Wednesday, May 31, 2017

IN THE NEWS- AUTISM SYMPTOMS IMPROVE WITH HELP FROM CENTURY-OLD DRUG

From The San Diego Union-Tribune...

Autism symptoms improved in five boys given a century-old drug for sleeping sickness, according to a new study led by University of California, San Diego researchers.

The small clinical trial involved 10 boys, including five who received a placebo and did not show improvement. Those that received a single infusion of the drug, suramin, showed significantly better functioning in language, behavior and willingness to socialize. the gains lasted for several weeks, said Robert Naviaux, a UC San Diego professor who was the study's principle investigator.

The open-access study was published in the Annuals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.

Autism spectrum disorder therapy is often based on behavioral methods, sometimes accompanied by drugs. It's considered most effective when treatment begins as early as possible. Consequently, much research is focused on developing methods of early screening for infants and toddlers likely to have autism.

But these boys were older than toddlers. The youngest was 5, the oldest 14; and the average age was 9.1 years. So if the research is confirmed, it would mean there's more brain plasticity in older children on the spectrum than has been believed.

It would also mean that for the first time, a drug would be proven to treat an underlying cause of autism.

Naviaux said the results in this study, which primarily assessed safety, must be regarded as preliminary. However, he said the results warrant a larger trial. He's planning to test 40 children diagnosed with autism.

The research was preceded by a study that found suramin reversed ASD symptoms in mice. That study in Translational Psychiatry was designed to test a hypothesis of Naviaux's that autism, whatever the cause or trigger, results in reduced communication between brain cells. This is a celluar stress response that suramin is theorized to inhibit.

When the results were positive, he took the next step of testing the drug on children.

The animal study, and the new one, were funded through philanthropic donations. The new one has incurred a debt of about $5000,000 that has yet to be paid  for, Naviaux said.

To fund the planned larger study, about $2 million more in donations are needed.

Drug research is usually funded by pharmaceutical companies seeking to bring new medicines to market. But suramin, a drug introduced in 1916, is long off-patent, so that financial incentive is lacking.

The benefits of using such an old drug includes the lower cost of an off-patent drug, and that it has an extensive history of use, Naviaux said. This allows the risks to be better assessed than starting out with a drug that has never been put into people.

Suramin is also being explored for other diseases, such as preventing Chikungunya and Ebola virus infection; and treating forms of cancer.

However, suramin can be toxic, Naviaux warned, so expert medical guidance is needed. For that reason, he recommends parents not experiment with the drug and risk harm to their children.

Constance Smith-Hicks, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, favorably assessed the research. She was not involved in the work.

"The authors show that suramin, a drug with antioxidant properties that targets the integrated stress response, is safe in children with ASD when given at low-doses," Smith-Hicks said by email.

"Although this was a small study, it's strong preliminary evidence suggest that suramin may be useful for the treatment of sore features of ASD and extending this drug to larger scale testing is desirable," she said.

"This approach has the potential for treating both idiopathic and syndromic ASD as both may converge on similar molecular pathways that disrupt celluar homeostasis."

Anecdotal signs of improvement began within hours of a single intravenous dose of suramin, Naviaux said. This was later confirmed in all five boys with standard assessments, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2, or ADOS-2.

Higher ADOS-2 scores indicate more autism symptoms. Those scoring  6 or lower are not on the spectrum; scores of 7 to 8 place them on the spectrum; and 9 and above indicates definite autism. Scores dropped by an average of 1.6 points in the treated group, but didn't change in the placebo group.

The boys came from the middle 80 percent of the spectrum, Naviaux said. The 10 percent lowest- and highest- functioning were not included, to make the results as representative as possible for the largest number of children with autism.

Signs of improvement reported by the parents lasted as long as six weeks, Naviaux said, but were almost entirely gone by eight weeks. The exception is that motor skills learned during that window tended to persist.

"One of the 7-year-olds had been working for almost a couple of years learning to tie his shoes. And he learned to tie his shoes during this time. And even though the language and behavioral gains waned by eight weeks, he still could tie his shoes."

Also significant, he said, is that the treated children progressed in development in the way children normally do, moving from simpler activities to the more complex.

One treated boy became interested in playing hide-and-go-seek, then tag, soccer and games of catch, Naviaux said. While these stories are anecdotal, they do jibe with the believed mechanism of action of suramin in autism, and the progress formally documented in test scores.

These milestones, even though not recorded through formal scoring, are extremely meaningful to parents, said Naviaux and Gail Reiner, a coauthor and nurse who is affiliated with UCSD and Rady Children's Hospital- San Diego.

It can be as simple as a child announcing to his parents, "I finished my dinner!," which one boy did.

That grammatically correct sentence, including the pronoun, carries enormous significance for parents searching for signs of progress, said Reiner, herself the mother of a daughter with autism.

The testing environment and the IV infusion process were designed to be as easy as possible on the children and their parents, Reiner said.

The procedures were first explained to the children ina way they could relate to, with a storyboard method. The environment included items that they were familiar with, and the children were allowed to bring things they were comfortable with, such as a weighted blanket.

"As Dr. Naviaux put in the paper, children with autism have a difficult time with social communication," Reiner said. "They have restricted interests. They tend to have stereotypes or repetitive behaviors they do, and routine is super-important to them in order to minimize stress."

"So we take what we understand about how life is more comfortable to them and we use that understanding to minimize the stresses of participating in research."

The research is rooted in a unifying theory Naviaux has developed over many years about celluar communication, and how it can go awry in autism.

Naviaux specializes in diseases associated with mitochondrial malfunction. Children whose mitochondria can't supply enough energy are unusually passive, and are prone to failure of enegery-intensive organs.

:They come into the clinic with such severe neoromuscular weakness that they often can't walk. They're in wheelchairs," Naviaux said. "They have a decreased sensitivity to sound and touch."

Children with autism display nearly the opposite behaviors, he said. They are hypersensitive to sound and touch and bright lights, When brought in for examination, they'll actively explore the room, opening up drawers and looking around.

The key molecule implicated in both disorders is ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which provides energy for metabolism inside the cell. Those with neuromuscular weakness have insufficient ATP. In autusm, there;s enough ATP, but it doesn't stay inside the cell where it belongs.

When ATP escapes outside the cell, it triggers a damage response, which causes the cells to hunker down for survival, inhibiting their ability to communicate, and causing inflammation.

"The overall idea is that autism can be caused by either genes or environment working together... that leaves the cell in a state that is primed for celluar defense," Naviaux said.

"When celluar resources are allocated for celluar defense, they're not available for normal child development."

With that hypothesis in hand, Naviaux searched for  a way to restore normal celluar communication.

"I went looking through the world's pharmacopeia to find any drug that had the ability to inhibit extracelluar ATP signaling. There was one in the world that was available for human use, and that was suramin. And it just so happened that it had been developed in 1916. And I wouldn't have cared if it were developed the year before."


Tuesday, May 30, 2017

IN THE NEWS- TEEN ON SPECTRUM FINDS CULINARY SUCCESS

By The Orange County Register...

Julen Ucar carefully measures the ingredients for his special "Non-verbal Herbal" marinade in the cozy confines of the Ways & Means Oyster House at Pacific City. The sauce, with just the right proportions of extra virgin olive oil, two kinds of vinegar, basil and other spics, has become a popular complement to the restaurant's steak, fingerling potatoes and spinach dish.

After finishing the first sauce, he starts combining soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and enough red chili flakes to give it a little zing. At the restaurant, the sauce, called "Off the Charts," is paired with an in-house aioli to flavor a tricolor cauliflower entree.

The 18-year-old Fountain Valley High senior with autism created two flavors of "Julen's Ausome Sauces" that have been featured on the restaurant's menu for the past year.

Ucar comes to the restaurant on Wednesday mornings to prepare his sauces for the day. During the rest of the week, the prep cooks prepare the sauces from recipes in a book they call "the bible."

Executive Chef Danny Allen said when Ucar and his mother, Michelle, first brought in samples of their sauces for the restaurant to consider about a year ago, he realized they would pair nicely with the food.

"I'd put it up against anything that's on the market," Allen said of the marinades.

According to Allen, many cooks and chefs incorporate too many flavors into their creations. Ucar's sauces hit just the right note.

They're simple, but they're unique. it's amazing," Allen said.

The Wednesday morning visits, made before the restaurant opens, are clearly a highlight for the soft-spoken teen. Dressed in a T-shirt that reads " This is what ausome looks like," he seems at home in the prep area, surrounded by jars of black pepper, paprika, minced onion and cumin.

Ucar says he likes the friendly atmosphere in the kitchen, particularly when the prep cooks crank up the music.

For years, Ucar and his sister, Isabel, have helped their mother prepare meals at home. Michelle Ucar said her son often" liked to add spices and  watching him and he was really good at making sauces," she said.

That's when the idea of Julen's Ausome Sauces" began to percolate.

"We were looking forward and making a sustainable future for him," his mother said.

After experimenting with different tastes, the Ucars, who live in Huntington Beach, Calif., winnowed their sauces to three versions of each of two sauces and held a taste-testing party for friends. They refined the selections and in February 2014 had the final recipes.

After they got Food and Drug Administration approval, the first batch was commercially bottled in October 2014 by a company hired by the Ucars.

Micheele Ucar said a chance meeting with the owners of Ways & Means led to a chance to have the sauces taste-tested at the restaurant and added to the menu.

Since then, the Ucars have produced three batches of 85 cases each of Non-verbal Herbal and Off the Charts.

Although the sauces haven't made the family any money yet, Michelle Ucar said she is looking to widen distribution beyond a few smaller stores in her home state of Ohio and to peddle the marinades at special events and fairs.

The sauce is also available online at ausomesauces.org.

Ways & means donates $1 from each of its meals sold with Ucar's sauces to New Vista School in Laguna Hills, for children with autism spectrum disorder. Ucar was a student there before transferring to Fountain Valley High.

"For us, it's great to give back and give Julen a chance to do what he loves," said Barbara Holder, general manager of the restaurant.

Michelle Ucar said when her son was an infant he hit all the normal benchmarks for a healthy baby. It wasn't until he was 3 years old and in preschool that teachers said he had a speech delay. That was when others began to put labels and limitations on him, his mother said.

But Michelle Ucar has a different vision.

"this journey became not about what he cannot do, but about what he can do and finding a way to make that happen," she said.

She said the family's goals are to strengthen the brand and possibly expand the offerings.

Until then, she says her faith makes her believe in her son's future.

Julen Ucar is now taking culinary arts classes at Fountain Valley  and says he gets "like Bs and As" in his classes.

He said he plans to study culinary art at Orange Coast College next semester.

It's likely he will be the only one in his class with his own signature sauces.

OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING-LOCAL EVENTS

This article appeared in The Phoenix on October 27, 2007...


 You may have seen the wonderful movie, “My Left Foot,” featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. He brilliantly portrayed Irish writer and painter Christy Brown, who happened to suffer from Cerebral Palsy, and literally could only use his left foot to paint or hold a pencil. Well, there happens to be another such remarkable situation currently happening in India

 Pankaj Mahato, age 14, is also a renowned writer and artist, using his feet to accomplish not only his artistic works, but also everyday tasks such as dressing and feeding himself. He, like Christy Brown, also has Cerebral Palsy. Pankaj’s parents sought treatment for his disability as a child, but have since accepted their son as being just as “normal” as anyone else. He just does things differently than most people.

 Disability in India, a different culture, has different implications than let’s say, having a physical challenge in America. Pankaj has not only graced an entire country with his talent, he has taught others in India that one can achieve remarkable things, if one doesn’t give up hope. He has become a sensation in India, and many of his artworks and literary works are very popular. His parents are hoping for the Indian government to assist their son with his needs, as they are poor, like many of India’s population.

 The hope his extraordinary talents and determination will not only continue to grow personally, but inspire others in India as well.

The Department of Veteran Affairs recently issued a report which stated that 1 in 5 of our brave soldiers who return from both Iraq and Afghanistan have applied for disability benefits. They report that approximately 100.000 soldiers have applied for benefits thus far, with projections as high as 400,000 if casualties continue to mount. Benefits range from a few hundred dollars a month to over $1.000. The most common disabilities of soldiers returning from duty include back pain, mental disorders (especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), amputations, and other “service related” ailments such as worsening of diabetes and heart disease.

 Hopefully, our soldiers will get the financial benefits they deserve after serving our country with dignity and bravery. But hopefully the readjustment to civilian life, with a disability, will not be ignored as well. Things such as job training and accessibility to special needs should be a given, not something our soldiers should worry about or get tangled in governmental red tape

 Many of our soldiers are young, with so much of life ahead. Let’s hope our country will support their devotion and dedication by making the adjustment an easier process, not a difficult one, as our Vietnam veterans can attest.

 It was a great honor and pleasure to attend the recent Book Fair at the Phoenixville Library. I met many wonderful readers and fellow writers. It’s nice to hear that people enjoy the column and want it to continue. Many thanks to the Library for asking me to attend, and special thanks to everyone for coming out to say hello.

 Finally, I was lucky enough to attend the recent Philadelphia Eagles games versus the dreaded New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. Both great games (although the Dallas game was better, since the Eagles pulled out a thrilling victory). I took the subway into the stadium area, and must comment how impressed I was by SEPTA. It was the first subway ride in my life, a new experience. The ride was smooth and the stations accessible, with SEPTA workers very friendly and accommodating.

 Many times we read negative things about our local transit system. In this case, SEPTA has done a fine job in helping people like myself, who happen to get around on wheels, to travel much easier. Go Eagles!

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PART 2

* So, Tiger Woods got arrested over the weekend for alleged drunk driving. He was issued a DUI  near his home in Florida. He refused to take a breathalyzer test, claiming he was under the influence of pain meds from recent back surgery. He was found sleeping in his car, which was pulled off to the side of the road, confused and slurring his words, per police.

The report came out today that no alcohol was found in Woods' system. But questions remain.

If Woods wasn't drunk, why did he refuse the test? If he was loopy form the pain medication, why was he driving in the first place? He has enough money to hire a limo, an Uber, or even have someone drive his car for him.

Is he that stupid?

Woods has been spiraling downward for years. He has endured seven back surgeries, can't play golf like he once did, and now it seems like he can't cope with it.

I can relate to being frustrated over health issues, even depressed. Maybe he needs professional help. Counseling along with addiction treatment.

Woods is known to be belligerent, arrogant and angry. Hopefully he has family and friends around him that care and will help him get the help he needs.

But Tiger has got to want that help first. It will be interesting if he finally gets humble and honest=with himself- and seeks treatment.

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* Andy MacPhal, where are you?

The president of the Phillies has remained invisible and silent through-out the team's recent meltdown. Maybe he is allowing GM Matt Klentak to take the bullets to see how he reacts to adversity? Maybe MacPhal knows he is steering a sinking ship and wants to stay in his foxhole as lonf as possible?

Whatever, when I see Klentak on TV I get angry and frustrated. He is young, inexperienced and stupid. He is a geek, an analytics robot who seemingly can't relate to Phillies fans. He lacks personality, warmth and heart.

MacPhal has been around a long time. There may not be an easy fix, but at least he could show the fans that the organization cares and is listening.

By MacPhal remaining silent it sends the message that the organization doesn't give a damn and is ok with letting the team and its fans hang out to dry.

MacPhal is the grandfatherly type who could reassured the city that changes will be made sooner rather than later. I don't expect owner John Middleton to step forward yet. He was all over the media a month ago when the club was doing well. Now, where is he when the fans need him?

I trusted MacPhal when he was hired, thinking the front office would be a lot better, more honest and would be stable in time with David Montgomery and Ruban Amaro Jr. not in power. It's easy for the front office to gloat during the rare good times. The fans deserve better. MacPhal could show me something by stepping up, taking responsibility for another lost season, and showing some heart, giving the Phillies front office a human face, not  just analytics and money..

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

June is on our doorstep. June is decision time in sports, especially Philly sports. After a dreadful May, June should prove to be very interesting.

Nationally, the NBA and NHL Finals will finally take place in June. Golden State and Pittsburgh should be crowned world champions. The Belmont Stakes, the third jewel; of the Triple Crown, will occur in June, but the race won't be as exciting this year since there won't be a Triple Crown contender.

Locally, June is decision time for all four Philadelphia teams.

For the Phillies, their season is already over. The front office needs to start clearing the way for the younger players in Lehigh Valley to be promoted and finish the year at Citizens Bank Park. Time for prospects like Nick Williams, Roman Quinn, Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins to get their feet wet nad give whatever fans left who care something to watch for the summer.

The Phillies front office hopefully is planning future trades and releases, namely of washed-up, broken-down vets like Michael Saunders, Howie Kendrick and Jeremy Hellickson. All are on one-year contracts and won't be a part of the Phillies' future.

Time to think out of the box. Move Cesar Hernandez to shortstop, play Kendrick at second or promote Scott Kingery, make Freddie Galvis the super-utility guy. Time to demote Obdubal Herrera and Michael Franco. The team is in a bind. Sending these underachieving bums to triple A may send them a wake-up call message, ut who would want to trade for that garbage come July or during the upcoming odd-season?

Speaking of binds, the organization butchered their plan regarding manager Pete Mackanin. They didn't give him a contract extension in the spring, instead letting him be a lame duck for a few months, then finally extending him in May, then seeing the team free-fall. Now, they would look like complete idiots if they end up firing Mackanin, which may not be a bad idea.

The team is lifeless. Mackanin has no discipline, no fire. It would be nice to see the skipper get mad at somebody, to quit making excuses for his failing players and start to call them out.

Or maybe even the manager sees that they just aren't good enough. maybe that's why he strove for mediocrity in the spring by hoping the squad come at least play .500 baseball.

Losers mentality. That sums up the entire Phillies organization. Losers- and they know it.

Meanwhile, June will be decision time for the Sixers. They have the third pick in the NBA Draft. Unless they get lucky and both Boston and Los Angeles pass on point guard Fultz from Washington, the Sixers will have a decision to make at no. 3. They have maybe 5 players who could go at that spot. Or Lonzo Ball ( and his pain-in-the-ass father) fall to Philly. Either way, that choice will go a long way to determining the team's rebuilding success.

Also drafting in late June are the Flyers. They have the second overall pick, a lucky draw considering they were originally destined to have the no. 13 selection. The Flyers will get one of two quality scoring forwards, which should go a long way to kick-starting their rebuilding process.

Add the Phillies into the June drafting mix. The Phils have the no. 7 pick ( and may again have the overall no. 1 pick next summer). They should especially focus on left-handed starting pitching, third base and power.
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June will also be decision time for the Eagles, who will have a mandatory OTA session coming up. Getting ready for full training camp in July will be paramount. Players will be released. Additions may still catch on, as corner back help is desired. With the Phils being the worst team in baseball, and a hopeless summer is ahead, the Birds will savor the summer as the next-big-hope -on-the -horizon. Fans will be stoked for September. Until the Eagles start playing, then we will all look forward to spring training.

*****************************************************************************

A recent poll online ranked Lincoln Financial Field, home  of the Eagles, as the 4th best  stadium in the NFL. One was Lambeau Field in Green Bay; 2 was Seattle's loud and fan-crazy park; and third was old Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
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The Linc is almost always full, no matter what the Eagles record. It's more of a modern field, aside from Green Bay and Kansas City, but it does have it's charm, and isn't sterile like other "new" stadiums in the NFL. For instance,it's not gaudy and faceless like the huge stadium in Dallas.And yet, it's fresher than an old relic like Soldier Field in Chicago.

 Football stadiums will never have the personality of baseball parks. The dimensions can be different in each baseball venue. But the Linc has it's own charms. Plus the fans  ( like in Seattle) enhance the venue. You know the Philly fans will always have the Linc rockin', especially when the Giants or Cowboys come to town.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

PHILLIES PHODDER

My thoughts on the sorry-ass Phillies..

Last night was Bark in the Park at Citizens Bank Park. There were 367 dogs in the stadium. Not counting the dogs on the field wearing Phillies uniforms.

The Phils again only managed 3 hits, two of them coming in a meaningless 9th inning rally. The bum, Obdubel Herrera, laced a double off the right field wall. It was against a Cincinnati pitcher who was mopping up with a 5-run lead.

I still think Herrera should be sent down to Lehigh Valley. The team should replace him with Roman Quinn, who would bring speed and  excitement to this lifeless squad. Bat him lead-off and let him generate runs with his legs and put some pressure on the opposition.

Plus it sends a message to Herrera- all-star or not- to wake up, along with the other slacking players like Franco and Saunders.

I wish it was July so this team can finally turn some pages and start reshaping the roster. Trade useless vets like Saunders, Hellickson and Kendrick, who have no future here. Trade Joseph, Herrera and Rupp to open spots for prospects.

Do something!

Until then, the team will continue to flounder. Attendance will be low. The fans will be frustrated and depressed, if they still care.

Pete Mackanin is lucky he got a contract extension. Managing a canine club like the one he is saddled with is enough to get a skipper fired, if he hadn't just gotten an extension.

But the front office is delusional too. GM Klentak has no clue, and he has no clue or connection with the fans or the pulse of the city.

Andy MacPhal is missing in actin, as is owner John Middleton, both probably too embarrassed to show their faces in public. A press conference would reassure fans that the front office cares and will make changes. Saying nothing just compounds the thought process that this front office doesn't really give a damn.

I get it that young guns like Hoskins, Cozens and Alfaro can't be promoted to Philly until spots are open. Hope Klentak is working on making those openings. The media in Philadelphia is soft, most agreeing that the Phillies should not making any big changes. They should stay the course, take their lumps and lose 100 games for the first time since 1961.

Bringing up the kids to get their feet wet for the rest of the summer not only gives the prospects much-needed experience, but it also gives the loyal fans some hope and a reason to watch.

The most exciting prospect, Scott Kingery, is still at Reading. The supposed best arms in the system, such as Sixto Sanchez, are in low A ball of the farm system. So, it's still going to take a while until the organization is competitive again.

Spending some hoarded cash starting this off-season will help, as it will at the end of 2018, when free agents such as  Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are available on the market.

Or maybe the Angels will lose their minds and want tot rad emike Trout.

As I expressed to Steve Trevelise recently on WIP radio, this summer won't be as much fun without baseball. I'll go to a few games and watch a  few when I'm bored or miss baseball. And I should be used to the Phillies being out of the race by Memorial day.

Even worse than being angry or frustrated, I just don't care anymore. It's not about only being a front-runner. Phillies baseball just isn't fun. Who needs the aggravation? Why should I care when the team and organization doesn't seem to care?

Yet the General Manager claims this current Phillies team has not digressed, even though they are the worst team in baseball.  The Baseball Draft is coming up next week. Sure looks like the Phillies will also have a high pick next summer as well.

Maybe Bark in the Park should be every night at Cirizens Bank park. Watching the mutts last night were the best part of the evening.And they weren't the canines on the field.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING-BRINGING THE OLD COUNTRY INTO THE NEW WORLD

I wrote this article for The Phoenix on October 13, 2006''

Several years ago a friend visited London, England. When I asked him how he enjoyed his vacation he said it was great, but he had thought of me a few times during his stay. Why, I wondered? “Because,” he said, “I was thinking you would never be able to get around London, let alone Great Britain. It is totally inaccessible to disabled people.”

 One can understand - old country, old buildings, and old streets. But more importantly, old stereotypes also remained. The UK wasn’t pushed to make things better for the disabled, so things were status quo for a long time. But now, the British Isles may change for disabled people, not only for those who reside there, but for tourists too, and thanks in large part to Sally Witcher.

 Sally is from Edinburgh, Scotland. She is 46-years-old, and has suffered from severe rheumatoid Arthritis since she was an infant. But her condition didn’t stop her form earning a degree from Edinburgh University in Social Policy, and recently, she was appointed to work for the British government in the newly created Office for Disability Issues, an office designed to ensure that disabled people are treated fairly in the UK. Sally had worked in Edinburgh and was very instrumental in changing policies in that Scottish city. Now she moves to London, where the challenge will be even bigger.

 Sally can empathize with a person with a physical challenge. She can only travel short distances before needing a wheelchair. She has found that taxis are OK for the disabled - if one can get a taxi in London - but buses are impossible and trains are out of the question. Buildings throughout Britain are inaccessible, mainly because most are old, and many are tenement flats.

 “Getting a degree at Edinburgh University was somewhat easier to getting a few ramps installed,” she admitted.

 But during her work in Edinburgh, Sally proved that change can happen. She was told at age 13 by doctors that she would never lead a “normal” life, and would probably need the care of her parents - or even be institutionalized - to meet her care needs.

“But I had the advantage of having a father who never accepted the doctors’ view, and refused to believe I still couldn’t do well in life. Because he didn’t accept it, I didn’t either,” she said. “It’s these kind of messages about disabled people I want to try to get rid of. If people get negative messages about what they can and can’t do, they will start to believe it. I often get people speaking to me like I’m a five-year-old, and you just want to say ‘look, I’ve just come out of a meeting with Tony Blair.” “Most people’s expectations of me are ‘poor wee thing’ until I open my mouth. They’re well meant attitudes but they’re what disabled people are up against every day in their personal and professional lives.”

 “I feel it is society that disables me rather than my impairments.” It is great that someone who has first-hand experience with disability issues is now so high ranking in the British government. Even the current politicians agree, as one noted, “We need to tap into the knowledge and expertise from outside the government if we are to be successful in delivering equality to disabled people.”

 One wishes more challenged individuals were sought after in other countries’ governments as well to make the entire world an equal place, not only in regards to accessibility, but disabled rights in general. Hopefully the new United Nations Treaty on Disability Rights will have a huge impact in the future. And, who knows? Maybe one day I will travel to England, and see for myself that change can really happen.

PHILLIES PHODDER

As the Phillies continue to free-fall, despite the fact that the GM Matt Klentak feels they are "not regressing,"there is much bitching from fans about the current woes of the team. The Phillies are on a pace to lose 100 games. Attendance is poor. The organization seems "clueless and confused" as pitcher Vince Valasquez deemed his own recent terrible performances.

But no one seems to offer any solutions. Here are my answers, from now until the July trade deadline:

* Fire pitching coach Bob McClure.

Not one of the young pitchers are getting better. Valasquez is lost. Eichoff is 0-5. Many have jockeyed back and forth from Philadelphia to Lehigh Valley. The common denominator is McClure. He was fired in Boston and Kansas City Get rid of him now before he further pollutes the staff. Star fresh with a guy whom the young hurlers can relate to and grow with.

Larry Andersen is too good to take out of the broadcasting booth, otherwise he would be the man. Someone similar to LA is needed.

* Release Michael Saunders.

What's the point? He stinks. You won't get a very good prospect for him anyway in July, so cut him loose now in order to open a spot for a younger outfielder, such as Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens or Roman Quinn.

* Start to trade players to open roster spots.

 Obdubal Herrera an Tommy Joseph to the Giants, who need outfield help and a solid first baseman. Joseph played for San  Francisco before. In return, insist on their top pitching prospect.

I would look to move Camaron Rupp later in the summer. Jorge Alfaro will make the team next spring training. Play catcher Andrew Knapp more until then.

Seek to trade more players who are not the future. Cesar Hernandez' trade value will never be higher, with 2B Scott Kingery playing well in Reading. In July, trade Howie Kendrick, Jeremy Hellickson and Daniel Nava. Once spots are open, start promoting the kids, namely Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins. Give them big league experience and give the fans hope.

* Improve the bullpen

Sidearmed  lefty Hoby Milner isn't on the 40-man roster, but he is pitching well in Lehigh Valley, so bring him up and add him to the roster. Pitchers Ben Lively and Ricardo Pinto deserve shots. What do you have to lose?

* Think positive!

Stop with the negative outlook. Instead of thinking, "we can't bring this kid up in case he fails", think positive in that he will continue to hit in Philly Stop with the losers mentality. Don't strive to be average- strive to be excellent and demand no less.

* Discipline

There is none. When a player fails to hustle he isn't fined, benched or scolded. You don't reward bad behavior. Manager Pete Mackanin continues to make excuses for his lazy, stupid players.Maybe they just aren't that good and he knows it?

* Play aggressive ball

Pittsburgh and Colorado recently have played aggressive baseball against the Phils, stealing bases and putting pressure on Phillies' pitchers. Play with a reckless abandon. Play fun, exciting baseball. Again, what do you have to lose?

The Phillies need a guy like Dave Cash  in the clubhouse. Cash played second base for the Phils in the early 70s. He installed a positive, fresh, inspiring attitude with the then young squad of Phillies, including Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, with his motto "Yes We Can!"

 The Phillies need a sparkplug, some life, a rallying cry, a leader by action not just words. Quinn could be that guy but we won;t know unless he is given a shot.

* Middleton and McPhail - Where are you?.

The majority owner and president of the club need to have a press conference soon, not only to assure  and encourage the fan base, but to be honest and visable and let the city know that they care to. In that way it may help convince everyone that hope is on the way and not to give up.

******************************************************************************

I used to like reading Todd Zelecki, the beat reporter for the Phils, who writes on phillies.com.  Now I can't stand him. He is nothing more than an apologist for the Phillies organization,

The media in the city need to stop sucking up to the front office and be honest with the fans. Stop worrying that a critical article may piss off the organization. Light a fire under the front office, The baseball fans deserve better.


IN THE NEWS-TRUMP BUDGET CUTS MEDICAID, DISABILITY PROGRAMS

This from Disability Scoop..

Deep cuts to Medicaid and other programs that people with disabilities rely on are at the ehart of President Donald Trump's first budget proposal.

The $4.1 trillion spending plan released this week would put safety-net programs on the chopping block while bolstering defense.

"The budget provides a path toward welfare reform, particularly to encourage those individuals dependent on the government to return to the workforce," reads the plan.

Trump is looking to slash #610 billion from Medicaid in the next decade. Rather than provide uncapped matching grants to states to pay for services provided by the entitlement program, the budget plan calls for states to be able to choose between receiving a set amount for each beneficiary- a method known as per capita cap- or receiving a block grant, essentially a lump sum from the federal government.

Disabilities advocates say that such a fundamental shift to Medicaid would have far-reaching consequences for people with developmental disabilities, affecting the availability of everything from health care to home and community-based services.

"We are extremely concerned with the devastating cuts to safety-net programs that help people with disabilities live, ;learn and work in the community to pay for tax breaks for the extremely wealthy," said Eric Buehhmann, director of public policy at the National Disability Rights Network.

The budget released this week spells out what Trump initially hinted at in his "skinny budget " which was unveiled in march. While the budget is unlikely to be adopted by Congress as proposed, it illustrates Trump's priorities.

Apart from Medicaid, Trump's plan call for a decline in federal special education spending and cuts to funding for the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, state developmental disabilities councils, autism programs and medical research.

"Time and time again, President Trump has shown a complete disregard for the rights and concerns of individuals with disabilities- and his budget is just the latest example," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions  Committee. "By slashing critical efforts to support education for students with disabilities, increase employment opportunities for workers with disabilities, provide affordable health care for people with disabilities and provide accessible housing. President Trump is leaving millions of Americans with disabilities to hang out to dry."

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

BASEBALL QUIZ

Yet another fun Baseball Quiz...

1. Which of the following teams has never been swept in a World Series?

A- Red Sox
B- Dodgers
C- A's
D- Phillies

2. Match the players with the number of World Series they played in.

1. Joe DiMaggio                   A- 11
2. Yogi Berra                         B- 12
3. Mickey Mantle                  C- 10
4. Whitey Ford                       D- 14

3. Match the stadium with its construction costs.

1. Fenway Park (1912)             A- $300,000
2. Yankee Stadium (1923)         B- $2.5 million
3. Tiger Stadium (1912)             C- $250,000
4. Wrigley Field (1914)               D- $650,000

4. True or false: In no World Series did future 300-game winners face each other as starting pitchers.

5. Which team did not have four straight home runs in one inning?

A- 1998 Yankees
B- 1961 Braves
C- 1963 Indians
D- 1964 Twins

6. How many players whose last name begins with "F" have hit more than 400 home runs?

7. Name the player who holds the record for getting 40 or more doubles in a season the most times.

A- Carl Tastrzemski
B- Craig Biggio
C- Pete Rose
D- Tris Speaker
E- Stan Musial

8. Name the first pitcher to win 20 games for the Colorado Rockies.

A- Armando Reynoso
B- Ubaldo Jimenez
C- Kevin Ritz
D- Mike Hampton
E- None of the above

9. When was the last time that Cy Young Award winners started against each other in a World Series?

A- 1967
B- 1969
C- 2001
D- 2012

10. Name the last two catchers to lead their leagues in triples.

A- Tim McCarver and Manny Sanguillen
B- Carlton Fisk and Jim Sundberg
C- Tim McCarver and Carlton Fisk
D- Ivan Rodriguez and Craig Biggio

Bonus Question-

Who scored Baseball's One Millionith run on May 4, 1975?



ANSWERS-

1. A
2. 1-C; 2-D; 3-B; 4-A
3. 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-C
4. False. It happened in just the second World Series, played in 1905, between Christy Mathewson and Eddie Plank
5. A
6. Jimmie Foxx (534 home runs)
7. D (10 times)
8. E ( No Rockies pitcher has won 20 games)
9. B (Tom Seaver vs. Mike Cuellar)
10. C
Bonus - Bob Watson. The Two Millionith run in Baseball is projected to occur in 2020.

IN THE NEWS-MOM DESIGNS DRONE TO TRACK KIDS WHO WANDER

By the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...

Ask any busy mom whether she could use a second set of eyes to watch her young children, and she would likely say "yes."

Chrisitine Carr says she may have found a way to do that.

The parent of a young daughter with autism, Carr graduated this month from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. For her senior thesis, Carr created a video camera-equipped drone designed to give parents some extra help keeping an eye on their kids.

She calls the device "Nonni" because it is a combination of a "nanny" and a "mommy."

"It's sometimes just a challenge to do laundry or get chores done because you feel like you need to be there all the time," said Carr, 35.

Carr and her husband, Colin, have two children: 6-year-old Lillian, who has autism, and 3-year-old Cairenn.

The sphere-shaped Nonni has a camera that transmits a video feed to a parent's smartphone.

A parent can also program the drone to set boundaries for what is considered a safe space for the child-perhaps a backyard or a playroom.

The drone interacts with electronic signals that set those boundaries. Those signals could be wires buried in a  backyard, similar to the electronic fence that some pet owners use, or they could be on posts, Carr said.

Nonni uses facial recognition to monitor the child from a distance. The drone would be stationary unless the child strayed from the safe space, Carr said.

At that point, the drone would hover toward the child and use a recorded voice message from the parent to prompt  the child to go to a safe area.

In Carr's case. ir would be her voice saying, "Do you want a cup?" That phrase helps control Lillian's behavior, reflecting a common practice among parents with children on the spectrum, Carr said.

The device needs to be "as customizable as possible because children with autism have individual needs," she said.

There are no products on the market quite like Nonni, Carr said.

There are devices such as AngelSense. It uses GPS technology to help parents track the movements of a child with special needs through signals sent remotely to a smartphone. AngelSense also allows a parent to listen to what their child is saying or doing.

But it doesn't have a video camera.

Also, AngelSense is usually used to track children who are walking or taking the bus to school, or doing other activities outside their home, Carr said.

Nonni is aimed at a more narrow use: monitoring children within the home.

People with disabilities who wander from their home or other safe area can often end up in danger, said Amy Van Hecke, an autism researcher and a Marquette University associate professor of psychology.

According to a  2012 survey, 49 percent of parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder reported that the child attempted to wander or run away at least once after age 4.

Nonni could play a role in helping prevent such children from wandering, Van Hecke said.

Carr has a provisional patent for the design and wants to pursue efforts to take her idea to market. Other possible uses could be for people who care for those with Alzheimer's disease, she said.

Carr, who is graduating with a bachelor's degree in fine arts and industrial design, hopes to pitch Nonni to investors.

An inventor who tries to create a commercially viable product typically faces "a long, uphill battle," said Jim Boyle, a Milwaukee intellectual property attorney.

The process includes testing the product's engineering and creating a sales network, said Boyle.

Carr is aware of those realities.

"I may not be selling a ton of products or making a lot of money, but it makes me feel good to be able to help if I can," she said.

Monday, May 22, 2017

PHILLIES PHODDER

Obdubel Herrera is a BUM!

Herrera didn't hustle again yesterday, failing to run in the 9th inning of a one-run game.

Herrera is full of himself after making the All-star team last season. Since then he isn't the same player.

He got a big contract extension last summer. GM Matt Klentak now looks like a fool. Herrera was a dog  even before he got $31 million guaranteed. But you don't reward bad behavior.

I wrote here that the Phillies would regret giving him the extension..

Herrera is what he is- not a special player, a Rule 51 guy who played well for half of a season. He wont win a batting crown. He doesn't hustle. He is an average defensive center fielder. And he is inconsistent at the plate.

Manager Pete Mackanin also needs to take blame for not benching Herrera every time he doesn't hustle. He has let it go before and now Herrera is taking advantage of the lack of discipline.

He has been "spoken to" in the past for not hustling. Didn't seem to do any good. Either Herrera has a screw loose or he just doesn't give a damn. He got his cash, why should he care?

I was at Photo Day last July, and while many players signed autographs and took pictures with fans, Herrera ignored many, even kids. He looked "too cool", wearing sunglasses and rapidly moving along the lines of fans who were waiting in the hot sun.

He should be benched. He should be traded this off-season. He is a cancer on this team full of young players.Philly fans should boo him every time he steps to the plate. And the Phillies organization need to take some of that money back and fine his ass when he doesn't hustle/

Romam Quinn or Aaron Altherr can play center field. Mickey Moniak is in the future.

Get rid of Herrera while you can before his value depreciates even more.

*********************************************************************************

Mark April 30 on the calendar as the day that changed the Phillies season. On that fateful night in Los Angeles. Hector Neris gave up 3 consecutive homers in the 9th inning to blow a 3-run lead, and the Dodgers stole the game 6-5. That devastating loss led toa long losing streak. It was crushing to go down to defeat that violently, but psychologically, it was equally demoralizing.

The Phils haven't recovered since.

Friday, May 19, 2017

IN THE NEWS- BOY WITH CEREBRAL PALSY ALLEGEDLY FED BLEACH AT SCHOOL

The Fresno Bee offers the following news...

A second family has come forward to sue Fresno Unified School District over an allegation that a school nurse cleaned a student's feeding tube with bleach, causing physical injuries and emotional suffering.

both lawsuits involve Addicott Elementary, the campus where students with severe disabilities can attend class. Both allege that a nurse used bleach as the cleaning fluid instead of water.Both complaint say school staff mixed up cleaning supplies with water. And both allege that school officials did not quickly help the affected students and withheld information about the incidents, causing delays in medical care.

In both cases, Fresno Unified has declined to comment, saying it does not respond to pending litigation, though the district did release this statement: "Both lawsuits stem from an incident that occurred on the same day in 2016. Fresno Unified cannot comment further on any pending litigation."

The newest lawsuit, filed May 10, alleges negligence, negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It does not specify damages being sought. As a civil suit, it shows only the plaintiff's allegations.

The mother, Brittany Hoagland, says her son has cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory distress, gastroesophageal re flux disease and other disabilities. He can walk or stand only with a mobile walking device, and has to be fed twice a day with pureed food or liquids administered through a feeding tube.

The boy, referred to in the suit as A. P., began attending Addicott Elementary in 2008 as a preschool student. He was to be fed twice during the school day through what is referred to in the suit as a G-tube. Cleaning of the tube was to be done with water.

Until Sept. 19 of last year, Hoagland said, the Addicott staff had handled the tube's cleaning without issue. But on that day, a nurse identified only as "Jack" cleaned the tube with bleach instead of water, the suit says.

Because of his gastroesophageal re flux disease, it is nearly impossible for the boy to vomit, and if his body does get to that point, it is very painful. Yet A. P. is mostly nonverbal due to his disabilities, so he could not communicate pain or anything wrong, the suit says.

Once the bleach was put down the tube, the suit alleges that no attempt was made by school staff "to contact any medical authority, contact poison control, call 911, seek an ambulance, transport A. P. to the hospital, or ascertain any kind of medical care or treatment whatsoever."

Two hours after the incident, Hoagland got a message from the school nurse saying her son needed medical attention, but that Principal Katrina Plesche "did not want to call an ambulance because of the expense," the suit says.

Hoagland called the school and was told that Plesche, a school nurse and another employee had taken A. P. to the hospital.

Hoagland's suit contends the school would have covered up the incident until another student "began vomiting, something A. P. was physically unable to do."

Subsequent investigation by Hoagland and her attorney led them to conclude that the school improperly trained its staff on the storage of cleaning and medical supplies so they would not inadvertently be switched.

As a result of the incident, the suit says the boy sustained ulcerations, gastric irritation, abdominal pain, diarrhea and will suffer future physical and emotional injuries, including "possible permanent impairment to his esophagus and stomach."

Hoagland wanted to return A. P. to the campus, but learned that the same nurse was still employed there, the suit says. She also found out no investigation was being done, and that no changes were made in wake of the incident. So Hoagland now believes her son would not be safe at Addicott.

In arguing for damages, the suit alleges the boy will suffer economic damages into the future from medical bills and loss of opportunity. and both he and his mother suffer from mental anguish and depression.

The fist lawsuit was filed in January by Cindy Garcia, a mother whose daughter's feeding tube was cleaned with bleach last September at Addicott Elementary. The girl was 10 years old at the time.

Her complaint did not indicate who administered the bleach, but it said school officials did not call 911or medical experts for help.

Garcia's daughter vomited and turned purple, and she suffered aspiration pneumonia, which can be caused by inhaling vomit, the suit alleges.

Unspecified damages are being sought by Garcia for negligence and intentional influction of emotional distress.


IN THE NEWS- AUTISM AT CENTER OF NEW PRIME-TIME TV DRAMA

From Disability Scoop..

ABC will introduce a prime-time drama this fall featuring a lead character on the autism spectrum.

The hour-long drama, "The Good Doctor," focuses on Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome who has left his quiet life in the country to work at a prestigious hospital.

"Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, Shaun uses his extraordinary medical gifts to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues," according to ABC.

"The Good Doctor" is one of several new series announced by networks this week  for the 2017-2018 season at the upfronts, an annual gathering where television executives pitch advertisers on their slate of upcoming shows.

In addition to "The Good Doctor," ABC also announced new shows focusing on a magician working with the FBI, a television producer whose daughter goes missing and the story of a couple "whose marriage is reignited by their divorce," among others.

"We've focused on some of the universal themes that unit us- exciting stories, relevant dramas, and of course, lots of laughs. Our goal is to focus on the unique points of view of our show creators, but make shows that have broad appeal," said Channing Dungey, president of BC Entertainment.

"The Good Doctor" will air on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET this fall, ABC said, though an exact premiere date has not yet been announced.

PHILLIES PHODDER

I've had it with the Phillies.

I didn't expect them to contend. I did expect the team to be improved. Instead, they stink, not a pace to lose 99 games. The Phils are 3=15 in May, yet GM Matt Klentak recently said "you can see the team is improved."


Klentak is a huge disappointment. I thought when he came from the Angels organization he would be an aggressive, out-of-the box general manager. Instead he is ultra-conservative, plodding and not very innovative. He is the perfect fit for an organization that has always been way too conservative ( not promoting Ryan Howard until he was age 25).

Isn't sports supposed to be entertaining? This current Phillies team is not fun, boring to watch and frustrating as hell.

For the first time in a long time, I knew the Phillies were on TV this week against Texas yet I didn't watch them because I really didn't care. Why should I care when it seems the entire team doesn't care?

That's a bad sign. It's one thing to suck. It's another when your loyal fan base- and I have been a fan for close to sixty years- is apathetic. Why should I watch the games, let only attend them? Why? What's the point? Paying $ 60 for a ticket, $18 for parking, paying for concessions- for what? Fans will still go to Citizens Bank Park because it's baseball and it's summer. The Phillies know that. But being 10 games under .500 before memorial Day will effect the walk-up ticket sales- and maybe that's what the front office needs to see to wake up.

Freddie Galvis criticized the team yesterday after another horrible loss and he was right to do so. Hopefully he isn't intimidated by management and apologizes for his outburst. He was being honest. At least someone cares, someone has passion and someone is telling it like it is.

The media has given the Phillies organization a free ride. it's OK to be average when this organization is striving to be mediocre.

Manager Pete Mackanin needs to stop being so soft on his players. When they don't hustle, sit them on the bench. Make them accountable for their actions. Be honest, as you were in the past. You've got your contract extension. Stop making excuses for lackluster effort and players who don't care.

Things can happen immediately. The Bash Brothers, Hoskins and Cozens, need to be promoted to Philadelphia. Who cares if Tommy Joseph is finally starting to hit. When it mattered most of all he failed. The pressure is off so he hits, witness clubbing a two-run homer yesterday with the team already down 8-2 in the 9th inning.

We know the  current roster in Philly sucks. The kids in Lehigh Valley ( who recently won 12 game sin a row( may suck too, but we don't know that. What do  you have to lose by bringing up the prospects now and giving them some valuable experience?

I know Tommy Joseph has gotten "hot" in May. But where was he in April when the club really needed him? Like yesterday, when he hit a meaningless two-run homer in the 9th inning of a 8-2 game,He isn't clutch ( like the rest of the line-up).  Can Joseph play third base?  I want to see what Hoskins can do in Philly.

Vince Valaquez should be put in the bullpen as the future closer. Obdubel Herrera needs to be traded. It was a mistake to give him a contract extension. He is what he is, not a special player. He won't ever win a batting crown. He is a Rule 5 player who dogs it at times, doesn't care and is only average at best playing defense and running the bases.

Pitching coach Bob McClure needs to be removed. The staff isn't getting any better. Promising hurlers like Nola, Valasquez and Eichoff have gotten worse. Stop the clubhouse snipping and start fresh.

Down the road I wouldn't mind the Phillies bringing back Cole Hamels after his contract expires in 2018. He is exactly what this team needs- a true ace, a left-handed pitcher and a leader.

Instead of making a bid for a Chris Sale thuis organization settles for broken-down, washed-up has been like Clay Bucholtz, Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders ( all currently hurt).

Roman Quinn should be patrolling the outfield, bring much- needed speed and life to the line-up. Klentak needs to rebuild the bullpen and search for an effective lefty in the 'pen so they are not boxed into using a loser like Adam Morgan or Yole Rodriguez.Enough of Jeremy Hellickson. Bring up Jake Thompson, Ben lively and let them grow and take their lumps as Tom Glavine and John Smoltz did for the Braves.

Most of all, this entire Phillies organization needs to form a winning attitude. No more losing vibes, hoping to be .500 ( which would look good about now).Maybe manager Pete Mackanin knew something out of spring training when he made the statement of striving to be average. Maybe he knew Klentak gave him garbage to work with.

Where is President Andy MacPhal? Is he dead? Owner John Middleton was visible and vocal earlier in the season when the team was competitive. Now, he's invisible too.

The Phillies are stealing my summer again. Attending games, looking forward to chilling in the evenings with a nightly game, or listening to the game on the radio with Scott and LA- the Phillies are a big part of my summer. I'll find something else to do to keep busy and have fun, but my summer could be so much better.



The front office has money to spend after this year. It's time to clean house, finally bring up the promising kids, and give the fans some hope.

The baseball fans of Philadelphia deserve better.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

MOVIE REVIEW-CHUCK

I saw the movie "Chuck" over the weekend. Here is my review...

** 1/2 stars (out of 4)

"Chuck" is the story about ex-boxer Chuck Wepner, otherwise known as the "Bayonne Bleeder." It follow his career through the 70s as a club brawler who was the "real Rocky" after he almost went the distance with Muhammad Ali in 1975.  The movie chronicles his downward spiral after his brief moment of fame, as Chuck cheated on wife, did a lot of drugs, ended up in prison, among other transgressions.

It's more than a mere boxing movie. It's about his ups and downs and how Wepner ultimately became a good guy and turned his life around.

The title role is played by Liev Schiber and he does a good job, as do the entire cast. The actor who plays Sylvester Stallone is spot on in looks and his voice.

After Chuck's bout with Ali ( he didn't get a rematch, which is not explained), Chuck returned to fighting bums like himself, Andre the Giant and Victor the bear. He almost become a parody of himself, a sideshow freak, people attending his fights to see him get beat up and bleed like they attend the car races to see accidents.

The story does draw you in, but instead of feeling sorry for Chuck, I felt like he got what was coming to him. He found another love after his divorce, but he screwed-up a really caring wife and daughter in the first place. He took drugs and even worse, sold drugs and he deserved his prison time. He probably deserved even more, but in the end, his spirit was broken, especially after his long-lost brother, who secretly followed his career with passion, expressed his bitter disappointment in Chuck for letting him down.

I expected more form the ending , as I was left with a feeling of "Is that all there is?" I'm glad the real Chuck has found contentment in his life. It was good to see him do interviews recently to promote the movie. Check out the interview below with my nephew Smitty from Bar Stool Sports.

https://bars.tl/Vu6u/bnelbeKWTC

So, the acting was good, the characters rich and full, and the dialogue true. The film clips of previous bouts and the 70s scene brought back memories. A good movie, if not a great one. Still, I felt something was missing.

Note: I saw the film on a Sunday morning. There was only one other person in the theater at King of Prussia. Granted, it was a Sunday morning and it was Mother's Day. I don't think this movie will do well, and you'll probably see it sooner than later on cable and DVD. yet it was a welcome change from all the comic book, smash-em-up movies currently in theaters. A story more about feelings than fighting

Not for kids. Strong language and subject matter.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, PHILLIES, WIP RADIO

The current Philly sports scene...

Sixers-

So, the Sixers have the no. 3 pick in the June NBA draft, after the draft lottery last night. You could look at the lottery with both pro and con rose=colored glasses:

Pro:The Sixers moved up to 3, thanks to swapping selections with the Sacremento Kings. They still have the Lakers first round pick next year, which will be unprotected. LA has a group of youngsters, including guard D'Angelo Russell, however it's safe to say that the odds are pretty good that the Lakers will be back in the lottery this time next year.

Philadelphia also has the Kings' no.1 pick in 2019. Sacremento is a total mess, like usual, and the 2019 pick should be a top 3 selection. Both of these draft picks, along with the Sixers' own picks, and the future continues to look bright.

Con: The 76'ers didn't get the ultimate selections last night of the no. 1 and no 4 picks. I didn't think the team would keep both picks anyway. They may have traded the lesser choice for a more established player or even future picks. Now the Sixers can focus on that 3 pick, which brings us to,,,

Now what? Logic says the first two selections should be Fultz and Ball, but the Celtics, who draft no. 1, already have an all-star point guard . Would Boston instead take another position, such as swing man Josh Jackson form Kansas? Lonzo Ball seems certain to go to hometown UCLA. Could Fultz fall nicely into the Sixers' lap?

If Fultz does go before the Sixers are up, they will have plenty of talented , young players to choose from. Fox and Monk from Kentucky are namely two. Or would the Sixers entertain trading with Boston to get to 1, maybe the Sixers' 3 and Okafor ( whom Boston has express interest in)?

The Sizers need shooters in the worst way. Signing a J.J. Reddick in free agency would be big as well as drafting a young guard who can shoot.

There have always been rumors of the draft lottery being fixed. Bosotn, Los Angeles and Philly, three once-proud. high-profile franchises getting the top 3 picks...I'm sure the NBA would love to see these three cities return to prominence in the league. Think of the rivalries in the past. The Celts and Sixers, once again playing for supremacy in the East, and the Lakers playing showtime again in the West, may bring back the good ol' days to the struggling NBA.

Joel Embiid was fun at the draft last night. He's a great representative for the organization- bright, young, energetic, a fresh faced star. Enbiid needs to stay healthy and be the face of the Philadelphia franchise for the next 10 years.

Finally, how sad  are the Brooklyn Nets and the Sacremento Kings? Brooklyn stupidly traded away so many first round picks to Boston in an ill-fated deal years ago. Once again that trade haunts the Nets organization, as Boston will be picking no. 1 in the Nets spot next month. Sacremwnto at least has a pick this tear, be it no. 5 in the first round. But they also traded away their firt rounder in 2019 to Philly. Brooklyn and Sacremento may be the two worst organizations in sports, losers in every sense of the word.

It's truly a wonder how so-called "experts" can be so wrong every year.

PHILLIES-

Nice that Cole Hamels would like to return to the Phillies after his contract is up in Texas. He is exactly what the team needs- a left-handed ace. Jerrad Eichoff has been a huge disappointment, and sending him back to the Rangers, straight up for Hamels, wouldn't be a bad move if Texas wants to clean house after this season.

 I still think Vince Valasquez needs to be the team's future closer... The future outfield should be Altherr in left, Herrera in center (if he isn't traded this off-season), and Dylan Cozens in right.  A nice combo of speed and power. Roman Quinn should be the 4th outfielder, spot starting as Altherr once did. Forget the washed-up vets like Kendrick, Saunders and Nava.

Didn't Tommy Joseph once play third base? Time to bring up Rhys Hoskins to play first base. Joseph has picked up his game, but is he the future? Does Franco need a little competition at third base to get him motivated?

When the Phils talk about the young prospects in Lehigh Valley "not being ready" or "there is no place to play them" in Pihlly, those kids aren't getting any younger, while the current Philadelphia roster is average at best. They are what they are, a mediocre squad. Guys like Cameron Rupp and Joseph may be playing better, but they are not special players. GM Matt Klentak needs to break the logjam in the minors soon. He knows what he has in Philadelphia. Summer is coming on, and so is the time to start making changes, as this current Phillies club is going nowhere.

EAGLES-

I love the signing of Legarrette Blunt out of New England today. He gives the Birds the bruising running back they need, someone to run the ball near the goal line, someone to pick up short-yardage first downs, someone to eat up the clock in the fourth quarter with a lead. It's another one-year deal, so no loss if it doesn't work out. He suddenly makes the offense so much better.

I was lucky to get Eagles tickets yesterday. The home opener vs. the rival New York Giants was sold out in minutes. Got the second home game of the season, an October 8 clash with Arizona. The Cardinals always give the Birds a good game. Carson  Palmer, Larry Fitzgerald and gang should contend again in NFC West. My second game is against Denver on November 5. The Broncos rarely visit Philly. Their defense is still elite, although their quarterback situation is still cloudy.

Interestingly, both games are 1:00, so there will be a time difference factor with Arizona and Denver. The weather shouldn't matter, but the time may be an advantage for the Eagles, as both the Cards and Broncos will be kicking-off with their body clocks set to morning.

WIP SPORTS RADIO-

I wanted to offer my current assessment of WIP. I listen to WIP much more than their rival, The Fanatic. To me, The Fanattic is second-rate, many of their hosts unsuccessful at WUP. They don't have a local guy on overnight, and much of their programming is national.

I have been a loyal WIP listener since the 80s. I have no ax to grind, I just like listening to sports radio.

Some quick opinions on the WIP personalities:

Angelo Cataldi- Like a Jim Gardner of radio,a familiar voice. He may be a fake, and his main objective is to stir up controversy, but he is a comfortable voice in the morning. He will be missed when he retires soon, and WIP will be challenged to replace him. He is fun to listen to.

Stunts like Wing Bowl are tired and routine, and should be put out to pasture. It won't happen since it's great PR for the station.

Al Morganti- Doesn't offer much, but he is a good second banana, an Ed McMahon to Cataldi's Johnny Carson. Al knows hockey but that's about it.

Rheeya Hughes- A waste. Couldn't hold her own show. Will be lost when Cataldi retires. She will eventually fade away.

Marshall Harris- Wishy-washy. Doesn't offer solid opinions. Should stick with TV.

Hollis Thomas- No personality in person. Mumbles and stutters on the radio. Offers nothing useful. Other ex-Eagle players on the station are more interesting, more informative and understandable. Should stay with Rob Cherry on Saturday afternoons.

Keith Jones- Funny and honest. Knows little about sports other than hockey but is a refreshing, light-hearted change of pace.

Marc Farzetta- Annoying. Thinks he is cool. When he does host a show, he often talks over the caller. He doesn't listen, a cardinal sin of a radio sports talk host. Hate his "Hot Seat" segment on the morning show. Will always be a second banana, never a top personality. Temple grad, a reason why he got a job in radio.

Ava Graham- Big Daddy's daughter. Does little. Doesn't read updates. Basically a waste of time.

Joe DeCamera and Jon Richie- The morning 10am-2pm team. Better than Michael Barkann and Ike Reese, but that;s not saying much. All Eagles radio, not much else.

Chris Carlin and Ike Reese- the drive-time crew. No competition to Mike Missannelli on The Fanatic in this time slot. Reese shouts over everyone and tries to intimidate. other than football, he is clueless. Carlin is a loud-mouthed New Yorker, who will be returning to the Big Apple once his Philly gig is canceled.

Jon Marks- A nice addition to evenings. 100 times better than his predecessor Brian Haddad.

Paul Jolovicz- A know-it-all guy on late at night. Arrogant and rude, he chastises callers and listeners for not calling ( even though he is often unlistenable). His voice makes him distinct on the station, and he is a Wikipedia of sports knowledge, but he comes across as smug and condescending.

Jon Barcham- A new guy form Bleeding Green Nation. All he knows is Eagles.

Rickie Ricardo- Knows his baseball. Too bad the station doesn't have a weekly show devoted to baseball during the summer. His show is the closest to that. A broad caster for the Yankees, and ex-Spanish-language broadcaster for the Phillies.

Ron Charry- Good, sold weekend guy, but no more. Fills in, but ideally suited to his weekend afternoon gig. Honest and opinionated.

Steve Trevelise- My personal favorite. He's a Giant fan, but he knows sports, lets his callers talk, and is smooth. He also knows music and is the only host to do non-sports related interviews during his 2am weekend slot.

Big Daddy Graham- Depends on my mood and his mood. He can be jovial, yet rude to  callers. I know the overnights on weeknights is to entertain, but his nightly segments are dull and routine. I don't get his wit. Still, he will be missed when he leaves the station, na dis an icon on the air. Yet his overnight slot will be easier to fill than Catadi's morning slot.

Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger- Maybe the vest show on WIP. Didnger knows all sports, especially football. He is easy to listen to and enjoyable, and kind to his callers. Macnow sometimes comes off as a know-it-all but generally he is easy-going and informative, with interesting topics. Plus he runs the Last Fan Standing football pool every fall.

Howard Eskin- Another familiar voice. Despite all of his many faults, he is opinionated, has more "inside" information than others, and has a cast of characters calling him every Saturday morning. Wish he was on more often. Along with Cataldi, he is the face of WIP.

Sonny Hill- Another treasure on Sunday mornings. He will be missed when he is gone, and give the station credit for having a basketball guy on every week.

Overall, sports radio currently sucks in the city. That could be a by-product of the lackluster teams, but it's more so the current hosts The station needs baseball expert (Ricky Bottalico?) on more often. I get it that the Eagles are Philadelphia's favorite sports team, but it would be nice to mix in the other sports too.

Experience and trust count. Personalities like Eskin, Cataldi, Hill, Graham and Didinger ooze trust and experience. WIP needs to beef up their afternoon show ( get rid of Ike Reese once and for all) and maybe upgrade in the mornings too. Anthony Gargano may have burned too many bridges to return to WIP, but he would fit in again in the 10am. time slot.


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

IN THE NEWS- SELF-ADVOCATES ARRESTED AT WHITE HOUSE

This from Disability Scoop..

Dozens of disability rights activists have been arrested outside the White House while calling for President Donald Trump to support community-based living.

The U.S. Park Police arrested 83 protesters recently who were among some 300 demonstrators with the disability rights group ADAPT, according to organizers.

Many of those arrested were in wheelchairs. They were cited for incommoding- or blocking the sidewalk- and will face a $50 fine. All were immediately released, ADAPT said.

Protesters spent several hours Monday afternoon outside the president's home calling on the Trump administration to support the Disability Integration Act, a bill that would ensure that people with disabilities have access to community-based alternatives to institutions, in addition to other programs that promote community integration.

ADAPT is also asking for a meeting with top administration officials to discuss efforts to end institutionalization and indicated that they would like the president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, designated as an ambassador to the disability community.

"He's the president and we want him to work with us to secure our rights. Right now, though, he's acting like any small-time politician. he says he is all about the people until it's time to actually serve the people. Then he has you arrested," said Gregg Beratan, who was cited by police during the action.

aDAPT organizers said they did not receive any response from the  Trump administration.

"Our goal is to get a commitment from the Trump administration to respect our civil rights, particularly the right to live in our own homes and not nursing facilities,"said Jerry Costley. "If we don't get a meeting or a commitment, at least we have raised consciousness for our cause."

BASEBALL QUIZ

More Baseball trivia..


1. Which family had at least three members play in the majors leagues?

A- Boone family
B- Alou family
C- Alomar family
D- All of the above

2. Rank the following relievers by career saves.

A- Billy Wagner
B- Lee Smith
C- John Franco
D- Trevor Hoffman
E- Mariano Rivera

3. Rank the following relievers by career ERA.

A- Dan Quisenberry
B- Mariano Rivera
C- Trevor Hoffman
D- Goose Gossage
E- Bruce Sutter

4. Which player led his league in home runs in three different decades?

A= Willie McCovey
B- George Brett
C- Hank Aaron
D- Babe Ruth

5 .Rank the following players by the number of batting titles won.

A- Tony Gwynn
B- Ty Cobb
X- Honus Wagner
D- Rod Carew

6. Rank the following players by the number of home runs they hit for the Indians.

A- Earl Averill
B- Manny Ramirez
C- Jim Thome
D- Albert Belle

7. Who is the last player to win back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards?

A- Albert Pujols
B- Josh Hamilton
C- Joey Votto
D- Miguel Cabrera

8. Name the three players who led their league in batting average while not hitting a single home run.

A- Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Zack Wheat
B- Ginger Beaumont, Eddie Collins, Zack Wheat
C- Ginger Beaumont, Zack Wheat, Rod Carew
D- Ginger Beaumont, Bob Meusel, Pete Rose

9, Name the two managers whose teams won 100 games six times.

A- Joe Torre
B- Bobby Cox
C- Joe McCartgh
D- Earl Weaver

10. Rank the following players by the number of times they clubbed 40 or more home runs in a season.

A- Hank Aaron
B- Ken Griffey Jr.
C- Harmon Killebrew
D- Babe Ruth



ANSWERS-

1. D
2. 1 (E); 2 (D); 3 (B); 4 )C); 5 (A)
3. 1 (B); 2 (A); 3 (C); 4 (E); 5 (D)
4. D
5. 1 (B); 2 (A and C) 3 (D)
6. 1 (C); 2 (D); 3 )B); 4 (A)
7. D
8. C
9. B and C
10. 1 (D); 2 (A and C); 3 (B)


Monday, May 15, 2017

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

Much going on in Philly sports.....

SIXERS-

The NBA draft lottery is tomorrow night. We will have plenty of time to discuss who the Sixers should select in the 1st round. The best the team can do tomorrow night is get picks 1 and 4. 1 would be their own pick or swapping picks with Sacremento. 4 would be the Lakers pick, if the selection falls out of the top 3.

Look for LA to get a top 3 pick. I'm not saying that the lottery is rigged, but I'm sure the NBA would love for the Lakers to get good again. Having a high pick-preferably a no. 1- would go far in helping a Lakers rebuilding plan.

Boston has Brooklyn's selection, the Nets stupidly trading away the pick to the Celtics years ago. Boston is already good. A high pick makes them even better. Again the league would love for the Celtics to become contenders.

The Sixers also have 4 second round draft picks in June. Look for the organization to try and package a few of those picks to move back into the lower end of the first round. The Sixers don't want to pay all of those draft choices.

Joel Embiid will be at the lottery for the team. I'm not sure if he is a good luck charm, keeping in mind his history of injuries.Still, it would be fun to see his reaction if the Sixers are lucky enough to get into the top 3.

PHILLIES-

The team continues to flounder, now 9 full games behind Washington in National League East. The bullpen keeps blowing leads.

Meanwhile, Manager Pete Mackanin got a contract extension last week, covering 2018, with a club option in 2019.Pete should have a chance to manage the young core of players when they hopefully get really good.However, the manager has actually had a worse year so far than last season. There doesn't seem to be much discipline on the squad, as players continue to make stupid mental mistakes and lack of hustle is sometimes evident with guys failing to run hard.

When GM Matt Klentak gave Mackanin the expension last week, Klentak noted how "the team always play hard" and how "anyone can see how much better the Phillies are" compared to seasons past. Is he watching the same team? Guys like Herrera and Franco are slackers. I would say that the offense is a little improved, although they still strike out too much. But the pitching staff is a total disappointment. The starters can't go seven innings, which taxes the bullpen. There is no real closer on the staff, and no real ace.

Which brings us to pitching coach Bob McClure. Over the weekend he questioned some of the pitch calls by catcher Cameron Rupp, especially after Nationals' star Bryce Harper beat the Phils with a walk-off homer last Saturday night.McClure is right, but he also got himself into trouble by publicly bashing Rupp.

McClure is going to be fried after the season, especially if the bullpen continues to stink and there is no improvement from the young pitchers ( most notably Vince Valasquez). Rupp will probably go too, with the emergence of hot prospect Jorge Alfaro. Rupp is a solid catcher, nothing more. He may be a supplement for a team in contention, but Alfaro is the future.

I agree with giving Mackanin the extension. You didn't want Pete to be a lame duck through out the season. Mackanin needs to manage better, but he also needed the leverage of knowing he's going to be in Philadelphia for a while so he can work with the young kids.

It's really only a 1-year extension. If Mackanin can't handle the job as teacher this summer nad next, the Phillies can always cut bait and start fresh with a new skipper, just as the team hopefully will jell in 2019 and beyond.

Some points I've made before which still need to be stressed: Vince Valasquez should be put in the bullpen immediately. Let him get his feet wet there. He always seems to lose it around the 5th inning.So, in the 'pen he can let that 99 MPH fastball explode and not hold back.

Odubel Herrera is an over-paid, average player. The Phillies will regret extending his contract. He's been a disappointment at the plate, only batting around .260 so far this spring. He is what he is- a Rule 51 guy who was good the first half of 2016, made the All-Star Game, and hasn't been the same since.

Is he injured? Did the money go to his head and he just doesn't care anymore? Even before getting his money, Herrera was know to dog it in the field and on thebnasepaths at times.

Aaron Altherr can play center field much more fluidly. Mickey Moniak and Roman Quinn are lurking in the farm system. Trade Herrera this off-season (preferably in a package to get Mike Trout).

Dylan Cozens hit the longest home run ever in Lehigh Valley over the weekend. He has 9 HRs now, along with Rhys Hoskins' 9.  With Herrera gone, the future Phillies outfield could look like Quinn or Nick Williams, Cozens and Altherr, a nice combination of speed and power.

Finally, I'm not crazy about the current Phillies announcers, especially on TV. John Kruk is good in a folksy way, ala the late, great Richie Ashburn. Ben Davis has disappointed me so far this year. He's not honest enough and needs to call out the players when they are struggling. I like Larry Andersen on the radio. Kruk and Mike Schmidt talking baseball on Sunday afternoons is interesting, but Schmidt alone is dry and boring. Play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy is ok on TV.

I guess we got spoiled all those years by Harry Kalas and Ashburn.

EAGLES-

The Birds had OTAs this past weekend, a chance for the rookies to show what they can do. I still think the team needs to find depth at corner back and running back before the season opener in September. I also expect some deals, as bubble guys like Jason Kelce and Mychal Kendricks are still on the roster.

Single game tickets go on sale tomorrow and I'm hoping to get seats to the home opener vs. the Giants and the December 5 tilt against AFC foe Denver.The Raiders and Cowboys should be interesting games, but who wants to go to the Linc on Christmas night and New Year's Eve?Washington on Monday Night Football will be a highlight, and an October clash with Arizona should be fun. Games vs. San Francisco and the bears ? Who cares.

FLYERS-

The countdown is on until the NHL draft in June, when the Flyers pick second. They should get a quality player at that spot. The question is, will Ron Hextall and the organization allow the kids to play, or will they continue to be a little too over-protective and let them simmer with the Phantoms? The goal tending situation will be interesting as well. Mason looks like he won't come back. Nurweirth is under contract but will he go in the expansion draft? Or will the team trade for a veteran goalie while bringing one of their prized goal tending prospects to Philly as a back-up?

IN THE NEWS- HOA TO PAY 300K FOR DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION

The Oregonian newspaper offers the following article..

The parents of a woman with severe disabilities who say they were forced to move from their Marion County, Ore. neighborhood after the homeowners association barred them from parking an RV in their driveway have settled their lawsuit for $300,000.

The parents of Khrizma Kuhn had argued that their 34-year-old daughter needed the RV to travel to medical appointments and other places. She suffered from a  condition that caused frequent bouts of diarrhea and had to be near a toilet and shower, they said.

Gary and Renee Kuhn bought their Keizer, Ore. home in 2005 and got the RV in 2015 after their daughter's incontinence worsened. She has Down syndrome, autism and an IQ of 36.

But the McNary Estates homeowners association wouldn't budge, saying the 26-foot RV was too big to park at their home and violated the neighborhood's covenants.

Seeing no other choice, the Kuhns sold their home in August 2015 and moved to Woodburn, Ore., where the homeowners association immediately approved the parking of their RV.

The Kuhns filed suit in U.S. District Court in January 2016, alleging that McNary Estates and a sub-homeowners association violated their daughter's civil rights under federal and Oregon fair housing acts by failing to make a "reasonable accommodation" of her request, as required by law.

In January, federal Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Kuhns were right that their daughter had faced discrimination. All that was left to decide, Aiken said, was how much the homeowners association had to pay as compensation.

This month, attorneys for the case announced the $300,000 settlement, which is being paid by the McNary Estates' insurer.

The settlement will cover the Kuhns' economic losses- including $2,400 for lodging for the month they had to stay at a motel during their move and the $76,000 difference between the selling price of their old home and the money they paid for their new house. The Kuhns will pay their attorneys fees from the $300,000.

Greg Lusby, an attorney for McNary Estates, couldn't be reached for comment.

In Aiken's written ruling, she noted that a next-door neighbor was upset that the RV blocked her line of sight as she left her driveway. The Kuhns offered her a parabolic mirror to help with that, but she rejected it, writing in an email to the Kuhns that " I have left your parabolic mirror on our porch. Please pick it up today as we do not wish to use it."

The judge wrote that it appears the parabolic mirror would reduce or eliminate the neighbor's problem with sight lines.

Dennis Steinman, the Portland, Ore. attorney who represented the Kuhm family, described the judge's January ruling as " powerful" and said it could be used as precedent for other cases in which people with disabilities are fighting for "reasonable accommodation" in their housing.

"I think it's a terrific vindication for disabled people in the future."

The Kuhns wanted only to meet their daughter's " need to be out in public so she could engage with the world and not be isolated in her room," he said. But "they found extreme resistance from neighbors and the (homeowners) board for really no legitimate reason."

Steinman said he hopes this sends a message to McNary Estates, as well as  the homeowners associations with steadfast rules.

"Many people who live in HOAs are often frustrated with the amount of power HOAs have over the way they live in their community," Steinman said. "This is an instance where the HOA perhaps took their power too far."

Thursday, May 11, 2017

OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING- UN TO GRANT GREATER RIGHTS AND ACCESS FOR DISABLED

I wrote this article for The Phoenix on September 1, 2006...

UN to Grant Greater Rights and Access for Disabled The United Nations will soon pass a treaty which will give greater rights and access to disabled people all over the world. This new treaty will be a significant improvement in treatment of disabled individuals. It will be the first human rights bill of the 21st century

. It is estimated that approximately 650 million people worldwide have some sort of disability. That is about 10% of the total world population; however, this number is projected to rise in the years to come, due to advances in medical treatment and the continuing aging process.

 The upcoming treaty is important because currently only 45 countries have specific legislation that protects the disabled. For instance, in developing countries, 90% of disabled children do not go to school.

 The United States is far ahead of the rest of the world regarding disabled rights, with the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the early 1990s. Still, the U.S. is expected to sign the new treaty.

 Change of attitude, granting equal status to the disabled, is a key ingredient in the new legislation. Combating negative stereotypes and prejudices, along with promoting an awareness of abilities - rather than disabilities - and contributions to society are also important elements to the new treaty.

 Along with attitude changes, the basic rights of better accessibility to buildings, better transportation, and more information and improved communication are also main ingredients of the bill.

 The following is a quick guide to the draft United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

 • Participating countries to change laws and ban discriminatory customs and practices. • Disabled people to have an equal right to life. • Protection for children with disabilities.
 • Equal rights for disabled women and girls. • A right to own and inherit property, to control financial affairs and have equal access to financial services.
 • Disabled people not to be deprived of their liberty “unlawfully or arbitrarily.”
 • Medical or scientific experiments without consent to be banned.
• An end to enforced institutionalization. • Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.
 • A right to privacy and access to medical records.
 • Countries to remove barriers to accessing the environment, transport, public facilities and communication.
• A right to independent living.
 • Essential equipment to be made affordable.
 • A right to an adequate standard of living and social protection.
• An end to discrimination relating to marriage, family and personal relationships.
 • Equal access to education.
• An end to discrimination in the job market.
 • A right to equal participation in public life.
 • A right to participate in cultural life.
• Developing countries to be assisted to put the convention into practice.

 Many of the above goals seem so simplistic, one wonders why they need to be reinforced. Yet much of the world lacks the basic rights which Americans who have a disability enjoy, basic rights which everyone - disabled or not - are entitled to.

 The treaty is expected to be ratified sometime in September. One step closer to the entire world, regardless of disability, living as one.

IN THE NEWS- NEW MEDICAID WAIVER RULE DELAYED

From Disability Scoop..

The Trump administration is giving states more wiggle room in the roll-out of a rule that establishes a new standard for what counts as home and community-based services for people with disabilities.

In a bulletin issued this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said that it is delaying implementation of a 2014 regulation outlining criteria for programs provided through Medicaid home and community-based services waivers.

When the rule was finalized, federal Medicaid officials included a transition period of up to five years- ending in 2019- for states to come into compliance. Now, the Trump administration says it's offering an extension.

:In the light of the difficult and complex nature of this task, we will extend the transition period for states to demonstrate compliance with the home and community-based settings criteria until March 17, 2022 for settings in which a transition period applies," reads the bulletin from Brian Neale, director of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services.

"We anticipate that this additional three years will be helpful to states to ensure compliance activities are collaborative, transparent and timely," Neale wrote.

Under the rule, home and community-based settings must be integrated in and provide full access to the community. They also must be selected by the individual, offer privacy, dignity and respect, optimize independence and allow people with disabilities the ability to make independent choices about services and who provides them.

The criteria apply to homes as well as day and job-training programs and other non-residential offerings provided through waivers.

When the rule was finalized, Medicaid officials indicated that they were inspired to develop the standard after hearing reports of homes built on the sites of former institutions that were being labeled as community-based.

The changes will have implications for more than a million people receiving home and community-based services through Medicaid, Neale indicated.

Even with the new flexibility, advocates said that progress is already underway thanks to the regulation.

"It is important to recognize that while there is an extension for existing to come into compliance, new settings must come into compliance immediately and this is an important step forward," said Marty Ford, senior executive officer of public policy at The Arc.

BASEBALL MEMORIES- NEW YORK YANKEES

More Baseball memories...this time about those Damn Yankees..

^ The Yankees were always a mystery team to me as a kid. The only time they were on television was during the World Series, which was often. The Yanks have been in 40 World Series, winning a record 27 crowns. In fact, they have more world championships than any other north American professional sports team. So, it seemed like every October, one could see Mantle, Ford and the rest of the late 50s- early 60s New Yorkers. So, in that way, it was a treat to see the mighty Yankees, always playing for the championship.

I collected baseball cards, and had a pretty good collection every spring, but for some reason, Yankee cards were hard to find. I never got a Mickey Mantle, only lesser Yankees. So that was another challenge and mystery- where were all the Yankee cards?

Beating the Yanks was a big deal. The Dodgers were always their arch-rival, but the Yanks usually got the best of them/. When New York didn't make the World Series, something was wrong.

Being a Phillies fan, the Yanks were the ultimate goal. The Whiz Kids Phils lost to New York in the 1950 Series, the last time Philadelphia made it to the Series until thei 1st championship in 1980. Fast-forward to 2009 and the Yanks once again beat my Phils in the Fall Classic.

Even now, the Yanks remain a big deal. They are back near the top of American League East, with a slew of young players such as slugger Aaron Judge, catcher Gary Sanchez and first baseman Greg bird. A new set of Bronx Bombers. The Yankees haven't played the Phils in a few years, and haven;t been to Citizens Bank park in a while. The NL East teams are due to play the AL East clubs in 2018, so as soon as the schedule comes out, I'll be searching for games against New York next summer in Philly.

* I admire the Yankees for only finishing in last place a total of four times since 1908. Think of it- four times! They always seem to be in contention, like the St. Louis Cardinals. Like the Cards, New York has always had a great farm system and excellent scouts. The Yankee organization has always had the money, not only to spend on their minor leagues, but to buy free agents. In fact, the Yankees set the standard when it came to buying championships, especially during the George Steinbrenner era.Anyway, the last time the Yanks finished  in the cellar was in 1990. So, regardless of what you think of the "Evil Empire" you have to give them credit for always fielding a competitive team.

* Another thing I thought was cool about the Yankees mystic was Monument Park in  of Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium itself was always considered the Mecca of sports venues, The House That Ruth Built. The old Yankee Stadium was a landmark, a tourist attraction, even for a non-baseball fan.

Monument Park is an area in center field dedicated to Yankee greats. Thye tribute section is made up of memorial plaques now. Back in the day, monuments like gravestones were positioned in center field, 461 feet from home plate. It took a real shot for a ball on the fly to hit Monument Park, and only several players have done so, Thurmun Munson and Alex Rodrieguez included.  It was different than any other ballpark or playing area, as a ball could conceivably bounce or roll beyond the stone markers and rattle around for triples or even inside-the-park home runs.

I actually did think that those Yankees memorialized by the tombstone-like markers were buried under the grass in center field. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio- they were all resting in peace within the cathedral of the Yankee Stadium outfield.

* Even in Little League, the name "Yankees" either meant the "best" or "evil." I used to love the tv. show Home Run Derby and there was a;ways a Yankee on the show, either Maris or Mantle. The Yankee uniforms, so iconic yet simple, with the Yankee logo of a red-white-and blue hat covering a baeball bat as the ultimate symbol. The basic, blank-and-white Yankee cap, with the intertwined NY, is classic old-school.  And no matter how much you follow your own team, one would always keep an eye on what the Yankees were doing, just because, well..they were the Yankees. A Broadway play was written about the club ("Damn Yankees"). The Yanks had  colorful characters like no others, such as Yogi Berra and Casey Stengal. . It didn't hurt that the Yankees played in New York. The parades and glory of winning is no better anywhere, but the pressure could be no greater when season of not winning a championship was endured.

Like any sport, Baseball is entertainment. In a good movie, you need a worthy villain to cheer against. It makes victory that much more satisfying. The Yankees will always be baseball's villain. That's what makes it fun, and why it's good for baseball- and for all of us-when the Yanks are good.