Has The Baby Become The Bathwater?

Today, April 2, 2012 is the 6th annual World Autism Awareness Day, as ratified by the United Nations council. In fact, here in the United States the entire month of April is Autism Awareness Month. Now, some will ask why so much attention is being given to this. The answer is simple.

Autism is quickly overtaking the human race. Not slowly. Quickly.

Yes, I know, that sounds like an exaggeration. But here are the facts: 50 years ago autism only affected 1 out of every 100,000 people. 30 years ago it affected 1 in 10, 000 people. 20 years ago it affected 1 in 160 people. Last month the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that it now affects 1 in 88 people. 

That means that in just two generations the numbers went from 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 88.

Many scream and yell (or simply whine) about the numbers being skewed by the new diagnostic routines. They will point out that 50 years ago we didn't have a very good understanding of autism and so only the most sever and obvious cases were diagnosed. That argument only holds a thimble full of water. Why? Because the number of severe and obvious cases have increased by about 5,000%.

Have we gotten better at detecting all levels of autism? Yes, we have. But, even if you remove the higher functioning forms from consideration the number of sever cases has exploded, not by folds but by magnitudes.

Most people in my generation in the US learned about a phenomenon called Super Evolution in basic high school biology (now being called 'rapid evolution' because creationist have co-opted the first term to their own illogical ends). The phenomenon was explained to students using the 'chimney moth model', which was a real super evolution that happened in Europe. An entire sub-species of white, nocturnal moths changed into black daytime moths in less than 5 generations. For the Chimney Sweeper Moth, this was a good thing. It saved the sub-species from being wiped out by birds that preyed on them... namely pigeons.

But, not every super evolution turned out so well. Scientific history is riddled with incidence of super evolutions that resulted in the end of a species. Countless cases where a species took a genetic left where they should have taken a right.

How does this relate to autism? Anytime a species develops a significant change in it's biology that marks it as having a major and distinct difference from its predecessors in less than 200 generations it's a super evolution. Autism is a major and distinct difference, and it's overtaking the human race in so quickly that within another few generations those without some form or level of autism will be in the minority. Mathematical models say that it will only take one generation... the one that is being conceived now. The children born today are in the vanguard of a new human race. A human race in which the average person displays a significant number of autistic traits.

But, how does a super evolution happen? The one thing that is consistent in every case of super evolution is that the species in question was influenced by an extraordinary outside force. It was a matter of "adapt or die". In the case of the chimney moths it was the presence of human beings, specifically human cities. They only got the name after their super evolution, because of their super evolution. Before that they were simply regular old run-of-the-mill coastal moths. What happened was people built cities in the moth's native habitat, which at first was no big deal. In fact the moths thrived on the cities and bounty of food the high concentration of humans brought with them.

As this concentration became denser and denser the moths found homes on the rooftops, specifically on and around the warm chimneys of human fireplaces. But chimneys produce soot, which is black. White moths stand out against that black and are easily noticeable. This became a major liability to the moths when something else began a boom population living off the human cities... pigeons. Pigeons, and other birds, love human cities for all the tasty discards we leave behind. Pigeons also like to eat bugs, which human cities attract en mass. To a pigeon moths are juicy and tasty treats that prove an immense amount of protein. Moths are to a pigeon as a t-bone is to a redneck.

So, the moths had to deal with this boom population of flying predators. Actually, the flying predators dealt with them. The birds ate all of the white moths, which were easy pickings on those black chimneys. But, mutations happen. A few grey and black offspring had been born to the white moths. Normally this wouldn't have made a difference in the overall genetic condition of the moths as a race. The black moths may or may not have mated and passed on their genetic profile, but the moth population was overwhelmingly white... until the birds ate all of the white ones. All that were left were the black ones, that hid well against the black chimneys. Birds hunt by sight, and the black moths were essentially invisible to them so long as they didn't move. The ones that did got eaten, and their genetic stupidity was removed from the moth gene pool along with the white winged moths that had just perished before them.

I don't remember specifically why they turned into daytime moths, but I seem to remember that it had something to do with the Viceroy Effect, which is where one species begins to mimic the look or behavior of another to avoid becoming dinner for a common predator. Typically the first species mimics a similar species that is poisonous to the predator. In this case, it would be a colored nocturnal moth mimicking a daytime butterfly, many of which are poisonous to birds in the affected regions where the chimney moth super evolved.

Again, what does all of this have to do with autism? Look at how much the world has changed in the last hundred years. Look at how much, we, the human race, have changed the world ourselves. And it isn't any one thing, as some people would have you believe. It isn't just one thing or another. It isn't just mercury or genetics. It isn't just sociological changes or pollution or diets. You cannot change a living environment as drastically as we have in the last century and not expect a significant change in the population that dwells in that environment. Especially when you are removing or suppressing the biological nature of the population's regular breeding habits by changing the conditions for survival.

A hundred years ago the strongest and healthiest mates were still preferable. Men who could work the hardest and longest and women who could bare the most children and had the most endurance for mundane tasks. Now we look for mates, on both sides of the coin, who work the smartest, and the amount of physical labor involved in earning a living has been reduced dramatically. It's not like the need for strength is gone, but now we live in w world where thinkers are king. Our societies have developed so that we emphasize and reward specialized thinking.

If there is one thing that autistics excel at it's specialized thinking. We have created a world in which people with autistic traits are the ideal mates. This spreads the genetics far and wide which creates a massive pre-disposition to problems arising from environmental factors that trigger further mutations. Add in the fact that these genes are being reprocessed and magnified by several hundred percent with every passing generation as the global society changes to include more and more technology, thus more and more specialized thinkers, and you no longer have a snowball or what some people are calling an pandemic. You have an unstoppable landslide.

You have a human super evolution.

Can it be stopped? Maybe it could have once upon a time, but that time is long gone. Short of an apocalyptic event destroying modern society as we know it, it's too late. The genetic baby has already become the genetic bathwater.

I'm not autistic, I'm merely 'different'

Are you one of those people who say that higher functioning forms of autism are not a disability, they're merely a 'difference'? If so, I have great news for you! The fine people at the American Psychiatric Association (ASA) agree! They've recently released the proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Eddition (DSM-V), and all of those who are merely 'different' will no longer qualify for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

My children, however, will still be autistic. So, once these fine rules take effect I'm going to start bitchslapping people for telling me my daughter's problems are just bad manners, poor parenting, because we homeschool, or I'm making them up, because, after all, you, or your kid, was "diagnosed with that too" and you, or your kid, are merely 'different'.

Really? Have you not read the Letter to Grandparents? (Click here stupid)

My kid is different alright. She's different to the point of being disabled. My child is probably going to need supports for the rest of her life. Oh wait... I have TWO minor children with autism. One is very obviously autistic. After 5 minutes of talking to her even a complete stranger can visibly see there's 'something wrong'. The other one though... not so much.

That one is still going to be considered autistic after the new criteria go into effect. I've already talked to her doctor about it. He says the only change that he can see will be a change in formal diagnosis from Asperger's Syndrome to moderate ASD. Oh yeah, she's being downgraded. Why is none of your business.

What is your business is the load of hell you're going to get from me and people like me if you keep this "it's only a difference" stuff up after the DSM-V is released. The people who are merely 'different' will have been weeded out.

Unfortunately, some people (both kids and adults) who actually need help will be weeded out right along with you. But, take heart, your inscesent whining paid off. Your image will be protected. Meanwhile, my friend's kid, who is one anal retentive trait short of an ASD diagnosis is going to fall through the cracks. His parents will start, and actually already have started, scrambling to figure out a way to get him the help he needs so that he can be something resembling self-suffient as an adult so as not to become a welfare burden on your tax dollar. Oh wait... it will be you kids' tax dollar. Nevermind that at least half of those kids won't pay taxes because they won't have jobs... because they're 'different'.

Am I mad? You tell me. No, I'll tell you: I'm fricken furious!

Go ride your tricycle.

Tricycles and Semi Trucks

To those who think they 'know' what my life is like becuase they've 'met' a person with autism... to those who think they know because they know me, and have met my children... especially to those who've yet to have children of their own...

There is a point when a child is only 5 weeks old, when the new has become painful. When you're woken by a cry for the thrid time that night, and it's only midnight. When you feel like you will never be allowed to sleep again. When you think bright yellow cottage cheeze-looking poop is the worst thing you have ever smelled in your life and you don't think you'll ever get away from it. There is that point. Take heart in the fact that this, all of this, will pass. Eventually it will end. Feel blessed.

Now, when you are sitting there at 2am, trying to think of this, think of me. Think of my friends who have children with disabilities. Think of all the smart mouthed know it all crap you said to us. Then realize, truely realize that this point will pass for you, but it will never pass for us. For us it is forever.  It does not end. As our kids grow older one issue is simply swapped out for another. The sleepless nights don't go away. We know that newborn baby poop is not the worst smelling thing in the world. We don't hold tinly little bundles who can't stop crying and we don't know why. We hold fully grown bundles who can't stop crying and can't explain why.

In that moment, picture in your mind a tricycle with a cute squeeky little horn. Picture yourself sitting on that tricycle tooting that horn. Then look up. I was the armored semi truck in front of you. I was the one who your were sqeezing your little horn at while insiting the road was yours. Now realize exactly how close you came to getting squished, and be thankfull.

Be very, very thankfull.

Chasing issues into new opportunities

Since we moved to Chino Valley last Fall, it seems like we've been chasing one emergency after another. We knew it wasn't going to be easy, living here on the farm, but I honestly didn't expect to run into some of the issues we did.

The plumming problems, that generated great debates on Facebook, were sort of expected. I knew that the septic tank was going to have to be emptied soon, but replacing both toilets at the same time was added, and unwanted, bonus I didn't expect. It wouldn't have been a major issue if not for another, very big issue that we had just started dealing with at the time.

My husband had no problem finding a job when we moved up here. Life was good for about the first 3 months. Then work started slacking off and the paychecks got smaller and smaller and smaller. Then, in Early December, they just stopped. There was no work to be done, and he wasn't getting any hours. Now my husband is in the agnozing limbo of being technically employed but not having a job. His line of work... heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)... is very 'feast or famine', b ut I've never seen a famine period like this. Ever. He's doing it for 11 years and he's never gone 6 weeks without work. The longest period before was 3 weeks, and that was considered bad.

So, we have only my income to live on, which currently isn't much. I was barely paying our insurance permiums, forget food and other bills. We agreed when we got married that my primary occupation was Mom, and any money I made would be suplimental. There was a period, several years ago, where I had to break out my college education and be the primary breadwinner while my husband expanded is own, but again, that was expected. And something we had agreed on. This time it was a surprise.

So, I've been exapnding my portfolio and picking up new writing gigs. It takes time to generate an increase in income when you're a writer. You have to build networks and fan bases for your new gigs. You have to really get involved with your new publisher and learn their moods and demands. Then there's sharpening your skills in your new beat or topic...

I've been writing about food for years. I love cooking, food gardening, etc; plus I home-ec as an after school class to kids in the neighborhood when we lived in Phoenix. The topic was a good fit. Then.

Now, I find myself a bit tired of writing about food and cooking. So, when I was looking for new writing opportunities I decided to take advantage of a standing publisher and ask for a whole new topic. One I've always found exciting, but didn't have the opportunity to give it much attention: promoting what to do in Prescott and the Prescott area, my home town. Now I live here again, and the world is wide open to me. Examiner.com seemed to agree, becasue they gave me a new topic: Prescott Places and Faces Examiner. (click the link and check it out!)

I've only been at it a few days, so I'm still broke, but, I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm excited about writing periodicals again. I can always write books (my first love), but books take years to come to fruition. Someday I'll be able to live off the money I make from them, but that day is not today. Today periodicals pay the bills. So, periodicals it is.

My goal now? To make enough money to pay mygrandmother back for the new toilets. Back to work with me!

The Incident at Ruma Port

"Is this going to be another Incident at Ruma Port sort of thing? If so, you have to tell me. Better to kill her now than go through that again."

This was a line uttered by our hero, Shael, in the midst of the big battle in the book Steadfast. He was, of course, referring to the 14-year-old queen of the planet Tyria, Daneri, whom he had sworn to protect. He had come to Tyria to be her regent until she came of age, a task assigned to him by none other than Ayllan, the queen of the gods. So, what would make a one thousand year old immortal ask such a question in such an instance? What could make him so instantly willing to chuck it all and go against orders that came from so far on high? After all, even if we didn't know he had a heart of gold, any immortal or god who goes against the will of Ayllan is either destroyed or imprisoned for all eternity. When you're immortal that later one could really suck.

Those of you who read Steadfast got a sense of what could be. More over, you bothered to ask the question "what did happen at Ruma Port?"

Well, guess what? That question is going to be answered soon! As the Hippylady and I work to finish the drafting of the Welcome to Azdia trilogy (WTA), Renee and I are officially sketching the Oracle trilogy (OT).

The first book of the OT is "Incident at Ruma Port". Yes, an entire book detailing exactly what happened in that tiny little town on the Azdin Coast. The spot where the port once stood is now a crater that rivals the size of Lake Nacadis to the north. But where the crater Nacadis' rising created eventually filled with rain waters and began to support all manner of aquatic life, the Ruma Port crater remains empty, lifeless. Nothing will go near it, not even the waters. Gods fear to tread there for the place is unholy, even by the standards of Evil.

This is, in fact, the beginning of the Lord Evil's descent into madness. The mere fact that someone, or something, could commit an act that made all of his worst deeds seem pale and amateurish disturbed him greatly.

The fact that the act was committed by a teenage girl drove him over the edge completely.

So, pay attention to your inboxes First Readers and Denizens of Azdin City. Pages will be coming your way before Thanksgiving!

Getting BItchy

For the last several years I've had people asking me to write a book, or a column, or something on my moral beliefs and views on decision making. Until recently, however, I hadn't found my voice for it. It has to be natural. It has to be real. It has to flow out of me like water through a colander.

Well, I found it. I found my voice. It's off topic for the Azdian Visitor's Center though, so I started a new blog. It's called the American Moral Middle. I will tell you now that, while I will try to keep it clean, some posts may not be suitable for children under 50.

As for everything else in my life... I got to go to party! It was the first time in 17 years that I've gone to a party, with or without kids, and was able to relax and just enjoy myself. Such can be life with autistic kids (or aspie spouses) however. Whenever there wasn't some ASD related problem I was too sick to enjoy myself. It's hard to enjoy yourself when your tired and nauseous from radiation treatments. It's also hard to be happy at all when you make the stupid decision of going to a karaoke bar with friends when your bone density is way down.  When the slightest move make you toss your cookies or break a bone.

So, party.  It was a nice little pool party, and yes, we brought the kids. They were great. I am so proud of them. The biggest problem we had was when the 8yo started crying because she couldn't find us. It was a really big house. But she found the host, and he dried her tears then sent her in our direction.

My diabetic 11yo did have a little too much sugar, but nothing major. I kind of expected that. She didn't even need an insulin shot though. Just a big spoonful of peanut butter.

People are always asking me if it ever gets any easier with autistic kids. Yes, yes it does. I don't expect things to go as smoothly next time, but hey, you never know.

The million dollar family.

In a piece she recently published on Y!CN, my friend, Nancy, posed the question 'Do you know any millionaires?'. The piece poses other questions as well. Like, 'would you pay $900 for a parking spot', and 'what would you do with a million dollars'?

Unfortunately, a million dollars doesn't go very far these days. For my family it's barely the financial reset button. Truth be told, it isn't even that. My husband and I are old fashioned enough to believe that parents should pay for things like college, weddings, and down payments on their kids' first homes. We should help them buy their first car, teach them how to drive it, and take care of it. With the economy the way it is, however, all we can afford to do is teach them to drive. Everything else they will have to do on their own, and that kills us.

We also believe that children should take care of their parents when they get older. When grandparents get to the point of not being able to do everything for themselves anymore Mom and Dad (the middle generation) should step in so that Grandma and Grandpa can still enjoy life without having to go without. If Grandpa can't lift, Dad should do the lifting. If Grandma can't stand at the stove long enough to cook, Mom should do the cooking. If they can't drive, Mom and Dad should do the driving. Back when Grandma and Grandpa where merely Mom and Dad they took care of us, day in and day out. We believe that they have the right to expect us to return the favor.

So, what does a million dollars buy? For my family, which has 6 kids, two parents, four grandparents, and one great-grandparent, it barely buys anything. It buys small controlled trusts for the kids to help them go to college, buy a modest but reliable vehicle, and maybe, maybe a down payment on a house. What's left over buys the land on which to build a multi-generational home, with maybe enough left over to actually build the home, if no frills are included in it's construction. There Mom and Dad can take care of Grandma and Grandpa without having to worry that the family elders would end up homeless or having to stretch financially just to survive.

We would still have debt. We would still have bills to pay. My husband and I would still have to work. The kids would still have to worry about their futures and how they were going to pay for things like weddings, mortgages, etc. But we would all at least having a fighting chance. There would be no $900 parking spaces. There would be no fancy restaurants, or shopping sprees. There would just be room to breathe for a week, maybe two, before the cost of living started to mount again.