tingilinde

fitting in

Our friend Colleen is approximately tall.  She also has an extremely positive and enthusiastic outlook even though much of what most of us take for granted just doesn't fit.

She recently posted a piece on her blog illustrating a few common activities that are challenges.

This raises some interesting design issues.  In the US many products are designed to fit "most" of the population where "most" usually means anyone from the 5th to the 95th percentile - sometimes the range is from minus two sigma to plus two sigma.  Towards the limits the concept of fit goes out the window and, of course, airliners are not close friends of hers.

For someone seriously outside normal size ranges, custom design is possible as are simple hacks.  I'm curious about this sort of thing and any suggestions of hacks for someone of Colleen's stature are always welcome.  Colleen-i-fying a bit of the world for her. 

a test video posting

This is from Coney Island last July and is not exactly shot well or even edited.  testing as they say.

The tall blonde woman with the pony tail is Colleen.  She is now hatching a very neat environmental project that concentrates on fun and joy rather than gloom and despair.

a bit over two months 'til the holidays - homemade gifts

Soon several holidays will be upon us and with many, an expectation of spending frantic time rushing around to use incantations from a piece of plastic to find gifts that hopefully will work out.   Some will and some won't, but another approach is to spend time making gifts or having gifts made that may be a better fit.  

This takes some discipline and it is unlikely you can do it for many.  A close friend in San Francisco and I have been doing this for several years.  Expectations are high on both sides and it would be wrong to not spend a lot of time thinking and creating.  Many of my creations fall short and both of us slide the due dates, but many of the gifts have been very special - amazing in fact - the sort of thing you remember and treasure. Such is the stuff of gifts from the heart.

I can't recommend doing this for kids.  They'll probably enjoy making a few things for others, but in general their expectations involve commercial store bought loot.  

You can be very creative as to the type of gift when it is personal.  Last year a friend put together suggestions and updated it recently.  Take a look...

This sort of thing isn't impossible, but you do need time and that means starting soon  The main point is there are people who will value you for your time and your thoughts about them rather than your money. For most people the only thing standing between them and a project like this is the tv.

happy birthday mom!!

Happy Birthday!

a pie or a cake perhaps...

happy birthday colleen!

Happy Birthday Colleen! 

Having a birthday on one of the best meteor showers of the year is a nice trick

pedal pushing

An announcement from Colleen

She is all leg and arm and  happens to be too tall* for a normal bike, so Trek has agreed to  design and fabricate  something that will be a perfect match for her frame and needs. 

Getting a bike that fits your frame and your transportation needs is important.  This one will haul her stuff including a few volleyballs or a carrier for her rat terriers Daisy-Mae and Zula.

This is great for her as there is nothing like a practical bike that actually fits.  It will be great for Trek as she gets a lot of attention and will be promoting their products and the idea of getting fitted for the right bike.  It is neat seeing someone other than a bike racer promoting bikes as a practical way of getting around.

If you are looking into a new bike remember to get something optimized for your needs - a multi-thousand dollar racer probably doesn't make sense if you are riding to the store and commuting to work.  Once you have figured out what type of bike you need you should visit a competent bicycle shop to be fitted.  

Two people of the same height can have very different requirements in frame size and type and seat and handlebar types and positions - for starters.  If you walk into Target or WalMart you can find a bike that sort of fits, but getting a good fit may be difficult.

We've dealt with Trek's fitting process and were impressed.

It is very unlikely you will require a custom design like Colleen, but watching the project unfold in her blog will be interesting.  

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* The  Coney Island clown's finger is at forty six inches in this photo.  At over six feet six inches tall, she turns out to be tall enough for all of their rides.

happy birthday corinne!

Happy Birthday to my favorite sister!

when place influences behavior

Coney Island is extremely kitschy - almost to the point of nailing the artform.  There are times when you need to give in and go with the flow.  Sadly the cyclone wasn't running, but the ferris wheel was and the place was crawling with carneys.

Doug celebrates strange places at roadsideamerica.  If you are looking for something appropriate for that tacky 12 year old in you...

(the cameras on phones are generally terrible, but they are handy)

happy birthday jheri!

Have a great birthday!  I hope you can be in one of your trees today and find enough chocolate cake.

happy anniversary sukie!

I am very lucky you have put up with me for so long!