The U.S. lottery jackpot hit a record high this week, sending scores of people to their local lotto stops to purchase tickets. With all those number combos being played, there were three winners when the numbers were announced on Friday… but none of them have claimed the prize. Um, can I volunteer? If all three come forward, they will be splitting a $656 million jackpot, the highest amount the lottery has ever gotten to. The winning tickets were purchased in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland, and I bet every person that misplaced a ticket from one of those states is kicking him or herself. When and if they come forward, the winners will have to decide whether to take all the cash up front as a lump sum or in 26 annual payments. What would you do?

Numbers released on Thursday revealed that more kids than ever are being diagnosed with autism. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 88 children has the disorder, a 23% jump from 2006 and a 78% increase from 2008. In other words, there’s been a huge spike in just a few years. These numbers mean that about a million kids and teenagers in the U.S. are affected. The study also revealed that boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls. But the question remains; is the disease becoming more common, or are we just getting better at detecting it? Regardless, autism research advocates say the numbers are a good thing- Congress and the public will pay more attention. Read More »

A few years ago while visiting my cousin in Toronto, she gave me this book and said that I absolutely had had had to read it. Of course, it got tossed onto my overstuffed bookshelf and forgotten about for a long time. Recently, I decided to clean up my bookshelf, came across this little gem and decided to finally give in to my cousin’s advice.

“The Curious Incident” (as I’m now referring to it because the name is gigantic) is a story about Christopher John Francis Boone, a boy who is a genius, but has autism. He doesn’t understand the concept of human emotions, but enjoys animals, in particular his neighbor’s dog, Wellington. When he finds Wellington dead by a pitchfork, Christopher is blamed and because he cannot feel emotions, it seems likely that based on his reaction, he is indeed the killer. However, Christopher swears up and down that he is not guilty and vows to become Sherlock Holmes and find the real murderer. Eventually, through his adventures and detective work, Christopher confronts the real tragedy in his life: his parents’ crumbling marriage.

The absolute best part of this book is Christopher and his unique voice. I have no idea how Haddon wrote an entire book as a severely autistic child. He had to completely block-out any emotion he felt and write with only logic. As a writer myself, I don’t know how he avoided that and totally applaud him! The writing is just so different and quirky and definitely steals the show. Also, as a psychology student, I found the insight into the autistic mind so great too. I forgot that grown man had written this book and really believed that Christopher was talking to me! Read More »

Want some free food? (Is KFC really food?)

Maybe you shouldn’t buy that…

OMG. We can’t wait for the MTV Movie Awards!

Rest in peace, Dom DeLuise.

Welcome to the Swine Flu hotel.

Jenny McCarthy getting her own talk show? When’s it my turn!?