Technology And Autusm

I know this is a few days late, but if you saw the 60 Minutes homage to Steve Jobs Sunday night, you saw this piece on how the iPad is changing the way, as they put it "autistic people" are communicating with the new toy. I have two things I want to point out about it before I show you Lesley Stahl's piece.

First of all, most people in the people with disabilities community prefer "person first" language. Another words, Instead of referring to "autistic people," why not refer to them as "people with autism"? It may seem like a small thing to many of you, but a movement has been growing for many years to try and change the culture and that begins with language.

The other thing I had a problem with was the way they chose to jump from a laminated piece of paper with letters and phrases right to the wonderful new iPad. There have been many devices that have helped to bridge that gap for many years. Ms. Stahl failed to mention them.

That being said, please look at this piece and see what you think:



She starts out using person-first language, but quickly changes to using "autistic people." I find that interesting. When you finish watching the segment, read some of the comments. I found many of them fascinating.

The other two segments on Steve Jobs were enlightening to those of us who did not know much about his personality and life story. I know I could not have worked for him, but I certainly like using his computers!

I look forward to your comments.

Later,

Mike

I Need To Clarify Something

Recently, I have heard from a few subscribers and Facebook Friends that it is not clear on how to make a comment on this blog. For those of you who know how, you can save your time and just delete this post now.

For those of you who do not know how to post a comment: There is a line of text at the end of every post that reads:

"You are subscribed to email updates from I'm Not Done Yet"

Just click on the blue, underlined I'm Not Done Yet, and it will take you to the blog. Once you are on the blog, go to the end of the post and you will see the word COMMENTS with the number of comments already made in front of it.

Click on COMMENTS, and it will take you to the cell where you can leave your comment. Once you leave your comment, please identify yourself in one of the Categories below your comment that reads Choose an identity in orange letters. If you already have a Blog, you can just click your Blogspot account.

Please click on the Name/URL button and enter your name. If you wish to remain Anonymous, you can click on that button. I hope you choose to identify yourself. If you just want your first name showing, so be it.

These next two paragraphs are for my Facebook Friends. Please go to my blog and subscribe. Be sure you reply to the Feedburner Confirmation email you will receive to complete your subscription.

I am trying to build up my blog membership at the suggestion of a marketing person I talked to about marketing the book. FYI: The book is almost ready to go to epublication. I have some interest with a couple publishing companies. It is moving along, but the process is slow.

I look forward to getting new subscribers and your comments.

Thank you.

Later,

Mike

Learning Can Happen At Any Time

I was watching the Tigers and Rangers baseball game tonight when this Volkswagen Passat commericial came on:

You can view it by clicking here.

The reason I like it so much is it shows us how we are all lifelong learners. We never know when it is we can learn something new and we never know what we are going to learn. That is the fun part. This commercial shows us we can learn a new language in a road trip, albeit maybe a bit of a stretch to go 795 miles non-stop on a road trip. The commercial stands out as my new favorite commercial. Mikey and the Life cereal was my favorite one.

I always tell my audiences one of my goals is to learn at least one new thing every day. I have already achieved that goal for today. I was talking with my nurse as she changed my dressings today and I asked her where she got her nursing degree? She told me she only has an Associates Degree in Nursing, but she has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. 

She told me her three favorite areas of biologic studies were ornithology, ichthyology and mammalogy. I know what ornithology and mammalogy are, but I had never heard the term ichthyology. She told me what it was and I learned a new word before I had even gotten out of bed. I love it!

I know Ruona knows what all three words mean, but I am challenging the rest of my readers to be the first to give me the definition. The contest starts now! There is no material prize, just learners and winners.

To my Facebook friends, please click on my blog and give your answer in the Comments section at the end of the post. Simply click on this URL:

http://iamnotdoneyet.blogspot.com

While you are there, please subscribe in the upper, right corner, follow the directions, and reply to the Feedburner Subscription email. I am trying to build up my blog subscription numbers so we can keep the word spreading about the book. As I write this, it is being formatted into the appropriate ebook format for publication soon. The cover is being designed and it is getting exciting!

My editor is here now and this two-day post must come to an end.

I look forward to your answers.

Later,

Mike

I Am Sad Today

I believe it was a sad day yesterday when we found out $202,689,028 could not buy you another World Championship. It was a sad day for Yankee fans when their $264,416,252 third baseman struck out to end another futile attempt at buying a championship. When one considers nine out of the top fifteen single season highest salaries of all time have been paid to one man, when combined with his teammates earn more than some small, third world country's entire budget, it truly is sad they cannot buy a championship every year.

Numbers five and ten on the list did not do their job last night either. Granted, their salaries on this chart were for 2010, but I believe the reason is their 2011 salaries were not included in the chart. If they included 2011 salaries, Alex Rodriguez would have the Top Five Annual Baseball Salaries of All Time!

Mister Steinbrenner is gone now, but I believe his ownership of the Yankees and the way he poured so much money into his team was one of the worst things ever to happen to Major League Baseball.

I truly believe Curt Flood had no idea what he was doing when he challenged Baseball's Reserve Clause and the resulting free agency that brought about today. I agree with his reasoning for challenging the status quo, but free agency today has gotten way too far out of hand.

Bill Russell, the famous Hall of Fame Center from the Boston Celtics basketball team says they went so far in the playoffs every year because they did not want to get real jobs in the off season to make enough money to live until the following season started. I do not think today's multi-millionaire athletes have that worry.

Oh, there was at least one more sad thing happen yesterday. Steve Jobs died. I would not be listening to my talk radio or typing this blog post if he had not done the things he did either.

I look for your comments.

Later,

Mike

P.S. If you happened to watch that sad game last night, did you notice how one of the heroes for the Detroit Tigers was Delmon Young? I believe he played for the Twins until August. That is sad too.