Director Kevin Smith was in the news, the latest in a string of  passengers Southwest Airlines judged as too big for one of their seats.  To help sort out the controversy and look at effective solutions we will be joined by Bill Fabrey from the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, Inc. Bill helped found the Council in 1991, along with seven others, and has served as a director since that time.  Bill has been an advocate for size acceptance since 1969 when he founded NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance). His interest in human factors engineering relates to the fact that as a retired biomedical engineer, he has a special interest in how people, especially larger people, can be helped (or hindered) by technology. Such information as increases in the size and weight limits on medical imaging devices (such as MRI’s), or mobility products such as scooters or wheelchairs, or the availability of office chairs and other furniture with higher size and weight limits, and so forth, always catches Bill’s attention.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS. You’ve seen them chatting in the galley, you’ve seen them give each other knowing looks, you’ve had them tell you to put away your electronic devices and stow your tray tables. You know they perform a mysterious “cross check” at certain intervals. You’ve seen them flirt with the passenger in 3C, and reprimand the guy in 17D who hasn’t turned off his cell phone. You’ve seen them depart and arrive at the airport in vans.  Here is your chance to find out about their glamorous and hidden lives. We are joined by Sara and Bobby, hosts of the hit podcast The Crew Lounge.  Once you have had a taste for their wit, snark and inside information you will want to make sure to tune in each week to their shows.

We have the honor of hearing from Ellen Simonetti , aka “Queen of Sky”  In 2003 Ellen started her blog:  Queen of the Sky: Diary of a Dysfunctional Flight Attendant as a form of therapy after the loss of her mother to cancer. In addition to describing events of her life, Ellen also described travel abroad, mainly Europe and South America, while working for Delta Air Lines. With practical information on worldwide travel described in a quirky, irreverent tone, the blog developed a considerable following. In late 2004 she was suspended and then fired after Delta Air Lines objected to her posing for photographs on a company airplane and commentary on her blog. Ellen subsequently renamed her blog Diary of a Fired Flight Attendant.

These events became emblematic of the issue of employees’ rights to communicate their own views of their work and workplace versus employers’ rights to restrict them. There was considerable media coverage of Simonetti’s firing and the freedom of expression issues involved. Simonetti advocates:

1. that employers should have clear, unambiguous blogging policies, so that employees can foresee the potential for disciplinary action, and  2. that the penalty for a first offense should be a formal warning rather than dismissal. We will get an update from Ellen and find out how her life has changed since she left Delta.

Raymond, our European Correspondent, joins us live from his home in The Netherlands to give his take on this week’s topics, news and views.  Follow Raymond on Twitter@Raymondstar.

JOIN US LIVE AT 1 PM EST. Call in with your questions and comments. When the show is on air you will see a “click to talk” button. You can also call the show by phone or Skype by dialing (917) 889-3203

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