SOME HEALTH NEWS UPDATES
First:  fish oil might not be the lifesaver some believed:
"Fish oil -- a supplement taken daily by millions of Americans -- may not help you live longer, a new study released today suggests.
The study is the latest piece of research feeding the debate over whether regularly taking omega-3 supplements -- most commonly in the form of fish oil -- helps the heart.
A number of clinical trials have found that fish oil seems to lower risk of heart attack, sudden death, and even stroke -- though exactly how this works remains unclear. Yet, other studies have found little evidence of connection between these often pricey supplements and health benefits.
In the new report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, lead study author Dr. Evangelos Rizos and his colleagues completed an extensive review of existing data. They pooled results from 20 studies that included almost 70,000 adult patients.
Through rigorous statistical analyses, they said, they found no significant risk reduction in those getting increased omega-3 in their diet or through supplements.
Fish oil supplements are among the most popular dietary supplements among Americans. Though it is hard to pin down an exact figure for sales of such products, an article in Forbes magazine noted that, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, over-the-counter fish oil supplements accounted for $739 million in sales in 2009. Meanwhile, in 2010 Americans spent nearly $4 billion on products fortified with extra omega-3s, according to the market research firm Packaged Facts.While the news may be disappointing to many expecting to live longer and have healthier hearts by taking these supplements daily, it's not the first time such findings have been reported. In April, a South Korean study of 20,000 people found a similar lack of heart benefits, and in June a separate study suggested that brain benefits, too, may have been oversold.
The results have some top cardiologists convinced that consumers should pause before buying these supplements.
"There's never been any compelling evidence of a clinical benefit," said Dr. Steven Nissen, professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine.
Despite these mixed results, however, many physicians still recommend these supplements, which can cost $40 or more per bottle.
"Patients and doctors like the idea that it is natural and has no real side effects," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, clinical director of New York University Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
And some doctors say the findings of the new study are no reason to cut bait on fish oil.
"Meta-analysis, particularly when neutral, should not be used to draw a conclusion," said Melvyn Rubenfire of the University of Michigan.
Rubenfire said many of the studies included in this report did not have long enough follow-up, noting that heart and stroke prevention studies "are generally designed with five-year duration." Many patients studied here, he said, were followed for less than three years.
Rubenfire added that he believes this information "should dampen the enthusiasm for routine costly supplement in healthy persons" -- but that he and many experts agreed that omega-3 supplements are still a good strategy for patient with high triglycerides.
Some experts also note that the report is limited because the authors only included results from 20 of the thousands of studies on this topic, as many of these studies vary in terms of the types of patients and the doses of fish oil studied.
"This inherently makes it hard to group them together for one analysis," said Dr. Merle Myerson, director of cardiovascular disease prevention at Continuum Health Partners.
Myerson said she thinks that while government guideline committees will consider this study, they won't "change or challenge current recommendations."

But, second--some good news:  here are 10 apparently "lazy" moves that can actually aid your health.  What are they?  Read on:
"Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits.
We've rounded up 10 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: Many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage, "no pain, no gain" and try these tips today.

Protect Your Ticker By Snoozing

Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive—it also boosts your risk of a heart attack.
According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.
Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Plus, when you're exhausted you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.
 

Ward Off Weight Gain with Protein

You may not have to stress so much about cutting calories: Whether you're packing on the pounds or simply want to maintain your current weight, adding more protein to your dish could be your slim-down secret weapon. Past research has found that protein keeps you feeling full longer than either carbs or fat, so you can eat less and still be satiated.
A new study supports this idea: Researchers from the University of Sydney estimated that the extra calories eaten by participants in their study eating the lowest protein diets could add up to an extra 2.2 pounds of weight gain a month.
Protein is the building block of muscle, and more calories are required to maintain muscle than to preserve fat, which means muscle helps boost your metabolism. Bonus: Foods rich in protein are also filled with zinc and B vitamins, both of which strengthen your immune system to ward off colds and flu.
If you're eating about 1,800 calories a day and want to get 15 percent of your calories from protein, you should aim for about 68 grams of protein. Here are 3 easy protein switches that up your protein intake for the same number of calories or less. Remember, you want to eat more protein—not calories!—to keep your waistline slim.
Instead of…1/2 cup granola with 1 cup berries (7 grams protein, 250 calories) Try…1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese with 1 cup berries (15 grams protein, 131 calories) Instead of…1 ¼ cup mashed potatoes (5 grams protein, 296 calories) Try…1 ¼ cup vegetarian baked beans (15 grams protein, 295 calories) Instead of…6-inch pancake sans butter or syrup (5 grams protein, 175 calories) Try…1 cup low-fat plain yogurt with ½ cup apricots (13 grams protein, 186 calories)
 

Pop Vitamin D to Live Longer

Have you had your dose of vitamin D today? A growing body of research shows that not getting enough of this nutrient can trigger a slew of health problems—and experts believe that most of us have a vitamin D deficiency.
Though current guidelines call for 600 to 800 IU daily, many researchers now believe we may need up to 4,000 IU. The very latest research supports the case that the "sunshine vitamin" is a powerful health booster. In fact, people who get enough vitamin D have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Diabetes Care.
Experts speculate that the nutrient's anti-inflammatory powers might be one way that it offers protection against the disease. Getting enough D may also improve asthma. Earlier research found that having low levels may make asthma symptoms worse, and a new study finds that lacking in D could make breathing harder by increasing airway smooth muscle mass in children with treatment-resistant asthma, according to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
The "sunshine vitamin" may also help ward off cancer. A whopping 77 percent of cancer patients have low levels of vitamin D, and the lowest levels are linked to more advanced cancers, suggests a study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. More research is being done on how vitamin D might help prevent or even treat cancer.
 

Up Your Antioxidants with a New Super Fruit

The largest edible fruit native to North America, the pawpaw will grow pretty much anywhere, although it does best in the Northeast and the Midwest, says Ken Asmus, owner of Oikos Tree Crops, a Kalamazoo, Michigan–based nursery that sells pawpaw tree seedlings. Their fruit ripens around the end of August and lasts until mid-October.
Some nutritionists and foodies think pawpaws could be the next superfood. They have 20 to 70 times as much iron, 10 times as much calcium, and 4 to 20 times as much magnesium as bananas, apples, and oranges, Asmus has found. And research from Ohio State has found that they have antioxidant levels that rival cranberries and cherries.
An added health bonus: Being a native tree, pawpaws are resistant to most pests and diseases, making them very easy to grow organically, without the insecticides or fungicides used in most fruit orchards. Just don't look for them at the grocery store; you're more likely to find a pawpaw at your local farmer's market—if you aren't already growing them in your backyard.

Rock Out to Exercise Longer

Music fuels your workout—whether you're lifting weights, practicing yoga, or going for a power walk. And it's not just in your head. Researchers at Brunel University in London found that runners who listened to upbeat, energizing rock or pop music (like Queen, Madonna, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers) exercised up to 15 percent longer—and felt great while doing it.

Boost Brain Power with Chocolate

Are you a chocoholic? Turns out your little addiction may save your life. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.
Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it's hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets. Another study finds that chocolate may also boost brainpower. Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidant-like properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. Study participants were asked to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.
 

Soothe Arthritis Pain Naturally

Pain, tenderness, and stiffness in your joints can keep you from doing the things you love. That may be the reality for people who suffer from osteoarthritis (OA).
OA is the most common type of arthritis, occurs in women more often than men, and happens when the cartilage in your joints wears down as you age. Some natural remedies have been shown to be effective anti-inflammatories.
Taking 500 mg twice daily of the combined herbal supplements curcumin and boswellia was better for relieving pain and lowering joint line tenderness scores than taking 100 mg twice daily of the prescription drug celecoxib, finds a clinical study presented at the Osteoarthritis Research Symposium Internationale (OARSI) in San Diego.
According to the study, 93 percent of the herbal group reported improvement in or elimination of pain compared with just 79 percent of the prescription drug group. You can get the herbal combination in a supplement called Healthy Knees and Joints from the Terry Naturally product line, or at your local health food store.

Fight a Cold with Red Wine

Need something to toast to? The resveratrol and polyphenols in red wine work the same way that beneficial bacteria in yogurt do: When cold and flu viruses enter you system, they start to multiply, and these compounds prevent that from happening.
To get the most bang for your buck, grab a bottle of California pinot noir. Tests have found it to have some of the highest levels of resveratrol. Don't drink? Eat some grape leaves or peanuts, the red inner husks of which are also high in resveratrol.

Break for Lunch to Avoid Food Poisoning

Noshing at your desk or in your cubicle may save you time and money during the workday, but it could also up your odds of getting food poisoning.
As many as 83 percent of Americans take part in desktop dining, according to a new survey by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods' Home Food Safety program. Another study found the average desktop has 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table and 400 times more than the average toilet seat.
One possible reason may be because you clean your toilet and kitchen more than you clean your workspace: Only 36 percentof respondents clean their work areas—desktop, keyboard, mouse—weekly, according to a recent survey.
To protect yourself from dangerous bacteria lurking in your workspace that could trigger a food-borne illness, meet a friend outside of the office for lunch or follow the same food-safety guidelines at your desk as you would in your kitchen. Wash your hands with warm soapy water before you reach into your desk drawer for even a snack, and be sure to keep moistened antibacterial wipes on hand to cleanse your desktop as well as your hands when you can't make it to the restroom. CleanWell has a to-go line of portable disinfectants and wipes that uses botanicals to kill germs.

Fight Cancer with Spices

There may also be some potent ways to ward off illness inside your spice cabinet. Curcurmin is the antioxidant ingredient that gives turmeric (commonly used in Indian curries) its yellow color. The super ingredient has already been linked with preventing diabetes, protecting against Alzheimer's, and easing arthritis pain—and a recent study show it also helps ward off tumors.
Curcumin helped prevent the growth of tumors tied to colon cancer, according to a study in the journal Gastroenterology.
"Our research found that curcumin was able to ignite the body's own tumor suppression activity to keep a cancerous tumor from growing and spreading," says Dr. Ajay Goel, Ph.D., Director of Epigenetics and Cancer Prevention at the Gastrointestinal Research Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. "Though we used colon cancer cells in this study, we suspect that this is one mechanism of action for cancer suppression in many other types of cancer as well."


“I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe lead you.”--Oprah Winfrey (born 1954)

GOT PAIN? DEPT
I know some of you out there suffer from chronic pain, perhaps partly due to your Moebius or other associated conditions.  Is acupuncture a possible remedy for you?  Well, maybe, maybe not...it's complicated.  Read all about it:
"Acupuncture may help relieve chronic back, joint and shoulder pain, according to a new review of the evidence - but some of its benefit is likely due to the "placebo effect," researchers concluded.

In an analysis of 29 studies, they found people who got acupuncture typically reported more pain relief than those who didn't.
But patients treated with fake or "sham" acupuncture - using retracting needles that don't stick in the skin, for example - estimated their pain at somewhere in between the other two groups, suggesting that they also got some benefit from the procedure.
"A doctor who has a patient in pain has a lot of options," such as medications and physical or talk therapy, said lead author Andrew Vickers, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
"This provides evidence that they would be justified in considering… acupuncture," he told Reuters Health.
Acupuncture has been controversial among doctors as a possible treatment for a range of conditions including chronic pain and fibromyalgia.
Some think it has potential as an add-on or alternative to standard treatment, while others argue any acupuncture-related benefits are likely the result of hopeful patients getting treatment they strongly believe will help them.
That either means many of the three million Americans that get acupuncture every year are "wasting their time" - or others who forgo it are missing out on potential benefits, Vickers said.
To try to help sort out which is the case, he and his colleagues analyzed 29 studies they deemed to be high-quality comparisons of acupuncture, fake acupuncture and no treatment. Those trials included close to 18,000 patients in the United States and Europe with back and neck pain, shoulder pain, chronic headaches or joint pain due to osteoarthritis.
The researchers found that on average, people treated with acupuncture reported a "modest" improvement in symptoms compared to those who had sham treatment, and a larger effect compared to untreated patients.
They estimated in their Archives of Internal Medicine report that about 50 percent of patients had their symptoms cut in half with acupuncture, compared to almost 43 percent of those treated with sham acupuncture and 30 percent with no acupuncture-like therapy.
A typical acupuncture session runs for about $100 and is often not covered by health insurance.
Usually not the first step
"I have a long list of chronic pain patients coming to seek acupuncture," said Jongbae Park, head of Asian Medicine & Acupuncture Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
It's usually "not their first approach to address the condition," he said - rather people seek acupuncture when traditional care fails to stop their pain.
Park, who was not involved in the new study, said acupuncture focuses on healing the underlying tissue injury that is causing pain, rather than treating the pain itself as medications would.
"I am a biased clinician," Park told Reuters Health. But, he added, "I would sincerely say more than 75 percent of my patients will see improvement."
Vickers said people who are considering acupuncture should first make sure their acupuncturist is appropriately qualified and licensed. In those cases, he said, acupuncture is very safe - and the main downsides are costs and the inconvenience of getting to a clinic."

“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”---Confucius (551-479)

SHORT AND SWEET
So let me today just write a very short blog post.  Short...but hopefully to the point.  Let me address it especially to you younger people with Moebius.

Because I know you worry.  You worry that you look different.  You worry that, because you look different, therefore you're not so popular with the "cool", hip, hot crowd.  You're concerned that because you look different, that maybe you'll never be able to have a serious, romantic relationship with a member of the opposite sex.  You perhaps feel anguish over the fact that because you look different, you don't have that many friends, and fear that you never will.

Well, so here maybe is the best, most thoughtful, smartest thing I've heard or read in response to concerns like this.  So it's not unique to me; I'm sure others have said it many times.  But it's true.  So you should read and consider it carefully; don't just blow it off and say, well, sure that's true, but...how come no one likes me???????  Try to take it to heart.

What's this great thought?  Simple.  So suppose there are people who will shun you because you look and/or sound different.  Suppose there are those who won't go out with you because you have Moebius.  Okay--so why do you want to hang out, _be_ with, such shallow, mindless, undiscerning people anyway???

Seriously.  If all someone can see, all someone can care about, is who looks "hot" and who doesn't, is that really the kind of person you really want, and need, in your life?  Instead, think about the friends you have in your life, who really _are_ your friends, and ponder what they're bringing to the table.  Maybe you need more people like those.

“The stories of past courage...can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul. ”--John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

“The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years, but the one with the richest experiences.”--Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

FRIDAY FOOTBALL PICKS!
Yes, folks, it's that time of year again; it's fall, and that means it's football season.  So, due to my love of football and trying to test my football knowledge against the world, one day each week I try to pick some football games, and see how I do.  So here we go...

NFL PICKS
Now here, just remember, what I'm trying to do is pick games _against the spread_.  So, what that means is:  if team A if favored by 6 points to beat team B...and I pick team A...I'm not just saying A will win; I'm saying A will win by _more than 6_.  If I pick B, team B could still lose...but if they lose by less than 6, then I win (I also win of course if B was to win the game).  Just thought I'd explain that for any of you who are not die-hard football nuts like me.  Okay, now on to the picks:  (the home team is in all caps)

Atlanta 3 over KANSAS CITY.  My pick:  FALCONS.  Atlanta was a playoff team last year, and in my pre-season study still looks strong, knows what it's about.  KC may be improved but is still developing.  Go with the playoff team.

Carolina 2.5 over TAMPA BAY.  My pick:  PANTHERS.  I like Cam Newton and that offense.  The Bucs took a step back last year and I'm not sure they've yet made it up.

CHICAGO 9.5 over Indianapolis.  My pick:  COLTS.  Not to win; I expect the Bears to pull it out.  But I like Andrew Luck--I think he's progressed faster than people think.  And Brian Urlacher is dinged up.  Look for a closer game here.

DENVER 1.5 over Pittsburgh.  My pick:  BRONCOS.  I think Peyton Manning looks good.  The Steelers are still adapting to a new offensive coordinator, and Ben Roethlisberger remains dinged up.

DETROIT 7.5 over St. Louis.  My pick:  LIONS.  Remember, the Rams have a new coach in Jeff Fisher and so he's still installing his system.  NFL teams such as the Rams, with a new coaching staff, often struggle early.  Meanwhile the Lions' tandem of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson should continue to shine.

GREEN BAY 5 over San Francisco.  My pick:  PACKERS.  Just can't go against Aaron Rodgers and that Packers offense at home.

HOUSTON 12 over Miami.  My pick:  TEXANS.  That's a big spread.  But Miami is starting a rookie QB, tough to do in this lead; and the Texans look real strong to me.

MINNESOTA 4 over Jacksonville.  My pick:  VIKINGS.  These are 2 teams that may struggle some this year; but I think the Vikings have more weapons than the Jags at this point.

New England 5.5 over TENNESSEE.  My pick:  PATRIOTS.  The Patriots struggled a bit in the pre-season, but...in the QB battle here, you have Jake Locker vs Tom Brady.  No contest...

NEW ORLEANS 7 over Washington.  My pick:  SAINTS.  I think Robert Griffin will be a good QB for the 'Skins.  But for a rookie QB, starting on the road in the loud Superdome...against a high-powered Saints offense...is a mighty tough task.

NY JETS 2.5 over Buffalo.  My pick:  JETS.  Neither team looked that great to me in pre-season; the Jets' offensive struggles are well-documented.  But look for the Jets to prevail thanks to their still-stout defense.

Philadelphia 8.5 over CLEVELAND.  My pick:  EAGLES.  The Browns start Brandon Weeden, a rookie QB who may develop well, but...doesn't have enough weapons.  Meanwhile the Eagles have plenty of weapons.

Seattle 2.5 over ARIZONA.  My pick:  CARDINALS.  Both teams have issues.  But I think the Seahawks starting rookie QB Russell Wilson is a risky proposition, especially on the road.  Whoever plays QB for AZ at least has experience.

BALTIMORE 6 over Cincinnati.  My pick:  RAVENS.  Maybe Joe Flacco and that offense is coming into its own; and the Ravens are usually a good home team.

OAKLAND 1 over San Diego.  My pick:  CHARGERS.  It's kind of a pick 'em game, both teams have question marks...but my gut tells Philip Rivers will find a way to win this one.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL UPSET WATCH
Here I'll try to pick either upsets, or at least game which will be a lot closer than people think.  This week I have two:

NOTRE DAME 14.5 over Purdue.  My pick:  BOILERMAKERS.  Not necessarily to win; but to keep it close.  Purdue's defense is better.  Notre Dame remember traveled out of the country last week to play in Ireland; kind of a big deal, and a long trip like that is exhausting and can mess with a team's focus.  Look for a closer game.

Vanderbilt 3.5 over NORTHWESTERN.  My pick:  WILDCATS.  Did you see Northwestern put up 42 points last week?  And now they're at home, against a Vandy team perhaps ready for letdown after a tough, emotional loss at home to South Carolina.  Look for an NU surprise.

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."--Vince Lombardi.

FACIAL DIFFERENCES:  DO THEY MATTER?
Not necessarily to the man discussed in this piece; now, he doesn't have Moebius Syndrome...but he does have a facial difference.  But it hasn't stopped him--see why:
"Living with a facial difference doesn’t mean you have to live any differently.
Just ask 37-year-old Oakville resident Darryl Finley — a mobile mortgage specialist with TD Canada Trust — who was born with bilateral cleft lip and palate.
When Finley was younger he spent a lot of time at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, undergoing 10 operations in 18 years to close the top of his mouth.
“After your face stops growing, they can put it in perspective and that’s you for the rest of your life,” said Finley. “They broke my jaw and moved it back, shaved some off and put it all back together just so it’s all proportionate.”
According to SickKids, a cleft is a separation of the parts of the lip or palate (roof of the mouth), which usually fuses together during the first three months of development. If the parts, which make up the lip and palate, fail to meet and fuse, there will be a space between the parts, called a cleft.
Clefts of the lip and palate are one of the most common congenital anomalies in children. They occur in approximately one in 700 births. The cause is unknown. For Finley, having a strong support system at home while growing up has helped him cope, he says.
“If you’re interacting with family and friends, then you don’t see the difference and they don’t see the difference. They get used to the difference. That can help build you and mold you into who you are today,” said Finley.
He’s worked in a variety of face-forward roles for 15 years, the last three in mortgage sales, which was a big adjustment at first, he said. When he first started at TD, he was concerned his facial difference was going to be a distraction for coworkers and clients. But Finley says the company offers him a lot of acceptance and help in his position — without holding him back.
“(When) you’re going to people’s houses, you’re representing TD. Being on the mortgage side has been great because you’re going to meet a whole variety of people,” he said.
He’s open with people about his condition and will tell them if they want to know. If it’s an issue for them, he wants to get it out of the way upfront, Finley says.
“I think that helped me to be confident, knowing my boss and my manager are both behind me and believed me. The team (also) believed in me. We’ve helped each other.”
His biggest challenge is making a connection with people so they feel comfortable. It doesn’t take long for him to “warm up” to someone, but if they’re on edge, he’s on edge, he says.
“Some people will let it go, some people are checking you out a little more — that’s just the way it is. A lot of people, with facial differences or without, draw conclusions about a person within 10 seconds,” said Finley.
What people may not understand is the affect they’re having by staring or whispering in somebody’s ear after looking at them, he said.
“I think the ignorance (behind) staring at somebody that has any (physical) difference is what makes the whole situation uncomfortable,” said Finley.
To help others like him cope, he got involved with AboutFace — a Canadian charitable organization that provides emotional, peer and social support, as well as resources and educational programs to individuals with facial disfigurements and their families.
“When I was transitioning out of the (hospital) at 18 or 20, there were a lot of kids (I was) asked to talk to who were scared — about to get into their operations. I would go out and sit with the parents and kids and let them know everything was okay,” Finley said.
He joined the group three years ago because he wants to make a difference wherever he can — whether it’s talking to parents or children or going to different programs.
“I wish it were more prominent when I was young because I think it would have been something that I would have liked. I think it can be really beneficial to people. People just need to know it’s out there,” said Finley.
Finley said he is considering attending the organization’s annual Camp Trailblazers retreat for youth aged 10-18 in September.
“As you hit 18, that’s your maturity years. It’s important for a lot of girls and guys because now they’re starting to get into dating.”
Finley’s advice to those with facial differences when meeting new people is to get the other person to talk about themselves to establish rapport and commonality.
“They’re not focusing on something that may be a facial difference. If you’re relating something in your life to something in theirs, that’s kind of like an icebreaker,” said Finley. “People sense conversations and know where they’re going with it.”
“Be proud of who you are. Don’t let other people distract you from being happy. We’re all in this world to work, live and have a great life. You can’t let the downers bring you down.”

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”--Harry S. Truman (1884-1972)

HOW TO TEACH SOCIAL SKILLS
Attention Moebius moms and dads--this story might give you some ideas.  Granted, your school may not produce its own news show; but on a smaller scale, maybe you can continue to encourage your Moebius child to have his or her picture taken...or maybe you can produce small-scale videos using your phones, etc.  I think some of you already do that.  Read on to see what we're talking about:
"A unique program at one Pennsylvania school is using the power of television news to teach social skills to youngsters with Asperger’s syndrome.

Students in the Asperger’s support program at Worrall Elementary School outside Philadelphia produce “Action 7 News,” using a green screen to bring everything from Major League Baseball to world events down to size.

While the kids have fun producing the broadcast, the program is pure therapy, say their teachers and therapists. Standing in front of a camera helps the students learn to speak clearly. It also gives them a chance to play back their reports and analyze their own presentation. Meanwhile, reporting also offers the kids an opportunity to understand that issues are not always black and white.

The program appears to be paying off. Once the students head to middle school, those with Asperger’s who’ve participated in “Action 7 News” are noticeably more capable socially than those who have not taken part, school officials say.

For the pint-size reporting staff, however, the best part of producing the newscast may be showing off their TV skills to the rest of the school. “I’ve never been this famous before,” one student told PBS."


“It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”--Roy Disney (born 1930)

SCHOOL BULLIES...
...prey on children with autism.  For Moebius moms and dads, and others--a new study and what it means:
"Connie Anderson didn’t know what was bothering her 17-year-old son, a Baltimore-area high school senior with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. He was usually a diligent student, but his grades began to plummet.
“He was starting to go downhill fast,” Ms. Anderson said. “His grades were crashing, and he wasn’t able to focus.”
At a meeting with school counselors, the teenager finally spoke up, confessing that he was being bullied by students in the cafeteria. Once, they had pulled his pants down to his knees in front of his class.
While the problem of school bullying has received national attention, with many states passing anti-bullying legislation and school districts adopting anti-bullying programs, a troubling new pattern has emerged among victims. Research published on Monday in Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine shows that children with autism spectrum disorders, who typically have difficulty in communicating and forming relationships, are far more likely to be bullied than their non-autistic peers.
 “I would call it a profound public health problem,” said Paul R. Sterzing, lead author of the new study and an assistant professor at the school of social welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. “The rate of bullying and victimization among these adolescents is alarmingly high.”
The children at greatest risk, it turns out, appear to be those who also hold the most promise for leading an independent life. The researchers found that the risk of being bullied was greatest for high-functioning children who end up not in special education programs, but in mainstream classes, where their quirks and unusual mannerisms stand out and they are more exposed to bullies.
Many parents of children with autism already are well aware that their children are taunted and tormented at school, but the new study suggests the problem is pervasive. Dr. Sterzing’s data, collected from a nationally representative sample of 920 middle- and high-school students with an autism disorder, shows that 46 percent have been bullied.  By comparison, in the general adolescent population, an estimated 10.6 percent of children have been bullied.
Dr. Sterzing’s study also showed that children were at highest risk for bullying if they also had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Notably, children with A.D.H.D. also were more likely to display aggressive behavior themselves; however, the rate of bullying perpetrated by children with autism was 14.8 percent, similar to the rate estimated for the general population.
The findings are based on data collected in 2001 from a larger 10-year study of more than 11,000 special education students. Parents of autistic children and school administrators were asked to report on instances of bullying that occurred in the previous year.
Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders often are socially awkward and have difficulty communicating and recognizing social cues. Another hallmark of the disorder is a strict adherence to rituals and habits.
“Many of the defining characteristics of autism are the ones that put them at greatest risk of bullying,’’ said Dr. Catherine Bradshaw, deputy director of the Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence and an expert on bullying at Johns Hopkins University.
Bullying of children with autism disorders most often occurs as teasing and name-calling, being shunned from activities and hitting.
Dr. Paul A. Law, director of the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, said middle school can be particularly perilous for high-functioning children with autism who lack social skills, because it represents a time when peers can be especially unforgiving of social missteps.
“Social interactions are extremely complicated at these younger ages,” said Dr. Law. “It doesn’t take long sitting in a middle school cafeteria to see that.”
Dr. Law said his group has found that children with an autism spectrum disorder are victimized at a rate more than three times that of their non-autistic siblings.
One mother of a high-functioning autistic teenager in Los Angeles, who asked that her name not be published to protect her son’s privacy, recalled that he was routinely bullied by a group of middle-school classmates who would pick on him at the playground or ambush him or throw things as he walked home from school.
“They knew that a little thing would throw him off his regimen,” she said. “If you stole his book or stole his homework, to him it would literally be a disaster. He would run around the schoolyard yelling, ‘Who’s got my homework?’ He didn’t have the skills to cope with that.”
To avoid the harassment, he began taking a car home from school, but one day the bullies pounced on him as he waited for his ride. The school intervened, punishing the bullies, and two of their parents called the boy’s mother to apologize.
Because children with autism have limited communication skills, many may struggle to talk about bullying even to their parents. Others with impaired social skills may not always realize when they are being harassed.
“Children with autism spectrum disorder aren’t very good at picking up on things like sarcasm and humor,” said Dr. Bradshaw. “They can be set up and made fun of in front of groups and not understand it.”

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