Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Godsmack

Good Times, Bad Times is an upcoming greatest hits collection being released by the heavy metal /hard rock band Godsmack. The album is being released as appreciation for fans supporting the band for ten years. The project was originally meant to be a boxed set containing all of the band's previous albums, and a DVD. The album will instead include a cover of the Led Zeppelin song Good Times, Bad Times, and the band's acoustic performance from Las Vegas. Keep Away, Whatever, Voodoo, Good Times, Bad Times, The Enemy... CLICK ME!
Release date: December 4, 2007. (I want this)
This was originally posted 10/21/07

Sunday, November 25, 2007

AS

What Is Asperger Syndrome? By Barbara L. Kirby Founder of the OASIS Web site (http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/) Co-author of THE OASIS GUIDE TO ASPERGER SYNDROME (Crown, 2001, Revised 2005)

Asperger Syndrome or A.S. is a neurobiological behavior named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger, who in 1944 published a paper which described a pattern of behaviors in several young boys who had normal intelligence and language development, but who also exhibited autistic-like behaviors and marked deficiencies in social and communication skills. In spite of the publication of his paper in the 1940's, it wasn't until 1994 that Asperger Syndrome was added to the DSM IV and only in the past few years has AS been recognized by professionals and parents.

An individual with AS, is known as an “Aspie”. Aspies can exhibit a variety of characteristics and can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often an Aspie has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights, the Aspie may prefer soft clothing, certain foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights no one else seems to hear or see. It's important to remember that an Aspie perceives the world very differently. Therefore, many behaviors that seem odd or unusual are due to those neurological differences and not the result of intentional rudeness or bad behavior, and most certainly not the result of "improper parenting".By definition, those with AS have a normal IQ and many individuals (although not all), exhibit exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. Because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, those with AS are often viewed as eccentric or odd and can easily become victims of teasing and bullying. While language development seems, on the surface, normal, Aspies often have deficits in pragmatics and prosody. Vocabularies may be extraordinarily rich and some children sound like "little professors." However, persons with AS can be extremely literal and have difficulty using language in a social context.


At this time there is a great deal of debate as to exactly where AS fits. It is presently described as an autism spectrum disorder and Uta Frith, in her book AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, described AS individuals as "having a dash of Autism". Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability. AS shares many of the characteristics of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder; Not otherwise specified), HFA, and NLD and because it was virtually unknown until a few years ago, many individuals either received an incorrect diagnosis or remained undiagnosed. For example, it is not at all uncommon for a child who was initially diagnosed with ADD or ADHD be re-diagnosed with AS. In addition, some individuals who were originally diagnosed with HFA or PDD-NOS are now being given the AS diagnosis and many individuals have a dual diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Gobbles & TIMMY!

Being different can save your life. Ask Timmy and Gobbles of South Park fame.





Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Employed 2 years

I work at a no-collar job.

#3) Convergys, Lake Mary FL.....11/21/05 - present.....2 years.

#1) Bed Bath & Beyond, L.I......02/26/96 -10/01/98.....2 years, 7 months, 3 days

#2) M.H.T. / Chemical Bank, L.I......09/14/90 -04/13/93.....2 years, 7 months

#1) on 6/25/08 for Convergys

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Saturday, November 17, 2007

More labels

Have you noticed that there are two Odies for you?

My Lake Mary reference has many interpretations: I made and bottled it in Lake Mary. The pink, red, and Mary suggests woman related. It is as if this drink came from a lake full of this drink. Tomato juice suggests a "Bloody Mary"The dot below "Lake Mary" is a period. The color and consistency of the juice is similar to that of menstruation blood.

Homo can be interpreted as human, or homosexual. Closet can be interpreted as a pantry, or denial. Either way, all is of a healthy and natural lifestyle.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Place of employment survey

11/15/07 Annual Convergys survey: I greatly enjoyed filling out the long and detailed annual employee questionnaire. It in addition, gave me the opportunity to express my thoughts. Below is what I wrote:
Accommodations need to be made for the learning needs of people with Aspergers Syndrome. Training is not used efficiently. Training needs to cover more detail at a slower pace. Too much training time is wasted, often for long periods of non-productive work, such as chatting, smoking, and playing games. Refresher classes should be given to those who need and request them. The lack of communication at all levels is appalling. I am not provided the time to acquire the information and develop the skills to do my job efficiently. I continue to be frustrated in not getting the help that I need. I am eager to do my job better. There are tremendously way too many supervisory, managerial, and policy changes. I love my co-workers more than any other people I have ever met. I never know if the company wants me or not. I want to work here indefinitely. The prizes, contests, shouting, promotions, and events result in lowering my moral and motivation instead of the reverse. Too much time and money is wasted on them as well. I prefer to be shown how to help myself using resources, rather that be told to use them. In the 2 years I have been here, I am constantly craving the opportunity to learn how to do my job, and to have feedback on how I could do my work tasks in a more efficient way.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I am A Lerner different.

My name is A. Lerner. I am an Aspie. It is not like you think. I think and learn differently than you. The order of my thinking process does not follow the same order as a NT (neuro-typical person), as perhaps yourself. Aspie is a person with Aspergers Syndrome. It is a high functioning form of Autism. One out of every 15 people are Autistic (Aspie ratio). We are gifted in different ways. Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Dan Akroid are Aspies. We all "Aspire" to enjoy in life what others take for granted. I am a learner. Since my thinking order and processing of information and stimuli are different, you could say I learn differently, or I am a little different. I prefer to say "I am A Lerner different." I am the A in Lerner.
Aspies think logically, and love math. Math is the only course I earned strait A's in. It has served Albert Einstein well. Aspies compensate to relate with NT people by acting. I am skilled in dry facetious humor. This has served Dan Akroid well. Aspies think "outside the box", and are non-conformists. I have found innovative ways to survive, and rejected formal and traditional education. This has served Bill Gates well. Aspies love words, phrases, and word play. This has served A. Lerner well.

Thomas Alva Edison said that "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." I have 100% Aspieration. I am ASPIErational. Like Bill Gates, I use the ASpie operating system. -2/14/08

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Sign

“CAUTION: Physically Disabled Person may be eaten by a crocodile at the bottom of the hill.”

Originally posted 10/13/2005

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Less "clock" work, more time.

Because of computers and the Internet, the time on my clocks have changed from DST to EST autonomously. This includes my DVR/digital converter, PDA, mobile phone, computer, telephone displays, and my wireless atomic clock/thermometers. Orange you glad clockwork is easier today? Please click on the clock title to this posting to see an orange revision that was not red or read. Or, instead, you can just scroll down to the posting of 10/31/07.

Thursday, November 01, 2007