Before the Daily Mail article, I'd seen the interview on Today and read the article at their website. 
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31502540/?GT1=43001

I'd also been aware of the late, great Sandy Allen, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Allen who had gotten a lot of stick about her own body size and shape.  But she made a point to not let it keep her down.  In fact, she'd been a strong positive person, and had helped kids learn that it's okay to be different.  I was particularly impressed on her outlook on one interview, saying that she thought most people made jokes and nasty comments to "cut her down" so they wouldn't feel so small next to her. 

Education World article on her here.  http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr004.shtml

My heart and prayers go out to Tanya Angus.  She seems rather down about her own situation.  I hope she'll get the cures and help she needs, and meanwhile will take heart, see the good examples, and try to be positive. 

Any way we can reach Tanya and let her know we're rooting for her?

No, I'm an American teaching English here.  Twitter's been allowed again, BTW. 

Still, the way the hosting gum'mint carries on with controlling the media the way it does, I'm doubting they really ought to bother learning another language. 

I'm afraid Twitter's not an option for me.  I had considered joining it earlier, but I was afraid that soon as I did... something like this would happen:

http://www.danwei.org/net_nanny_follies/twitter_domain_blocked_in_chin.php

Sadly, I was right.

And I'm afraid it's delaying the loading of this forum, as my browser waits for a feed that's never going to come.

Also, no YouTube since March.  I know, it's time to move, but who's hiring?

Thanks muchly, Alex.

I hadn't forgotten it at all.  The thing is, I'd volunteered for a 5-way pay-it-forward thing over in deviantART, and I owe 4 more short stories before I'm "free and clear" to do my writing.

Also, Cheery Cherry had been monopolizing my attention as well.  Hope you can be patient, and enjoy the other stuff I've written there in the meantime.

Thank you very kindly. 

I did it!  I FINALLY DID IT!

It took me a while, but I FINALLY completed my very first pictorial piece of muscle-girl fan art!

And of course, it was of everyone's favorite Uberbabe, Tetsuko. 

And since everyone knows I'm such a crossover crazy lout, I threw in a shout-out to the web cartoon Homestar Runner.

Click the link to dA and check it out!

Hey, guys, I checked at lunch from the office just to make sure... and surprise, surprise, it's back in again.  Double-checked it at my computer in my apartment... and yes, I can go into it with all the bells and whistles, no worries. 

Not quite 100% relieved... I've still got the pall hanging over that these twits might pull the plug again some day.  All I can do now is use it and appreciate it whilst I got the time.

And announce the writing freeze is now thawed.

It's not just them.  Since the Olympics are over, it seems the Powers That Be don't have to even try to keep up appearances anymore.  The Net Nanny's going rabid.  Even the New York Times has been blocked out. 

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/16/asia/17china.php

Wouldn't surprise me at all if it did "protectionize" things for a local party-liner, though. 

And while I can reach Brawna... my writing's gone into other things.  I've discovered that (gasp!) there's more to write about than large females.  Looks like I've outgrown it.  (How's that for ironic?)