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Sir Gibler
11/14/09

In reply to How To: Make Windows 7 Play Nice With All Your Gadgets
not to complain but i spy two typos and im not done yet. "In some ways, Windows 7 is actually better on Windows 7 than it is on OS X." "but it's you only choice."
make that 3 "And if you third-party PMP does have a syncing app,"
ugh 4 "won't have been update for Windows 7."
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Edited by Sir Gibler at 11/14/09 3:52 PM Sir Gibler was starred Sir Gibler was unstarred

Digo
11/10/09

In reply to 15 Improbable Bionic Upgrades to the Human Body
for some reason I can't view some of them, the pictures don't load when I click on them (broken link?). Anyone else having issues? #photoshopcontest
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Digo
11/10/09

@Digo: just checked back again, the issue seems to be fixed now. #photoshopcontest
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
11/10/09

In reply to 15 Improbable Bionic Upgrades to the Human Body
Great Scott Doc Brown! #photoshopcontest
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BeyondtheTech
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
I always wondered about short and long-term impact effects on the end of an amputated limb against the prosthetics, especially the Ossur ones. I remember watching old TV shows and movies of people running marathons and their limbs would bleed and ache, and collect a pool of blood inside the cup of the prosthetic, and I can only imagine the pain they were going through. #aimeemullins
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AkkiRonin
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
The comments about high heels are curious. I'm a guy, and have no experience wearing them. But I'd always viewed them as (a) modifying height or (b) affecting/drawing attention to calves. I'm not sure how those drivers apply with you. What drives you to wear heels or heels of different heights? #aimeemullins
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Toastie
11/10/09

@AkkiRonin: I would imagine that it still lifts her buttocks, not to mention that high heels can help her feel more feminine. Sure looking like a cyborg is awesome, but sometimes one might just want to blend in to some degree. #aimeemullins
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AkkiRonin
11/10/09

@Toastie: Doubt it affects the bum since that's due to the displacement of bones etc. Might though. Might be the more feminine. I'm asking out of curiosity not recrimination.

I do wear glasses which are basically a primitive eye lens prosthesis. I have one pair and they are pretty plain, but I chose them carefully for how they looked. So clearly yes there's a fashion component to any prosthesis.

Heels specifically got me curious is all. #aimeemullins
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Shamoononon: I shave my legs.
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
I had a co-worker with a prosthetic leg. We were traveling too shortly after 9/11 and it was quite an ordeal for him too. #aimeemullins
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The Lab
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
My mother works with veterans at a CA VA hospital. The veterans of the current conflict often get a number of different prosthesis, each for a different purpose much like you described. However, veterans who lost limbs during other conflicts do not get the same treatment and are mostly stuck with the "stick with rubber foot / hook" variety of prosthesis. This is apparently purely for political reasons: to make the current conflict less distasteful to the public. Considering our proximity to Veteran's Day, I thought it important to raise awareness of this unjustifiable inequality. #aimeemullins
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bluzuner
11/10/09

@The Lab: As a disabled Vet from the current war, I applaud you for pointing this out. I will, however, take issue with the "this is apparently purely for political reasons" statement. Although it's a nice dig, it's for economic reasons.

Tell your mother thank you. And thanks to Aimee for a fantastic article. #aimeemullins
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The Lab
11/10/09

@bluzuner: Good to hear from you, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

I'd like to hear more about why you think this disparity in treatment is based in economics. It seems like a soldier who needs a prosthesis should have the same options, no matter which conflict he / she served in.

My statement that the treatment disparity is based on political considerations is not a dig at the current or former administration, how could it be when both republican and democratic administrations have allowed it to occur? I am just recounting the accepted opinion of the VA medical staff and, after hearing about the issue myself, my own opinion.

I just can't see how it is an economic choice to have one soldier with three or four sets of advanced prosthetic legs while another soldier gets only one basic set because he served in a different conflict.

Again, thanks and I'll pass along your remarks. #aimeemullins
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bluzuner
11/10/09

@The Lab: Where to start?

I agree completely with you regarding the disparity between what Vets who served in previous wars have available to them versus those injured in the current conflict.

I'm not sure that the opinion of the VA medical staff counts for much in this instance. I don't mean that in a bad way (to be honest, my care at various VAs has been wonderful). But VAs come in way down the line. Prosthetic decisions are made at Walter Reed by Army doctors. After a year or more, you'll then get to a VA. By that time, you may nave 2 or 3 sets, but the VAs I've been to aren't equipped for making changes to them, and certainly aren't equipped to offer the services Walter Reed has for current patients to older Vets locally.

I'm not sure I should have said that economics were the reason for this. I should have said that bureaucracy is. To take the current prosthetic wing at Walter Reed, make it's services available at VAs nationwide, offer those services to those who fought in previous wars.....well, good luck with that. You and I might think that it's just wrong to offer it only to the current gen, but when it takes literally 2-and-a-half years to just get my retirement payments to me, to ask for them to go out of their way.....well, you get my point. When it comes to military health care, and VA health care, "speedy" and "easy" are words that simply don't mean anything.

I will say it's getting better. But the govt doesn't do anything real fast. Health care for vets is getting better. But other than those that were recently injured, health care isn't getting faster. I don't think I'm making real good sense here. But it simply isn't a political type of decision. It's a "govt bureaucracy" lack of decision. #aimeemullins
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The Lab
11/10/09

@bluzuner: Thanks for taking the time to spell it out. I've hit the level where I have no more first-hand information to contribute so I'm going to defer to your experience.

Oh, one last thing. The VA medical staff is under orders to respond to requests made by veterans of the current conflict in a more urgent fashion than requests made by veterans of other conflicts. I was assuming requests for prosthesis fell under that rubric but it makes sense that they were probably disbursed in the early stages of care at Walter Reed. Needless to say, not all of the staff follows this directive.

The slow bureaucracy is unfortunate and I've heard some staggering numbers about the ratio of mental health profestionals to soldiers. Given the large numbers of soldiers with PTSD and now diagnosable pre-PTSD, it is something to keep an eye on. I don't want to assume anything about your situation but soldiers often wait too long to seek help. Take care of yourself, your health is our legacy. #aimeemullins
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fredcadete
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
I'm sorry, ashamed and appalled after hearing about your bad experience in Portugal (probably the Lisbon airport, practically next door). I thought things would be more polite in those cases, although I have never been in that situation.

In case it happens again: point to your legs and say repeatedly "Prótese" (pronounced something like "Proh-teh-zeh"). If it doesn't work, try sepaking in (very) slow English. I'm sorry, but the fluent English speakers in Portugal can afford to pick better jobs :S

Great article bu the way. #aimeemullins
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Digo
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
What were your first prosthetic legs like, and did you ever draw on them like casts? I just always wondered about a kid's take on prosthetic limbs, with all that imagination surging through them and all #aimeemullins
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kyre
11/10/09

In reply to Is Choosing a Prosthesis So Different than Picking a Pair of Glasses?
I am a biomedical engineer, and have always thought of glasses as a prosthetic. Interestingly enough, the more common a prosthetic is, the less the general public is to apply that term (hearing aids, eye glasses, dental restorations).

Of course, as an engineer, I am aware of the market forces that cause the disjoint in perception of some prostheses against others. Glasses are so much more common that it makes sense for such a large industry to spring forth from their use, while limb prostheses are a somewhat more limited field.

There is something to note here, however: while better prostheses should absolutely be covered by insurance, even in the realm of glasses insurance coverage can be very limited (and usually under a rider or additional plan anyway). Even if style choices are available, most insurance coverage is limited to fairly basic style, materials, and features.

This could be an argument about the state of insurance coverage in the US in general. Quality of life is hardly considered, with most insurance giving people just what they need to stay alive. I think many people in medical professions agree, however, that proper improvements to quality of life can lead to lower medical costs in the long run. The "just getting by" attitude of medical funding lacks the long term vision that makes sense when considering procedures that will change lives for decades to come. #aimeemullins
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AkkiRonin
11/10/09

In reply to Introducing Our Guest Editor: Aimee Mullins
My son had a heart condition as a child that was going to basically define his life. An experimental procedure, taking just one day in the hospital, completely permanently rectified it. He's gone on to be very physical and healthy person. Looking at things like this woman or my son you can't help but be inspired. #aimeemullins
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Jeb_Hoge
11/09/09

In reply to Introducing Our Guest Editor: Aimee Mullins
"Standing between a slender 5' 8" to 6' 1"—depending on her particular mood"

Great photo aside, this is what got my attention. She can swap out leg lengths like some of us swap out shoes. That's amazing. #aimeemullins
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met2art
11/10/09

@Jeb_Hoge: I definitely agree, but then again, just about all women have had this advantage for quite some time. The choice of wearing high heels varying from 1" up to 6" is commonplace. #aimeemullins
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ninjagin
11/09/09

In reply to Introducing Our Guest Editor: Aimee Mullins
Okay, so she's an amputee. Fine. Athlete? Check. Not to seem the spoilsport, but I'm hoping that she'll bring some perspective on topics outside of those two personal attributes. #aimeemullins
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Curves
11/09/09

In reply to Introducing Our Guest Editor: Aimee Mullins
Welcome aboard, Aimee. We are a motley (and mouthy) crew, but I have every confidence you will enjoy your stay with us this week while we learn about advancements in biotechnology. #aimeemullins
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