Effects of autism on families

Effects of autism on families: "According to Wakely, previous research has suggested that siblings of children with autism can feel lonely and neglected, but that positive outcomes are possible too, with some siblings showing higher maturity and better social skills."

Salon.com Books | Busting big fat liars

Salon.com Books | Busting big fat liars: "The right-wing media warfare naturally is most visible during presidential election years. 'I've been saying for six months, no matter who was running for office this year, the right has a system in place to caricature that person,' says Brock. 'This is what I realized after 2000 -- that what happened to the Clintons during the '90s really had very little to do with the Clintons because the same thing happened to Gore in 2000. And then it happened to [Sen. Tom] Daschle when the Senate changed hands in 2001, and it happened to the mourners of [the late Sen.] Paul Wellstone in 2002. It goes on and on.' After witnessing how this Republican 'noise machine' again worked so well in shaping the caustic and undermining press coverage of Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2000, Brock is trying to awaken the public from slumber about these techniques."

gq plus @ gq.com: "Four years into an embattled Bush administration, Colin Powell is hard at work at something he's never had to worry about before: salvaging his legacy. "

A major scandal is going down this week at the Supreme Court, and I thought you'd like to see the hilarious little movie that exposes it:



http://www.justiceisduckblind.com



Here's the skinny: The Supreme Court is hearing a case involving Vice President Dick Cheney. They're trying to decide if Cheney should have to give up the members of his secret Energy Task Force, which he has kept hidden from the public. (Hmm, I wonder why. Could it be that he loaded the Task Force with his oil buddies?)



This is where it gets funky. Among the judges hearing the case is Antonin Scalia -- who recently went on a duck hunting vacation with Cheney, flying down to Louisiana at taxpayer expenses aboard Air Force Two. Despite this very cozy state of affairs, Scalia has stubbornly refused to withdraw from the case.



Check it out -- and sign on to the petition calling on Cheney to come clean about his Energy Task Force.



http://www.justiceisduckblind.com/petition.asp

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Bunless burger vs. the fluffernutter: "Fast-food restaurants are launching new 'healthy,' diet-friendly foods -- including a McDonald's adult happy meal. How do they stack up to some of our lunchtime favorites?"