What's the coolest thing you own?
Discussion
My antique railway clock. Not this one, is a stock image, but it's near identical. Mine's boxed up at the moment whilst we renovate some rooms. I've always loved anything watch and clock related, and dad loves anything to do with the railways.
He bought it tatty and restored it for me to perfect, as a present for my 21st. That to me makes it very cool.
He bought it tatty and restored it for me to perfect, as a present for my 21st. That to me makes it very cool.
alorotom said:
Agree on the perspective ... Out of sheer curiosity do you choose the shoe size or is it dictated by other things??
Sorry about the sideways...don't know why pics upload that way.The prosthetic leg comes with an alien's 'foot'. You get asked what shoe size you used to take and they make a prosthetic human foot of that size that fits onto the alien foot. Then you stick a sock on it and then select a pair of shoes from your shoe rack. Most folk use trainer-style shoes. But the idea is that you can get to use your own shoes (rather than tossing them all in the bin) which is why they ask you for your size.
drainbrain said:
Sorry about the sideways...don't know why pics upload that way.
The prosthetic leg comes with an alien's 'foot'. You get asked what shoe size you used to take and they make a prosthetic human foot of that size that fits onto the alien foot. Then you stick a sock on it and then select a pair of shoes from your shoe rack. Most folk use trainer-style shoes. But the idea is that you can get to use your own shoes (rather than tossing them all in the bin) which is why they ask you for your size.
Makes sense and brings back an element of the previous 'normality' as well I'd assumeThe prosthetic leg comes with an alien's 'foot'. You get asked what shoe size you used to take and they make a prosthetic human foot of that size that fits onto the alien foot. Then you stick a sock on it and then select a pair of shoes from your shoe rack. Most folk use trainer-style shoes. But the idea is that you can get to use your own shoes (rather than tossing them all in the bin) which is why they ask you for your size.
Thanks for the explanation, it's something I've wondered for quite a while now
Doofus said:
Are they electric? Which part is electrified, and what happens if the battery goes flat?
The 'knees' are microprocessor controlled. But the whole prosthetic is a system of 'intuitive' sensors and gyroscopes etc. The pic shows them 'on charge' which lasts about 5 days. Plenty of warning beeps and flashes if the batteries are running low. And if they were to die in use I suppose I'd just fall down on the pavement and phone someone to come and get me.
Here's a link to data about them:
http://www.ottobock.co.uk/prosthetics/lower_limb_p...
My Tuscan and Cerbera and a signed cap by Martin Lilley are up there.
A German dinner knife my dad gave me rather surpasses them though due to its story.
The Commandant of the Prison he was in kindly exchanged my dad's Commando fighting dagger for the dinner knife. It has a stainless blade and aluminium handle embossed with the swastika.
A German dinner knife my dad gave me rather surpasses them though due to its story.
The Commandant of the Prison he was in kindly exchanged my dad's Commando fighting dagger for the dinner knife. It has a stainless blade and aluminium handle embossed with the swastika.
Nanook said:
InductionRoar said:
I agree coolness is subjective, but some things are just so macabre that they polarize opinion - a bit like collecting Nazi memorabilia. In my opinion anybody who has kept a souvenir from their first kill ought to be on a register of some description.
A register? I think that's a bit of a hysterical point of view. Do you feel the same about people that take a picture with fish that they catch?
Killing an animal for necessity is one thing and killing for fun is another. Keeping a souvenir from your first (which suggest there have been more) kill suggests the latter. Killing for fun is certainly not "cool" regardless of your perspective.
I stand by my comment. A register of people who kill for fun would no doubt prove a useful tool.
My Grandfather Trooper George James Haywood of the 25th Dragoons:
Thankfully survived Burma but never applied for his medals (like many he returned with, he just wanted to forget about the experience and certainly didn't want rewarding for it). I wrote off and received them 4 years ago:
They will go up in cool factor once our house refurb is complete and they can be mounted and displayed, rather than being kept in the safe.
Thankfully survived Burma but never applied for his medals (like many he returned with, he just wanted to forget about the experience and certainly didn't want rewarding for it). I wrote off and received them 4 years ago:
They will go up in cool factor once our house refurb is complete and they can be mounted and displayed, rather than being kept in the safe.
I try to get both sides of the hunting argument, if you had been brought up in a culture of generations of hunters then your first kill shell will be important and therefore cool. I also get it if people hunt to eat, I do not get hunting to kill and leave or mount as a trophy but do try to understand that all cultures are different.
We would end up with a pasting and prison if we bragged about getting our 13 yr old girlfriend pregnant, in some cultures you would get a pat on the back. Disgusting to me and I would throw the first punch but if we lived in a remote jungle it may be just normal.
We would end up with a pasting and prison if we bragged about getting our 13 yr old girlfriend pregnant, in some cultures you would get a pat on the back. Disgusting to me and I would throw the first punch but if we lived in a remote jungle it may be just normal.
drainbrain said:
The 'knees' are microprocessor controlled. But the whole prosthetic is a system of 'intuitive' sensors and gyroscopes etc. The pic shows them 'on charge' which lasts about 5 days. Plenty of warning beeps and flashes if the batteries are running low.
And if they were to die in use I suppose I'd just fall down on the pavement and phone someone to come and get me.
Here's a link to data about them:
http://www.ottobock.co.uk/prosthetics/lower_limb_p...
Do your stumps get sore?And if they were to die in use I suppose I'd just fall down on the pavement and phone someone to come and get me.
Here's a link to data about them:
http://www.ottobock.co.uk/prosthetics/lower_limb_p...
Could you run in them?
What are they like on uneven terrain?
Lot's of things able bodied people would take for granted that are more difficult no doubt. I don't suppose their is an "off he shelf" set as there are not "off the shelf" reasons you need prosthetic limbs.
I'm also wondering about whether you could ask to be taller.
I've a very distinct memory from primary school when a friend's uncle came to collect him at the end of the day. He was wearing black driving gloves (and drove a mk4 Granada iirc) and I'd made some comment along the lines that I too had an uncle.
'Yeah?, well can your uncle do this?' He said, uncoupling his false hand from his wrist and throwing it to me.
As a 6yr old, detachable action man style hands were super cool.
I've a very distinct memory from primary school when a friend's uncle came to collect him at the end of the day. He was wearing black driving gloves (and drove a mk4 Granada iirc) and I'd made some comment along the lines that I too had an uncle.
'Yeah?, well can your uncle do this?' He said, uncoupling his false hand from his wrist and throwing it to me.
As a 6yr old, detachable action man style hands were super cool.
Willy Nilly said:
Do your stumps get sore?
Could you run in them?
What are they like on uneven terrain?
Lot's of things able bodied people would take for granted that are more difficult no doubt. I don't suppose their is an "off he shelf" set as there are not "off the shelf" reasons you need prosthetic limbs.
1)YesCould you run in them?
What are they like on uneven terrain?
Lot's of things able bodied people would take for granted that are more difficult no doubt. I don't suppose their is an "off he shelf" set as there are not "off the shelf" reasons you need prosthetic limbs.
2)Some people do, but with a different type of socket, and these days more commonly on blades.
3)A learning experience
Camber, gradient, stairs and certain terrains are tricky. Matter of endless practice, mostly just getting out there and doing it.
To a certain extent they are "off the shelf" but they are set up differently for every individual. And of course sockets are all individually tailor made too.
Incidentally AFAIK I'm the only geriatric DAK in UK using prosthetics without any other walking aids. Traced another one in Texas, but as far as we know we're the only two. He says we should pester the Paralympic Committee to start a Geriatric (over 65s) DAK category. But he's only saying that coz he thinks he'd win.
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