The purpose of this post is not to give any useful information, but to use information to make an interesting point.
First, the information: There are two basic ideas about how things came to be. One is that they just did, the other is that someone made them. In the first theory, the diversification of species is explained through macroevolution -- that "natural selection" or, rather, the weaker dying and the stronger living on to reproduce, brought about species progressively better suited to their enviroments. Man is the latest new and improved version. In the other way of looking at things, man was made to be the master of all the animals, blessed with a perfect body in a world that was good. Either way, the question may well be posed:
"Why could we possibly think it is better to put pieces of manufactured leather, plastic, and synthetics on our feet instead of just using them as they evolved/were created?
Man is the best thing so far produced, says the evolutionist. His feet must therefore be the product of all those billions upon billions of years added to our world's age to give more throws of the dice for mutation and random occurances that defy entropy.
Man is made to be the master, says the Creationist. God made man perfect and good, with perfect, masterly feet.
So, why wear shoes?
From the evolutionist's viewpoint, there is not a satisfactory answer. Perhaps we are in the midst of evolving, so that our feet aren't quite the best, like they should be. It is surprising, though, that there are so many animals that walk in bare feet without too many problems, while man needs shoes.
From the Creationist's viewpoint, there is one glaring reason that our feet need shoes: We fell from goodness and perfection, became messed up, and were cursed to fight against the thorns to get our living from the land. Thorns can sure hurt a foot. Shoes are a great idea, and make sense.
So that's why we should wear shoes. But don't be too quick to assume that man knows better than God -- we should be very careful when we hear about new, revolutionary shoe technology, that we don't jump into the shoes without looking first, to make sure they actually work better than our well-designed feet.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Shoes News: The Big Deal
Here's the most important thing for you to know.
Most shoes are not going to do good things to your feet.
Generally, dress shoes, sandals, and classic shoes are bad. Classic shoes are what most people think of when someone says "sneaker". It is a shoe made by a company that makes athletic shoes, but has stripped all its technology out of a shoe, put in basic cushioning, and called it a classic. Dress shoes, sandals, and classics give your foot a very small amount of cushion, and nothing else. High-heeled sandals and dress shoes are even worse.
There are some sandals and dress shoes that use custom cork, running shoe cushioning, or molding insoles to provide better cushioning. They are still not as good as having the right running shoe.
A running shoe looks like a sneaker, or even a classic. Running shoes are categorized as follows.
Neutral: Made for someone who does not have overpronation or supination (underpronation). It gives relatively good cushioning and shock absorbtion, through gel, thick EVA, SPEVA, ABSORB, waveplates, "pearls" or some other technology. This is a good, cheaper, lighter, running shoe.
Cushioning: This is almost the same thing as a neutral shoe. The words can be used interchangeable. A cushioning shoe, however, typically has a lot of cushioning. It uses the same technologies, and is a good shoe for someone who has a flat arch, supinates, or has a high arch (but does not overpronate).
Stability: A shoe that has a medial post (a portion of the inside sole that has thicker, denser material), or some other stability technology. Stability helps overpronaters arches from flattening too much. This helps them not turn their ankles or knees too much, and guides the foot into a good toe-off.
Motion Control: A stability shoe souped up. Typically heavier than a stability shoe, with a massive medial post, the motion control shoe is for a serious overpronater. It gives lots of stability, which could also be called motion control.
Most shoes are not going to do good things to your feet.
Generally, dress shoes, sandals, and classic shoes are bad. Classic shoes are what most people think of when someone says "sneaker". It is a shoe made by a company that makes athletic shoes, but has stripped all its technology out of a shoe, put in basic cushioning, and called it a classic. Dress shoes, sandals, and classics give your foot a very small amount of cushion, and nothing else. High-heeled sandals and dress shoes are even worse.
There are some sandals and dress shoes that use custom cork, running shoe cushioning, or molding insoles to provide better cushioning. They are still not as good as having the right running shoe.
A running shoe looks like a sneaker, or even a classic. Running shoes are categorized as follows.
Neutral: Made for someone who does not have overpronation or supination (underpronation). It gives relatively good cushioning and shock absorbtion, through gel, thick EVA, SPEVA, ABSORB, waveplates, "pearls" or some other technology. This is a good, cheaper, lighter, running shoe.
Cushioning: This is almost the same thing as a neutral shoe. The words can be used interchangeable. A cushioning shoe, however, typically has a lot of cushioning. It uses the same technologies, and is a good shoe for someone who has a flat arch, supinates, or has a high arch (but does not overpronate).
Stability: A shoe that has a medial post (a portion of the inside sole that has thicker, denser material), or some other stability technology. Stability helps overpronaters arches from flattening too much. This helps them not turn their ankles or knees too much, and guides the foot into a good toe-off.
Motion Control: A stability shoe souped up. Typically heavier than a stability shoe, with a massive medial post, the motion control shoe is for a serious overpronater. It gives lots of stability, which could also be called motion control.
Shoes News: Basics
Well, first we had better all get on the same page. This, as opposed to my last six posts, is actaully on a serious topic, and I really do have some useful things to say. I'll try to stick to what is the consesus about these topics, and make it known if I am jumping out on the somewhat unstable limb of my own reasonings and thoughts.
I will assume you all know what a sneaker, dress shoe, sandal, and boot are. But here's some definitions of slightly harder words.
Tennis Shoe: Most people mean "sneaker" when they say this, but, while all tennis shoes are sneakers, not all sneakers are tennis shoes. There are only a few dedicated tennis shoes made, as in "shoes made to play tennis in".
Casual shoe: Not what it sounds like. This is a casual, as opposed to a dressy, dress shoe. It is not a sneaker, boot, or anything like that. It is a lower-end dress shoe.
Slide: A sandal you slide your foot into, that has no pieces that go between the toes.
Last: A model that shoes are built around, determines lengths and widths of the inside of the shoe. Most brands only have a few lasts. This means that one shoe of brand _, size _ may fit you, while another of brand _, size _ does not.
A: narrow ladies width.
B: medium women's, narrow men's width.
D: Medium men's, wide women's width.
W: Men's wide (E), women's wide (D)
E: Men's wide
Adding numbers in front of the A or E means double, triple, quadruple narrow/wide depending on the letter and number.
pronation: The natural rolling in of the foot and flattening of the arch when the foot strikes the ground.
Supination: The foot rolling out during a stride.
Overpronation: Rolling in...too much!
I will assume you all know what a sneaker, dress shoe, sandal, and boot are. But here's some definitions of slightly harder words.
Tennis Shoe: Most people mean "sneaker" when they say this, but, while all tennis shoes are sneakers, not all sneakers are tennis shoes. There are only a few dedicated tennis shoes made, as in "shoes made to play tennis in".
Casual shoe: Not what it sounds like. This is a casual, as opposed to a dressy, dress shoe. It is not a sneaker, boot, or anything like that. It is a lower-end dress shoe.
Slide: A sandal you slide your foot into, that has no pieces that go between the toes.
Last: A model that shoes are built around, determines lengths and widths of the inside of the shoe. Most brands only have a few lasts. This means that one shoe of brand _, size _ may fit you, while another of brand _, size _ does not.
A: narrow ladies width.
B: medium women's, narrow men's width.
D: Medium men's, wide women's width.
W: Men's wide (E), women's wide (D)
E: Men's wide
Adding numbers in front of the A or E means double, triple, quadruple narrow/wide depending on the letter and number.
pronation: The natural rolling in of the foot and flattening of the arch when the foot strikes the ground.
Supination: The foot rolling out during a stride.
Overpronation: Rolling in...too much!
Foot Jiggling VI: A few special classes
Super-twiner: Begin with the stylish cross. Then, pass the top foot underneath the back of the bottom leg. This excruciating position allows little motion, but sometimes helps to strech the muscles during long car trips, and the author believes it would be highly effective if utilized by girls to express uncontainable happiness...so long as they could get their legs untangled.
Typing Off the Bow: My sister Hope discovered this secular jiggle position. Thank you, Hope! First, sit at a desk with a keyboard. Then, Raise one leg and place it on the desk somewhere behind and to one side of the keyboard. Raise the other leg so that it passes between the two typing arms. If it is the right/left leg, it should touch, but not apply pressure to, the inside of the right/left forearm. Place this leg atop the other. Jiggling the bottom leg in this position is almost impossible. However, jiggling from the ankle on the other one may very well cause the entire desk to shake unnerving all in the near vicinity. Plus, typing around your legs just looks cool.
Indian style: This jiggle pattern requires a large flat surface, probably a floor, to sit on. Cross your legs indian-style, a jiggle from the hips with your knees. Drumming on thighs and calves is also effective. A very relaxed, jiggle-and forget position.
This concludes this sobering topic. Foot jiggling is not for the faint of heart, but it's benefits are many, including stimulated cardio rates, muscle exercise and relaxation, meditative concentration, and frustration of enemies.
Not legal in all states. Foot Jiggle at your own risk. Surgeon General's warning: Foot Jiggling may cause severe brain, heart, nervous system, and/or ligament damage. Do not foot jiggle if you are on any doctor prescribed medication, have any history of heart or mental problems, or are pregnant.
Keep away from children.
Typing Off the Bow: My sister Hope discovered this secular jiggle position. Thank you, Hope! First, sit at a desk with a keyboard. Then, Raise one leg and place it on the desk somewhere behind and to one side of the keyboard. Raise the other leg so that it passes between the two typing arms. If it is the right/left leg, it should touch, but not apply pressure to, the inside of the right/left forearm. Place this leg atop the other. Jiggling the bottom leg in this position is almost impossible. However, jiggling from the ankle on the other one may very well cause the entire desk to shake unnerving all in the near vicinity. Plus, typing around your legs just looks cool.
Indian style: This jiggle pattern requires a large flat surface, probably a floor, to sit on. Cross your legs indian-style, a jiggle from the hips with your knees. Drumming on thighs and calves is also effective. A very relaxed, jiggle-and forget position.
This concludes this sobering topic. Foot jiggling is not for the faint of heart, but it's benefits are many, including stimulated cardio rates, muscle exercise and relaxation, meditative concentration, and frustration of enemies.
Not legal in all states. Foot Jiggle at your own risk. Surgeon General's warning: Foot Jiggling may cause severe brain, heart, nervous system, and/or ligament damage. Do not foot jiggle if you are on any doctor prescribed medication, have any history of heart or mental problems, or are pregnant.
Keep away from children.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Foot Jiggling V
Back to the classes:
Pretzel: In this class, not for the faint of heart, one leg, the top leg, is held naturally, straight out, bent straight down, and jiggles from the toe. The other leg, the bottom leg, extends straight out, is bent back in under the top leg so that it is pancaked between the seat and the top leg's thigh. This leaves the bottom foot protruding to rapidly twist back and forth. The pretzel is great for whacking your feet on things and making them sore. Please not that those whose knee joints occasionally become partially out of socket may want to refrain from this jiggle, as should those prone to muscle cramps.
Stylish Cross: A jiggle with an attitude, the stylish cross begins with one leg out and bent down to the floor, leaning to the inside, with the other leg draped over its knee. This allows the bottom to keep a beat with its toe while the top wiggles its way to fame. Rapid leg reverses bring even more attention to this ostentatious jiggle. This jiggle may cause uncomfortable sweating where the two legs sit on top of each other, so it is reccomended for the cooler months.
Holding Feet: This is only a slight modification of the Classic. Both feet are extended out, angled outward, and fold inward. The bottom leg touches down on the toe, the top leg goes behind it, with the front of the top ankle resting over the heel of the bottom foot. This jiggle, if used excessively, may lead to rashes or blisters, but it allows for rubbing bone dual-rythym, and bounces the knees in sync with the jiggle.
Pretzel: In this class, not for the faint of heart, one leg, the top leg, is held naturally, straight out, bent straight down, and jiggles from the toe. The other leg, the bottom leg, extends straight out, is bent back in under the top leg so that it is pancaked between the seat and the top leg's thigh. This leaves the bottom foot protruding to rapidly twist back and forth. The pretzel is great for whacking your feet on things and making them sore. Please not that those whose knee joints occasionally become partially out of socket may want to refrain from this jiggle, as should those prone to muscle cramps.
Stylish Cross: A jiggle with an attitude, the stylish cross begins with one leg out and bent down to the floor, leaning to the inside, with the other leg draped over its knee. This allows the bottom to keep a beat with its toe while the top wiggles its way to fame. Rapid leg reverses bring even more attention to this ostentatious jiggle. This jiggle may cause uncomfortable sweating where the two legs sit on top of each other, so it is reccomended for the cooler months.
Holding Feet: This is only a slight modification of the Classic. Both feet are extended out, angled outward, and fold inward. The bottom leg touches down on the toe, the top leg goes behind it, with the front of the top ankle resting over the heel of the bottom foot. This jiggle, if used excessively, may lead to rashes or blisters, but it allows for rubbing bone dual-rythym, and bounces the knees in sync with the jiggle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)