Respectful Insolence: Quashed!
Sphere: Related ContentTuesday, April 22, 2008
Horrendous 60 minute piece on gastric bypass surgery
CBS News Video - Top Stories and Video News Clips at CBSNews.com
Check out the archives at Junkfood Science and Back Across the Line if you would like to get a more balanced view of gastric bypass.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Environment- Why Bother?
The Green Issue - Climate Change - Environment - Energy Efficiency - Consumption - New York Times
Excellent article on why it is important that individuals make changes in the way that we deal with the environment.
Great Wall 360 degree panorama at Jinshanling
Great Wall 360 degree panorama at Jinshanling
360 degree panorama shots generally make me a bit nauseous, but this is pretty spectacular.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
ABC News "Politics is Hard, so we do this Instead"
Well, that pretty much sums up the debate. I'm glad that I'm Canadian.
YouTube - Juicy
This Way of Life: Living With Executive Dysfunction
This Way of Life: Living With Executive Dysfunction
Although I'd never heard this term before, this is certainly an excellent article on strategies to help some autistic people to manage every day life more easily.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Grilled Cheese Invitational Rules!
Grilled Cheese Invitational Rules!
This sounds like a fun place to go.
NO FLAME-THROWERS!
Yes, this means you. No ice-melters, Molotov cocktails, you name it. If you bring something that even vaguely resembles a flame-thrower you WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
Have sex with somebody before the competition - Let your hair down and relax, then come and grill cheese. You'd be surprised how much of a difference it really makes in the grill.
CNN is like the worst "news" source. Ever.
Great drawings of CNN's worst headlines, like Pit Bull kills Cancer Boy's Miniature Horse
CNN is like the worst "news" source. Ever.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Discovery Channel: I love the World
YouTube - New Ad Discovery Channel: I love the World
It's not very often that a commercial just makes you feel happy.
via reddit
Tips for Giving Birth
The attitude of my heart, before your eyes: An uncandid glimpse into childbirth
Great list of pointers for giving birth, from a Labour and Delivery Nurse.
Via At Your Cervix
He's Dead Jim
He's Dead Jim - DoubleViking Video
A LOT of people died on Star Trek.
How Time Changes A Song: Billy Bragg’s “A New England”
mental_floss Blog � How Time Changes A Song: Billy Bragg’s “A New England”
Still one of my favourite songs from the 80s :-)
The Art of Manliness | Man Up
The Art of Manliness | Man Up
When I first heard of this site I thought that it was a joke site, but it's actually got surprisingly well-written and useful articles. It's an interesting place to browse through.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
From one of my favourite medical bloggers
other things amanzi: zombie
Wow. I don't even know what you say to that.
Junkfood Science: Sunday reflections — perfect bodies
Junkfood Science: Sunday reflections — perfect bodies
Excellent article on genetic testing. With a link to a very good Youtube video
My kids would never have been born, and that would have made the world a poorer place for a lot of people.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
What Power Looks Like
What Power Looks Like | Newsweek International Edition | Newsweek.com
Fascinating article on "The Superclass". From the article "being a member of the superclass means being able to "get to anybody in the world with one phone call.""
And from David Brin's blog posting this morning: The next few decades will in part revolve around whether these people decide to side with Western Civilization... and with our children ... or instead, they give into the blandishments of ego and human nature, doing what you or I might do, if we stood in their $20,000 loafers.
It's not going to be a boring time ahead for anyone.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What's wrong with being angry?
What's wrong with being angry? - CNN.com
Interesting article about the place of anger in marriages.
The Man Who Lost His Name—and His Genetic Identity | Cancer | DISCOVER Magazine
The Man Who Lost His Name—and His Genetic Identity | Cancer | DISCOVER Magazine
I've been hearing about this story for a couple of weeks, but hadn't had a chance to sit down and read it- it's quite a read, to say the least!
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
5 Incredible Buildings Made of Ice : Environmental News Blog | Environmental Graffiti
5 Incredible Buildings Made of Ice : Environmental News Blog | Environmental Graffiti
A picture of the Quebec ice hotel, where hopefully Mark and I will go for a holiday some day. I'm not fond of cold, but I'd love to try it!
There's a neat documentary from the Documentary Channel called The Ice Hotel...it's worth watching if you ever get a chance.
Koro- the oddest mental health syndrome I've ever heard of.
Koro-like syndrome in a Jordanian male
Especially since it comes in "epidemic" form. From the mentalfloss link where I found it: "Koro doesn’t just strike one unlucky person; it hits southeast Asia in waves of a mass hysteria in which everybody becomes terrified of death via genital retraction."
So everyone wakes up in the morning and decides that their genitals are disappearing, and they're going to die?
And another great article on it.
God bless the internet...bringing you more information on things that you didn't know existed for a long time now.
Dear Abby Letters
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Dear Abby Letters
Selection of classic Dear Abby letters.
"Dear Abby:
I have a man I can't trust. He cheats so much, I'm not even sure the baby I'm carrying is his."
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Behind the times as usual...I had no idea that this existed
Latest Videos (1432) - FoodTube.net
Videos recipes. I feel the sudden need to ignore my housework/paperwork.
Autism asks community to understand
Times Herald - www.thetimesherald.com - Port Huron, MI
Nice article, especially this quote from Gwynne Dyer ""Whenever you have a thought that excludes or judges anyone else, you aren't defining them; you're defining yourself as someone who needs to judge others."
I wish that this could run in more newspapers.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
The Meth Project
The Meth Project
Certainly the most effective anti-drug campaign I've ever seen. I'd recommend not watching the "Sister" one.
VIDEO: Extremely Rare Lion Baby Born
VIDEO: Extremely Rare Lion Baby Born
Damn, extremely cute animal video of the day #2.
11 Very Strange Videos From the Internet Archive
11 Very Strange Videos From the Internet Archive
Interesting, and definitely odd. (I think that all of them are safe for work).
My favourite is probably Bela Lugosi meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, but I have a soft spot in my heart for extremely bad movies. How can you not love a movie that has "Ramon, the romantic chimp", AND bad musical numbers?
If you're an SF nerd like me
Welcome to Asimov Online
.mp3s of interviews with Isaac Asimov
(sorry, I can't remember who sent this to me)
Letters from Johns: I Have a Physical Disability
Letters from Johns: I Have a Physical Disability
On my never-ending quest to find information about "disability" and sex education, I found a very interesting post this morning. (It is fairly non-explicit, but does involve a visit to a prostitute.)
One of the things that I find the most frustrating as my kids near puberty is the lack of any good information at all on sexuality and people with different needs, so I look for it everywhere. While this gentleman's situation is quite different from that of my kids' as he is able to express his needs and desires and has the legal and cognitive ability to make decisions for himself, regardless of your moral stance on prostitution, at least he's found a workable outlet for himself. (And no, I am not blind to the fact that nothing gives us any clues as to why the girl is a prostitute, and whether or not this was a profession that she chose willingly).
I just found it thought-provoking.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
$6200 Less a Year: Loss of Income in Families with Autistic Children
$6200 Less a Year: Loss of Income in Families with Autistic Children
Not a surprise, but it's nice to see an actual study on it!
Friday, April 04, 2008
US Judiciary opts to spend millions on accessing its own records, which are now available on the Web for free - Boing Boing
US Judiciary opts to spend millions on accessing its own records, which are now available on the Web for free - Boing Boing
So sad that it's almost funny. Linked through boingboing because they explain the documents first (follow their link to see the letters).
Household Science: Homemade Tips
Household Science: Homemade Tips
Comprehensive list of everything that you can do with household items, all in one place.
Nice story from Snopes
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Charlie Brown
It's always good when wartime brings out the best in people, even when they're "enemies".
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Nurse Ratched's Place: Change of Shift with Nurse Chapel
Nurse Ratched's Place: Change of Shift with Nurse Chapel
Excellently done Change of Shift...great Star Trek themed round-up of excellent posts for the week.
Life Before Death at the Wellcome Collection | Society | guardian.co.uk
Life Before Death at the Wellcome Collection | Society | guardian.co.uk
I'm not sure what to say about this, except that it's one of the more moving things that I've seen. Portraits of people before and after death (not scary, or gross).
The quotes are thoughtful, and the images are incredible...I think that I'll be thinking about this for a long time.
10 Ways History’s Finest Kept Their Focus at Work | LifeDev
10 Ways History’s Finest Kept Their Focus at Work | LifeDev
Very interesting, and some great practical advice (especially the getting a massage part!).
via Lifehacker.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Best Rickroll EVER.
YouTube - Hilarious Muppets Bloopers!
I love Beaker more than I can say.
Karen McCarron is sentenced to 36 years.
The Associated Press: 36 Years for Killing Autistic Daughter
Nothing can ever bring little Katie back, but hopefully this might at least deter some other parents.
Study Links Preemies With Autism Signs
The Associated Press: Study Links Preemies With Autism Signs
Interesting...I've always wondered about this, as the rate of autism seems to skyrockets with triplets and more (who are obviously preemies). It's good to see so many positive avenues of research opening up.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Happy April Fool's ...Youtube Rickrolls everyone
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Just click on any featured video.
Mother of Shrek: Let us not forget
At the beginning of Autism Awareness month, let's not forget how lucky our children already are if we live in the developed world. Hopefully at least a bit of the energy that we spend on our own kids can be channeled in even a small way to help those who are much less fortunate.
Mother of Shrek: Let us not forget
Monday, March 31, 2008
Four Years
And I still miss my mom every day. 
Doctor David has a great post on melanoma right now. Unfortunately when my mom was first diagnosed, lack of information and medical mistakes meant that by the time it was found, she had years of struggle ahead of her before submitting to malignant melanoma. Make sure that you have enough information to protect yourself, because it IS generally avoidable. 
One day online autism seminar with Donna Williams
AWARES Conference Centre
I've heard great things about the online AWARES conference although I've never been able to attend. But Donna Williams was the first autistic author that I ever read, and if nothing else she convinced me that my kids had more potential than anyone could imagine. I'm looking forward to this.
Via Casdok.
Autism Awareness Month- a positive sign!
Fear over vaccines and autism - The Denver Post
Another major newspaper prints an article about vaccines and autism, with actual facts! Maybe we're getting somewhere!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Dith Pran, ‘Killing Fields’ Photographer, Dies at 65 - New York Times
Dith Pran, ‘Killing Fields’ Photographer, Dies at 65 - New York Times
What an amazing person he was.
I re-watched The Killing Fields a few months ago, and it's no less heartbreaking than it was when it first came out.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
First they take pictures, now they're painting pictures...what can't elephants do?
YouTube - Elephant Paints Self Portrait
Some interesting articles on elephants and self-awareness here and here
And in case you missed the elephants taking pictures post...it's here.
As an aside, but worth reading...One of the most interesting (and devastating) articles that I've ever read about elephants. It's a very long read, but it's stayed in my mind for over 2 years now.
Friday, March 28, 2008
My friends would be impressed
Created by OnePlusYou - Free Online Dating
Around 1.8% of the pages on your website contain cussing.This is 80% LESS than other websites who took this test.
Man Claims to Speak 'Australian' After Allegedly Being Raped by Wombat
FOXNews.com - Man Claims to Speak 'Australian' After Allegedly Being Raped by Wombat:
This may be one of the best headlines that I've ever seen.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Perspective
It's been a bitch of a week here. Health issues for various family members, autism stuff, new meds for my son, bullying, money, getting old and fat, more snow on the ground when I should be raking my lawn and getting my garden ready...it's not an exaggeration to say that I've been ripping my hair out for the last 10 days or so and getting gradually more miserable. Some of these worries and complications are valid (well, maybe not the old and fat one), but when I was browsing at Grand Rounds this morning I saw this picture from Medicin Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders. 
I'm pretty lucky.
Does Your Child Know She or He is Autistic?
Does Your Child Know She or He is Autistic?
Very interesting question, and one that we haven't quite mastered yet. Whenever I've brought it up in conversation my one 12 year old daughter just doesn't want to talk about it.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Autistic mum’s baby taken into care - icWales
Autistic mum’s baby taken into care - icWales
We have a very long way to go.
Food advertising
Not exactly a big surprise, but food looks different than it does in advertising.
Advertising Vs Reality - A Product Comparison Project | Funtasticus.com
Incredible purses
Kathleen Dustin:: Exquisite Evening Bags
Check out the vegetable ones...they're unbelievable. I wish that I had any kind of artistic talent at all.
Line Rider - Transcendental™ by TechDawg
YouTube - Line Rider - Transcendental™ by TechDawg
It's been a while since I've played LineRider, but this really is the best video that I've seen yet. I can't imagine how much time it took to make.
via Neatorama
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Elephants as photographers
Elephants snap pictures | Watch out Nelly's about | The Sun |HomePage|News
Unbelievable...they strapped cameras to elephants, and got incredible pictures. Another good article about it here.
Bad news about Iraq's health care system, and a bit of hope
Made A Difference For That One: A Surgeon's Letters Home From Iraq: Red Cross report on Iraq
And an organization that's actually doing something to help
And the direct link to Severus Worldwide. Check them out- there are worse causes to contribute to.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Match It For Pratchett
Match It For Pratchett
The SF community has come up with a LOT of ways to help fight Alzheimers, in wake of Terry Pratchett's diagnosis. There's even a cool t-shirt to buy for a good cause!
My (Jewish) husband couldn't believe how well he nailed this
Jewlicious � Blog Archive � Stuff Jewish People Like
I can say from my own experience that "Ailment OneUpmanship" is NOT a myth. Funny as anything, and if you haven't checked out Stuff White People Like yet, do!
(With apologies to ck, who I originally called a "she".!)
I want to see this!
Television | Poignant "Autism" has joyful message | Seattle Times Newspaper
Autism: The Musical. About a group of autistic kids who put on a musical, and it sounds like it might even be fairly autism positive. Should be interesting!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Cancer victim Chantal Sebire found dead at home | The Daily Telegraph
Cancer victim Chantal Sebire found dead at home | The Daily Telegraph
I admire her so much for what she tried to do to get euthanasia legalized, but I'm glad for her that her pain is over.
Diary of a pedalist
Trauma Queen � Diary of a pedalist
Para-bikes...the experience of an EMT on bicycle duty. I love Kal :-)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Joy of Autism: In Adam's Words...
The Joy of Autism: In Adam's Words...
Another amazing video from Estee Klar-Wolfond and her son Adam at the Joy of Autism.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
At least she has a PhD from Google- Jenny McCarthy hits Canada
Jenny McCarthy on CityTV Toronto talking about autism Mar. 14th 2008
I don't even know what to say when I see her, but this is a good rebuttal to pretty much anything she says. It upsets me more than I can say that a lot of people now consider her the "face" of autism parents.
Biff's Question Song (Stand-up Comedy)
This is great...I'd never even heard of it before! "Biff" from Back to the Future answers all of your questions.
YouTube - Biff's Question Song (Stand-up Comedy)
via List of the Day
Wow- I'd hate to see what he would have done to my kids
PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1 - New York Post
CITY SUED FOR CUFFING 4-YR.-OLD NAP NIXERS
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