'22 Things' offers inside perspective on relationship with woman with AS

In previous writings I have lamented the absence of books about relationships that offer advice for and not about a partner who is on the autism spectrum. The dynamic that these books seem exclusively to address consists of a man who has Asperger’s syndrome and a woman who is neurotypical.

Webster’s Dictionary app: an appreciation

This entry is by guest author Jonathan Donihue:

My wife and I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate the Webster’s Dictionary App on my iPod Touch. For years we have kept dictionaries next to our reading spot at home, in the break-room at work, and even in the car.

We’re both avid readers (in fact, we regularly read to each other) and over the years we’ve consciously cultivated the habit of “looking up” words when we’re uncertain of their meanings or even when we became curious about their origin.

Lake County has new Poet Laureate

The opportunity on Monday to proofread a summary of the next day’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting exposed me to news that poet Elaine Watt would be sworn in as Lake County Poet Laureate for 2012-2014.

Community college tuition up to $46 per unit

In its May 2012 newsletter, the Community College Council of the California Federation of Teachers summarizes findings by the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues at U.C. Berkeley.

Outrageous ruling in teen suicide case

Lynne Soraya shared news via Twitter that a judge ruled for the school district in the case of a bullied teen who committed suicide. The parents of 17-year-old Tyler Long were profiled in “Bully,” a documentary about bullying.

Reducing library access is wrong move

A few months ago I added my name to a petition asking the Obama administration to make school libraries a national priority. School Library Journal reported on Jan. 31 that the petition had surpassed 25,000 signatures needed for the White House to issue a response.

‘Join the Journalists’

An honors English class has just made its way through the Lake County Publishing newsroom, where I gave a brief overview of Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts that I curate for the Record-Bee.

Etonic Dragonzilla, Jr. bowling shoes

My birthday gift arrived today: my very own Etonic Dragonzilla, Jr. bowling shoes: black with yellow dragons that will look awesome with my bowling shirt. I look even more the bowling superhero now!

Team bowling: nearly a superhero



The Lake County Record-Bee Killer Bees
From left to right: Jeremy D. Walsh, Cynthia Parkhill,
Kevin N. Hume, Shawn Garrison and Kelly Thorn

Being on a league bowling team is the next best thing to being a member of the Justice League or some other superhero cadre. You'll just have to take my word for it, because I am so not kidding. I rank league bowling with superherodom.

Awesome dragon-enhanced shoes

Maybe it's because we all dressed up in matching shirts. We were the only team that did and I think it made us stand out: black polos with the Record-Bee's name on the front and the emblem, "Killer Bees," on the back.

I personalized my shirt by adding fringe and strung beads.

Team sports wasn't something I enjoyed until bowling with the "Killer Bees." I was always picked last and missed out on that team camaraderie.

But with bowling, any disparities among level of ability is evened out by our handicaps. We only ever compete against our own best scores.

In that sense, I made an improvement: I entered the league with a 67 average and ended with an average of 70. That may not seem like much but to me, the gain shows definite improvement.

I'd wanted to bowl in a league for months before joining the "Killer Bees." I'm grateful to former publisher Gary Dickson for organizing the team and to my teammates, Shawn Garrison, Kevin N. Hume, Kelly Thorn and Jeremy Walsh, for supportive and positive camaraderie.

Special thanks to my mother for letting me use her left-handed, eight-pound ball.

'The Speed of Dark' by Elizabeth Moon

The newest edition to my list of recommended books about autism is The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon, available through the Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma County libraries’ catalog.

Moon is the author of several fantasy and science fiction novels. The Speed of Dark is the story of Lou, a man on the autism spectrum who works for a pharmaceutical company. His characteristics of autism enable Lou to identify patterns for his employer.

This book was brought to my attention through a comment by Julie Trebat in response to my list.

Autism book list has new address

For a couple of years I've curated a list of books that I think beneficial to people who are on the autism spectrum. It presently resides at this blog.

Fixed-tag cataloging fun with OCLC

Curated in Storify: To complete an assignment in my library cataloging course, I check fixed-tag values for a book’s cataloging record against the OCLC standard and live-Tweet along the way.

People really do blame the victim

Original cartoon, generated online using MakeBeliefsComix.com

At the invitation of a friend of mine, Anat, I read a post by guest blogger Angie Tupelo, “Allies and Pseudo Allies,” on “Your Passport to Complaining (is your willingness to do something about it)” by Paxus.