Drawn to Trains, a Well-Traveled Fanatic Is Back in Trouble

The New York Times ^ | June 15, 2004 | MICHAEL LUO

[Servant of the 9]

Uh-oh. Um, ahem. UNIX geeks maybe. Yeah, that's it...

If you still have CP/M Technical Manuals in the back of the closet, or articles on Tiny Basic or Forth, you're busted.

SO9

[NYCVirago]

I've read several stories in the past about this guy. It's incredible how much he knows about the trains. Also, part of the reason as to why he has been so successful at doing these things is by befriending others who actually do work for the transit authority.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Would that be CP/M 80 or CP/M 86 ?
And I did give away every issue of Micro Cornucopia!

[Incorrigible]

Sheesh! Talk about an ever widening spectrum!

[truthkeeper]

My grandson, 6 1/2, has mild autism and has been totally obsessed with trains for years. I understand this is very common.
Interesting article, thanks for the ping.

[dead]

I actually remember this guy from his very first arrest when he was fifteen. Front page of the NY Post, of course.

I really hope he can get the help he needs. From everything I've read, he's a sweet guy, with some issues.

The doctors and the mental health professionals are still trying to get up to speed on people like him. I have no doubt that people like him can have their problems controlled and channeled in a way that will make them productive members of society. Perhaps exceptionally so.

That level of understanding will probably arrive too late for this guy, unfortunately. I just hope he can stay out of jail and find a way to be happy.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I've never heard of the specific terms "Asperger" or "little professor" syndrome before.

There was a good overview in a Newsweek (?) or Time cover on Autism this spring. Anyone reading this thread who is curious might want to seacrh those sites.

Autism is also interesting, as are brain injuries, because they give us a window on something that is very poorly understood, compared to other physiology: brain development and function.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F