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I am the opposite in that without a radio on, I am less distracted. On especially long rides, with the radio off I can think through the plot problems, characterization tidbits, and plot twists on my latest novels that I write. I have even noticed when I do lots of long car rides, my novels get done in even shorter times because I have had more time to think them through. Typically a 90,000 word novel takes me four months to write, but with a lot of long car rides, I can finish one in three months instead. But that to me is the issue with noise pollution such as having music on all the time and everywhere: people do not have time to think. And what is wrong with that? One guy at work told me, “I always have a sound track running through my head”, to which I had to reply, “are you that scared of your own thoughts where you have to have something someone else came up with, occupying your mind? How sad! “Think for yourself man. Think for yourself, don’t just be fed other people's creations”. A look at music today and you see such a decline in quality. The classical composures had to have the brass section, the string section, the solo performers and the chorus all come in at the right time and intensity. That took amazing skill. And in one study where they took the number of words to a song and found that in the 1970’s there was something like 400 different words per song, whereas today they might only have forty words. The reason? They are repeated to a synthesizer. Whether you like their music or not, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seiger and the Eagles told stories with their songs which was very creative which is NOT what we are seeing today.

As a cyclist I could never understand why so many other cyclists go around with ear buds listening to music. Aside from the safety implications - I’d much rather hear what’s coming up behind me - why would you want to miss out on hearing the dawn chorus, the birds and insects, nature coming alive. One of the joys of cycling is the way it immerses you in the landscape. Why miss out?

I couldn't imagine my life without music. I don't play any instruments myself but I love listening to music. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of the continuous music playing everywhere, there I'd rather choose silence. I'm more the type of choosing my own music when I want to, mostly at home or in the car.

I have fond memories of listening to the car radio on long road trips when I was young - driving through the night, hundreds of miles for no better reason than the sheer joy of being in the road, fiddling with the dials on the radio to try to find a radio station somewhere in the middle of the Great Plains. These memories come with a 70s soundtrack.

I am a guitar player and lover of music. I also play a little bass, and electronic drums. I could not see my world without it. Music in the car is a must for me. Music at work is a must. And I can also sit in front of my stereo and do nothing but listen to music. And just in case anyone ever doubts my love of music. I just show them pictures of all my guitars and instruments. And if that still doesn't work, I just show them pictures of my roughly 1500 CD's. And then I top that off with pictures of my roughly 300 or so records. So yeah, It's in my blood.

That is too hard to Handle

I know you’re right. It’s just that I’ve become quite proud of my new abilities and can’t resist showing off to myself! Tomorrow morning it’s back to the 12cm stilettos! I’ve a goal here!

It can be tempting to stay with the lower ones because they've become so easy 😉 But it really pays off to keep practicing. Shorter walks in my 13+ cm boots already feel like second nature, I only have to gain some more endurance.

I was only talking about the block heels that get thicker towards the bottom 😉 Other than that, I like block heels and also own many. But my favorite is the stiletto heel, I just love the sleek look. Yes, it has the downsides that you mentioned but for me they're fine for everyday wear. I don't really feel a difference in stability and comfort as long as I'm walking on even pavement. Only on uneven pavement, grates, grass and so on it's more difficult. And the heel tips wear quicker. All in all, if I had to wear only one heel style for the rest of my life, it would still be the stiletto 😉 @CrushedVamp I can't really feel a difference between the two styles, I guess it's personal preference.

So true! I have been amazed by the difference practicing in my 12cm boots has made with my ability to walk in 10cm stilettos. I am very at home with them now - in fact, I’ve been so delighted with my newly earned ease in 10cm heels I’ve been neglecting my harder work 12cm heels. Must get back to business!

I can confirm this. You only really get better with higher ones if you wear this height or something above it. All the usual everyday walks in 10 or 11 cm heels don't make me any better in 13 cm heels, but short walks in my 13+ cm boots sure do. By now they feel way easier already. I see your dilemma 😀 I would break the rule, otherwise you won't have that many chances to practice in higher ones. I also walk a lot in stilettos, and of course have to change the heel tips more often but it's a quick routine work.

Reminds me of the note on the music teacher's door: 'Gone Chopin; Bach in a minuet. Offenbach in half a minuet.' (I hope he remembered his Chopin Liszt.)

Beware of meeting the big, bad wolf!

I solved the dilemma yesterday by choosing my big and ugly (but steep) chunky heeled mules (pictured somewhere above), but we are in the midst of a January thaw, and within a few days, if not hours, those open toed shoes will not be an option, even for me. @CrushedVamp, very nice photo that turned out well from a mere snapshot! I also like candid photos, but generally of OTHER PEOPLE, haha.

I fully understand what your situation was @mlroseplant, especially in light of the photo being for an entirely different reason than showing the high heels you happened to be wearing. I must say, most of your photos of you in heels come out really, really well. Your pictures often show your great heels, but also your overall outfit well with quality photos most of the time on here. But photography is interesting… sometimes taking lots of time in setting up the perfect photo works really well and a stunning photo is made, and sometimes just turning around and snapping a quick picture captures the moment in time just perfectly. Of course, the opposite is true as well and especially so for candid photos, there are twenty poor ones taken for every great photo made. I tend to like candid photos. It can be fun to set up the camera for the perfect shot, but also fun when stunning pictures come from the spur of the moment. I have plenty of examples of quick shots being surprisingly stunning, but being a high heel site, my wife and I were doing a themed photoshoot, and while most of the pictures were taken with her painstaking posed, as she sat on a bridge for a break, I saw her seated, turned around and snapped a quick picture. It came out extremely well, really the best picture of the seventy or so we had set up that day. So, it just shows you never know, some of the best pictures cannot be planned. This is a photo of her on the bridge with some high heel knee boots.

Haha, I never said that you were. I thought your intent was very clear--to present an interesting snippet of googledom for our consideration. My consideration was I thought it funny that this particular snippet said the opposite of other snippets I'd seen in the past, when in fact I'm not sure any of it makes any difference whatsoever. But, somebody evidently went to at least some trouble to create a diagram saying. . . well, I'm not sure what.

I agree 100%, we live in a very noisy world. I am laughing with you @Shyheels. I always turn the sound off whenever I browse social media, 'cause it's bloody awful if you don't! As you all know, playing music is a big part of my life, but I am also a lover of silence. @CrushedVamp, believe it or don't, I don't play the radio in my car, either. I might listen to the BBC sometimes, but I rarely have any music blaring while going down the road. I don't have background music while I'm folding laundry or doing the dishes. The reason? It can't be background music for me. I will stop what I'm doing and actively listen. Sometimes, I'll analyze certain aspects of whatever happens to be playing. I can't count the number of times that I've commented on some piece of background music in a store to somebody, and most of the time, they haven't been listening and have no idea what I'm talking about. Even in moments of silence, my brain is not silent. In fact, as I'm writing this, a Chopin piano piece that I attempted to learn as a kid is going through my head. Why? I have no idea. I haven't really thought of it in years. There is no other sound beside the ticking of the clock, the hum of the furnace, and perhaps a slight clacking of computer keyboard keys. And yet, there is Chopin. How did he get there?

It’s very unusual not to like music, that’s for sure - I mean if I understand you correctly in that you dislike all forms of it. I will readily agree though that it is being forced upon us by constant advertising and social media. You can’t look at an Instagram post any more - even one that is primarily text-based - without music being blared at you, or some pretentious chords being played. It’s a nuisance and insulting to have it assumed that this is necessary. I find myself muting even songs and music I would normally like because it’s distracting and annoying and being forced upon me.

I say the following with respect to all performing arts, because it is not that we don't see the value of music, but just as some people do not care for plays, or for reading, or whatever: my wife and I; we don't like music. I thought I was the only one until I met her. But get in our cars and the radios are off. In fact, it wouldn't bother us if they had no radios at all. And we go to church late just so we can miss the music and just catch the sermons. We started doing that after going one Sunday and the music team prayed specifically for my wife and I, "for those here who have hardened hearts." Nope, not hardened hearts at all, we just don't like music. But we don't like television either. We have no TV's in the house but instead have wide screen bookshelves!! The problem with music is that people just assume you need music 24/7 and I like to be alone with my thoughts. I do not need Walmart Radio when I am grocery shopping. Or have music when I fill up the gas tank of my car. Or have music as a background as I am placed on hold on a phone call. And the worst thing is, someone has chosen what they think I want to listen for music. In the area I live, they have a strong penchant for American Country music for some reason which I am not the biggest fan of shall we say... But I have respect for those with musical ability even if I do not like it. Just as I appreciate the talent of those who do sculptures although my taste for the visual arts is more for classical paintings, or the performing arts for live theatre. And to play multiple instruments means the person has immense musical talent.

Believe or not, @mlroseplant, some people can not carry a tune. I can't; my mind does not think in a linear manner.

Yep, even tried a barge, no luck....

I was not debating you on that in any way. I saw the placard (which is what I have been calling them as well) and thought I would post it for everyone's thoughts. I would think the continental, typical stiletto, and the boulevard type of heel, comfort level would depend upon your gait. If you slump forward and put most of your weight forward; or the reverse and tend to keep your weight back, etc would have more to do with how comfortable a pair of high heels are then just heel pitch. It's why I think my wife finds certain pairs more comfortable than others. Because of how she walks, how she carries herself and how the shoes are constructed; it just works for her. You could put on the same heels and they could be extremely painful, but that is just my opinion. I back it up with ZERO knowledge.

I see your dilemma perfectly! I’m muddling along in my own fashion trying to lift my abilities in 12cm stilettos but going for long walks - while it would no doubt lift my skill level - just doesn’t seem workable

That was a true snapshot--no planning, took all of 10 seconds. In fact, I think we set down the grocery bags right there in the garage in order to take this. Typically, I set the camera, which in my case is a phone, on a tripod and use a remote activator to do my "selfies." Since they are shoe-centric, I go even one more than @Shyheels suggests, and set it up about belt height or so. And I don't know, I often pose in a rather stilted manner, so that a person can better see the contour of various angle of the shoes. But then again, these photos are targeted at a very specific audience! So, back on point, I need to decide if I'm going to start breaking my own rule with this higher heels challenge. My rule is that I don't take walks in stilettos. The problem is, all my highest heels are stilettos. You see my dilemma?

Have you tried a dump truck, perchance? 😆