Gordie

I wouldn't worry about it - Nick Griffin (BNP leader) had that problem as well on Thursday night. (Sorry - couldn't resist! ) James

I arrived 2 weeks late ... and, unsurprisingly, I have no further details! James

If he was over 18, I would suggest you leave it and don't tell his parents, but maybe ask him to contact you soon after the scheduled meeting, to let you know that everything's okay, so that if you didn't hear from him, you could tell his parents at that time. But if, as your poll question suggests, your penpal is a child (i.e. under 18), then it's a no-brainer for me - you have to tell his parents. Then it's up to them as to how to deal with the situation. Really, he ought to be telling his parents himself - they may well be supportive and encourage him to meet this girl (albeit with the necessary precautions in place). But if they don't feel that's appropriate, then I'm sure that's fair enough. Jannih's advice is very good as well. James

Wow - that all sounds fantastic. I knew they liked The Autistic Me, seeing as it recently got a BBC One repeat airing, but this is still impressive! Maybe our very own Special_talent123 could go in for Autistic She, having already made a "cameo appearance"(!) in The Autistic Me. Hmmm ... I hope "High-Functioning Adults Who Hold Down Jobs" and "Motobility/Driving" are only working titles. Learning to drive wasn't an issue for me at all though ... well ... no more of an issue than it is for anyone else, that is. Yeah - particularly strange, when you consider that ... "BBC Three content is modern, distinctive and relevant - though not exclusively - to our core 16-34 year old target audience." - http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tv/netw.../bbcthree.shtml ... so not only should Kimi have said "34" instead of "30", but BBC Three programmes aren't exclusive to the under-35s anyway! Also, that's just who the channel's content is aimed at, not the age of the people participating in the programmes! Programmes featuring Bruce Forsyth (aged 81) (e.g. Strictly Come Dancing) could easily be considered "relevant" to those under 35! So, trekster, tell 'em that if they kick up a fuss! James

I think the group I go to used to be a non-NAS thing, just run by someone who was interested in getting to know people with Asperger's - nothing more than that. I went to a few of those meetings in its early days, before chickening out for a few years. I then returned (with a little push from one of the volunteers involved), to find that the person running it "back in the day" had gone, and the NAS had taken over the running of it! Didn't see that one coming! I never found out how the transition was made, from non-NAS to NAS-administered. Some of the old faces from the early days were still attending though, which was good to see. James

See also this long thread about the programme, from when it was first shown, on August 11th ... Bear in mind that forum member Special_talent123, who started that thread, is Kirsty (Alex's date) from the show. As you will see in the thread, Alex and Kirsty are now an item. She has also mentioned in another thread that there will be a follow-up show some time next year, which she will also be part of. I'm pretty sure he was just joking there. James

Well if I come, I won't be ice-skating, so you won't have to book anything that includes me. So I don't have to decide well in advance. The more people choose not to ice-skate, the better for me, coz then I'm less likely to be left on my own. Down sides (other than my lack of ice-skating desire!): don't like shopping unless I have to, don't like pizza, don't know anyone very well. But other than all that, I'm up for it! So put me down as a "maybe" ... probably until November 27th. I think "bouncy bid" was just her sign-off. James

I go to an Asperger's social group here in Yeovil, run by an NAS representative, which meets on the first Wednesday of every month, between 7pm and 9pm at the Cooper's Mill pub. Several volunteers assist in the running of the group, as well as Paul Harrington from the NAS. Up to 20 "Aspies" usually turn up for each gathering, and a monthly newsletter is sent out (via postal mail or e-mail) to all that leave their contact details with Paul. Most meetings consist of just socialising in the pub, with Paul, the volunteers and our fellow Aspies. But we do occasionally deviate from the norm (e.g. bowling nights, quiz nights), and we, too, are currently planning our next Christmas Meal, on Wednesday, December 2nd. NAS Yeovil Social Group James

I didn't know this forum was funded by a licence fee. James

Kathryn: That's not the same thing that aspiemum2twinsplus1 is talking about. The thread you refer to talks about the avatar (settings accessible via "Edit Avatar Settings" on the left-hand side of the control panel), whereas she's talking about the personal photo (settings accessible via "Change Personal Photo" on the left-hand side of the control panel). You'll see her post makes more sense when you go to this part of the control panel. James

I might consider this, despite having 130-odd miles each way to travel(!), although the prospect of all-day shopping isn't exactly enticing! I'm all of that (except alcoholic and broke), and I don't even have being a student as an excuse! James

Interesting - thanks for the heads-up, Mumble. I've signed up. In very extreme circumstances(!), I could imagine being in a hostage situation, obviously unable to make an emergency call to 999 to get the police to attend, but (as long as the hostage takers didn't take everyone's mobile phone off them first) I could discreetly text them instead. So I think this really does have a purpose beyond accessibility for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired. See the final section at the bottom of this page. James

http://www.asd-forum.org.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=22407 James

I'm not in shock ... see - I was dead right last week! James

I couldn't stand him, the way he murdered Holding Back the Years. I'll agree with ya there ... no wonder Louis got the "Groups" category - he's the only one that could put up with them. It also means they're dead certs to make the final 12 and the live shows. James

The X Factor ... but only up until the live shows start - then it just gets boring and repetitive ... which Simon Cowell has only made more so by inviting crowds to the initial auditions and to boot camp. That was a bad move. So after next weekend's "Judges' Houses" stage (even though they aren't actually the judges' houses! ), I won't be watching either of 'em! (Especially now Scott James has gone.) The problem with the scheduling clash is that Strictly Come Dancing is now so long (or, at least, will be from this Saturday onwards, coz they've got every couple dancing, plus the results and the dance-off) that it's almost impossible to avoid a clash. I'm a BBC fan, but they don't do themselves any favours by competing for ratings with an ailing commercial rival, during one of ITV's most-viewed (and therefore highest-revenue-generating) shows of the week - talk about shooting yourself in the foot, at a time when the licence fee is under pressure. You'd have to bring back Bob before you could bring back his Full House. James

When he didn't appear on Saturday's first boot camp show, I assumed he'd been eliminated at the "200 to 50" stage. But then when he did appear on Sunday's second show, I had mixed feelings ... I was like, "Yay! He's still in!" ... but then I realised ITV had lumped him into the package of contestants that were forgetting their lyrics, so I knew what was coming. Still, he took it well ... he was right - to get from 200,000 auditionees down to the last 50 was amazing. And he did get a nice send-off from Simon too ... not to mention a kiss from Cheryl! (For anyone who missed it, he's in the second half of this 2½-minute video ... after the advert anyway ... or on YouTube, minus the advert, it's ...) James

Yeah - I saw it on my Sky EPG last night! Impressive! The big boys at the Beeb were obviously impressed with the show! Enjoy being proper famous from next Wednesday onwards! James

Also, check out the "Jargon Buster" for explanations of abbreviations of more formal terms you may see used on the forum. (This link is also permanently available among the links at the top of the screen, wherever you are on the forum.) James

I got it ... once I'd realised it was a joke, that is. James

It started in August in some places - you got off lightly! It is irritating though, you're right - it's still warm out!! By the time we eventually get to December, we've had enough of Christmas. It shouldn't start until Christmas Eve (typical man) December 1st. No wonder Christmas never makes it to January 6th, Twelfth Night, the proper last day of Christmas. What's even more annoying is that these tactics actually seem to be working, which will only encourage them to keep doing it, or, worse still, venturing even further into the summer months, in future years. James

Off-topic, it sounds like your thread title is suggesting you have some kind of horrible illness! "Oooh - I'm 'having PhDs' - it's ever so painful!" Don't mind me ... James

The only thing that's confused me on occasions is thinking that people are from Snowdon, when that's just their "mountain level". I expect a few people think I live on Ben Nevis! But otherwise, it's fine. James

This is the official link to Scott's audition, on ITV's web site: http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/episodes/video/item_200244.htm 98% there! Out of 1,181 ratings! 51 comments so far too, all positive. If he gets through the Boot Camp stage, into the final 50 (ought to be a no-brainer), he'll have to go abroad, to one of the judges' houses! He could be off to Morocco (with Cheryl), Dubai (with Dannii), Milan (with Louis), or Los Angeles (with Simon)! (Depends on which judge gets the "Boys" category - Wikipedia has an article that speculates on this, but I won't put any potential spoilers in here.) If leaving the house was hard, how about leaving the country?! James

You've been watching too many adverts ... Oh, hang on - that means I have too. James