You always pay

By Peggy | December 14, 2010 |

An obscure piece of news — a story about a doctor winning an award — caught my eye today.

It wasn’t the startling rate of autism, which has increased exponentially since my son, Sam, was diagnosed almost 20 years ago. (It’s now 1 in 80).

It wasn’t Dr. Philip Landrigan’s beautiful characterization about the brain. (“The human brain is capable of doing calculus and writing symphonies and enjoying the beauty of the sunset, but the cost of that is exquisite vulnerability,” he said.)

It wasn’t that the writer of the article assumed the villain in this unfolding health crises is one or more environmental triggers, though that could ultimately prove to be true.

It was the estimate of how much the U.S. saves each year in health care costs since we removed lead from gasoline: $200 billion.

China thought they could develop like we did, go-go-go, and clean up later. We got away with the “clean up later” model because people didn’t know.

But we’re still paying for it — in ways we cannot even measure. Millions born with brains that mean they must struggle more than their fair share, for one. Health care costs that, in a generation, went from affordable to not.

We should never put the responsibility on another generation, hoping technology will catch up. You always pay, one way or another.

Posted in health, rants

Still looking

By Peggy | December 11, 2010 |

I spent the past day and a half in Austin. Every time I go, I meet the nicest, smartest, most compassionate people.

The kind of people that wouldn’t string out our kids for the sake of politics, the kind of people that wouldn’t balance the budget on the most fragile in our state.

But there is a crack in the universe there somewhere, you know, I know it. It’s the one where all the other people in Austin apparently are, the ones that make some of the stupidest public policies ever.

I haven’t found it yet.

Posted in hope, rants

Angel Voices

By Peggy | December 9, 2010 |

When I see my children, all grown or nearly grown, I can scarcely remember them as the babies they were. But every once in a while, I get a rocket shot back, like I did tonight.

Sam was remembering his first experiences with computers as being on video games when he was in elementary school. I reminded him that his very first experience with html was as a three-year-old playing “Cosmic Osmo” on the computer.

As the memory re-lit in him, his face was almost as if he were a toddler again. And back I went.

Timeless.

Christmas is nearly here.

Posted in love

Merry PianoChristmas

By Peggy | December 4, 2010 |


Almost two years ago, I sent my little upright grand for an extreme makeover, Philip Williams-style. Today, I received an e-mail that my old friend is ready to come home.

Let the carols begin.

Posted in hope

Not an adjective

By Peggy | December 2, 2010 |

I love playing with language.

For me, reading and trying new word combinations can be as exciting the unexpected deliciousness of eating watermelons and tomatoes together, or layering old favorites from my closet in a new, flattering combination.

But I couldn’t muster the stuff for a tech writer who described a tablet-only publication — as in a newspaper subscription for your iPad with no external links — as an “autistic app.”

Eeeeeuw.

First and foremost, autistic is misused as an adjective. And any editor who let that slide needs a refresher course, not only in English but also in People First language. You show respect when saying “he has autism” instead of “he’s autistic.” Two steps way back with that.

Here are some reefers to real apps … just in case you were wondering …

http://www.modelmekids.com/iphone-app-autism.html
http://www.autismepicenter.com/autism-blog/blog2.php/2010/10/23/autism-apps-that-will-help-you
http://www.gadgetsdna.com/10-revolutionary-ipad-apps-to-help-autistic-children/5522/

Some of them look marvelous and it makes me wonder how we ever made it, hauling around that little crate of vocabulary cards.

Posted in problem-solving, rants