I didn’t realize it at the time, but the day after I posted my review, PETA posted a video on their YouTube channel of Newkirk discussing One Can Make a Difference.

During the relatively quick video (it’s less than two minutes long, so, your lunch hour remains intact), Newkirk talks about how “everyone is very important” and “the world is waiting to hear from each and every one of them,” about how artists, poets, and comedians can help “change people’s moods and minds,” and about how the one that can make a difference “could be you.”

You can view the video below. I must warn you there are a couple of very quick, slightly graphic scenes, but aside from those the video is full of inspiration of the non-disturbing variety.

Remember to check out PETA’s official One Can Make a Difference page.

Video: officialpeta

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Bluegrass and Brain Surgery - Mostly, surgeons prefer patients to be unconscious during surgery, but in this case, they not only wanted to keep their patient awake but they also wanted him to play the banjo. Why? Because they were trying to determine what region of the brain was causing the patient to suffer tremors. See for yourself here.

Dead Man Walking Bathing - He’s been dead since 1924, but every year, he has a bath. Can you guess who? No. Then head over to Morbid Anatomy for the answer. And if you’re curious to see how a dead man baths, then check out this photo essay.

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I don’t mean the elementary school he attended last year before moving up to middle school and simply loved. The main part of that school was an old stone building that had been added onto; the school was located on a quiet street with a bakery, convenience store, post office, hair cutting salon, and a firehouse nearby. Prior to that Charlie was briefly at another, equally pleasant, elementary school in our town and, prior to that, he was at a very small private autism school, located inside a very large private day school. He was happy there, but the school closed after he’d been a student there for a few months.

Prior to that, Charlie attended the same public elementary school in a different town in New Jersey for two years, and that was the school was chanced to pass by Sunday night. And without realizing what was going on, I found my eyes watering and a big lump in my throat as Jim drove past.

That school wasn’t the neighborhood school that Charlie would have attended if he hadn’t had to go to a special autism classroom, but it wasn’t far from our house at all, on the other side of the town. Charlie had the same teacher—a compassionate and kind-hearted young woman—for two years and a rotating group of aides. The first year, he started attending music class with the kids his age and we started talking about library and art; we started talking about him potentially attending class with kids his age, with an aide. I became a very active member of the PTA, writing the monthly newsletter, volunteering on numerous committees, and becoming the co-president in Charlie’s second year.

But on and off in the first year, and definitely by the beginning of the second year, Charlie was struggling. There were more meetings with the teacher, phone calls from the school nurse about “bumping” his head, me on the phone with an ABA consultant, Jim on the phone with a lawyer. By February of 2005—after an old friend, Charlie’s first speech therapist, observed him and told us that he couldn’t stay in his classroom—we began the search for a new school for Charlie.

We  began a tense back and forth with the school district about finding another school placement for Charlie. For months the district said no, our setting is appropriate; after a few more months, they offered us a placement at a center and we said no, that wasn’t what Charlie needed. Another placement was 45 minutes away south down the Garden State Parkway and Jim and I said no to that, too. After several more months, in November of 2005, we took Charlie out of his classroom in our old town and that was probably the last time he ever saw that school. He went to the above-noted private school in mid December and then, after it closed in June of 2006, we moved to another town where Charlie’s been going to school ever since.

Charlie now goes to school at the same middle school where every child in our town does. He rides a school bus with the other boys in his class and is on the bus for less than a half-hour. Many of the kids who we see when we go swimming at the YMCA are the kids he passes in the hallways. Charlie goes to school in this town, is part of the town, is close to home.

Bringing Special-Needs Schools Close to Home is the title of an article in the October 12th New York Times. The article focuses specifically on the creation of in-state residential schools for older students with “high-functioning autism”; many of these students had previously been sent to schools in Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Ohio. Westbrook Preparatory School cost $2.5 million and was “founded after intense lobbying by parents.” It can cost some $200,000 a year to pay for a student in a residential out-of-state placement.

The new school, to serve 24 middle and high school students with average or above-average intelligence but in need of significant emotional and social support, is part of a statewide push to bring special education students back from out-of-state private schools by creating publicly financed alternatives closer to home.

Since 2005, out-of-state placements by school districts and social service agencies have dropped to fewer than 650 from more than 1,200, even as the number of special education students has risen slightly to 410,000, or 12 percent of the total student population. Besides Westbrook Prep, a half dozen New York City schools for the disabled are planning to add residential programs in the next few years.

“New York is a great state. Why should our children have to be sent out of state for services?” said Lester Kaufman, executive vice president of Birch Family Services, a nonprofit agency that runs a network of schools for students with special needs, which is starting a residential program for 12 high school students in Flushing, Queens, next year. “We should be able to create those services locally where the families and children live, and this is exactly what this program is about.”

Definitely yes about having schools and services “locally where the families and children live.” The New York Times articles does not, though, explain precisely why the students mentioned are living in residential placements; one student is described as “commuting” to a school in Connecticut, though he only returns home on the weekends when his mother makes the trip to bring him home to Long Island. The article does say that it’s hoped that, with the students attending schools in New York, they might eventually be able to attend schools with their peers.

Certainly I’m glad that Charlie can go to school in our town; that there’s a place for him here, and that I can tuck him into bed each note and make sure his favorite things are beside his bed, and the three fleece blankets (two of which he’s had since he was a baby) piled up just so, and carefully folded, just the way he likes.

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In my Alzheimer’s Word of the Week post last week, I wrote about nursing homes and mentioned some people didn’t like to mention the word.  Alicia, blogger at Mental Health Notes, wrote a very enlightening comment, which I think gives insight into the varying reactions to this term.

The term “nursing home” always strikes different emotions from different people, doesn’t it? I think it’s due to a variety of reasons (the poor reputations some nursing homes have, the idea that putting your loved ones in a nursing home is neglectful and selfish, the sad fact that some people actually do “dump” their loved ones in nursing homes and fail to visit them, etc.). It’s sad that, because of these things, those of us who’ve solicited the help of experienced, round-the-clock care are frowned upon by some people. When really, nursing homes are the only responsible options many people have.

The media, in their reports, often focus on the neagative aspects of nursing homes and mention those that may not measure up.  Many nursing homes do a great job, as I found with Mother and Auntie.  These ladies were well cared for in their respective nursing homes, a fact that  gave me peace of mind when I could no longer care for them adequately.  Then when I visited Mother and Auntie, I could relax and enjoy them, bringing them joy, too, I hope.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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 The wonderful people at Gaiam have given us a free Gaiam Yoga Club membership to giveaway to one lucky reader. Here’s what they say about the club:

“We just launched an innovative online yoga program, Gaiam Yoga Club (www.gaiamyogaclub.com) with world-renowned instructors Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman. This twelve-week program enables you to take a self-paced online class with these amazing teachers… right in the comfort of your own home! The program features 9 online videos, and over 60 yoga and meditation podcasts, along with a community that members can share their experiences with.”

To read Susan’s review of the club check out her post on it.

All you have to do to enter for the giveaway is leave a comment.

The giveaway ends Monday, October 20th and the winner will be announced first thing Tuesday morning.

Good luck!

grounded fitness, fitness, health, yoga, pilates, strength training, personal trainer, cardiovascular, cardio, exercise, wellness, weight loss, blog, blogging, fitness blog, weightloss blog, giveaway, contest, membership, Gaiam, Rodney Yee, Gaiam Yoga Club

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Today’s News-Tribune (Tacoma) asks Who should pay for treating children with autism? and describes an effort in the state of Washington to mandate insurance coverage for autism and related disorders, with these specific points noted:

• Require coverage for ABA-based treatments, along with coverage for medication, occupational, speech and other types of therapy – as long as they are prescribed by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist.

• Prohibit insurers from dropping coverage of individuals with autism based solely on their diagnosis. Forough and other parents say this has happened.

• Remove limits on the number of visits an individual can make to an autism treatment provider.

• Cap benefit payouts for treatment of autism at $50,000 a year – a figure that would be adjusted for inflation annually.

While we haven’t always agreed with ABA consultants about the best way to proceed in teaching Charlie, ABA’s been the mainstay of my son’s education since shortly after he was diagnosed. We’ve tried other teaching methodologies and—while I’ve my own questions about what I’ll refer to as the philosophical underpinnings of behaviorism—ABA’s helped Charlie to learn. We were able to provide for home ABA when Charlie was young (our families were quite generous). After that, since he was about 5 years old, Charlie’s received most of his ABA through his public school classrooms here in New Jersey, where the emphasis is not at all about “recovering” or “treating” autism but, of course, on educating students to do as best as they can.

Some families have noted that insurance companies and school districts have worked together to provide treatments for autistic children. ABA provided by the public schools (and integrated into classroom settings) has helped my son’s learning. That’s been our experience and I’m not sure what is the best situation and there’s plenty of room for debate and dissent about what is the best and the right teaching methodology and classroom situation for autistic students (and some discussion about ABA as a teaching methodology for autistic children ensued on this post about Framing Autism).

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From The Detroit Free Press

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Pink Ribbon Review has been running a month long series of giveaways in recognition of Breast Cancer Month.

Lively Women has an October Prizepalooza going as they clean out the prize closet. Definitely worth checking out.

WebMD has a Wii Fit prize package and $1000 Amex gift certificate to giveaway, but you have to work for it by taking a daily health IQ quiz. The more often you take the quiz, the more points you win, and the better the chance to win this prize package that includes a Wii console and Wii Fit. US Residents only. Contest continues until 31 December 2008.

Cranky Fitness has Workout Wear Giveaway for anyone looking to update their gym clothes. Open to everyone (even us internationals). Entries close 14th October.

My travel blog, Traveling the Green Way, is giving away a copy of Lonely Planet’s Vounteer, A Traveler’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World. Entries close 17th October.

And of course, Healthbolt’s running the Baron Bob’s Grossest Halloween Candy Giveaway until 16th October 2008.

Did I miss any? Let me know.

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Anyway, after watching “How to Cope with Depression,” I promptly gobbled up all the videos in Yilmaz’s Tales of Mere Existence series and subscribed to receive updates about new ones.

Which brings us to this week’s Brain Break.

Yilmaz has posted a new video, “A Position Of Power,” and it’s perhaps even more interesting than the others because, seriously, given the troubled times America is experiencing these days, who really wants to be in a position of power?

So, give your brains a break this Sunday. Check out the video below, then visit Yilmaz’s channel on YouTube for more!

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Looking for a way to jump start your home practice with a minimal investment?  Prefer a little encouragement and instruction to going it on your own?

The folks at Gaiam, a lifestyle company with a strong focus and share in the wellness, health and lifestyle sectors, may have just what you need.  The Gaiam Yoga Club.  Also known as The Gaiam Yoga Club with Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman, the online program features a 12-week course that takes you from the basics, through advanced poses, and on to breathing and meditation.

The classes can be viewed and followed through 9 hours of online video, and more than 60 yoga and meditation podcasts.   The classes are led by two well-known experts, Rodney Yee and his wife, Colleen Saidman.  The online classes and presentation are pleasant, simple to follow, encouraging and soothing. 

There are lots of good things to be said about this product.  You can move through it at your own pace.  The instructors are well-known and reputable.  You can experience yoga at many different levels.  The only caveat is that there is not a lot of depth or richness to the presentation.  I was hoping there would be a lot more anecdotal, interesting asides shared.  There were some, not as many as I would have liked.  But in all fairness, for this product, the instructors’ primary tasks are to guide individuals through a safe home practice, offer tips and share their wisdom, which they do quite well.  And it is a video presentation.  Gotta keep it moving to keep it compelling.

The fee for joining is $5 per week for 13 weeks, totaling $65.  When you sign up, the $65 will be automatically billed to your credit card, and the same every 13 weeks.  So really it is a bargain. The instructors are solid.  I’d say it is well worth the money if you’re interested in setting up your own home practice.  And bonus–if you sign up now, you’ll get 15% off other purchases through Gaiam, and that makes me drool–just a little.  Yoga clothes, mats, accessories, all 15% off.

Other nice features include: Community Teams, where you can join a group of people who are working toward the same goals, and are practicing at the same level you are for support; forums; an opportunity for you to create your own blog/journal, and a feature that lets you add buddies and share ideas and experiences.  You can even join Rodney and Colleen live online at community events and classes across the country, through the “Auditorium Presentations” link on the site.  It’s a great way to keep up with their latest teachings and instruction.

Check it out now.  I enjoyed it.  I think you might find it helpful and inspiring, too. 

And check out my partner Kelly’s post on Grounded Fitness Monday.  She’s giving away a lifetime membership to the club!  An awesome prize that’ll no doubt keep on giving :-)

Peace. 

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Baron-Cohen describes a “lost generation” of adults with AS who did not know what diagnosis they have—who did not know that what they have even existed. It was 25 years ago that Lorna Wing published an article on AS—which “the English-speaking medical profession had barely heard of”; the first book in English on AS was only published 15 years ago, by Uta Frith in 1991; it then “took until 1994 for the international classification systems that define how a diagnosis is made to recognize the existence of AS.” It is not that AS did not exist before it was identified and defined; what we now call “AS” was not even known as a distinct diagnosis until very recently.

And some parents, having found out their own child’s diagnosis on the autism spectrum, have sought their own diagnosis.

Of Deborah Lipsky, the Carroll-County Times notes:

In Lipsky’s case, her diagnosis has helped her develop coping strategies for the social and emotional problems she had suffered since she was a child. In 2005, she offered her story to a national seminar company and was given the job that has led to her success today.

Lipsky said she views autism as a cultural difference rather than a disease, and wants other people to share her outlook.

“I’m trying to train the next generation of service providers to look at the gift and not the limitations,” she said.

Or rather, gifts……….

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Let’s get right to it:

Scott at Health and Men has 10 Bone Building Foods everyone should be eating.

MSN Health and Fitness has 6 power pilates moves, great for beginners to advanced pilatee-ers.

Shine has the ins and outs of the plastic bottle controversy. Not to be confused with this bottled water controversy.

Equinox Fitness, who has been plagueing me all weekend with their ads, also sells ridiculously overpriced workout wear! Who’d a thunk it?

Scott at Health and Men (who is very popular on this Link Love) has tips for Shin Splint Prevention and Treatment.

Times of Malta has a great article on outdoor fitness centers.

Hope you all had a great weekend! A fantastic giveaway is coming up on Monday, so keep checking back!

grounded fitness, fitness, health, yoga, pilates, strength training, personal trainer, cardiovascular, cardio, exercise, wellness, weight loss, blog, blogging, fitness blog, weightloss blog, links, shin splints, yahoo, Equinox Fitness, water bottle, plastics,

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University of Connecticut researchers have associated broccoli with producing helpful proteins that aid damaged cardiac cells and tissue.

The broccoli diet appears to persuade the body to produce a protein called thioredoxin, which protects against cell damage in the heart. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, which is seen as particularly effective in triggering this process.

Don’t overcook or boil your beautiful green veggie though- lightly steamed broccoli helps to retain all of it’s power and benefits. When it is overcooked it loses its protective qualities.

via BBC.com

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“Our study has shown that pistachios, eaten with a heart healthy diet, may decrease a person’s CVD risk profile, says Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition and primary investigator of the study.”

In the study, those on the pistachio diet had their LDL cholesterol, or the bad cholesterol, lowered.

via Science Daily

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“Most people know that if they have a cigarette or two over the weekend that it’s not good for their arteries,” said study co-author Kevin McCully, a professor of kinesiology in the UGA College of Education, “but what they may not be aware of—and what our study shows—is that the decrease in function persists into the next week, if not longer.”

“We saw a definite effect of cigarettes on the arteries, even in young people who you would expect to be healthy,” he said.

from Science Daily

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Elvis would have been a grandpa again, times two. Lisa Marie Presley gave birth to twins, both girls. No names have been announced yet, but both babies and mom seem to be doing well. Lisa Marie has two other children, Riley, 19, a model, and Benjamin, 15, with ex-husband Danny Keough. The twins are the first children with her boyfriend Michael Lockwood.

Former American Idol star, Paris Bennett, now has a baby girl to idolize. Paris, who is 20, is a first-time mom who has not identified the baby’s dad. The baby’s name? Egypt Bennett. We’ll have to see how many babies Paris has and if she plans on keeping the geographical theme.

Over at the set of 24, there must have been some surprise when actress Marisol Nichols went into labor early. Marisol and her husband Taron Lexton were only expecting their first child this month, but their daughter, Rain India Lexton, had other ideas and was born on September 30th.

Singer Dierks Bentley and his wife, Cassidy, welcomed their first child, a girl, who they named Evalyn Day. The country singer and his wife are high school sweethearts.

Rocker Josh Freese of Nine Inch Nails (and a former member of The Vandals and Guns N’ Roses), is set to have his third child with his girlfriend Nicole Amdurer. The baby is due in in January and will join brothers Hunter Cole and August.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, celebrity pregnancies, celebrity babies, josh freese, josh freese photo, guns and roses, nine inch nails, nicole amdurer, lisa marie presley photo, lisa marie presley,  Michael Lockwood, Taron Lexton, Marisol Nichols,  Marisol Nichols photo, Dierks Bentley, Dierks Bentley photo, Lisa Marie Presley twins

The company’s ultimate goal is to sequence 1 million complete genomes, or 1,000 people each in 1,000 disease studies, in the hopes of revealing the genetic basis behind major human diseases. From a scientist’s point of view, this is exactly the data and perhaps sample size we need to study the role of genetics on development and cause of disease. It would be a nightmare to analyze, but it won’t be for lack of data, if the sequence will be made available across different studies.

But it’s another story from an individual’s point of view. Having a complete sequence of one’s genome will identify all the genetic mutations and alleles that could be related to or causing diseases, and the question is - would you really want to know?

The Voodoo Medicine Man asks a more pointed question: “What if you were 30 years old and your genome showed you were going to develop Huntington’s chorea, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Would you live life differently? Would you want to live? Would you reproduce?”

WOULD YOU? Would you want to know what your genome holds? The comments are open.

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Your numbers were chosen using the random.org website I keep talking about … remember folks, you have to get your comments in before midnight EST to qualify for the giveaway (it’s in the rules).

Thank you, so much, for participating in another double giveaway on one day! Make sure you email me your addresses as soon as possible — this goes out to all the winners to date, you need to send me your address if you want to receive your prize! (I do email all the winners, this is just another way to make sure nobody falls through the cracks!)

To read about the coffee these ladies won, check out yesterday’s post.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the post. Remember to keep checking back for future contests!

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Well, unless you want to use pregnancy brain as an excuse, researchers at the Australian National University’s center for mental health research found that there is no evidence to suggest that pregnancy affects a woman’s cognitive ability.

The researchers interviewed and tested 2500 women who were in their early 20s once, in 1999 and again between 4 and 8 years later. Of the 76 women who were pregnant during the later interviews, there were no differences in logic and memory than they scored at the first interview, when they weren’t pregnant.

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Tags: pregnancy, pregnancy blog

Suite 101 talks about probiotics supplements can cure many of baby’s common health conditions.  

Infants Health shares useful tips for reducing acid reflux in infants.

Eco Child’s Play discusses how cars exhaust and air pollution are hurting infant’s health.

Intellectuals shares a study showing how parents’ income and education affect children’s health. In relation, twice as many black babies die before the age of 1 as whites.

Womb Within points to two studies that found the overdue babies may have more health risks than those born within term.

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