Category Archives: Challenges

Open Letter to Facebook’s Monika Bickert and Justin Osofsky

Posted on October 5, 2015 by T.Rob

Monika Bickert, Facebook’s Head of Global Product Policy and Justin Osofsky, their Vice President of Global Operations co-wrote this letter about Facebook’s Community Standards. Among the principles they claim Facebook is guided by are: Keeping you safe. We have zero … Continue reading →

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Overcoming social anxiety

Posted on May 1, 2015 by T.Rob

There are many Aspie groups on Facebook and naturally I’m in a couple of them.  The following question showed up in my feed and my response sort of outgrew Facebook. My 18 year old daughter is high functioning autistic and … Continue reading →

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Intentcasting…to a roach?

Posted on April 15, 2015 by T.Rob

OK, so it’s a robot and not a roach. But it is a robot that *looks* a lot like a roach. Researchers at Bielefeld University are experimenting with emergent behavior on a robot platform they named Hector. Their software thus … Continue reading →

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Friendship, filters and fireworks

Posted on February 7, 2015 by T.Rob

What a rough day.  My best friend needed some surgery and I agreed to pick him up from the hospital, take him home and stick around until he was able to get around on his own.  I was to wait … Continue reading →

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Dealing with depression

Posted on January 1, 2015 by T.Rob

I spend a lot of online time in communities of autistic people and, this being the holiday season, lately there have been a few people in crisis posting to the forums.  As an Aspergian I always hesitate to respond to … Continue reading →

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Ha(aspie)ness

Posted on December 15, 2014 by T.Rob

Michael asks: What brings you happiness in your life? Well, it isn’t the number 42.  In the end it turns out, at least for me, to be what they always say it is – do what you love, in service … Continue reading →

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Obesity, disability are not capital offenses

Posted on December 6, 2014 by T.Rob

This is unbelievable.  The AP story as published here by ABC News begins with these words: “Eric Garner was overweight and in poor health. He was a nuisance to shop owners who complained about him selling untaxed cigarettes on the … Continue reading →

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Form, function and authenticity – an essay on facial hair

Posted on January 23, 2014 by T.Rob

When I’m in the right frame of mind, Internet trolls are an endless source of amusement. Unfortunately, that isn’t often and the rest of the time they just make me fear for the future of the human race. I practice … Continue reading →

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Intense world, in theory and practice

Posted on January 20, 2014 by T.Rob

A few days ago I stumbled across an article describing Kamila and Henry Markram’s Intense World theory of autism (more formally described in their own article).  This, to me, was like finding the key to unlock a treasure.  Intense World … Continue reading →

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The humility/noteriety spectrum

Posted on January 5, 2014 by T.Rob

The first part of my life could be described as a long string of attention-seeking incidents. Some of them, like getting bitten in the head by a big dog at the age of 4, didn’t start out that way but … Continue reading →

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