You're just wrong. I teach Autistic Support and these children don't have Learning Disorders. They have a unique cluster of behavioral, communication and cognitive impairments that quite clearly mark them as Autistic. For someone who works with ASD children, it's beyond belief that anyone could confuse the two. Autistic children may have some hallmarks of LD but their behaviors and impairments in OTHER areas of functioning (like communication, self-care, stereotyped behaviors, stimming) make it impossible for them to be confused. Perhaps you might consider volunteering in a Special Ed classroom or two. You'd learn a lot.

You're wrong. There is significant evidentiary support for the theory that ASD has a genetic component. First, almost 80% of children with ASD are male. If environment played such a large role, the incidence across gender would be more even. Secondly, it occurs frequently in multiple births and in families. Again, these don't support random occurence but a tendency or predisposition toward the disorder.

That said, there are other findings which support environmental influences as well. Not psychosocial, but toxins in the environment. I live in NJ and the rate of ASD here is 3 times the national average. California also has a very high rate comparatively as does the UK and Japan. All are areas surrounded by or very near large bodies of water. Perhaps there is some connection there as well. That's just a hint though of what the real causes of autism might be.

Then you tell her. If her parents want everyone else to co-sign on a lie, you don't have to go along. Tell the parents how you feel and make sure they know that actively lying about this issue is crossing your ethical line. Let them make the decision about what they need to do then.

I saw Tropic Thunder with a friend and sat there for the many, many repeated "retard" comments. Yes, Robert Downey Jr. is brilliant and the joke, such as it was, is supposed to be on the self-important Hollywood actors who are ostensibly enlightened but really are a clueless bunch. I got that part. However, it doesn't in any way diminish the fact that the joke was cheap, and lost most of its humor after the first 3 or 4 times. Then, it's just a gratuitous insult. It brought down the film for me and I left feeling angry.

Isn't it all true? The Republicans alternately spout conciliatory BS to latino voters while embracing right-wing nutjobs like Buchanan. Good to see the chickens come home to roost.

Too bad for McCain. This is his party's problem. Bush has been in office going on eight years and he has made his priorities clear. One of them is not ensuring the stability and reliability of our markets. The entire world, not just America, is suffering from his aversion to anything like restraint and John McCain has been an avid supporter of these policies for many years. He'll try to run away and cry, "change!" but it's all on him too. Own it, McCain. You, as most GOP hacks, don't understand how the world around you has changed and you hang on for dear life to antiquated perspectives of how an economy operates. This is your doing.

Right before our eyes and in slow motion. Our educational system is ineffective yet costly. Ditto for healthcare. Ditto for Social Security. Our financial markets that have shored up so much wealth are now in serious turmoil and whole industries, namely banking and mortgage, are teetering.

But what is the conversation? Sarah palin and her hairdo. Obama being "different." I've never been frightened for our future before. I am now. We are falling behind on a number of measures and yet all we talk about are the most shallow and inconsequential things. "She's like me." These are the words that mark our downfall as a great nation. Yes, let's by all means elect people who appear to be like us. Nevermind the fact that they will drive this country further into the ground will nonsensical, fact-free policies. Lord help us.

Well, said. Very well said.

This mess in the financial markets is just another example of how the Bush administration has failed in some very fundamental ways. A huge yet predictable mess as the greedy realize that they eventually must pay what they borrowed. My only question is this: when will the American people realize that their elected officials develop policies that can encourage or discourage this type of greedy behavior? When will we hold our elected officials (namely Bush & Co.) accountable for the decisions that damage our economic prospects...or does he get off scot-free again?

Yes, by all means let's overturn Roe V. Wade. Let's start at least one other war- either Iran or Russia will do. Let's balloon the budget even more because we simply cannot tax the richest people in America any more than this poor, beleaguered minority FEELS like paying. Let's ensure that large corporations don't pay a single dime of federal taxes. Let's, in other words, drive this once great nation further down the toilet.

Great plan Jack and Jill! However, I want change NOW so I'm voting for Obama instead of the John "the same" McCain and the Religious Nutjob in Heels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_palin

What a tool of the Right you are. Palin supported aerial wolf-hunting enthusiastically as governor. This is who she is: a vicious, cowardly, arrogant person. If you want to hunt, I say get the hell out of your plane, dump the military-grade gun and carry a knife. See what happens then. I'll be rooting for the wolves all the way!