You Kneed to be Barefoot

There’s another study out on what most shoes do to feet, and specifically the stress that gets transmitted to the knees. Najia Shakoor, who’s been the lead investigator on other similar studies, Walking barefoot decreases loading on the lower extremity joints in knee osteoarthritis, and Effects of common footwear on joint loading in osteoarthritis of the knee, is also the lead investigator on this one.

It shows that training in what they call “mobility shoes” (designed to mimic barefoot walking) can lessen the stress on the knees even when regular shoes are then worn.

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How Judges Cheat – Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I reposted an example of how judges cheat by simply ignoring what the law says, and not following the rules of judicial construction. Today I’m going to give examples from my own cases that show a way of cheating that never shows up in the published opinions. Unless you are able to read the briefs of the case, there is no way to know what the court’s opinion left out (though sometimes you can find that if a dissent is written).

I lost my appeal in my lawsuit against the Fairfield County District Library, with the opinion being issued on December 14, 2011.

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There Really Is a Reason . . .

I’ve written before about how I play tennis barefoot. But I’ve also written about how, while barefoot hiking builds up the soles, barefoot tennis tends to wear it down.

So, what ought I do when I’m preparing for a hiking trip?

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Make Like a Tree . . . And Leaf

Yesterday, of course, was Earth Day. So I spent most of my day in direct sole-to-soul contact with the Earth. (And, if truth be told, a bit of time in butt-to-butte contact during a rest break.)

It was an 8-mile barefoot hike at Tar Hollow.

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I Like the Unpath Best

When I wrote about The Old Ways, by Robert MacFarlane, it included a small bit from Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain.

I thought I’d write some more about her book.

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Colorful Characters — Harmon Ligon

Here’s a story from the summer of 1943.

It was apparantly quite popular as filler since it was picked up by quite a few newspapers at the time.

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April Dapples Bring May Apples

I made my way out to Alley Park on Wednesday.

Spring has Sprung, the Grass is Ris. I wonder where the Flowers Is.

Well, there they were.

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They Don’t Know Why — They Just Know

There’s a new commercial out for American Airlines for their lie-flat seats in First and Business class.

And the commercial depicts the passenger violating their Contract of Carriage.

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O’Meara O’Vencha Hike: Spring

I’m still catching up from the weekend. On Saturday I went on another of the monthly Adventure Hikes with John O’Meara, the Executive Director of Columbus Metro Parks. Spring is finally arriving (or at least pretending to arrive) in central Ohio.

And that meant there really aren’t any more issues about whether it’s too cold to do the hike barefoot.

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Dennis and Doggie-Doo

Saturday’s Dennis the Menace had a bit of barefoot commentary, so I thought I’d say a few things about it.

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Octagon Open House

I’ve written before about the marvelous earthworks centered in Newark, Ohio. The Great Circle Mound is located just off Route 79 on the border with Heath, Ohio. And then there is the huge Octagon Earthworks a couple of miles to the northwest, currently occupied by a Country Club and golf course (but owned by the Ohio Historical Society).

Yesterday (and today, too!) was one of the four open houses that are conducted every year. These open houses are always extremely interesting and well worth going to.

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A Barefoot Survey

Here is a new survey every barefooter might consider taking:

Barefoot Survey 2013.

It’s purpose is to get a snapshot of the barefoot community, which I find quite intriguing. Presumably, a new survey can be done every year or so, and that might give us an idea, not only how the community is evolving, but whether barefooting is gaining any sort of public acceptance.

Other communities, like the paleo community, do this.

So take a second and fill it out.

When the results come out, I’ll make sure to show them and discuss them here.

 

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A Pen Point

Older newspapers often had little sections in which small, pithy comments were made. These were good for filling out column inches.

I found an interesting one from 1944.

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How Administrators Cheat

While we can complain about how judges cheat, we mustn’t forget that the only reason it gets to judges for them to cheat is because administrators have to cheat first.

Administrators first have to make up specious reasons for enforcing a rule that infringes on personal liberty. Then they have to double down and decide to fight to keep their rule, often in the process coming up with even more ridiculous justifications. I am also deeply suspicious that some of this is prompted by their own incompetence in dealing with something that ought to be part of their daily competence.

I’m reminded of this by a recent story about a kindergartner’s mohawk haircut.

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How Judges Cheat – Part 1

Judges are human, too. However, they’ve had all sorts of legal training, and that presumably includes logic. So it is rather distressing to see them cheat to come up with rulings that they want, instead of what the law, and the rules of judicial construction, say they should.

Now, by “cheat” here, I don’t mean the stronger definition: “to practice fraud or deceit”. It’s more along the lines of “to violate rules or regulations“. I’m not even sure it is deliberate.

But the effect is the same.

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