Ford fattens computer models
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Size Acceptance
According to http://ergoweb.com/Ergoweb, the models, which are used in the design of the passenger area of Ford’s vehicles, are “chunkier” than previous models, to allow for “a bigger belly and wider hips.”
The company recognized it is harder to sit in a car if the steering wheel feels too tight, the seat seems a little too narrow and there is not enough room for the legs.
Thank you, Ford! Dare we hope that other car manufacturers, maybe even (gasp!), airlines might follow suit?
Tags: airlines, car manufacturers, common sense, Design, Ford, manufacturing, travel
I’se a student! But still a crip, too
Posted by Cyn | Filed under College, Education, Health
Well, I’m officially in school and off to a running limping start.
I made it to my statistics class on Tuesday, but only after a nasty fall. I was only about 20 minutes late, and the professor was more than understanding. I was utterly lost for the first part of the class, but by the end of it I felt very comfortable. I can do this.
My body took over on Wednesday, though. I slept all day, despite alarms and phone calls. Seriously–I did not wake at all until after 2:30 or so, and I believe that was because my bladder and need for pain meds finally won out over the need for more rest. So much for the weekly blood test appointment at 11. I didn’t get much homework done through the rest of the day, either, though I did try. Hopefully eating the whole day is enough to appease the fibromyalgia demon.
So today has been given over to doing all of the week’s assignments for tomorrow’s course, Comp100. That’s the “learn to use Windows, Word and Excel” class that’s required for everyone at this school. I’m really annoyed at having to take it at all. There are lots of little assignments, and while I know this stuff inside–out even makework takes time.
Right now, I’m taking a dinner break. I deserve that much.
The biggest challenge of that course (other than following the *exact* directions rather than doing things in more efficient ways) is that the textbook is too bloody big and heavy. I had problems with that at my last school, too. I need a serious bookstand, because holding these big texts really is a physical challenge for me. They’re increasing my pain, which makes it hard for me to focus on reading the assignments.
In happier news, my admissions “advocate” called me today to tell me that the transcript evaluators had revised their opinion of my credits and given me another 13 credits! So I’m another semester closer to graduating. I think that puts me fairly close to senior level, which means more financial aid eligibility.
Katie and I have fallen into a pattern of doing our homework together every day. That’s nice, and it helps a lot with my missing the time we spent together homeschooling.
I’m hoping that I can get caught up and stay there by the end of this weekend, and then have time to breathe and do fun things again. This is just a half-time schedule, so I really need to build a lot more stamina before I try to add two more classes next semester!
You know what I want? A trike. Really. A great big trike with a nice big basket. I think I could ride to school near as fast as I could get there on MARTA. I might have to spend the night there before I could ride back home, but give me some time and surely I’d build up some kind of constitution again. Eventually.
I know how to ride a bicycle, certainly, but my balance has gone to heck thanks to the FMS and I don’t recover from falls well, so I’ll give in and ask the universe for a three-wheeler. Surely they’re less expensive than the scooter I need, right?
Tags: Homeschooling, school, tricycles
Spain bans unhealthily thin models
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Feminism, News, Size Acceptance
In a very unpopular move, Spain has banned appearances by fashion models who’s body mass index is too low.
Italy is considering following suit. The language in the legislation makes it clear that the purpose of the ban is to encourage healthier media images, due to the growing incidence of eating disorders diagnosed every year.
Frankly, I can’t begin to imagine the U.S. government even considering that kind of legislation. We do have a freer press here (on the surface, at least), but that doesn’t explain all the differences.
Tags: BMI, body image, eating disorders, fashion, Feminism, girls, healthier media images, Italy, models, self-esteem, Spain, U.S. government, women
“School days, school days, good old golden rule days”
Posted by Cyn | Filed under College, Education, Geekery
Is that how the lyric goes? I know, I can Google it. I should be in bed. If I get anywhere near a lyric archive, I’ll get sucked in and there’s no promise that I’ll get any sleep at all!
That’s important, as I have my first class tomorrow! It should really be something that I could sleep through, honestly, as the school insists that I take “Computer Applications” in preparation for my other courses. Despite the fact that I have used the MS Office suite for years (well before it was a suite), and have trained countless others to use Word and Excel, I haven’t had any formal training in using the applications. Because I can’t show any college work that proves that I can use the applications, I have to take the course, like everyone else.
I’m trying to think of it as an easy A, but that never works out on these things that I feel I should be able to comp. Did you know that if you know a program so well that using keyboard shortcuts is second nature to you, the computerized tests used by temp agencies and the like will decide that you don’t actually know the software very well? They’re looking for an exact series of mouse clicks, not the keyboard shortcuts. I have this dreadful fear that the course will use computerized testing in this course, and there will be problems like that.
Anyway, on a brighter note, after I’ve taken that class, I’ll be able to log in and start work on my other class’s assignments. It actually started Tuesday, but I wasn’t enrolled ‘til Wednesday. The school’s computer systems don’t officially “know” a student ‘til she has swiped her student ID through the attendance whatsis in a classroom at least once. Very frustrating — I’ve been trying to get in to that system since I was registered, and nobody actually figured out why I couldn’t do so ‘til late today. I’ve yet to get anyone to tell me how to contact the professor, either, as the idea of just talking to the human (and I assume there is one) to ask about assignments seemed an outrageous notion in that world of ultra-computerization.
The other class is definitely going to stretch me. I’ve never taken a statistics course before. It’s been, um, nearly 20 years since I took ANY math class. Please don’t tell me any hellish stories about that subject, as I’m nervous enough already. If, however, you understand this stuff are willing and able to help me, for goodness’ sake, speak up! Any help is much appreciated!
I’ve still got to go through the joy of working with the disabilities office. I did meet the coordinator, though, and she seemed downright friendly. That was such a shock that I could hardly remember the questions I needed to ask her! (Good argument for always writing them down ahead of time.)
I am going to have to upgrade my computer, as every course at this school is partly online. The minimum technical requirements start with a processor and video that put my much-loved little laptop to shame. I’m unclear as to what they’re expecting to do with all that power — it isn’t as if my major is one that involves CAD or anything of that sort — and I’m rather annoyed. The geek in me, of course, is thrilled — but the rest of me says, “We can’t afford that!” It’ll mean going back to a desktop, most likely.
It isn’t as though my parents were paying the first time around, so they aren’t going to help now, either. Anybody wanna adopt me to send me to school? You’ll get the world’s most marvelous granddaughter, and she’s old enough that you wouldn’t be asked to babysit, even.
Yes, I’m only taking two classes. I’m trying to be more reasonable about pacing and taking care of myself this time. Maybe I won’t end up with pneumonia again 🙂 And to that end, I’m off to bed now.
Tags: accommodations, DeVry, disabilities, Excel, math, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, statistics, testing, Word
Kyoshi — with flowers!
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Critters
As you can see, he enjoys the finer things in life, like flowers. Especially if he’s permitted to maul them.
The Animals Won
Posted by Cyn | Filed under News
Katie is a bit too old to be a Steve Irwin fan, so we were spared most of that craze. Not all of it, of course, since we don’t live in a media blackout and we are exposed to the current kid culture via other friends’ kids.
Still, I always found the guy more than a few fries short on his Happy Meal. And what the hell did those critters do to him? I mean, they’re nasty, yes, but does he need to brandish them on television repeatedly? What was he teaching his viewers? Bullying? Have there been any cases of children being hurt by trying to replicate his stunts? (I don’t care how many times anyone says “don’t try this!” We all know that somebody, somewhere, will.)
And that crocodile/baby thing. Why wasn’t there as much media coverage about that as about Michael Jackson dangling his kid over a balcony? Was the man absolutely crackers? (I’m not talking about Michael Jackson, as I don’t have any doubts regarding his lack of sanity.)
Germaine Greer said all of this better than I have, but she’s the first person I’ve ever heard criticize Irwin in any significant way in a major publication. Granted, I wasn’t following him closely — but did the man have to die for critics to be heard?
Would he still be alive if he’d been darted with Risperdal on a regular basis? Maybe a little less of a celebrity, but sanity is worth some sacrifices. I think he would have been a better role model had he been less of an extreme risk taker.
I do feel sorry for his family, certainly. I know from experience that you can never truly be prepared for the loss of someone you love. Still, if I were his wife I would have been on edge all the time fearing that I’d get the call telling me that his luck had run out.
Tags: animals, Australia, crocodiles, Germaine Greer, media coverage, Michael Jackson, Steve Irwin
Quote of the day, happy half hour
Posted by Cyn | Filed under CYLC, Home, Parenting
“We worry about what a child will be tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” — Stacia Tauscher, quoted in The Change Your Life Challenge by Brooke Noel.
One of Noel’s suggestions is to have a regular “happy half hour” with your family. Set up fresh fruit or other health snacks, pour cups of juice or some sort of drinks they like, and set apart that time for everyone, kids and adults, to connect in a positive way. No “must do” talk, no downers, no complaining — just good stuff. Encourage each other, express your gratitude for each other and the good things in your lives, share your joys, and catch up with each other.
Tags: Brooke Noel, Stacia Tauscher
In Dallas? Wear your seat belt!
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Civil Rights, News
She had no idea what was yet to come.
That seat belt ticket – the only blemish on her driving record – would result in a harrowing three-day stay in a crowded holding tank at the Dallas County Jail last week without a chance to see a lawyer, bail bondsman or judge.
This comes a year after Dallas County insisted that they’d fixed the problems that led them to lose one man for 15 months due to similar paperwork problems. Yes, 15 months.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Ms. Dobbs will get a lot of support from the federal government in any case against the county in Bush’s America. After all, she lives in what was recently Bush’s Texas, and it hasn’t changed much since he was in charge there, has it?
Tags: America, Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas County Jail, federal government, Lancaster High School, seat belts, Texas, Theresa Dobbs, traffic ticket
Empowered by a microphone
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Geekery, Podcast
I gave myself a gift today: a headset with my very own microphone for the podcast.
It isn’t as fancy as the one that I was using, which is my partner’s Very Nice (read: intimidating) microphone. That one, though, sits on the desktop on its own stand. I know this sounds pitiful, but I have trouble staying within proper range of it, because my voice is soft. I have to lean over and up from the chair I’m in, and even then I end up feeling as if I’ve had to nearly shout to record a podcast, which takes far more energy than simply speaking normally and is very stressful, to boot!
That removes one of the main barriers to getting podcasts out on a regular basis. The next is that Sam produces the show for me, but he has a full-time job and is much busier than I am outside the home. Do I dare release the show unedited, brain fog effects and all? What do y’all think?
Tags: energy, headset, invisible disabilities, microphone, podcasting