> This announcement was posted on another list (Lenny, I hope this is
not
> cross posting--I hope I am not breaking any rules--I post here only so
> I can comment on it).

Crossposting is second degree spamming. It's dumping the same message
across a number of different lists. Crossposting also means, for the
most part, that whoever did the posting is not sticking around to
respond to questions or comments about it. One or two messages now and
then isn't a problem, but if you get 3 or 4 or a dozen different
groups dumping announcements, action alerts or fundraising
solicitation to your list, it can overwhelm the list or dissipate the
focus. It's a rude intrusion. I'm glad you posted this. It gives me
a chance to work on my presentation with you at Autism One.

> CDC is pushing an awareness program for pediatricians (See below).

Bob already knows my dig on this. Why is the CDC involved with early
intervention awareness, anyway? The CDC stands for Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. None of that is about early
intervention, which is about treatment. It is not up to the CDC to
create treatment protocols for developmental disorders. Why would
they stray so from their charter? Is it a public relations stunt to
show the CDC cares about autism -- but not enough to actually control
or prevent it? I pull no punches in pointing out that the CDC is one
of the major bad guys actually responsible for spreading the epidemic,
if one concludes that autism is mercury poisoning. Some irony how the
CDC passed around the poison using vaccines. Now let's follow the
money. The CDC gives the top three major autism organizations a pile
of money in this noble effort, CAN, NAAR and the ASA. CAN and NAAR's
mission is to raise money for autism research. They don't normally do
treatment or support services, although CAN has done some small
projects. Why do they stray from their charter, too? Early
intervention is a part of national ASA's charter, so it's not such a
stretch for them. But this poses some interesting conflicts of
interest issues. What does it mean that the top three largest autism
parent groups are taking money from the CDC? The CDC pays them money
to do something the CDC doesn't usually spend money on so that those
organizations will do projects that mostly they normally don't do?
What is the CDC really buying here, silence maybe? And on the cheap,
too. Like the CDC, CAN, NAAR and the ASA have collectively spent a
tiny fraction of their money on mercury-related research. The ASA
claims title to being the "voice of the autism community". This is
fine for doing non-profit social and support activities. It's going
to take more body parts however, than just a voice to stop the
epidemic and to see justice done to the perpetrators and their
victims, our children. We need a voice that works with brains, muscles
and gonads. That's where Bob comes in, right Bob? You da man! ;-)

Lenny