Wired has an article describing researchers who approach autism as a neural differentiation rather than a neural disorder. I agree with the approach and I hope it leads to better methods of communication and better social acceptance of those with autism spectrum disorders, or I should say autism spectrum differentiations. Read the article here.
Another interesting internet path is to Google neurodiversity. There is something of a civil rights movement brewing for those on the autism spectrum.
It’s official. I signed up for my first cycling event: the San Diego Century Bicycle Tour ’08.
And of course, because pain is love, I signed up for the 103 mile course.
I think the worst part of it will be getting out of the house by 5:30 AM. I delude myself.
One of my long-standing cycling goals was to complete a century: 100 miles in a single outing. On Monday, I knocked it out on a sprawling journey across San Diego County. My route was a modified version of this one: San Diego century. Instead of starting downtown, however, I started in Chula Vista, which bumped the total miles to 136. In a nutshell, I started in Chula Vista, went north to downtown San Diego, east through Mission Gorge, then north to Poway, Escondido, and Vista, then west to Oceanside, and south down the coast through Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Pacific Beach and downtown San Diego, and finally back to my starting point in Chula Vista.
The stats:
| TOTAL RIDE | |
| Miles: | 136 |
| Riding Time: | 8 hours, 13 minutes, 45 seconds |
| Average Speed: | 16.5 mph |
| Max Speed: | 38 mph |
| Time started: | 8:10 AM |
| Time ended: | 5:30 PM (approx.) |
| CENTURY STATS (approx.) | |
| Miles: | 100 |
| Riding Time: | 5 hours, 55 minutes |
| Average Speed: | 16.9 mph |
| Time started: | 8:10 AM |
| Time ended: | 2:53 PM |
The riding time does not include the 30 minute stop to scarf down a mushy banana and energy bars, nor the time spent stopped at traffic signals.
One of the cooler moments was on the bike path that runs parallel to highway 76. I saw a bobcat with a rabbit in its jowls slinking along the rocks, not more than 30 yards from me. I’ve never seen a live one before. It was like a house cat, except ferocious and ginormous.
Despite my pacifist political ideology, I love fighter jets. And if you love them too, then you’ll be interested in the upcoming documentary Speed and Angels.
From the website:
Speed and Angels is the true life story and feature-length action documentary about two navy officers chasing their dreams to become fighter pilots.
