the vineland test

[John.Hamill at vuw.ac.nz]

I just saw a little programme on the tube today about the Vineland
test, which is, apparently, not a quiz about tom's book but a way of
measuring the gap between a child's "social abilities" in contrast to
its "day to day" living capabilities.  It is used to identify autism
in children.  

That I should have found out this on the "tube" is perhaps
worrying enough, and that my first thought that I must be way out in left
field (is this some sinister baseball metaphor... what is it about left 
field anyway.... a question from a non american almost baseball illiterate) 
brings the point to a crisis... so I break my silence 
... is the issue of mental illness in Vineland just another of these 
maybe-not-so-kute-this-time korrespondences?