being an epidemic.  Autism started as a very rare diagnosis, and held the stigma of bad parenting over the parents. 

Originally used to identify a group of symptoms in schizophrenia, it began to be associated with children who had social or emotional problems.  It wasn't until the 1060's that Autism was finally separated from schizophrenia, and let to heavy-handed medications like LSD, or using electric shock therapy or pain and punishment techniques to modify behavior.  Because of this stigma, it's been rarely diagnosed, and rarely discussed. 

But now one seems to hear about it everywhere, and see more children with Autism.  Why?  Is it because it's truly becoming more common?  Are children getting Autism from water, pollution in the air, watching too much TV when infants?  Monosodium Glutamate?  Witches?  What's the deal? 

According to Dr. Christopher Walsh of the Children's Hospital in Boston, Autism is simply "suffering" from increased awareness and a broader definition of the term.  Because the medical field now has more specialists in the field, better and more diagnoses are being made.  Add to that the inclusion of various subgroups of the Autism Spectrum (from low-functioning Autism to the higher-functioning Aspergers), more children and adults are being diagnosed. 

The article is excellent, and I would highly recommend reading it, or watching the discussion.  Autism has always been here, it's just been known by different names, or has been hidden within families.  But the important thing is to stop blaming vaccinations, pollution, the tooth fairy, pixie dust, or low-hanging power lines without any evidence (beyond surveys) that provide proof. 

Why Mac OS X? My Journey from DOS to Mac OS X, and Why I Like the Mac

This is a question I get quite a bit, and often from friends who have known me from my early days with DOS.  Why do I prefer the Mac over other computers, and why Mac OS X?  Those who use Windows can't understand why I don't just use what they use, and those that use Linux can't understand why I don't go for the completely open operating system.  So, let me tell you a story about how I made my choice about my computing platform. 

I started with DOS, like most of us did in the late 80's, and I liked the command line experience.  I could play various games, write documents, and do generally what most teenagers needed to do with a non-network computer.  It worked well, and I was happy.  So happy in fact that to this day I have Dosbox installed on my Mac with many of those nostalgic DOS applications installed. 

Then Windows came along.  I didn't much like Windows 3.x or earlier, because I didn't see the point.  It took up a lot of memory and disk space (very precious back then), and didn't give me any advantage over using DOS.  So I ignored it.  Until Windows 95 came out, and I couldn't ignore it anymore.  But it was buggy, crashing constantly, with memory allocation issues and whatnot being the bane of computer users.  About this time I started working for Packard Bell/NEC on the NEC technical support line.  So I knew computers on the inside, and knew how to troubleshoot them through Windows 95/98 (we will not discuss ME).

So my foray into Windows began, and about this time I was introduced to the Mac OS.  Mac OS 9, to be precise, and I was not impressed with it.  Sure, it did the job, but it was difficult to work with memory allocation, and I would often get memory leaks that killed the entire OS.  It was like working with Windows 95 all over again, and I didn't like it. 

Then a friend introduced me to Linux (officially called GNU/Linux, but I'll just refer to it as Linux for simplicity).  I had heard a lot about it, and at this point I was getting jaded with Windows and Microsoft in general.  I wanted to find something that didn't require purchasing to use (legally), and Linux was the new kid on the block.  My first experience with Linux was...  frustrating.  It didn't work (at least from what I could tell, because of inexperience), and left me with a pink screen and a mouse.  What was up with that?  It wasn't until a year later after playing with different Window Managers that I realized it was twm, and all I had to do was right-click to get my menu.  But after a couple of false starts with Mandrake, I got it working. 

Linux was sort of a heaven for me, and took me back to my old DOS days.  Most of the free software for Linux was based in the command line, and all of it could be executed from the command line.  I was back home again, and I loved it.  The only problem with Linux was the time it took to configure a computer.  And to get the best performance, it took longer to configure.  Now, many people will call this a definite benefit, as you can tweak performance and get the most efficient system for your needs, but my needs became very basic.  I didn't need anything fancy, just something that would get me through college and my Masters while allowing a little recreational activities.  And that was another drawback for Linux:  games.  Sure, there are games, but not many of the big name games worked on Linux (though I did spend a lot of time playing Unreal Tournament). 

While working in a Mac lab, I was introduced to the new Mac OS:  OS X.  My boss, an avid Mac user, said I would probably like it because it was based on UNIX, much like Linux.  He, on the other hand, wasn't too impressed.  So, I sat down on the one Mac OS X computer they had (the rest were OS 9.22), and quickly found the UI useful, and the Terminal application.  I smiled, but still wanted to see what would be coming to the new platform.  At this juncture, anything released for the Mac short of a view software titles were still only available on OS 9. 

And then, while I was working for eBay, I checked out the Mac again.  By this time, Mac OS X v10.2, the Mac had matured considerably.  It was very well developed, had a great UNIX platform and developer base, and even had big name games that were released for it (like Starcraft).  What's more, I had some of that software already.  I didn't have the money to buy a Mac computer at this point, but it was the first time I wanted one.  So, I configured XFCE on my Linux box to look like the Mac, in preparation for my purchase. 

And then, when Mac OS X v10.4 came out, I got a 12-inch Powerbook G4.  The hard drive wasn't huge, only 80 GB, and I only had 768 MB of RAM, but it was a great little computer.  The computer was powerful enough to do everything I wanted, including play World of Warcraft, and I had all the Office software I needed in Open Office.  It was, quite frankly the best laptop I had ever purchased as it had lasted the longest.  That, my friends, is why I like the Mac platform. 

So what sold Mac for me overall?  The first and foremost reason:  it does, actually, just work.  The OS will get out of my way and let me get the job done.  Linux required a lot of high maintenance, much like the pretty but expensive girlfriend you had that you knew wouldn't ever be your wife.  Windows went through a lot of reliability issues, so much so that even with as good an OS as Windows 7 is I'm not trusting it.  But the Mac, with all the drivers either pre-installed or quickly available through Software Update, the solid user experience, and the overall focus on the product rather than the process makes it a winner for me.  It also has much of the same security benefits of any other UNIX environment, which is a huge incentive. 

So, that is why I like the Mac.  It's not because I was "brain-washed", or that I have a burning hatred of Bill Gates, it's just because the user experience on the Mac is so polished, so simple, and therefore so impressive it won me over.  I still use other operating systems for specific tasks, but I find the Macintosh is a fantastic way to get things done and not worry about compiling, configuring, or having to authorize every action you want to do every 5 minutes.  The same reasons spill over onto iOS devices, as they have that same level of polish and customer experience that makes it a joy to use when I want to, and easy to let go when I have something else to do.  It does the job and gets out of the way, leaving me to the task at hand rather than the process of trying to get the task done. 

So, what are the reasons you like your operating systems?  What operating systems do you find useful?

Is an Institution the Best Way?

The Winnipeg Free Press has an article about a man with Autism being confined to his room for 15 days with no free access to a toilet or washroom.  The man, a 20 year old at a privately operated institution, had a double lock on his door and could only use the toilet when the staff noticed that he needed it.  When they did not notice, he would use a corner of the room. 

The outrage of the man's mother is understandable, as is the outrage of everyone that has been questioned in regards to the incident.  But Dr. Andre Blanchet, the Massachusetts-based physician tapped for an interview noted that the allegations suggest deeper issues.  And I am inclined to agree.  This sort of problem is inherent with institutions.  Those who are not emotionally invested in the care of individuals can become careless.  There are plenty of examples of abuse at general institutions, regardless of Government or private ownership.  So is the idea of institutionalizing patients not safe?

Absolutely not.  Those signs of abuse are generally the exception rather than the rule, even for disabled individuals.  But it does bring up a potential problem, and one that current care-givers need to keep in mind as they contemplate institutions.  Private care can be just as bad, or even worse as medical assistance much needed is not given even by the most loving family member. 

This case in Nova Scotia is a good wake-up call for all institutions that deal with the disabled:  make sure all your patients are getting the care to which they are entitled.  My hope is that others will learn quickly from this example, and make sure this outrage will never happen again.

On My Faith: Talking About My Religion

If you are one of the three people that regularly follow my blog, you will note that I rarely mention religion.  And if I do, it is generally in passing.  You may also ask why.  Am I ashamed of my religion?  Not at all.  In fact I am quite proud of my religious affiliation.  I just don't often feel it necessary to the discussion or topic I'm covering.  Generally it's because I feel that Religion is a very personal thing and to share with others should be reserved for genuine love and respect for that person.  Also, I don't like to offend others (generally), and the easiest way to offend others it to talk about religion or politics.  So I try to keep neutral within my posts. 

Today I thought it would be a good idea to share my personal feelings about my own faith, and hopefully answer any questions about why I believe the way I do.  I hope not to offend anyone, as that is not my goal.  I don't believe that my belief in my own religion requires the condemnation of any other Faith.  But I do have specific reasons for my beliefs, and I hope to share them in a way that is informative and clear (if not concise).  Please forgive my verbosity here, but there are a lot of potential questions I'm trying to answer in this post.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Most people refer us as Mormons, Mormonism, etc, when they are being nice.  And I've heard many of the other names from people not trying to be nice.  While many people have heard of the LDS faith, few people have bothered to learn more about it than from hearsay or passing media mentions.  Let me tell you about it, from my point of view. 

My family are all members of the Church, for several generations on most sides.  An exception would be my grandfather on my mother's side, who was not affiliated with any religion (interesting story behind that).  But then living in Utah, finding people with a long history in the Church is not uncommon.  And many people find it convenient to remain a member of the Church, just because they grew up in it.  But the Church does not encourage this, but rather encourages all members to gain a personal testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and in the Prophet Joseph Smith.  This is a challenge I took upon me when I turned 16. 

I had always felt an affinity to religion, and enjoyed growing up in the Church.  But, like many people without a personal testimony, or knowledge, about the Church and it's teachings, I had issues with people (including myself) who were not perfect.  So, I started to look around at other religions, particularly through reading the sacred texts available to those faiths.  I chose the sacred texts based on the premise that such texts should reflect the Divinity being worshipped.

I read the Talmud with several commentaries made by various rabbis.  I read the holy Quaran.  I've always read the Bible, so for many of the Christian religions I read many of the religious commentaries from their points of view.  This way, I would have a wide basis of experience on which to base my conclusions.  And, of course, I read the Book of Mormon. 

Now Faith is a process, in my experience, and requires testing assumptions and looking for divine confirmation.  The first test of my faith was to know whether or not a Supreme Being was there, and whether or not that Being cared for me as a single individual.  The only way to know for sure was to ask that Being directly, and so I prayed.  I received a comfortable feeling, one of peace, and took this as an answer.  This feeling of peace confirmed my belief in a God who loves me personally, and has a vested interest in my welfare. 

I continued with my prayerful search for months, reading texts, pondering their meanings, and praying about them.  My answer came as I read the Book of Mormon.  I have read it many times before, or out of it, but now I read it with a distinct interest in it's authenticity.  It's hard to describe the feelings I had at the time, but they confirmed my feeling that the Book of Mormon was true, and by extension the story of the Prophet Joseph Smith was true.  Of course I continued to pray about every aspect of the LDS doctrine, and received confirmation each time.  As I continued to study, I was struck with the way all aspects of the LDS faith fit within the principles of Faith and Repentance, and the importance of a line of authority for Baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit if you prefer, though the KJV of the Bible says Holy Ghost), which were the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  With it all fitting together so neatly, the Book of Mormon reinforcing the lessons I read from the Bible, and the confirmation I felt from God made it a logical choice.

So how can I base my whole faith on a feeling?  Well, if you believe in a Supreme Being, and this Supreme Being is one that is all knowing, all powerful, loving, good and kind, then you know that he will want you to trust him.  I personally don't believe faith comes from flashy displays of Divinity (based on my personal experiences), but rather faith is required for any divine "sign" to be given.  Therefore, once you start to exercise faith into action (such as praying, attending services, reading scriptures, being nice to your neighbor, etc.), you will receive a confirmation on whether or not that faith was well placed.  The more faith you develop and exercise, the stronger the confirmation.

So through my personal conversion story, I've learned that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.  It teaches the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, is lead by Him through his appointed Prophet on the Earth.  I know this to be true, and I'm happy with that knowledge. 

But what does this mean?  There are a lot of principles that are followed in the Church that are often not understood.  Let me cover some of the main ones, and hopefully clarify what they are: 

1. Is it true that Mormons do not drink?  Not even coffee?  Yes, it's true.  Why?  Because we believe in modern revelation, meaning that God will speak to us directly (when the matter is personal) and through his appointed Prophet (if it involves a larger body), we listen to the teachings of our Prophets.  Joseph Smith received such a revelation, which is called the Word of Wisdom.  Subsequent revelations have set a rule:  no alcohol, coffee, black tea to drink, tobacco to smoke or chew, or any drug abuse.  There is also guidance in how to eat healthy, get exercise, and so forth.  I see the ability to abstain as proof that I am free, as opposed to being restricted based on chemical stimulants. 
   


2. Is it true that Mormons have more than one wife?  No.  But what about (insert polygamous group here)?  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has not practiced polygamy since 1896.  Groups that do are not members of the Church, and any member of the Church that does practice polygamy is not a member for long. 
   


3. Why can't Mormon's do (insert something here)?  Okay, I get this a lot when someone finds out my religion.  They want to know why the Church prohibits something, or why people can't do something else.  Let me make one thing perfectly clear.  Everything you do in the Church is voluntary, which is to say the Church doesn't MAKE you do anything.  The Church has standards, just like any other religion.  Those standards are, essentially, the Ten Commandments.  Also included there is the Word of Wisdom (see number 1).  You have a choice to follow them, or not.  The Church doesn't break your kneecaps, publicly shame you, etc. 
   


4. Why aren't Mormons Christians?  Well, we are, and very much so.  It is called the Church of Jesus Christ, after all.  We believe in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  So why have you heard that we are not Christians?  Well, because we also believe that, along with the Holy Bible (which, by the way, is excellent to read in the original Greek!), another record of Christ and his prophets has been made in the New World, and has been brought forth now as the Book of Mormon.  It also testifies of Christ, His mission on the Earth, and God's plan for Salvation for his children.  But to claim we are not Christian is very wrong, and shows a distinct lack of understanding (or willingness to understand) just who we are. 

There are a number of other questions I've gotten, but I will leave it there for now.  I hope this helps you understand the point of view I am coming from, particularly when I talk about Autism.  I'm a Believer, and proud of it.  If I don't mention my religion much after this, just know that it's because I don't see it as relevant, even more so after this post. 

If you have any questions about the Church or it's teachings, I would highly recommend you start by reading the Book of Mormon.  Then either contact your local meetinghouse, or the Missionaries in your area.  You can also post any questions you may have here, and even whether or not you want them made public (I can and will respect any private comments, if you mention you want to keep it private). 

Genetic Tests for Autism Now Introduced

Lineagen has developed the FirstStepDX genetic test that looks for common genetic markers for Autism and conditions that can result in autistic-like behavior (like Fragile X).  The genetic test has been developed specifically because early detection can lead to early intervention, which can lead to a better overall lifestyle for the child with Autism. 

The test has been first introduced in rural Utah, with amazing results.  It is about 70% accurate, which, short of an MRI scan, is the most accurate Autism medical test available.  The reason this is so important is because the genetic markers are there in the child well before Autism starts to show it's symptoms, which may not be until age 3.

But what is even more important here is that Autism can be detected through a genetic test, as opposed to hours of psychological analysis.  This saves time for the family, and also saves money for insurance coverage.  And that's the kicker, because if insurance companies can save money on a test that is medical, then they are more likely to cover it. 

So is there a down side to this test?  Well, depending on when the test is administered, there is a fear that parents may choose to abort a pregnancy (assuming it can be conducted before birth), or abandon a child in accordance with safe harbor laws.  The simple idea of that sickens me to think that anyone would treat their own child that way, but as people are known to do great acts of kindness, they are also known to do horrendous acts of evil. 

My personal take on the test is this:  IT'S A MEDICAL, GENETIC TEST!  That means Autism is a MEDICAL CONDITION, and therefore should be covered by insurance. 

So what do you think?

Closely Spaced Pregnancies and Autism: Does It Mean Anything?

Another day, another survey about Autism that the media is claiming is a cause.  This one is about closely spaced pregnancies and the likelihood of baring a child with Autism.  It seems that in a survey of 662,730 second-born children in general, parents were three times more likely to have a second-born child with Autism if the pregnancy were spaced less than three years apart.  Yet again, genetics were not taken into consideration, just passive observation. 

I've posted before about my, erm, thoughts about this type of passive observation.  Just like with anything, simple observation of a few facts without seeing the whole picture, such as genetics, cannot do much more than justify making a pitch for additional funding.  The article itself, which will be published in the journal Pediatrics in February (click to see web access to article) indicates that the goal of the survey was to compare pregnancy planning, and nothing else.  So, based on the data, they had to draw some conclusion, and that was the conclusion they made. 

So is it right?  Is it the cause?  Well, as it is a one in three chance, I don't think so.  Just like a previous survey on proximity to freeways during pregnancy term, a pattern was emerging.  But let's step back a bit, and see if there is another possible answer. 

Could it be that parents with genes associated with Autism may be slow at developing social skills, therefore marrying late and wanting to have children as quickly as possible?  I don't know, seems like a reasonable conclusion, but could only be identified by looking at genetic data along with these pregnancy spacing surveys.

Perhaps it's time we start looking at the whole story instead of just trying to look for environmental causes.  If I were to council parents now on whether or not to wait to have additional children, I would have them look at all the facts, family history, and then decide if waiting is something they can do, want to do, or perhaps is something they don't want at this time.  Right now this survey shows an interesting pattern, but no real, concrete connection to Autism in children.  Until then, look at it as at most an interesting pattern.

Disneyland and Autism: The Good and the Not So Good

Unlike many other amusement parks, Disneyland is perhaps the best place to go with your family, even if your child has Autism.  Sure, there are crowds, and sure, there are long lines, but for the most part Disney tries to make it as easy as possible for everyone.  But it's not perfect (like everything in this world), so let me give you a heads up on some of the experiences we had.

First, the Not So Good

World of Color:  Disney has a new attraction, the World of Color.  It's essentially Fantasmic without Mickey and the Dragon, or any other performers.  They do a water display at night and project scenes from movies while shooting colored lights through the water jets.  It's really cool, but unlike Fantasmic where you can sit down, everyone is standing.  When we went it was an hour's wait after getting a fast pass just to get placed, and then another half an hour until it started.  Both my kids were getting bored, and then it started.  My son with Autism was good with the loud music for about 20 minutes, but the display went on for 45 minutes.  It was just too much for him and we ended up leaving it early.  It wasn't bad, nor would I discourage anyone from seeing it, unless you have a little one that can't take the wait. 

Fantasmic:  We didn't get to see it this year, but then we didn't want to overwhelm our little ones.  It's a great performance with both light and characters, but it can be a little long if you are not prepared.  For our child with Autism, we often pull out the iPhone or iPods and let him focus on that instead of what is around him.  As long as he has something to focus on, he's good.  If you are sitting, and you are encouraged to sit for the performance, then it makes it easier to manage meltdowns.  I would recommend getting there at least an hour to an hour and a half early, sit at the restaurant there and eat while you are waiting.  It makes it that much more manageable. 

The Good

First and foremost it is best if you get a Guest Assistance pass.  This pass is available for anyone who has a hard time waiting in line.  I'm not talking about children who are just unruly, but children who are incapable of waiting in a long, crowded line.  Maybe they have Autism, or maybe they are claustrophobic, it works for them.  Have a physical disability?  It's there for you (and a number of other passes).  Also, for any person bound to a wheelchair, more rides are being fitted for wheelchairs, including Monster's Inc, It's A Small World, and the Toy Story Mania ride (if I remember right).  Expect more, similar rides to have a special car just for wheelchairs. 

The Guest Assistance pass acts as a Fast Pass for any ride that has one, and for those that don't (Pirates, Small World, and Finding Nemo are examples) you enter through either the Exit or designated Assistance lines.  If you are unsure of where to go, ask any employee you see.  If they don't know, they know who to ask. 

If you do get the pass, which is good for 5 guests, please don't abuse it.  If the line isn't too long, stay in line with everyone else.  If it is very long, take one ride and then move on to another.  Don't keep riding in front of all the other people who are waiting, because it breeds resentment, and that's one thing no one want's at an amusement park (least of all at Disneyland).  Be respectful of others when using your pass.  Also, the pass doesn't guarantee instant access, and you may still need to wait.  On New Year's Eve it was packed, and even the Assistance entrance had a long wait.  Just move on to another ride or experience.

Also, I would highly recommend the Crush Experience in California Adventures, which is awesome and children with Autism adore.  So much in fact that they tend to start talking after the event, a lot more than what is typical.  I can also recommend the Muppet Vision 3-D show, even without the glasses (they tend to give me a headache).  And a Bugs World is fun, along with any of the other rides there.  The Ferris Wheel may be a bit much for children with height issues, as can be Soarin' over California.  But other than those, the rides in California Adventures tends toward fun, as will the two new rides slated to open in 2011.  ^_^ 

So, which rides can I recommend?  It really depends on the likes and dislikes of your child, but here are the rides and experiences we tended to frequent:

Finding Nemo:  Both my boys loved this ride, and we ended up going every day, once a day.  I even took a recording of the ride, and though it's a little dark (no flash photography allowed, right?), my sons still watch it, riveted to their seats.  If you are claustrophobic it may not be the ride for you, but it is fun.  If it's too much for your child, you can get off before you start.  You may want to first try out the ride by watching a YouTube video of it with your child, and see how they react.

Haunted Mansion:  My kids make me so proud, they both love the Nightmare Before Christmas, and as a consequence of that they like the Haunted Mansion.  So much so that we ended up taking the ride every day, once a day.  Even packed this ride moves quickly, making it a very popular ride.  If your child has terror issues, this may not be the ride for them.  Try it out first by watching it on YouTube, just to see how they handle it. And keep in mind that it changes based on the season.  If your child or children cannot handle the typical ride but don't mind Nightmare Before Christmas, then you may want to plan a trip first during the Holidays, and then they should be good for the regular ride as well. 

Pirates of the Caribbean:  My youngest has height issues, and didn't like the initial falls in this ride, but after that loved it.  So much so that we went back for each day we there there, and twice on New Year's Day morning (best time to be in Disneyland, I might add!  Completely dead!).  It's not scary, and they enjoyed the relaxing boat rides.  But then both my children love water, so being on the boat was exciting enough.  Again, you may want to try out the ride on your child through YouTube.

Oh, and it is a boat ride, so there is a very good chance your seats will be wet.  So, unlike the jerks that rode behind us one night, don't complain and stand up in the boat.  If you don't want to get wet, don't ride.  If you are going to be a jerk about it to the employees and everyone else on the ride, do us all and yourself a favor don't come to Disneyland. 

It's A Small World/Storybook Land/Jungle Cruise:  These rides are all boat rides, so my kids loved them.  They also have placements of Disney characters throughout It's a Small World, making it a great ride for children that adore scavenger hunts.  See who can point out the most Disney characters, and name which films they are in.  And for the Holidays, I was surprised to see a Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia) figure, which was awesome.  Both Storybook Land and the Jungle Cruise are perhaps the most relaxing of all the rides, and were just a blast.  These rides are great for kids of all ages, because there is nothing even remotely scary about them. 

Fantasyland Rides:  All the rides in Fantasyland were favorites of both my kids, as they are geared to little ones.  The dark rides are not too scary, and they were fun.  Both my kids liked the Teacups, which is beyond me as they have not been my favorite.  They must have gotten that from their mother.  I would recommend them all. 

Tomorrowland:  All these rides were fun and exciting for my kids, with the exception of Space Mountain.  Not that it scared my oldest (the youngest is still too small to ride), but it wasn't a favorite of his.  All the other rides they love, and had a blast in Inoventions.  It's a great place to relax while one or the other is taking a nap on your shoulder and you need to sit down. 

Adventureland:  The surprise here was Tarzan's Treehouse.  Both my kids loved this one.  It was quiet, an easy stair climb, and gave them plenty to focus on.  You also get a great view of Thunder Mountain from the top. 

Frontierland:  The many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh ride was a favorite, as was waiting in line for Pooh and friends.  Occasionally you would see Briar Bear and Briar Fox, but the kids just don't know who they are as Song of the South has not been released.  We didn't go on either the Steamboat or the Galleon, nor did we try the canoes.  My oldest didn't like Splash Mountain, mostly because of the drop at the end (he loved it all up until that point). 

Toon Town:  This was great, and if definitely helps if you have the early Toon Town with Mickey voucher, meaning you can get in at 8:00 AM before it opens at 9:00 AM.  You can ride Gadget's roller coaster (the youngest just barely made it for this one!), Roger Rabbit's ride, and you get to see a presentation with the Mayor, Mickey.  Once done, you get special photos in Mickey's house with the Mayor.  My oldest didn't really like this, because Mickey wasn't in the Movie Barn like all the other times.  But while everyone else was at the presentation, we got to go through the character's houses with no one else there, which both sons enjoyed. 

So, if you got this far, you are probably thinking "Gee, what's so special about this?  My kids like/don't like those rides too."  Well, yeah, children with Autism are, first and foremost, children.  They like all the same things that other children like, they just don't like over stimulation, extensive waiting, and having to leave a ride they enjoy.  Children with Autism are just more intense about the emotions, and more likely to be overwhelmed by multiple stimuli.  But all in all, Disneyland can be a great trip suggestion for any child with Autism. 

Disneyland and the iPhone: The Apps and Video

For the holiday, my family went to first San Diego and Disneyland.  There is a lot I have to share about both trips in relation to both Apple products and Autism, but first let's talk about Disneyland.  It's fun, and it's REALLY BUSY around Christmas and New Year's.  So you will want to be prepared, both in knowing where you want to go and how long you will have to wait until you get there.  So here are a couple of apps that I can recommend. 

Skobbler US (free):  Turn by turn navigation is very important if you are not sure of where you are going, or how exactly to get there.  And Skobbler for the US is a great way to get there.  It's managed by a spinoff company from NAVIGON AG, and is completely free!  It uses the OpenStreetMap project, and is very accurate.  But, because it is open source, be prepared for some interesting events, such as being advised quite often to keep to the right on a freeway (my guess is someone wanted to keep the "fast lane" open).  Also, be sure of the spelling of your road, and aware of the iPhone's almost compulsive behavior of "fixing" your spelling.  You may also need to increase the voice volume, as it is by default very quiet.

Disneyland Maps (both free with ads and $1.99 without ads):  Once in the park, it's helpful to have a map.  You can grab the paper map, but how does that help you with wait times?  And how do you know where exactly you are in relation to a ride or restaurant?  Nope, interactive maps work great in this case, and Disneyland Maps is a great app for both. 

The map gives you locations of all rest rooms (in blue), restaurants (in green), and rides (in red).  And the rides will have wait times listed, if one has been posted.  How do they get wait times posted?  They are posted by users of the app within the app.  So, if someone else in the park is using the map, you are set.  If not, at least you know exactly where everything is located.  The only thing really missing from this is menu offerings at the various in park restaurants.  Perhaps in later renditions.

Something else I learned:  taking video with your iPhone is very dark on most rides (as you are discouraged from using a flash), but 13 minutes of video is about 550 MB of space, to that should give you about 3 hours of recording time in 7 GB of free space.  I'll talk about recording and recording options when I talk about the Autism aspect of Disneyland. 

So, does anyone else have a favorite app for the iPhone at Disneyland? 

Pollution and Autism: Looking At The Data, Debunking the Fear

Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, posted an article on Residential Proximity to Freeways and Autism in the CHARGE Study (CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment).  In the article, researchers took a survey of parents who had children with Autism, and worked out their location during pregnancy. 

It was found that the odds ratio would be 1.86, or a parent would be 1.86 times more likely to have a child with Autism if they lived within 309 meters (or less than 1,014 feet) away from a freeway.  From this the conclusion was drawn that it's possible (not certain) that car exhaust could be a cause of Autism, and NEEDS MORE STUDY.

So, does this mean we need to stop driving vehicles, and walk or bike to work to keep our kids from getting Autism?  Well, we should be walking and biking if we can anyway, but let's look at the data before we slap the "Cause For Autism" label on freeways. 

1. Living near any other major road found no significant relationship to Autism in the same survey.


2. Genetic data was not taken into account in this survey, just location.


3. No medical association has been made to show a direct correlation between traffic-related air pollution and Autism (though the pollutants have been found to have adverse prenatal effects, those effects are still largely unknown and require additional study).


4. A similar study by the University of California Davis made in 2009 showed a census of children with Autism to more likely live with parents who are highly educated.


5. The chances are that you would be 1.86 times more likely to have a child with autism if you lived near a freeway at all during the pregnancy, or 2.22 times more likely if you lived near a freeway during the third trimester, according to the study. 


6. Near is defined as nearly one fifth of a mile away from a freeway.

Now, looking at the two surveys together, it seems likely that higher educated parents would want to live near a freeway for access to their job.  Parents with a genetic disposition for Autism would most likely also want to live near a freeway.  So this survey could be a pretty high coincidence, and merely pointing out the living habits of those parents who are genetically likely to have children with Autism.

Does this mean that freeway exhaust is not bad?  Of course not!  Just like using excessive amounts of glutamate in food, exhaust can have documented damaging effects to children by causing respiratory illnesses (like asthma).  But, as the study did point out, THIS CORRELATION NEEDS MORE RESEARCH.  It's not a foregone conclusion that freeway exhaust causes Autism, anymore than it is that vaccines cause Autism, or monosodium glutamate, or watching TV, or playing on an iPad, or anything else that has happened within the past 50 years as a sign of progress. 

Yes, pollution is bad.  Yes, it needs to be eliminated.  Yes, we need to think about air quality and our children's health.  But before you start a protest movement or condemning air quality as the cause, get the facts.  And to get the facts, we need research.  So in the mean time, if you can walk, give it a try.  If you want to live farther away from the freeway, then by all means do so.  But don't make the claim that it's to stop Autism, because there is more genetic research that shows a correlation, and it seems to be more accurate because there is actual medical research done, instead of just a survey.

Cloud Computing: Is It Really That Bad? Stallman vs. Chrome OS

Techcrunch posted an article Tuesday about Richard Stallman's objections to cloud computing, based on a similar article from the Guardian.  Richard Stallman, the creator of GNU (GNU's Not UNIX), and the Free Software Foundation, has been looked upon as one of the founders of the GNU/Linux movement.  In fact, he and his organization wrote most of the operating system applications, while Linux Torvalds wrote the kernel: Linux.  And his position on cloud computing?  It should be called careless computing, because it is irresponsible to trust others with your data. 

But is it really that bad?  It depends on your definition of the "Cloud", and the value you place on your data.  The benefits of local computing, or working isolated on your own computer or personal network, is that you control your data and it's storage.  That also means you have the responsibility to provide the necessary equipment, software, facility, etc. for your data.  That starts to look really expensive, even with the benefits of Linux to extend the life of your older computers for storage and server space.  But it also requires that you know how to set up a server, configure it properly, manage security, etc.  That's a lot of work. 

The alternative is to allow corporations that have no personal interest in your privacy or data manage that data.  Whether it be video, photos, email, chat sessions, documents, etc., it can all in one way or another be placed online and therefore in the hands of others.  Can you trust large corporations with your data?  Can you trust them with your identity?  Can you trust them with your pictures of your child's first steps, video of your family on vacation, or perhaps some nefarious work like sneaking into your neighbors pool while they are away on vacation? 

The argument Techcrunch made is that you have to choose between control over your data and privacy, and the convenience of letting someone else manage your security, storage, etc.  There is the liberty of control over your computing experience versus the safety of having everything managed, backed up, replicated, and stored for consumption when needed.  Which do you choose?

Centralizing data storage, processing, and even the computing environment is the goal of Cloud Computing, because it provides an ideal work environment that can be easily controlled and maintained by a few technicians and engineers rather than a whole staff.  If the "computer" crashes, gets a virus, or otherwise doesn't work, it can be almost instantly replaced without the worry of losing files. 

Not all cloud computing experiences are like Google's Chrome OS, where Google controls your world.  Citrix and VMWare have invested a lot of money in allowing companies to create their own cloud environments that are owned and managed by the company, who would have more insentive to keep their employers happy than, say, a corporation has interest in keeping a general user happy.  It's even possible, though expensive, to set up a cloud computing experience in your own home, thereby allowing you to have the benefits of the cloud in a small scale that you control.

So who is right?  Is Google right to point to a desktop that resides in the Cloud, with apps, data, and everything else there and nothing stored locally?  Or is Stallman right in clinging to the desktop, private servers, and controlled infrastructure?  Just like everything in life, the answer is: It Depends. 

If you have a concern about privacy and security, then keeping data local is probably the best way to go.  In fact, there is an old technology that is still in use that would be perfect:  pen and paper.  Keep it off the computer, and the data becomes harder to share and therefore lose.  But if you need the benefits of heavy processing power, the private network service becomes a little expensive. 

If you don't have that much of a concern for privacy, or trust that large companies who don't know you will keep your data secure, then the cloud has a lot of advantages.  You can use it for quick and easy computing and get on with the rest of your life.  Configuration, storage, backup, all that fun stuff that can take a lot of time on a computer (if not already properly set up and automated) and expense of hardware, networking, power, and cooling (computers get hot).  This is all managed by Cloud Computing. 

So what is in your best interest?  What would you be concerned about?  How would you approach the Cloud?  Personally, I find using email and some redundant storage in the cloud to be very useful, but still keep a lot of local storage for video and audio files that I own and don't want to be made available to any rogue employee.  But I also advocate using the cloud for an operating system, as I am fascinated with amoebaOS and having a working desktop available from any web-enabled device. 

The Great WikiLeaks Cyberwar: What's Coming In the Wake and the Death of the Internet as We Know It

You've probably heard about WikiLeaks and their supporters and opponents fighting it out in cyberspace.  Some are fighting for their rights, some are fighting for the sake of fighting.  But the end result, just like with any war, is the same:  desolation. 

Here is what I mean.  WikiLeaks has become so toxic that I would be surprised if many more leaks will be coming their way.  Why?  First, because of the attacks of a few have all but labeled the organization as criminal.  It's like bullies running through the school yard beating up a few to keep the others in line.  They are still bullies, and in that way they are in the wrong.  And while WIkiLeaks has not condoned or requested this attack, it has been done in their name, and therefore has made them look like organized crime, with cyber hit men at their beck and call. 

Second, because there could be some pretty serious consequences for leaking any information that is sensitive, at least at the government level.  I don't see WikiLeaks going away, because funds are not necessarily hard to come by when you are already running off of donations.  I just don't think they will get anything of this caliber sent their way again, and will become less relevant in the future. 

Internet services, whether it be financial, DNS or web hosting, will start to change.  Your content will become important to them, as well as where that content comes from.  Potential copyright infringement will no longer be overlooked, particularly if the US Government attacks the hosting services of WikiLeaks.  If that's the case, the RIAA and the MPAA will have precedence, and Government precedence, to do the same thing. 

Established brick and mortar institutions, like Mastercard and Visa, along with any business, can easily show their strength.  Both Mastercard and Visa have existed long before there was an Internet, and could exist just fine without their websites.  So while attempts at hacking and denial of service attacks on websites may be very visible, it's a far cry from victory. 

But what this does do is highlight the dangers for any organization or institution to go onto the Internet.  It outlines their weakness, and therefore their need to protect themselves somehow.  What better way than to get the Internet regulated?  Net Neutrality is dealt a very serious blow with this cyber war, and instead makes managed networks like China, Iran, and other such countries more attractive a model.

But the real loser here will be the "free Internet", and I'm not talking "free" as in "free beer" here.  I'm talking the Internet where you have the freedom to express yourself as you like, the anonymity that comes with the Internet will be lost, even if you try to hide yourself through proxies and various other methods.  Sure, it's possible now, but once governments (and I'm not just talking the United States of America here) get a chance to think about this it will end.  Forced registration to hardware addresses could be next, having your name bonded to your network connection.  Is it possible, probably.  Will it happen, possibly, particularly now.  Will it be popular?  Absolutely not.  But like full body scans and enhanced pat downs, it could become another way of life. 

So, those who are caught in the zeal of battle, stop back and think for a minute.  Is all this really worth it for a man who was picked up for a sexual assault charge, and not because of any link to his website?  Stop reading between the lines, stop over reacting, and wait to see how things pan out.  The less we react as paranoid, panicky sheep, the more likely issues can be managed and dealt with rationally. 

I fear one day to look back at the great WikiLeaks Cyberwar as an event that doomed the Internet to restricted sterility.

Chrome OS and Cloud Computing

Nothing is more misunderstood than the "Cloud" and "cloud computing".  That's because the term is so broad that it can encompass a number of different environments and scenarios in the computing world.  Essentially, cloud computing is placing all or some of your computer's work into the cloud.  That can be storage, processing, or the entire experience.  Chrome OS is Google's interpretation, but there are a number of different methods of getting your computing experience in the cloud.

Please note, this shows my understanding, flawed as it may be.  If you have any clarifications for me, please let me know.  I would be happy to make amendments, corrections, and change my views.

The All Method

So how does one do it?  Well, the most common and most well known way is to throw virtual machines into a data center and have browser or terminal access to those virtual machines.  This is throwing it into the "cloud", because the computers are not processing or existing locally on any hardware, but are accessed through the network or Internet.  This is the approach of both VMWare and Citrix.

The Storage Method

Another solution is to place part of the experience on the web, and run the rest locally on the computer.  DiscCloud has applied this to the Macintosh computer, allowing the user to place storage within the cloud, and even their Desktop.  Essentially they are placing their home folder on a network storage location.  This can also include Time Machine repositories, and applications (with a few exceptions).  Network Home Folders are nothing new, but placing them in the Amazon cloud sure is, making this a unique solution.  Apps run on the local computer, freeing bandwidth and server processing for storage.

The All But Processing Method

Another method is to place the entire environment, operating system, applications, etc. into the web.  New programming skills, and web development tools make this possible, as shown with the OnlineOS (Amoeba OS).  Everything is built within a website, and managed like a website.  But the applications are real, and run locally on the computer (because they are web applications).  Again, storage is in the cloud, but so is your login.

Chrome OS

Chrome OS seems to fall somewhere between the Network Home Folder method and the All But Processing Method.  Why do I say that?  Because you do have a local OS installed, unlike the All But Processing Method of Amoeba OS. 

But the OS doesn't store much of anything on the local drive.  Instead it relies on most of the processing power within the Cloud for authentication, home folder (storage), and settings.  It does, however, seem to allow for local processing of information for the web Apps, making it very much like the Amoeba OS platform. 

There are some questions I do have, which I can't seem to find the answers to (perhaps more will be made apparent when the OS is released).  What about high processing requirements?  Chrome OS seems to be an excellent method for tablets and netbooks, but what if you want to, say, create a podcast or just splice some video together and upload it to the web?  Where does the processing requests for rendering go?  Where does the video reside? 

One scenario I can see is that the video, as it is captured or transferred, is sent up to the cloud, and any rendering is done there.  Same with the audio.  The processing power of the data center can manage the rendering process, and all should be well.

The other scenario is that the video/audio data remains local and the rendering process is done locally on the computer.  This could be a little slow, depending on the netbook or tablet, and the type of video being rendered. 

And the thing is, I can see it going both ways, and problems with both scenarios.  The video being transferred to the cloud can take some time, even if it is syncing or uploading while it's being captured.  It all depends on the Internet connection, and not everyone has a great connection.  And, of course, with all the rest of the data storage, it will have to get there sometime, whether it's local or not.  And local processing would be great if the processor can handle it, otherwise it would be just as slow as the upload. 

Perhaps Chrome OS won't be designed for video rendering, and leave that for another OS to handle.  But I'm not sure I like that, because the platform has the potential to do great things.  Why shouldn't it be able to handle this situation?  It will be interesting to see how it works. 

So, in the next couple of days, I'm going to be building a Chrome OS virtual machine and run some tests (assuming I don't get approved for a Chrome OS laptop).  It's an implementation of Cloud Computing that can solve a lot of problems in the business world, such as being very mobile and applying one's accounts to ANY computer they log into.  Google has the funds, infrastructure, and tools to do it.  Let's see what it does. 

Book Review: The Paradise War (The Song of Albion, Book 1)

Ancient history has always been a passion of mine, and when a book of Celtic mythology, the journey to the Otherworld, is written, I was peaked. It was not what I had expected, not by a long shot. A story that seemed to me to be a strange look at ancient Britain turned into a potential epic that was fascinating to explore. <br/><br/>That being said, the story did drag in several places. The imagery was lacking, and the book seemed somewhat passive to me. Things seemed to happen, but were not happening. It was not often, as the story was clearly written to draw one into the series as opposed to the contents of just one book, but enough that I started to skip paragraphs to get to the "good bits".

I also thought it interesting that it was taken from the Welsh point of view, which I have little knowledge. It was refreshing to learn more of the Welsh mythology, and how it wove itself with the Celtic ideals of the ancient Britons, Picts, Scoti, and other tribes I have studied in my undergraduate career. It was fascinating, and that held my attention. After all, there is something about the Celtic blood, the Gaelic that runs through our veins that awaken at the sound of bag pipes, the sight of a bright sword, or the beauty of the green world.

What was even more powerful to me was timing for reading the book: during the end of NaNoWriMo. This book gave me a taste of Albion as a desire to create a beautiful story. It also reminded me about the difficulty that surrounds that creation. Stephen Lawhead did a wonderful job in reaching me with this story, and the Celtic roots of my family history.

MRI Scans A Diagnosis Method for Autism: It's Definitely Biological

Medscape Today is reporting the results of a joint research program between Harvard University and the University of Utah that has resulted in a biological test for Autism.  The article mentions the use of the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) test that measures brain circuitry deviations.  The study was published initially in the November 29th online posting to Autism Research. 

The tests on 30 high functioning males aged 7-28 and 30 controls showed that with a 97% accuracy Autism could be identified through this method, at least with the initial research. Further research is pending in the next 2 years testing a different age group and varying degrees of Autism. 

This is a huge stride in Autism research, because instead of a subjective test for Autism through observation, one can get a definitive test that takes less time.  It's also proof that Autism is a biological condition, as it shows that persons with Autism have a less structured wiring in the brain.  At least that was the case in 97% of the test subjects.  I'm looking forward to more definitive results on a broader scale to confirm the findings.  If so, there is yet another pillar of doubt that is knocked over, and one less for Insurance Companies to hide behind in covering Autism as a diagnosis.