TED - Aimee Mullins

Aimee Mullins and her 12 pairs of legs

I absolutely loved listening to this speaker, actress, and model. She was truly inspirational.

She talked about disabilites and how people are trained to look away from her legs. However, Aimee challenged that. In fact, she DARED people to look at her legs. She wanted to people to not only accept her...but her legs too. They were truly part of her.

To this date, Aimee has 12 different pairs of legs. She owns some fleshy life-like legs, wooden ones (which she wore in a fashion show and everyone thought they were just wooden boots), and ones with black heels that add 6 inches to her frame - making her stand at 6'1" tall!

She feels that with every change of legs, she changes her avatar a little. Her legs provide for her an almost super-hero feel. Each pair has a different superpower - whether it was sex appeal or beauty or athleticism.

She is an speaker. She is an actress. She is a model. She is an activist. She is a rolemodel. She is a superhero. She is all of these things... but she is not disabled.


"I mean, people -- Pamela Anderson has more prosthetic in her body than I do.Nobody calls her disabled." - Aimee Mullins


Check it out at: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics.html

RiggedByRob (with comentary by TheElleWay)

"We live in a great time to be weird about what you like."
(True, which is why I am open about my obsession with Shamu.)

"I like to combine words together like its german or something."
(Don't we all? Isn't that how JK Rowling got rich? I mean, Hufflepuff? Really? That's gotta be german.)

"I like to cry: I think it's a good release."
(Yes...my grandma says this. and my aunt. and my mom. and my communication professor? Why not.)

"I'm trying to be revolutionary here..."
(Nothing more revolutionary then onesies. I tell you that right now.)

"Who is for the legalization of marijuana? Who is against it? Who's baked right now?"
(Weed = bad. Legalization = bad. Asking students about being high: funny.)

"I don't care what Chiquita says about her bananas! I like cheese pizza!"
(I believe Chiquita just got shut down. Insert cymbal crash here!)

"You're lucky you don't look like how you do in the mirror..."
(Moral of story? Mirrors lie. Just look at what it did in Shrek.)

"I wasn't gonna eat the baby."
(I don't remember the conversation. But I hope to God it wasn't based on a true story.)

"I don't believe in being a jerk."
(Me neither. Does anybody?)

"How can I be a 21st Century teacher when the Flinstones made my computer?"
(Fred Flinstone called. He wants his computer back.)

"Even the Canadians think we're idiots...And they're CANADIAN!!"
(I seriously think the Canadians are plotting to take over the world. I bet Celine Dion is leading that pack.)

"I don't like those "Guess how many jellybeans are in the jar things." In fact, they should be guessing how many jellybeans I want! If you guessed "one handful of jellybeans", you are correct!!!"
(If you guessed that I want you to bring jellybeans to the final, you are also correct.)

"There is a koala infestation in my apartment."
(Monthly rent: $850   Monthly food costs: $350    Housing a koala farm: Priceless)