In the news

two arrested:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/26/two-arrested-after-brighton-hit-and-run-incident

A 31-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on Tuesday after trying to hide on a roof in Donald Hall Road in the seaside town, and was detained on suspicion of dangerous driving causing serious injury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and aggravated vehicle taking, Sussex Police said.

A 56-year-old woman, also from the town, was held on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Both are in custody.

The BHA goes after any faith schools with unfair rules, but the government seems to indeed want to suggest (as its not tackling any faith school issues) there's nothing to see here please move on :/

The Chinese have created monkeys with autism, I'll post a link later. Poor things

Edit: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2016-01/26/autistic-monkeys

For the year of the Monkey?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35418488 Oh yes... (bedroom tax deemed discriminatory)

Link doesn't work this one does: http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/01/first-monkeys-engineered-to-have-autism-like-symptoms-raise-hope-caution/

I'm wary of this talk of "cure" as you don't have ASD, like you have a cold. It's intrinsically linked to the brain, and the connections form differently. As we are our brain, what is there to "cure"?

I appreciate the big problems it can cause for people (I'm very familiar with it myself due to people I know) but there's a risk of seeing difference as inherently problematic, whereas it's the sensory issues/social issues/society not adapting (though it is now with job agencies for ppl on the spectrum) causing issues, and perhaps more so than the "condition".

I hope with all my heart that IDS and Cameron are remembered for the horrible human beings that they are and the the full impact of their policies comes back to haunt them before they die.

Lots of chat about google recently; underpaying taxes and tens of billions in cash offshore. Reminded me of this interview with Jules about influence and the global ambitions of the company https://youtu.be/OTV_Vz-Ur2M

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35422419

ooops

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/porn-video-played-at-cardiff-funeral-thornhill-simon-lewis-for-dad-and-baby-son-a6838426.html

I'm wary of this talk of "cure" as you don't have ASD, like you have a cold. It's intrinsically linked to the brain, and the connections form differently. As we are our brain, what is there to "cure"?

Likewise, but I'm also wary of the difficulties we sometimes have seeing the brain as just an organ that may be treatable and only thinking about the 'mind' instead. I don't know much about autism really but find mental health and the attitudes towards it fascinating/baffling.

It took them nearly four minutes to turn it off

think you'll find that's descriptive of most people's experiences with gentleman's art.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/28/death-of-a-troll

Sleep well, sweet prince.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CGIii_eTOk

Correct, the brain is always in flux but still an organ. So of course anything to do with chemicals (hi Dutch cigarettes) but also to do with reflection (mind, talk therapies) affect it's state.

The issue with autism is that the wiring is different (a slightly different chipset so to say...) and sometimes people with "normal" wiring think it's a "diseased" setup. But by changing the wiring you may also change the "mind" drastically, leading to a quite different person.

It is a fix/cure...or a drastic change that may have negative effects, akin to brain damage to a typical brain?

Baron Sascha-Cohen has long article on this, and neurodiversity is another reading topic. Again, it's complex as some ppl with autism struggle (and their parents too) whereas others function in society quite well.

Ali G?

RIP lynchman...

Good article, thanks for sharing!

I just like that this is a phrase that is in the Guardian:

a photo of a My Little Pony doll he had jerked off on

A man of many talents isn't he? ;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35420934 George Galloway is suing Google about a Youtube video where Frazer shittalks him. (Frazer too)

What the fuck. It's an interesting case, but worrying if he wins it.
(I suppose he's going for the "magazines can't print libel either, unless it's public interest, proof accusations are true" but still...worrying)

As you do...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/35419593

What kind of dog?

if only there was a way a globally recognised politician could answer to those claims without having to spend taxpayer money on a court case.

Perhaps a blonde moment, but who may that be...?

It's amazing Galloway thinks anyone bar a set of fruits&nuts takes Frazer seriously anyway... Most of NI has a fair suspicion who's done what and him who takes himself very, very serious is not high on that list... ;)

a small motor in the bottom bracket

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/30/hidden-motor-bike-world-cyclo-cross-championships