Feeling sorry for your self?

[DAllen]

It seems there are a lot of people in the world who feel sorry for themselves. They mope around and whine about how the world is against them. Read this:

https://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3159645

Some epic quotes:

"I think my advantages equal my disadvantages. It's kind of up to me to figure out what I need to do to win."

"But everybody else was doing it and I figured I could do it, too," he said. "I don't see having one leg as a disability. I feel I can do whatever I put my mind to."

Wow.

-Dave

 

[sylvie369]

This one is a kind of fun version of the same idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus

 

[chanstevens]

Try either of these presentations by a no-legged runner, describing how she started getting into serious competition.

The bit in the first one where she describes competing in the paralympics is hillarious (I won't give away the punchline).

https://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/aimee_mullins_on_running.html

Above is from 1998, when prosthetics were still pretty low-tech. Below is a follow up presentation at same conference about 10 years later.

https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics.html

 

[Rocket Al]

Try either of these presentations by a no-legged runner, describing how she started getting into serious competition.

The bit in the first one where she describes competing in the paralympics is hillarious (I won't give away the punchline).

https://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/aimee_mullins_on_running.html

Above is from 1998, when prosthetics were still pretty low-tech. Below is a follow up presentation at same conference about 10 years later.

https://www.ted.com/talks/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics.html

Hey!! I know Aimee! Those cheetah legs she talked about were one of the projects I worked on whilst in L.A. for the Cremaster cycle (along with the opticallv clear urethane legs). i must say, she was quite the smoking hottie...

 

[abw]

Hey!! I know Aimee! Those cheetah legs she talked about were one of the projects I worked on whilst in L.A. for the Cremaster cycle (along with the opticallv clear urethane legs). i must say, she was quite the smoking hottie...

Is it possible to create prosthetic legs that would actually increase speed/efficiency compared to normal human legs? Say, a system of pistons, shocks, rubber bands that would increase the "bounce" and propel a person further? I know that there are basic problems to address before that, like getting the artificial joints to work properly, but hypothetically, would it be possible?

 

[UfO]

Is it possible to create prosthetic legs that would actually increase speed/efficiency compared to normal human legs? Say, a system of pistons, shocks, rubber bands that would increase the "bounce" and propel a person further? I know that there are basic problems to address before that, like getting the artificial joints to work properly, but hypothetically, would it be possible?

No pistons, shocks or rubber bands needed...

https://www.engadget.com/2008/01/17/prosthetic-limbed-runner-disqualified-from-olympics/

 

[chanstevens]

Is it possible to create prosthetic legs that would actually increase speed/efficiency compared to normal human legs? Say, a system of pistons, shocks, rubber bands that would increase the "bounce" and propel a person further? I know that there are basic problems to address before that, like getting the artificial joints to work properly, but hypothetically, would it be possible?

Yep--big controversy last year before the olympics about a sprinter with piston prosthetics, banned because they gave him an "unfair advantage".

In fact, check out both videos I linked earlier--in the first one she describes how folks felt sorry for her (no legs) even though as far as she knew she was normal. In the second, 10 years later, she describes how someone was truly jealous of her "disability". And yes, she is a smokin' hot babe...

 

[HyperSpeed]

A good friend of mine now has lost both of his legs from the knee down due to diabetes.

About 2 years ago, one foot of his started to break everywhere from the bone weakening. It got pretty bad and infected and they felt the need to amputate. Well, just about 4 months ago the other foot became badly infected and they had to amputate that leg also. After the worst of the worst, he felt a sore on his back and got it checked out last week. The doctor found that it was melanoma.

This guy has to be the strongest person mentally I have ever known. I was over there yesterday talking with him and never does he frown about anything which has happened to him nor think negatively about what is possibly in store for him. He pushes himself to do as much as he would do with both legs and still talks about the hunting trips he has planned to accomplish. He has two prosthetic legs and he gets around quite alright when he's out of the wheelchair.

I'm not sure how this latest event is going to turn out, but I really hope he can pull through the skin cancer. Nothing has slowed him yet and he has given me more insight towards having a disability than anyone I have crossed paths with. If I ever think something is going bad for me, I think about this guy and how he handles life.