Here they come again!! I was only 9-7 last week. Time to improve.
NFL PICKS
Miami at Buffalo. My pick: DOLPHINS. Both teams won in week 1. I was impressed with Miami's defense; look for them to control Buffalo's ground game. MIAMI 17 BUFFALO 10.
Jacksonville at Washington. My pick: REDSKINS. Both teams winless; the Redskins looked particularly bad last week in Houston, hardly daring even to have RGIII throw the ball downfield. But I think Washington has too much talent, and RGIII has too much talent, not to improve some this week. WASHINGTON 27 JACKSONVILLE 21.
Dallas at Tennessee. My pick: TITANS. I pick it that way not because I expect Tony Romo to struggle again as he did against the 49ers. I don't. Romo has a history of bouncing back after tough games, and I expect that to happen again. But--I was impressed with Tennessee's defense last week. It's that defense that will give Romo a tough time, and look for the Titans' receivers to exploit the Cowboys' secondary. TENNESSEE 24 DALLAS 20.
Arizona at the NY Giants. My pick: CARDINALS. Traditionally it's been tough for the Cardinals to travel to the east coast, and play well. But that Giants' offensive line is not good. And the Cardinals have more talent. ARIZONA 16 NY GIANTS 13.
New England at Minnesota. My pick: PATRIOTS. Obviously the Patriots struggled last week more than most of us thought. But given their history, their coach, and their QB, I have a hard time believing they won't improve in week 2. The Vikings benefited last week from playing a St. Louis team that lost their starting QB, and then the backup. They won't get that kind of break this week. NEW ENGLAND 26 MINNESOTA 20.
New Orleans at Cleveland. My pick: SAINTS. New Orleans took a tough loss last week. Their defense obviously has work to do. But Drew Brees and that offense was in good form; and I don't think the Browns will be able to keep up with that Saints offense. NEW ORLEANS 34 CLEVELAND 24.
Atlanta at Cincinnati. My pick: BENGALS. These are two improved teams. But this is a tough test for Atlanta; they won a big divisional game last week at home, but now they have to go on the road against another tough opponent. That's often tough to do in the NFL. And I was impressed with Andy Dalton and the Bengals last week; they showed real toughness. CINCINNATI 24 ATLANTA 17.
Detroit at Carolina. My pick: LIONS. Maybe I'm getting way carried away. But if Matthew Stafford continues to play well, it's hard to stop that Lions' offense. And I think their defense can at least slow down the somewhat beat-up Cam Newton. DETROIT 28 CAROLINA 24.
St. Louis at Tampa Bay. My pick: BUCCANEERS. Mainly because the St. Louis QB situation is in such tough shape; plus, TB is at home.
Seattle at San Diego. My pick: SEAHAWKS. Wow--what an interesting matchup and potentially outstanding game. I think San Diego has a chance to be good. But how can you pick against Seattle, given how good they looked in week 1? They still look like the best team. SEATTLE 24 SAN DIEGO 20.
Houston at Oakland. My pick: RAIDERS. Just a hunch. I am still not sold on the Texans' QB situation. And the Raiders can be tough at home. OAKLAND 17 HOUSTON 13.
NY Jets at Green Bay. My pick: PACKERS. Most still think Green Bay is the team to beat in the NFC North, and I'd have to agree. Aaron Rodgers will get it going at home, where the Packers usually play well. GREEN BAY 31 NY JETS 20.
Kansas City at Denver. My pick: BRONCOS. I look for Denver to win big here. KC I think will take a step back; their offense isn't in sync and their defense has injuries. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning keeps that Denver offense humming. DENVER 38 KANSAS CITY 17.
Chicago at San Francisco. My pick: 49ers. The SF defense played well last week, but Colin Kaepernick made things happen too. Look for the Bears to have a hard time controlling the Niner QB. SAN FRANCISCO 30 CHICAGO 17.
Philadelphia at Indianapolis. My pick: COLTS. Both these teams had a hard time getting off the ground last week. Look for both offenses to execute better; and Indy at home will make just one more play late and eke this one out. INDIANAPOLIS 34 PHILADELPHIA 31.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
AUTISM UPDATE: CAN EARLY INTERVENTION BE EFFECTIVE?
Interested parents, read on and see what you think:
********************************
Kristin Hinson noticed something wasn't quite right with her baby Noah when he was 6 months old.
He was her fourth child, and he seemed behind developmentally.
"He started showing signs, questionable things. Nothing terrible, but not following me around the room with his eyes," Hinson said. With two older children who have autism, she worried little Noah was headed in that same direction. "No one was super concerned, but at 9 months he was showing significant delays."
A child isn't typically diagnosed with autism until age 3 or later. While the signs for autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, may be hard to detect in infants, researchers suggest there may be some early indications if you know what to watch for.
Children with autism often don't produce many sounds or use their voices to communicate. They may engage in frequent repetitive behavior. They stare at their hands or at objects for long periods of time.
Sally Rogers, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral studies at UC Davis MIND Institute, wondered what would happen if a parent could intervene before a child is officially diagnosed with autism. Other research on early intervention has shown some promise.
Rogers asked Hinson if she would be interested in becoming part of a study. Since the study involved behavioral modification therapy, if Noah wasn't diagnosed with autism there would be no harm. Hinson said yes, as did six other parents with children between the ages of 7 months and 15 months who showed some signs of autism.
"As a parent, I'll take anything that can help my child," Hinson said.
Study: Pollution associated with autism Review: Childhood vaccines are safe Dad's pictures connect with autistic son
Autism rates now 1 in 68 U.S. children
For the study, she and the other parents visited Rogers' clinic once a week for 12 weeks. There the researchers taught the parents behavioral modification techniques they could use on their children.
The techniques were simple exercises: Hinson would play "piggies" with Noah, reciting the classic poem about pigs going to market and touching Noah's feet. Often children with autism become distressed when they are touched. Other times she would play "airplane" with Noah's food as she fed him. Or they'd focus on songs and rhymes.
"Basic things you do as a mom, but really are cuing into the responses he is making and really reinforcing the responses to get him to engage with me," Hinson said. "The wonderful thing about it was that most of what they taught me, they taught me how to use in my general day-to-day routines with Noah."
Scientists thought parents would be more apt to do exercises that could be woven into daily life.
At about 15 months in, there were still concerns, but Hinson had noticed improvement in Noah's interactions with her. At 18 months, he seemed to be back on track developmentally.
"It was like this beautiful thing happened."
Autism is growing up
Noah didn't just catch up to the developmental goals of other children his age, he surpassed them. He remained talkative and engaged.
"This completely helped him," she said. "I don't know what would have happened (otherwise)."
She was not alone. At 36 months, the group that had used the behavioral intervention techniques with their children had much lower rates for autism spectrum disorder. Five children no longer showed symptoms of autism, one had mild autism but no developmental delays, and one had severe autism.
Today Noah is a 4-year-old boy with extensive language skills.
The scientists behind the study caution that this is only a pilot study; the findings cannot be applied to a larger population yet.
"With seven (children) you can't draw a conclusion," Rogers said.
But other researchers in the field see real promise in the results.
"It is exciting to think about an intervention that could change the developmental outcome for babies at risk of autism spectrum disorder," said Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, an associate professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. "This pilot study ... suggests that parents can be trained to interact with their at-risk infants using many of the same principles that are used for toddlers and preschoolers with ASD."
"It begins to set the scene for future randomized, controlled studies to evaluate whether this type of intervention could actually prevent babies from developing full symptoms of autism spectrum disorder," Veenstra-VanderWeele said. If it proves to work on a larger group, this "would be a truly transformative finding."
************************
********************************
Kristin Hinson noticed something wasn't quite right with her baby Noah when he was 6 months old.
He was her fourth child, and he seemed behind developmentally.
"He started showing signs, questionable things. Nothing terrible, but not following me around the room with his eyes," Hinson said. With two older children who have autism, she worried little Noah was headed in that same direction. "No one was super concerned, but at 9 months he was showing significant delays."
A child isn't typically diagnosed with autism until age 3 or later. While the signs for autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, may be hard to detect in infants, researchers suggest there may be some early indications if you know what to watch for.
Children with autism often don't produce many sounds or use their voices to communicate. They may engage in frequent repetitive behavior. They stare at their hands or at objects for long periods of time.
Sally Rogers, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral studies at UC Davis MIND Institute, wondered what would happen if a parent could intervene before a child is officially diagnosed with autism. Other research on early intervention has shown some promise.
Rogers asked Hinson if she would be interested in becoming part of a study. Since the study involved behavioral modification therapy, if Noah wasn't diagnosed with autism there would be no harm. Hinson said yes, as did six other parents with children between the ages of 7 months and 15 months who showed some signs of autism.
"As a parent, I'll take anything that can help my child," Hinson said.
Study: Pollution associated with autism Review: Childhood vaccines are safe Dad's pictures connect with autistic son
Autism rates now 1 in 68 U.S. children
For the study, she and the other parents visited Rogers' clinic once a week for 12 weeks. There the researchers taught the parents behavioral modification techniques they could use on their children.
The techniques were simple exercises: Hinson would play "piggies" with Noah, reciting the classic poem about pigs going to market and touching Noah's feet. Often children with autism become distressed when they are touched. Other times she would play "airplane" with Noah's food as she fed him. Or they'd focus on songs and rhymes.
"Basic things you do as a mom, but really are cuing into the responses he is making and really reinforcing the responses to get him to engage with me," Hinson said. "The wonderful thing about it was that most of what they taught me, they taught me how to use in my general day-to-day routines with Noah."
Scientists thought parents would be more apt to do exercises that could be woven into daily life.
At about 15 months in, there were still concerns, but Hinson had noticed improvement in Noah's interactions with her. At 18 months, he seemed to be back on track developmentally.
"It was like this beautiful thing happened."
Autism is growing up
Noah didn't just catch up to the developmental goals of other children his age, he surpassed them. He remained talkative and engaged.
"This completely helped him," she said. "I don't know what would have happened (otherwise)."
She was not alone. At 36 months, the group that had used the behavioral intervention techniques with their children had much lower rates for autism spectrum disorder. Five children no longer showed symptoms of autism, one had mild autism but no developmental delays, and one had severe autism.
Today Noah is a 4-year-old boy with extensive language skills.
The scientists behind the study caution that this is only a pilot study; the findings cannot be applied to a larger population yet.
"With seven (children) you can't draw a conclusion," Rogers said.
But other researchers in the field see real promise in the results.
"It is exciting to think about an intervention that could change the developmental outcome for babies at risk of autism spectrum disorder," said Dr. Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, an associate professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. "This pilot study ... suggests that parents can be trained to interact with their at-risk infants using many of the same principles that are used for toddlers and preschoolers with ASD."
"It begins to set the scene for future randomized, controlled studies to evaluate whether this type of intervention could actually prevent babies from developing full symptoms of autism spectrum disorder," Veenstra-VanderWeele said. If it proves to work on a larger group, this "would be a truly transformative finding."
************************
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
TWO STORIES
Today on the blog, two stories that have to do with general disability issues: 1] First, beware if you use Amtrak--there have been problems with accessibility. 2] Children with autism are helped greatly by using tablets, such as Ipads, etc. Read on:
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The nation’s passenger rail system remains plagued by accessibility problems with poor planning hampering efforts to improve accommodations for people with disabilities, an audit finds.
In the last two years, Amtrak has made “limited progress” in improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to an internal inspector general’s report.
The failure to make substantial improvements stems largely from ineffective management and the lack of a written strategic plan, the report indicates.
As of 2011, only 48 of the 482 stations Amtrak serves were ADA compliant. Accordingly, Amtrak committed roughly $100 million to address the problems during 2012 and 2013.
In that time, several property surveys and facility assessments were completed and three stations were made more accessible. However, the inspector general found that nearly half of the funds allocated went toward management activities.
What’s more, $6.5 million was spent on designs for projects with no construction plans in place and an unknown amount went toward repairs considered “good” that that did not meet ADA standards.
In response to the report, Joseph Boardman, president and CEO of Amtrak, committed to management changes for the ADA program and said a strategic plan will be established. Boardman also said that Amtrak representatives will meet quarterly with national disability groups to address accessibility issues.
*****************************************
Even with intervention, many children with autism continue to struggle with communication, but new research suggests that using iPads and other tablets can help maximize language skills.
In a study of 61 kids with autism ages 5 to 8, researchers found that those given access to a tablet with a speech-generating app during therapy were able to make “significant and rapid gains” in their use of language, far exceeding the progress of children who participated in treatment sessions alone.
All of the children in the study were minimally verbal and participated in two to three hours of therapy each week for six months that focused on improving language, play skills and social gesturing like pointing.
In addition to the therapy, half of the kids were given a tablet with a speech-generating app to use during the sessions. The app was programmed with pictures of objects being used in the therapy which allowed the child to touch an image and hear audio of an object’s name.
Ultimately, children who used the tablets were more likely to begin using language on their own, according to findings published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
“It was remarkable how well the tablet worked in providing access to communication for these children,” said Connie Kasari of the University of California, Los Angeles who worked on the study. “Children who received the behavioral intervention along with the tablet to support their communication attempts made much faster progress in learning to communicate, and especially in using spoken language.”
Children appeared to retain their new skills when they came for a follow-up three months after the study period ended, researchers said.
Incorporating the tablets was most effective when used from the start of the treatment, the study found.
*******************************************
************************************
The nation’s passenger rail system remains plagued by accessibility problems with poor planning hampering efforts to improve accommodations for people with disabilities, an audit finds.
In the last two years, Amtrak has made “limited progress” in improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to an internal inspector general’s report.
The failure to make substantial improvements stems largely from ineffective management and the lack of a written strategic plan, the report indicates.
As of 2011, only 48 of the 482 stations Amtrak serves were ADA compliant. Accordingly, Amtrak committed roughly $100 million to address the problems during 2012 and 2013.
In that time, several property surveys and facility assessments were completed and three stations were made more accessible. However, the inspector general found that nearly half of the funds allocated went toward management activities.
What’s more, $6.5 million was spent on designs for projects with no construction plans in place and an unknown amount went toward repairs considered “good” that that did not meet ADA standards.
In response to the report, Joseph Boardman, president and CEO of Amtrak, committed to management changes for the ADA program and said a strategic plan will be established. Boardman also said that Amtrak representatives will meet quarterly with national disability groups to address accessibility issues.
*****************************************
Even with intervention, many children with autism continue to struggle with communication, but new research suggests that using iPads and other tablets can help maximize language skills.
In a study of 61 kids with autism ages 5 to 8, researchers found that those given access to a tablet with a speech-generating app during therapy were able to make “significant and rapid gains” in their use of language, far exceeding the progress of children who participated in treatment sessions alone.
All of the children in the study were minimally verbal and participated in two to three hours of therapy each week for six months that focused on improving language, play skills and social gesturing like pointing.
In addition to the therapy, half of the kids were given a tablet with a speech-generating app to use during the sessions. The app was programmed with pictures of objects being used in the therapy which allowed the child to touch an image and hear audio of an object’s name.
Ultimately, children who used the tablets were more likely to begin using language on their own, according to findings published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
“It was remarkable how well the tablet worked in providing access to communication for these children,” said Connie Kasari of the University of California, Los Angeles who worked on the study. “Children who received the behavioral intervention along with the tablet to support their communication attempts made much faster progress in learning to communicate, and especially in using spoken language.”
Children appeared to retain their new skills when they came for a follow-up three months after the study period ended, researchers said.
Incorporating the tablets was most effective when used from the start of the treatment, the study found.
*******************************************
Monday, September 8, 2014
BRAIN TALK: LACK OF SLEEP?
What's the latest on brain research? Because we with Moebius Syndrome--which has a lot to do with your braion--always want to know what's going on with it.
The latest: lack of sleep can shrink your brain. Read more about it:
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Can a lack of sleep affect the size of your brain? It's possible, a recent study published in an online issue of Neurology suggests.
The latest: lack of sleep can shrink your brain. Read more about it:
***********************************
Can a lack of sleep affect the size of your brain? It's possible, a recent study published in an online issue of Neurology suggests.
European researchers
looked at 147 adults between the ages of 20 and 84. With two MRI scans,
they examined the link between sleep problems like insomnia and the
study participants' brain volume. The first scan was taken before
patients completed a questionnaire pertaining to their sleep habits. The
second scan was done approximately 3½ years later.
The questionnaire showed
that 35% of those in the study met the criteria for poor sleep health.
Investigators found that those with sleep problems had a more rapid
decline in brain volume or size over the course of the study than those
who slept well.
The results were even more significant in participants over the age of 60.
Numerous studies have
showed the importance of sleep and the effect sleep deprivation can have
on our brains. It is well-known that poor sleep patterns can contribute
to such brain disorders as Alzheimer's and dementia.
So it stands to reason that, if a lack of sleep can lead to memory loss, the size of the brain would also be affected.
"We know that a lack of
sleep can lead to all kinds of problems," explained Dr. Neal Maru, a
neurologist and sleep specialist with Integrated Sleep Services in
Alexandria, Virginia, who is not associated with the study. "Poor sleep
can affect our immune systems, our cardiovascular health, weight and, of
course, memories. But we still don't know why.
"Studies have shown poor
sleep can cause protein buildup in the brain that attacks brain cells.
So we're still trying to put the puzzle together."
The study authors agree.
"It is not yet known
whether poor sleep quality is a cause or consequence of changes in brain
structure," said author Claire Sexton of the University of Oxford in
the United Kingdom.
"There are effective
treatments for sleep problems, so future research needs to test whether
improving people's quality of sleep could slow the rate of brain volume
loss. If that is the case, improving people's sleep habits could be an
important way to improve brain health."
"The problem is, we
really don't know what comes first," Maru agreed. "Is it a sleep problem
that causes the atrophy (wasting away of a body part), or is it the
atrophy that causes the sleep problems? That's a question we need to
sort out."
***************************************
Friday, September 5, 2014
IT'S BACK--FRIDAY FOOTBALL PICKS!!
FRIDAY FOOTBALL PICKS
Okay, here we go! I'll pick both some college and all the pro games for this weekend. And I do this because 1] it's fun and I'm a big football fan; and 2] I know lots of my Moebius friends love football just as much as I do. So let's see what we've got:
COLLEGE PICKS
Michigan State at Oregon. My pick: DUCKS 28-24. I look for this to be a highly competitive game. Oregon is an elite team. But so I think now is Michigan State. The Ducks being at home and having that high-powered offense will be the key.
USC at Stanford. My pick: CARDINAL 17-13. Stanford is an elite program, with good athletes; and people forget how strong their defense has been. That will be the difference here.
Michigan at Notre Dame. My pick: IRISH 34-31. With Everett Golson back at QB, look for ND to be a dynamic offense with a signal-caller who can move and make plays out of difficult situations. That always causes trouble for Michigan, and I suspect it will be their defense that lets them down here.
NFL PICKS:
New Orleans at Atlanta. My pick: SAINTS 38-31. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair. With so many players back from injury, I look for Atlanta to have a significantly better year than last year. But--I just don't know if anyone can slow down that Drew Brees-led Saints offense.
Minnesota at St. Louis. My pick: VIKINGS 16-10. Mainly because 1] the Vikings have Adrian Peterson; and 2] the Rams lost Sam Bradford at QB and have to rely on journeyman Shaun Hill.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh. My pick: STEELERS 24-10. The Steelers have Big Ben. And when was the last time Cleveland won a game in Pittsburgh??? I can't remember.
Jacksonville at Philadelphia. My pick: EAGLES 31-14. During the pre-season, I thought the Eagles' offense looked about as polished and functioning as any I saw. I don't see too many teams able to slow them down.
Oakland at NY Jets. My pick: JETS 20-13. All signs seem to point to the Jets being a bit improved on offense with Geno Smith; meanwhile, the Raiders will start a rookie QB, Derek Carr, on the road. I suspect Carr could soon develop into a decent player, but...it will take time.
Cincinnati at Baltimore. My pick: BENGALS 26-24. This is a tough one. I think these are two pretty good teams; and the Ravens are at home, where they are usually tough to beat. But...I just have a feeling that the Bengals are about to take a step up.
Buffalo at Chicago. My pick: BEARS 21-10. The Bears have Matt Forte, Jay Cutler, and some good receivers; meanwhile I am not yet a believer in E.J. Manuel as a Buffalo QB, plus it's a tough road opener.
Washington at Houston. My pick: REDSKINS 19-14. This was a tough one too; not because these are two good teams...but rather because I'm not a big believer in EITHER of these two. Yet I am surprised that Houston is the favorite here. Bottom line: I have bigger doubts concerning Ryan Fitzpatrick as QB of the Texans...than I do about RGIII as QB of the 'Skins.
Tennessee at Kansas City. My pick: CHIEFS 21-17. Speaking of not believing, I'm also not yet a believer in Jake Locker as Titans QB. But maybe he'll prove me wrong. Until then, though, I've gotta believe Alex Smith and the Chiefs will find a way to get it done at least in this first week, much as they did last year.
New England at Miami. My pick: PATRIOTS 31-21. Listen, in a game like this, even on the road, you've gotta go with the track record...and that means going with Hall of Famers like Tom Brady and
Bill Belichick, until they prove you should not.
Carolina at Tampa Bay. My pick: BUCS 14-9. A few things push me in this direction: 1] the Bucs have a history of starting out strong at home; 2] Cam Newton for the Panthers is banged up; and 3] look for Lovie Smith to make a difference as coach of the Bucs.
San Francisco at Dallas. My pick: 49ERS 33-30. I notice that a number of forecasters are making this their trendy upset pick. And indeed there are concerns for the 49ers--mainly injuries and personnel losses and defense, and the difficulty of controlling Tony Romo and that Cowboys offense. But--the Cowboy defense by all indications is and will be horrible. How will the 'Boys control Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore? San Fran will score late and pull this one out.
Indianapolis at Denver. My pick: BRONCOS 37-28. Peyton Manning gets his revenge; despite their losses at wide receiver, look for the Broncos to move the ball and score.
NY Giants at Detroit. My pick: LIONS 23-17. I'm not sure how good either of these teams will be. But the Lions are at home, and they have some talent...and meanwhile the Giants by all accounts are having trouble figuring out their new offensive system. Look for them to improve as the season goes on. But early in the season figures to be tough for them.
San Diego at Arizona. My pick: CHARGERS 20-17. Again, these appear to me to be two pretty good teams. But I like what Philip Rivers is doing with San Diego's offense; look for him to find a way to pull this one out late.
Okay, here we go! I'll pick both some college and all the pro games for this weekend. And I do this because 1] it's fun and I'm a big football fan; and 2] I know lots of my Moebius friends love football just as much as I do. So let's see what we've got:
COLLEGE PICKS
Michigan State at Oregon. My pick: DUCKS 28-24. I look for this to be a highly competitive game. Oregon is an elite team. But so I think now is Michigan State. The Ducks being at home and having that high-powered offense will be the key.
USC at Stanford. My pick: CARDINAL 17-13. Stanford is an elite program, with good athletes; and people forget how strong their defense has been. That will be the difference here.
Michigan at Notre Dame. My pick: IRISH 34-31. With Everett Golson back at QB, look for ND to be a dynamic offense with a signal-caller who can move and make plays out of difficult situations. That always causes trouble for Michigan, and I suspect it will be their defense that lets them down here.
NFL PICKS:
New Orleans at Atlanta. My pick: SAINTS 38-31. Look for this to be a high-scoring affair. With so many players back from injury, I look for Atlanta to have a significantly better year than last year. But--I just don't know if anyone can slow down that Drew Brees-led Saints offense.
Minnesota at St. Louis. My pick: VIKINGS 16-10. Mainly because 1] the Vikings have Adrian Peterson; and 2] the Rams lost Sam Bradford at QB and have to rely on journeyman Shaun Hill.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh. My pick: STEELERS 24-10. The Steelers have Big Ben. And when was the last time Cleveland won a game in Pittsburgh??? I can't remember.
Jacksonville at Philadelphia. My pick: EAGLES 31-14. During the pre-season, I thought the Eagles' offense looked about as polished and functioning as any I saw. I don't see too many teams able to slow them down.
Oakland at NY Jets. My pick: JETS 20-13. All signs seem to point to the Jets being a bit improved on offense with Geno Smith; meanwhile, the Raiders will start a rookie QB, Derek Carr, on the road. I suspect Carr could soon develop into a decent player, but...it will take time.
Cincinnati at Baltimore. My pick: BENGALS 26-24. This is a tough one. I think these are two pretty good teams; and the Ravens are at home, where they are usually tough to beat. But...I just have a feeling that the Bengals are about to take a step up.
Buffalo at Chicago. My pick: BEARS 21-10. The Bears have Matt Forte, Jay Cutler, and some good receivers; meanwhile I am not yet a believer in E.J. Manuel as a Buffalo QB, plus it's a tough road opener.
Washington at Houston. My pick: REDSKINS 19-14. This was a tough one too; not because these are two good teams...but rather because I'm not a big believer in EITHER of these two. Yet I am surprised that Houston is the favorite here. Bottom line: I have bigger doubts concerning Ryan Fitzpatrick as QB of the Texans...than I do about RGIII as QB of the 'Skins.
Tennessee at Kansas City. My pick: CHIEFS 21-17. Speaking of not believing, I'm also not yet a believer in Jake Locker as Titans QB. But maybe he'll prove me wrong. Until then, though, I've gotta believe Alex Smith and the Chiefs will find a way to get it done at least in this first week, much as they did last year.
New England at Miami. My pick: PATRIOTS 31-21. Listen, in a game like this, even on the road, you've gotta go with the track record...and that means going with Hall of Famers like Tom Brady and
Bill Belichick, until they prove you should not.
Carolina at Tampa Bay. My pick: BUCS 14-9. A few things push me in this direction: 1] the Bucs have a history of starting out strong at home; 2] Cam Newton for the Panthers is banged up; and 3] look for Lovie Smith to make a difference as coach of the Bucs.
San Francisco at Dallas. My pick: 49ERS 33-30. I notice that a number of forecasters are making this their trendy upset pick. And indeed there are concerns for the 49ers--mainly injuries and personnel losses and defense, and the difficulty of controlling Tony Romo and that Cowboys offense. But--the Cowboy defense by all indications is and will be horrible. How will the 'Boys control Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore? San Fran will score late and pull this one out.
Indianapolis at Denver. My pick: BRONCOS 37-28. Peyton Manning gets his revenge; despite their losses at wide receiver, look for the Broncos to move the ball and score.
NY Giants at Detroit. My pick: LIONS 23-17. I'm not sure how good either of these teams will be. But the Lions are at home, and they have some talent...and meanwhile the Giants by all accounts are having trouble figuring out their new offensive system. Look for them to improve as the season goes on. But early in the season figures to be tough for them.
San Diego at Arizona. My pick: CHARGERS 20-17. Again, these appear to me to be two pretty good teams. But I like what Philip Rivers is doing with San Diego's offense; look for him to find a way to pull this one out late.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
EMPLOYMENT UPDATE: HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET YOUR NEXT JOB
This is a regular feature we have here on this blog; because let's face it, sometimes finding a job can be one of the toughest things we as persons with Moebius face. In such a hunt, we have to deal with the fact that we look different, and speak differently; and so in searching for employment, we have to deal with those who are not used to our differences. We worry about how such persons are going to see us; will they even give us a fair chance?
But we can overcome these obstacles. To do so, though, we have to use every weapon that we have. Such as social media. What can we do with it in the job hunt? Read on:
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Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, social media has become a vital tool in the job search.
Every job seeker needs to have an online presence, but experts caution to always maintain your personal and professional brand through your online image.
“Since it’s an extension of your physical presence, it can shape perceptions of you that are real or otherwise,” says Linda Descano, president and CEO of Citi’s Women & Co. Just like you engage with others in the physical world, you should put your best foot forward in the virtual world as well.
“It’s a two-way conversation when it comes to finding the right talent,” says Scott Dobroski, community expert at Glassdoor
. “Every job seeker needs to understand that the same way you are researching a company, they are researching you.”
Online profiles give employers a sense of how well a candidate might fit in and whether their displayed background information aligns with their professional qualifications, according to Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com.
She says one-third of hiring managers report they’ve found content on social media that made them more likely to hire a candidate, and 23% found something that directly led to a job offer.
Here’s how experts suggest using social media to increase your chances of getting hired:
Interact With the Company
“Stay active on your social pages to increase your visibility and the likelihood that recruiters can find you,” says Owen Sweeney, director of Recruitment Intelligence and Innovation at L'OrĂ©al USA.
Engage with companies by following their pages and feeds, liking and commenting on posts, reading blogs and following people who work in the departments that you’d like to work in. “By following these people, you may be able to let them know you want to be on their team,” says Dobroski. “It shows that your interest, which could give you an advantage.”
Employee conversations posted on a company’s pages can help you tailor your approach to that company. “Social media can help you identify people in your network to facilitate a warm introduction,” says Descano. “It can help you make a good first impression and connect you with opportunities that may not be public.”
Show You’re Engaged in Your Career
Experts suggest using social media to share projects you’ve worked on and to connect with other professionals to discuss issues related to your industry.
“This can be very appealing, and [a company] may want to pick up the phone and call you as opposed to another candidate,” adds Dobroski. “If a hiring manager is looking at a candidate and sees someone who’s engaged in the industry, that’s more impressive than someone who’s tweeting their favorite cartoons over and over again.”
Be Yourself
“Social media gives recruiters insight into candidates’ lives in and outside of the office,” says Sweeney. “It works in a candidate’s favor to have a well-constructed social media presence.”
But be careful not to overshare. “Is what you’re saying and liking really consistent with the brand that you’re putting forward?” asks Descano. Consider whether you’re telling a cohesive story and writing as if the audience were hiring manager. Use social media to bring your resume to life in a more compelling way.
Expand Your Network
“Social media platforms like LinkedIn give you an opportunity to participate in groups,” says Descano. “It’s a way to expand your network and to reconnect with former colleagues and business partners who may be helpful in connecting you with a new opportunity.”
But this process takes more than just accepting and sending invitations to connect. “Figure out how you can connect with people so they will be willing and interested in connecting with you,” says Stephen Paskoff, president and CEO of legal and ethical workplace training firm ELI. Before making a connection, try to find common interests or experiences that you can reference.
Choose the Right Social Media Sites
Most people look primarily at Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, when it comes to social networking, but depending on your role and industry, being active on sites like Pinterest and Instagram could help a job seeker.
For those in a creative field, experts advise showcasing work on sites like Pinterest and Instagram. LinkedIn can be a great tool for marketing professionals and for those who create content, for example, Twitter can demonstrate their ability to get someone’s attention in 140 characters.
Hide Certain Items, or Don’t Post Them At All
“The rule of thumb is anything can be found online; if you’re actively searching for a job, don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mother to see,” says Dobroski.
Photos or posts about drinking or using drugs are the most common cited turn-offs for employers, says Haefner, as well as job seekers who bad mouth previous employers or coworkers.
To keep some social media platforms for personal use, experts suggest using restrictive privacy settings and being judicious when connecting with people. “Don’t add anyone [to Facebook] who isn’t part of your personal network, and keep it to your closest friends, family and classmates,” says Danielle Weinblatt, CEO and co-founder of Take the Interview.
Experts also caution against advocating very strongly on topics that could be divisive, like politics or religion, as these could have implications with an employer or client down the road.
Social media can work in your favor if it shows that you’ve good communication skills, creativity, and a professional image. How you present yourself will help an employer determine whether you’ll be a risk or a benefit to the workplace.
“Your posts can be really positive in terms of your professionalism, your accomplishments, the better part of your hobbies — just assume that everyone can see what you put on social media and you’re posting for people who are looking to weed out and select candidates,” says Paskoff.
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But we can overcome these obstacles. To do so, though, we have to use every weapon that we have. Such as social media. What can we do with it in the job hunt? Read on:
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Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, social media has become a vital tool in the job search.
Every job seeker needs to have an online presence, but experts caution to always maintain your personal and professional brand through your online image.
“Since it’s an extension of your physical presence, it can shape perceptions of you that are real or otherwise,” says Linda Descano, president and CEO of Citi’s Women & Co. Just like you engage with others in the physical world, you should put your best foot forward in the virtual world as well.
“It’s a two-way conversation when it comes to finding the right talent,” says Scott Dobroski, community expert at Glassdoor
. “Every job seeker needs to understand that the same way you are researching a company, they are researching you.”Online profiles give employers a sense of how well a candidate might fit in and whether their displayed background information aligns with their professional qualifications, according to Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder.com
.She says one-third of hiring managers report they’ve found content on social media that made them more likely to hire a candidate, and 23% found something that directly led to a job offer.
Here’s how experts suggest using social media to increase your chances of getting hired:
Interact With the Company
“Stay active on your social pages to increase your visibility and the likelihood that recruiters can find you,” says Owen Sweeney, director of Recruitment Intelligence and Innovation at L'OrĂ©al USA
.Engage with companies by following their pages and feeds, liking and commenting on posts, reading blogs and following people who work in the departments that you’d like to work in. “By following these people, you may be able to let them know you want to be on their team,” says Dobroski. “It shows that your interest, which could give you an advantage.”
Employee conversations posted on a company’s pages can help you tailor your approach to that company. “Social media can help you identify people in your network to facilitate a warm introduction,” says Descano. “It can help you make a good first impression and connect you with opportunities that may not be public.”
Show You’re Engaged in Your Career
Experts suggest using social media to share projects you’ve worked on and to connect with other professionals to discuss issues related to your industry.
“This can be very appealing, and [a company] may want to pick up the phone and call you as opposed to another candidate,” adds Dobroski. “If a hiring manager is looking at a candidate and sees someone who’s engaged in the industry, that’s more impressive than someone who’s tweeting their favorite cartoons over and over again.”
Be Yourself
“Social media gives recruiters insight into candidates’ lives in and outside of the office,” says Sweeney. “It works in a candidate’s favor to have a well-constructed social media presence.”
But be careful not to overshare. “Is what you’re saying and liking really consistent with the brand that you’re putting forward?” asks Descano. Consider whether you’re telling a cohesive story and writing as if the audience were hiring manager. Use social media to bring your resume to life in a more compelling way.
Expand Your Network
“Social media platforms like LinkedIn give you an opportunity to participate in groups,” says Descano. “It’s a way to expand your network and to reconnect with former colleagues and business partners who may be helpful in connecting you with a new opportunity.”
But this process takes more than just accepting and sending invitations to connect. “Figure out how you can connect with people so they will be willing and interested in connecting with you,” says Stephen Paskoff, president and CEO of legal and ethical workplace training firm ELI. Before making a connection, try to find common interests or experiences that you can reference.
Choose the Right Social Media Sites
Most people look primarily at Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, when it comes to social networking, but depending on your role and industry, being active on sites like Pinterest and Instagram could help a job seeker.
For those in a creative field, experts advise showcasing work on sites like Pinterest and Instagram. LinkedIn can be a great tool for marketing professionals and for those who create content, for example, Twitter can demonstrate their ability to get someone’s attention in 140 characters.
Hide Certain Items, or Don’t Post Them At All
“The rule of thumb is anything can be found online; if you’re actively searching for a job, don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mother to see,” says Dobroski.
Photos or posts about drinking or using drugs are the most common cited turn-offs for employers, says Haefner, as well as job seekers who bad mouth previous employers or coworkers.
To keep some social media platforms for personal use, experts suggest using restrictive privacy settings and being judicious when connecting with people. “Don’t add anyone [to Facebook] who isn’t part of your personal network, and keep it to your closest friends, family and classmates,” says Danielle Weinblatt, CEO and co-founder of Take the Interview.
Experts also caution against advocating very strongly on topics that could be divisive, like politics or religion, as these could have implications with an employer or client down the road.
Social media can work in your favor if it shows that you’ve good communication skills, creativity, and a professional image. How you present yourself will help an employer determine whether you’ll be a risk or a benefit to the workplace.
“Your posts can be really positive in terms of your professionalism, your accomplishments, the better part of your hobbies — just assume that everyone can see what you put on social media and you’re posting for people who are looking to weed out and select candidates,” says Paskoff.
**************************************
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
AUTISM UPDATE
Hmmm...somehow this does not surprise me. I mean, didn't phrenology get discredited long, long ago??? Read on:
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There’s long been talk of a connection between autism risk and infant head size, but a large new study suggests that no such link exists.
In looking at data on nearly 700 children collected at a dozen sites across the United States and Canada, researchers said they found no evidence that large head size serves as a predictor of autism.
For the study, data was collected on 442 children considered to be high risk because they had an older sibling with autism as well as 253 kids with no family history of the developmental disorder. Researchers tracked the children’s growth between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, at which point the kids in the high-risk group were evaluated for an autism diagnosis.
Ultimately, 77 children in the high-risk group were diagnosed with autism and 32 had developmental delay. However, no differences were seen in head growth or height between children who developed autism and those who did not, according to findings published online this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
“There are no significant differences in the overall model comparing head growth between (high-risk) infants (regardless of outcome) and (low-risk) controls in the first three years of life,” the researchers wrote in their findings, adding that “head growth was largely uninformative as an ASD risk marker.”
Though head growth was not associated with autism in the study, the researchers said the current findings do not include sufficient data to consider the role that accelerated brain growth may play as a predictor of autism.
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*****************************
There’s long been talk of a connection between autism risk and infant head size, but a large new study suggests that no such link exists.
In looking at data on nearly 700 children collected at a dozen sites across the United States and Canada, researchers said they found no evidence that large head size serves as a predictor of autism.
For the study, data was collected on 442 children considered to be high risk because they had an older sibling with autism as well as 253 kids with no family history of the developmental disorder. Researchers tracked the children’s growth between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, at which point the kids in the high-risk group were evaluated for an autism diagnosis.
Ultimately, 77 children in the high-risk group were diagnosed with autism and 32 had developmental delay. However, no differences were seen in head growth or height between children who developed autism and those who did not, according to findings published online this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
“There are no significant differences in the overall model comparing head growth between (high-risk) infants (regardless of outcome) and (low-risk) controls in the first three years of life,” the researchers wrote in their findings, adding that “head growth was largely uninformative as an ASD risk marker.”
Though head growth was not associated with autism in the study, the researchers said the current findings do not include sufficient data to consider the role that accelerated brain growth may play as a predictor of autism.
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