A report in the Post Gazette includes an interview with Dr. Mary Jean Brown, chief of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She says that:
“without a doubt” that it was medical error, and not the therapy itself, that led to the death of a 5-year-old boy who was receiving it as a treatment for autism.
Which is very interesting on numerous levels.
First (for me) is the statement that clarifies exactly why Tariq was receiving chelation: *”who was receiving it as a treatment for autism”*. That nicely clears up any remaining doubts that Tariq was there for lead poisoning removal. He was there for treatment for autism.
Secondly (and unsurprisingly I take issue with a lot of what Dr Brown claims) is this claim that it was not chelation that killed Tariq. That, to me, is frankly bizarre. Its quite obvious that it is _exactly_ what killed him. If he hadn’t been chelated, he would still be alive. Thats just simple logic. Further, the fact that he was being treated with something that has no proven (or even evidenced) positive effect on ‘recovering’ or ‘curing’ kids from their autism speaks quite clearly to me that it was indeed the chelation that killed him: No autism = no belief in thiomersal poisoning = no chelation = no death. Again, this seems entirely logical to me. EDTA, which is a chelating agent, killed Tariq. QED.
Now, where the ambiguity creeps in is the fact that Dr Brown is claiming that chelation, as a course of action, does not intrinsically harm kids. In fact she said:
She said there have been no reputable medical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of chelation as a therapy for anything but lead poisoning. But if it were administered accurately, the procedure would be harmless.
This is quite a statement. The way I look at it is this: nobody knows the cause of autism. It is likely there are numerous potential triggers. Given that we don’t know what even the chemical composition of the average autistic brain is how can _anyone_ possibly claim that a procedure that removes chemicals is harmless?
And again, I make the point that since chelation has no proven or evidenced positive effect on autism in terms of its removal/curing/recovery/whatever that its use in this case is _directly_ responsible for Tariq’s death.
And there’s more:
“It’s a case of look-alike/sound-alike medications,” she said yesterday. “The child was given Disodium EDTA instead of Calcium Disodium EDTA. The generic names are Versinate and Endrate. They sound alike. They’re clear and colorless and odorless. They were mixed up.”
Mixed up? How can a trained Doctor who ostensibly was a chelationist mix up medications? I guess it could happen but it doesn’t seem likely.
At the end of the day, Dr Brown is offering conjecture. She may have read the autopsy report but her opinion on what Roy Kerry did and why he did it is a matter for an inquiry. At the end of the day a little boy is still dead because he was autistic. Chelation is still responsible for that death.
Left Brain Right Brain 
David
I am not two ways about. What I think is that HM poisoning can be a comorbility, not a CAUSE of autism, even as MAY. Please read a previous exchange with KEvin about. I do not think that Autism MAY be induced by Hg, posnatally for a previous non-autistics, genetically NT kid. Viral encephalitis MAY provoke autistic traits, but this is different and it has been publised.
GEnetics is always the root. In this sense, the symptomatology can not be compared because all the other things that are present in Autism, related to all we know (genetics, structure of brain, probably immune dysfunction) and do not know..IF HM is present is masked by all the other comorbilities/presentations. How do we know if certain finding in autism – in terms of behavior, clinical findings, etc- is not a consequence of MANY things? Probably is. So in the same way that ASd does not match with Hg poisoning from fish, it can not be compared straight to discard Hg poisoning because the collaborators are many at an individual level, and even if Hg is present, it is present with a lot of other components : genetics, immune,etc. When some behavior/finding is present in ASD how do you assign it for sure to something specifically? For me you can not compare Hg poisonig ( one cause , several characteristics behaviors) to ASD (genetics cause, several dysfunctions together that affects behavior) based on behaviors and clinical findings. Is as if you want to compare one condition with only one variable with another condition with 20 known variables and possibly more unknown, for me.
The symptomatology CAN NOT be compared for example with mercury poisoning from fish consumption in previously healthy NT for me because the way of exposure is DIFFERENT and in ASD Hg would be one more thing WITH ALL the genetics manifestations that characterize ASD that even can make worse the HM impact within a general dysfunction/ or different function of physiology of the different systems .
To be clear. I think that a child is born with ASD in terms of genetics. LEt´s go to focus on HMs. The genetics make him/she more prone to be weak to the environmental insult in GENERAL,. Let´s see Hg. Hg is ubiquos in air at levels all manage and excrete. We are exposed to a contaminated world, full of chemicals. FOIR me, clinical aspects of ASD can make worse because of the concomitant problems with metals dealing and xenobiotics-from vaccines, air, food, water, etc-, not only with toxic, but also essentials because of genetics.
David, I do not see in what we disagree so much when analyzing the details. The key is
when a child is not poisoned
The point is IF a kid with ASD demonstrated to be poisoned with HM. Again TESTING is what I have focused on and on. In this sense, I agree with Mrs Clark that commercial labs and e-mail orders are not eligible because of reported problems but local labs and hospitals are, considering the possible underlying mechanism of poisoning in an ASD child. Again, a trained toxicologist is aware of supossed hidden markers of HM poisoning (porphyrins in urine for example).
OK, if you say that NEVER a child with ASD can have HM poisoning I disagree respectfully with you.
Again, are you interested about my comments on doctors? I think is related to this.
MarÃa Luján
Being clearer
A child can have HM (Hg) poisoning BECAUSE HE/SHE is autistic, being so because of genetics and born different than NT kids. The kind of Hg poisoning is different than in the case of NT because of different biochemistry/physiology. I agree
Different to say
A NT child, being born NT, can become Autistic BECAUSE HM (Hg) poisoning . I disagree.
MarÃa Luján
I just want to know why Triple Kevin Sevin whatever didn’t post the letter from Dr. Gordon that followed the lyrics to E.D.T.A. (which I hosted but didn’t write.) I’m sorry to all fans of the Village People. I had no idea that Kevin would go flaming ballistic over E.D.T.A.
Thanks for posting the lyrics here Trip. It was thoughtful of you. The DIVA blog has recently had plenty of chemistry and medical commentary and little in the way of lyrics.
I would like to add that : no one appreciates the time I put into the dancing and spinning chemistry models!
Oh, and I’m no more “on the dole” than any student who is not supported entirely by mummy and duddy. Your libelous comments about my income sources are only partly amusing, Kevin Champagne. It’s very expensive to be a student at a UC these days and I’m going into debt at an impressive rate.
I’m also working two jobs, one for school credit, one for money that I pay taxes on, plus going to school full time. But Kevin is worried about my living quarters which are paid for by me. I’m paying what other people pay for the same size apartment in a normal area of the U.S., but the rest of my extortionist rate of rent is being paid for by the IRS, through what are called “tax credits”. The rent I pay out of my pocket for this unit here in the high rent district is quite high, and it’s not anywhere near free, it’s just that technically the landlords could ask for a few hundred more month and that’s what the IRS is paying for by way of a tax break to the landlord.
Shocking! Isn’t it? 🙂 Oh. I’ll shut up if Kev L. asks me to.
MarÃa: “A child can have HM (Hg) poisoning BECAUSE HE/SHE is autistic, being so because of genetics and born different than NT kids. The kind of Hg poisoning is different than in the case of NT because of different biochemistry/physiology. I agree”
This has been nowhere near shown to be correct, though. And in any case, the physiology is never THAT different!!!! THe “very different physiology” argument is just a huge crock of shite!
MArÃa: “OK, if you say that NEVER a child with ASD can have HM poisoning I disagree respectfully with you.”
I have never said this.
I am saying that mercury poisoning and autism are two different things, and neither (according to internationally recognised diagnostic criteria) bears any resemblence to the other….
Mr Andrews
You say
This has been nowhere near shown to be correct, though. And in any case, the physiology is never THAT different!
Please read the papers I posted in KEv´s forum about how ASD children are different from birth from the biochemistry, the immune system and , as Mrs Clark presented over and over, from the brain structure. Please read about recent post from KEv about different brain chemistry in ASD..
THe “very different physiology†argument is just a huge crock of shite!
Because your selection of words is so evidently unrespectful for me, I prefer honestly to stop our exchange. It is evident that you are not interested about I have to say.
This is the kind of situation that makes me think seriously to stop posting.
Sincerely
MarÃa Luján
MarÃa,
I have consistently tried to tell you what is actually known, as opposed to what is being supposed by many people, but you have shown me the disrespect of turning around things I say (eg, MArÃa: “OK, if you say that NEVER a child with ASD can have HM poisoning I disagree respectfully with you.â€) into something I have never said.
Evidently *you* do not have any intention of listening, and this intention has been there for some time. I, on the other hand, will listen and/or read something that merits my attention. However, things you have come up with are mostly not from reputable sources, and people have repeatedly pointed this out to you.
Don’t, however, stop posting and then say it’s on my account: you are responsible for you own decisions. If you have something useful to say, or something new from reputable sources, by all means tell me. But don’t expect me to listen to things I have seen and read and heard before… it is just wasting my time.
You tell me that I have been disrespectful, but you have failed consistently to modify what you say as a result of anything I say; and in fact, you have managed to completely twist what I say too… can you really not see that your own behaviour suggests that you are not here to trade ideas, but to convert people?
And then you wonder why people do not stay seemingly calm with you… very odd.
Mr Andrews
First, I never have had the intention to convert to anyone. Second, you can ask to anyone with who I have interacted here (Jonathan ,Bart, KEvin, Mrs Clark, hollywoodjaded), never he/she has understood that way. Third, I apologize if you feel that way. Because english is my second language, sometimes I ask things to be sure in the name of clarity. I am sorry if you feel that as disrespect , because it was not my intention.
Four, I am prone to learn but I feel you dismiss my ideas without serious consideration and you consider them a waste of time
Sincerely
MarÃa Luján
Ms Clark said “I would like to add that : no one appreciates the time I put into the dancing and spinning chemistry models!”
I do, I do… I love them, and cannot imagine how much work they must take!
David wrote:
“Evidently you do not have any intention of listening, and this intention has been there for some time. I, on the other hand, will listen and/or read something that merits my attention”.
– David, Maria actually does listen to “your side”… She is very open to your ideas. The fact that you do not recognize this is quite telling.
– Sue M.
KC posts to a thread = thread turns to quagmire. KC gets banned again.
I’m now bored of having to deal with the fall out of KC’s ego-rants so this latest incarnation is now also banned.
Can we *all* please try and avoid telling others to shut up? I don’t want _anyone_ to feel unsure of posting because of the response they might get.
Thank you HN. I suppose the last one of Versene doing a disco step thing took an hour. You open up the 3D model thing through pubmed, move it in little steps, take about 10 – 12 stills with a screen shot thing, open up photoshop, copy each still photo and paste it as a “layer” in photoshop, mess with it a little, save it as an animated gif, check to see how it “moves”, mess with it some more.
I was fishing for a compliment, basically. Thanks for giving me one!
The funny thing about telling people to “shut up” on the Internet is the absolute control one has over reading or not reading any particular person’s posts. I have never ever gone to Kevin 777’s blog and I have never- as a consequence – posted a comment there, and I’ve never e-mailed him. So he can avoid “hearing” me really easily.
OK, shutting up now. 🙂
SueM: “David, Maria actually does listen to “your side  She is very open to your ideas. The fact that you do not recognize this is quite telling”
Um… I refer you to this, as just one example:
“MarÃa: “OK, if you say that NEVER a child with ASD can have HM poisoning I disagree respectfully with you.â€
I repeat- I have never said that.
She cannot possibly be listening to me and/or taking note of what I say if that is what she comes back with. Basically a straw man fallacy.
What is it about the following pair of statements that is so bloody hard for anyone to actually understand?
*Statement 1*: I think it is quite possible for an autistic child to get heavy-metal poisoned, should that child ingest sufficient heavy-metal content for that to happen.
*Statement 2*: I do not, however, accept the myth that autism is mercury or any other heavy-metal poisoning of any sort.
*Clarification*, although this should not be needed here: Between these two statements is a whole world of difference. But, in her re-statement (actually a straw man fallacy… and this is why it is so important to be aware of- and avoid – them, SueM) of my repeated position on this matter, it is clear that MarÃa has not been attending to what I have said.
The fact that you don’t recognise this tells much about your objectivity, Sue.
David
Oh – and, Sue, I refer you to the response I gave (yet again) to MarÃa:
“I am saying that mercury poisoning and autism are two different things, and neither (according to internationally recognised diagnostic criteria) bears any resemblence to the other….”
This is a statement of fact, empirically derived, and based on the work of an international task force of researchers and reviewers. Admittedly, it is not ideal, but it is agreed internationally. The whole autism=mercury-or-some-other-heavy-metal-poisoning thing has a life of its own basically only in the United States, where the main concern of the health care system is the making of profits (unlike in the United Kingdom or in Finland, as two examples, where the health care systems are government run). Corporate America is the backdrop for the likes of Buttar and the doctor who killed Abubakar. Had that child died in the UK, the doctor would now not even be allowed to sweep up in a hospital, let alone practice medicine in one.
David wrote:
““MarÃa: “OK, if you say that NEVER a child with ASD can have HM poisoning I disagree respectfully with you.â€
– David, what’s the issue? Maria is saying IF you say this than she RESPECTFULLY disagrees with you. You didn’t say it, ok. Great. Part of the problem may be with the fact that English is not Maria’s first language. Why jump down her throat about it. Geesh, I can see why you would want to attack me, but Maria? Come on.
– Sue M.
SueM: “Maria is saying IF you say this than she RESPECTFULLY disagrees with you. You didn’t say it, ok.”
So… why say “if” I say it, when I’m obviously not (and it must be obvious, since I have been saying my position very clearly on this issue for months!).
I am also aware of second-language difficulties, since I deal with people every day whose first language is either Finnish or Swedish, and they get what I say after maybe a couple of times, amd I also deal with them in Finnish. And it never has to reach this sort of situation.
Fact is… if someone takes care to read/hear carefully what I say, then this sort of situation does not arise. When people actively twist what I say, or set up a straw man argument (which, even by what you say, is what she did!), then I’m not likely to be happy about having my words or my argument twisted so.
SueM: “Geesh, I can see why you would want to attack me, but Maria?”
If you look, and read properly, you’ll see that I wasn’t even attacking MarÃa! If you’re as objective as you’re making yourself out to be, you’ll see what it was that was going on.
You’re not interested in that, though. Are you?
No?
Thought not.
i THINK IT IS SO SAD THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF THESE CHILDREN WHO ARE SO DESTROYED BY THESE MERCURY VACCINES THAT IS IS SAD. i KNOW FIRST HAND THAT THIS IS WRONG TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THESE CHILDREN DIED DUE TO CHELATION THIS HAS BEEN DONE FOR YEARS THERE ARE DOCTORS WHO DONT KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT THISE KIDS WHO TREAT THEN WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT OF A GOOD INTERVENTION AND ITS PEOPLE LIKE THIS WHO SPREAD THIS CRAP THAT DONT CARE ABOUT THE KIDS WHO HAVE LOST MOST OF THERE LIVES DUE TO MERCURY POISONING THAT WELL INFORMED PARENTS ARE SAVING . GOD BLESS YOU FROM A PARENT WHO IS SAVING HER SON AND ON THE ROAD TO RCOVERY.
ALSO I AM SORRY AFTER READING SOME OF THESE E MAILS THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN MERCURY AN AUTISM WHY HAS THE CDC AND THE GOVENERS OF STATES SWORN TO REMOVE MERCURY OUT OF VACCINES IF THERE IS NO PROBLEN MERCURY IS A NEURO TOXION AND WHAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT PLEASE REPLY.
WHO EVER MARIA IS SHE NEEDS TO GET OFF HER PEDESTAL BECAUSE SHE IS WRONG I SUGGEST THAT SHE READS UP ON THIS OR GOES BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN DONT HAVE THE SULFIDES TO EXCRETE THESE METAL AND THERE FOR CAUSES A insult on the immune system read up Marie so you can discuss this intellectuality
just a foot note if you want to discuss this privetly its dobug 91 @aol.com
Coming frome someone who hasn’t quite mastered the complexities of the CAPS LOCK button, that means allot.
KATHY = JAT (just another troll)
Nice AOL handle – it serves you well.
While I disagree with Maria on several issues, the last thing anyone can say about her is that she needs to go read some more. She is a highly educated and well-read parent and scientist.
If you truly want to discuss the science on an “intellectuality” level, then head over to the science forum, but beware, neither troll behavior nor arrogant ignorance are tolerated. In short, you’ll have to rise to the occasion.
http://www.kevinleitch.co.uk/forum/index.php
Hi Kathy,
I am curious how you intuited Maria’s educational ability and her status as a critical consumer of autism research? Your statements do not seem to be grounded in either accuracy (She is a scientist and a voracious reader of autism research) or logic (you don’t seem to have sufficient background information about her to logically conclude the things you did).
To answer your other points….
I doubt anyone here, thinks mercury is a great thing to end up in any human. Most or maybe all of the people here also don’t mind the removal of thimerosal from vaccines (As long as vaccines are still used). However, there is a certain illogic that roughly goes like this:
1. Mercury causes bad things to happen
2. A type of mercury was/is part of the vaccine
3. My child is autistic
4. Ergo, the mercury did it
The conclusion, is a stretch from the premises, in a way the does not necessarily follow. No one here will deny that mercury is a neurotoxin, what we question is its contribution to autism.
I would guess that the CDC and State Governors (and Legislatures) are removing mercury due to the lack of trust advocated by certain parent groups on this issue; it is certainly not due to supportive epidemiology or controlled trials of chelation.
Two children and one adult appear, to have died due to their doctors using an unsafe chelating agent, I will take the position that in the most recent case, this was merely physician error. All of the same, this was one Hell of an error. It seems like a really bad idea not to acknowledge this fact.
I am not sure how one could stroll onto a site that advocates acceptance and positive image of autistic persons and conclude that the contributors are interested in making a mock of such persons, but I am sure, that this was an interesting experience.
Recent posts about me from Mr Andrews and Kathy really surprised me. Even when we are all allowed to have our ideas about some issue, to have a productive exchange especially about one with so many controversial points, enough information about other people, especially if think different, is needed. Not only the scientific background, because of the importance of science and research in autism, but also the kind of person that the other is. In this sense,guessing of intentions or supposed lack of knowledge, without information about the kind of person the other is or the scientific background that has is simply incorrect, ill-based and the worst, is offensive. I do not consider myself in a pedestal, Kathy. I am a parent of an autistic child, as many, and a scientist since several years ago. I am deeply interested in all the aspects of what autism is. I have also tried to combine the better aspects of the biomedical with the neurodiversity ideas to give my son the best he deserve and to be the best mother I can. That´s all. I have a personal point of view-science and research based- that I tried to present as an alternative to the current positions. My point-different to both positions- is that mercury, HM and environmental insult can have a negative impact in children born different –and we can call them autistics from birth because of their genetics- but not produce autism in a NT child, born without the genetics of an autistic child.
I have been aggraviated here, as a person and as a scientist. Because I refuse to engage ( and I will to) in any conversation when the respect is lost I will let my conduct and my demonstration of interest in civil, respectful and productive exchange of ideas with all people of both sides of this controversy to speak themselves. I invite then to Mr Andrews and Kathy, who did not answer my e-mail proposing civil exchange of opinions, to read my posts in BC blog, W.R blog and Kev´s forum. Because this is Kev´s blog and in respect to him and the other posters I propose to contact me for e-mail for further comments. I want to say thank you Sue M, Jonathan and BC by their words about me.
MarÃa: “Recent posts about me from Mr Andrews and Kathy really surprised me.”
Really? Why?!
MarÃa: “I invite then to Mr Andrews and Kathy, who did not answer my e-mail proposing civil exchange of opinions, to read my posts in BC blog, W.R blog and Kev´s forum.”
I have not received at this stage *any* e-mail from you…. how can I reply to an email I have not been sent? Or at least have not received?!
MarÃa: “I want to say thank you Sue M, Jonathan and BC by their words about me.”
Jonathan and BC are nice people, but don’t let SueM’s siding with you fool you… she has a problem with me being as direct as I am towards her and so she’s using you to score a few self-esteem points… To be honest, MarÃa, I do have a lot of respect for you (in fact, it is SueM I have no respect for, especially now after her latest pile of rubbish!), but not for your references, I’m afraid. I go with the science. Sorry if that aggrieves you… but I am a scientist. Not a speculator. I am also a practitioner. I deal with people every day whose second or even third language (after Finnish and Swedish) is English. And I am very well understood by them. I teach them, as part of my profesional work as a psychologist.
Fact is: we don’t have this mercury thing going on in Finland. It’s not really taken hold in the UK. And there is a reason why, and it is this: there is no validity in the argument that mercury poisoning and autism are the same thing; there is no validity in the idea that mercury can cause autism; there is no validity in the argument that physiological differences can make mercury cause autism in anyone… the science says this… what is your issue with that? Teel me, and I’l try to address it, but please do not try to tell me that it does. Because the science is very clear on this.
It doesn’t.
That is: “Tell me, and I’ll try to address it,”
Typing too fast because I’m up at 4am to get my 6am lift into Helsinki, where I am teaching….
… about Rational Emotive Thinking.
Mr Andrews,
Only for clarity, I am a scientist, too, not an speculator. I think you misunderstood me.
I propose you to continue the exchange out of Kev´s blog, if you do not mind. I will contact you if I can by email. BTW, I did not get your e-mail but Kathys one. I invited you to read my previous posts.My reference was to her about non-answered mails. I thought that you were not interested in any exchange of opinions with me- I understood that way- and I am sorry but I did not notice any respect from you.
MarÃa Luján
i just got your email maria and i am glad to address any questions you have i dont need a private forum i do think these kids need chelation and i do think that Mercury plays a big role in autism its genetic and i do believe that vaccines are not the only problem but certainly not the only problem i am not out to discredit any one but the help solve this problem and together we can so lets keep giving our opinions and together we can help to solve this but please don’t misunderstand me i am a mom with a child on recovery and chelation diet and supplements are the way i am doing this. thanks Kathy
Kathy,
I’m not sure how you’ve come to think mercury plays a big role and why your child “needs chelation” but when you use terms like “these kids” it gives the impression you are talking about all autistic children in general which may include my children. If you’d like to offer your opinion that your child’s autism was caused by mercury, go right ahead but I’d like to know why you feel qualified to talk about my children?
I appreciate that you are trying to solve the problem and help poor autistic children everywhere but your story sounds an awful lot like the stories I hear from so many other chelation proponents. ” i am a mom (dad) with a child on recovery and chelation diet and supplements are the way i am doing this.”
So I understand, your child hasn’t recovered but is recovering? Why does that sound so familiar? If by recovering you mean improving great. I’m very glad to hear that. Can you quantify this recovery in some way and tell us how you know it was brought on by one or any of the various “biomed” interventions or how you know your child was mercury poisoned?
Dear clone by no means do i think autism is solely caused by mercury certainly that is one of the triggers but not the only one and i have been in the psych field as a nurse for over 20 years i also have a ABA license through Bancroft in new jersey to help kids including my own for home based programs which i have been doing for the last 15 years. I am also a case manager for the residential school and program we have here for autism. I was there when my son reacted to each and every vaccine he received and went to the CDC in 1994 with follow up labs and research i did with Dr. Leslie in immunology at Harvard where we got funding for a research project for 30 children to have igg infusions which is the plasma protein components of the blood to boost the insults on the immune system. which could be told with i igg panel. i dont speak for any ones child i dont know but for the children i do know i do. I work with a lot of agency’s and foundations i wish your children the best and they are lucky to have a mom like you who cares . I dont expect you to take what i say to be etched in stone that was not my mission i just wanted parents to know there are other options out there. yes my son is recovering he lost all speech by 3 he also became violent and destructive he now is calling me mom and very calm and smiles he seems happier and i thank god for that.
Maria i did try to email you it said invalid recipient i cant email back some one i cant reach. It was nice to meet you and take care.
Dear Kathy,
Thank you for listing your credentials. Bancroft must be very lucky to have to have so few qualified ABA therapists.
I’m afraid I still don’t see why you think mercury was a cause or trigger in your son’s case or others. If you saw a reaction to each and every vaccine he received, he is obviously sensitive to a component of certain vaccines. Did your doctor recommend further vaccination given the obvious reactions? Did your doctor suspect it was the thimerosal component?
I am familiar with IVIG but I haven’t heard of it’s use in mercury poisoning. I don’t know why you would want to boost the insults on the immune system but I guess a Harvard immunologist would know best. I also didn’t realize that an IgG panel could be used to diagnose mercury poisoning so I guess I’ll have to take your word for that.
I must commend you, clone: You were able to comprehend much more than I. Does your brain automatically insert missing punctuation; spacing; paragraph breaks? I wish mine did – it would be so helpful.
I think clone reads ancient Hebrew, they didn’t have punctuation or vowels, and I think the spaces between words were not that helpful, if I remember correctly. It gives him a real advantage with non-standard posts and spelling which I have been know to indulge in myself.
Chinese can be read in columns top to bottom and right to left, or in the more western style, in horizontal lines, either going left to right or right to left.
PS, my saying that clone reads ancient Hebrew is not my way of making a racist remark. (it’s so easy to be accused of being a biggot around here – one gets nervous)
PPS, Some of my best friends are Chinese. So far, none of them are noticing an “autism epidemic” caused by vaccines made in the U.S.