heelsRus

Ticketing people for talking on a cell phone may be a good way to increase state revenues, but the law against talking on a cell phone while driving in New York state doesn't seem to be working. I see people driving cars with phones to their ears everyday.

Sometimes I question the state ability to legally enforce this law too. Awhile ago when I actually had a car, I was ticketed for talking on a cell phone when I wasn't even talking on a cell phone. In court, the officer lied right through his teeth and told the judge about "our conversation". Huh?? My jaw dropped to the floor as the officer and I never had such a conversation. Without me even saying a word in my defense, the judge held up my sheet to which I checked "not guilty". As she aimed the sheet at the cop, she pointed to the "not guilty" box and I was free. How would he ever have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that I was actually talking on a phone to begin with?

This is another issue where finding a balance is key. Too much ticketing and "totalitarian" implications could set in. They may as well ticket women for putting lipstick on while driving, ticket men for using electric razors while driving, and ticket people for drinking soda from McDonalds while driving. Not enough ticketing, and people think they can get away with any amount of cell phone babble while operating a vehicle.

Tough issue to resolve.

I've heard some places have banned them but don't enforce the law until there's an accident (not sure which as it was a conversation in passing). If you're in an accident and it is determined you were on the phone they fine you for that too.

The police can, as far as I understand, ticket you for doing all of those if in their opinion it is impacting your safe operation of the vehicle. How they determine this I'm not sure. I could guess at some ways (swerving for one) though.

In the third picture showing all the boots...why are the shafts leaning forward? Some of the other boots are quite nice, especially the really high ones you have on.

I'm pretty sure everyone has talked while riding a bike...

Even seen a marching band at halftime? The bandmembers march to complex choreographics while simultaneously playing complex music while simultaneous listening to others play while simultaneous watching the bendleader for timing cues.

It's not task switch, for if it were, there's be a lot of dropped notes and people running into one another.

Cars are dangerous, too. Some 35,000 people loose their lives in auto accidents each year. Following the logic behind banning cell phone use while driving, let's solve both problems and simply ban cars!

All of life carries risk. The appropriate solution isn't to ban things that are dangerous. The right approach is to educate people so that they make wise decisions. That way they're allowed to be adults, instead of being treated like children: "no talking in class" = "no using cell phones while driving."

I ceased being a child more than 30 years ago and will not allow anyone, including the government, to begin treating me like one.

If the government can't treat me like an adult, I'll simply move elsewhere so my tax dollars can support a government who will.

The conference we participated in was very enlightening. The brain actually doesn't multitask in the way you're thinking. It does one thing at a time, just very quickly. When you're young the brain moves more quickly than when you're older. Ask anyone older if they were faster thinkers when they were young.

Have you heard of people that, when getting into an accident, proclaim "there was nothing I could do"? The reason for that (supported by the studies this professor had done) was their brain couldn't perform the task switch to figure out what to do, not that there was nothing that could be done.

There are plenty of things that the body and brain can do without involving higher functions. If you perform the same motion over and over you will get it without thinking about it - could be why those marching bands practice walking and playing (after learning the piece of course)?

Try doing two complicated things at once. Riding a bike and talking is trivial. Try advanced calculus and playing a flight simulator (with enemies turned on).

Your suggestion to ban cars is silly. I get the point, but it's silly. If life is inherently risky, why not ban life then? See, silly.

The idea behind teaching people to drive and pay attention to the roads is to reduce the amount of risk that everyone experiences while on the road. Driver training, experience, and thinking clearly are all good things.

A similar argument are helmet laws for motorcycles. Are they a good idea or bad? Freedom to not wear a helmet or protection for those that think they're invulnerable?

Having seen a large number of drivers on the cell phone doing really dumb things (nearly causing major accidents, tying up traffic, etc.), I'm all for this to improve the roads. It's only because of the others on the road watching out for these people that there wasn't a major crack-up. If you're able to talk and drive, great. Most can't do it safely.

This talent is common among pilots, who must fly the plane, communicate with ATC, coordinate actions with other crewmembers, and operate often complex navigational equipment and aircraft controls. These tasks are far more involved and complex than driving while talking on a cell phone!

This talent is common among many professions, and others just possess it naturally. Some don't.

If you're among those who find it difficult to multitask, then by all means please do focus 100% of your attention on the road. But please don't tell me (or fine me) for doing things I've been doing all my life with aplomb and without any adverse consequences whatsoever.

I find that as offensive (and ridiculous) as other people passing laws against men wearing heels, skirts, or wearing their hair long, or getting earrings, etc.

In summary, by all means, do what suits you, but please refrain from telling others to do things that do not suit them.

The problem is that you are in the minority, not the majority. While some people are better at doing multiple things seeminly simulataneously many are not. And the brain does not multitask. It handles one thing at a time. We found this out in a conference by someone studying exactly this (cognitive psychology professor/researcher, first degree is engineering). Some people are better at task switching than others.

Even for those that task switch well your performance will be impaired. If you need to do an experiment, take the car on a race course and run as best you can. Then get on the phone and talk to someone and do the same thing. Do you think you'll do as well while on the phone? Yes, I know the race course is not the street but it does give an indication how much your performance drops. You can do the same thing with emergency stopping or swerving. How many times do you hit the object?

If you had to pick a law/rule/convention for EVERYONE to follow, would you ban cell phones or allow them? Personally, I'd ban them. The bar is too low to get a drivers license.

That rig has shown up here a couple of times and it's always good for an appreciative smile. Some people are really ingenious and it looks like it would be a blast to drive, even with the engine it has. I cannot take credit for it either but it definitely looks cool.

So is it a guy driving or a gal?

A few years ago I was in a store where I had to speak with someone to get my stuff. It's the norm in this store - you write out what you want and someone goes to fetch the items from the back. So I'm talking to this guy when my phone rings. I pick it up, find out it's home calling and mute it and put it away. Seems like the right thing to do since I'm talking to this guy who's helping me get stuff. He's flabbergasted. He tells me that people just don't do that. I'm a little confused (do what?) and he tells me that he's had people have long drawn out conversations while he's trying to serve them. Amazing. How can people be so rude? I certainly don't consider what I did exceptional (everyone should be doing it) but he did. Says a lot about people as he sees more of them than I do. Study after study has shown that being on a cell phone is equivalent to being drunk. Being tired is arguably worse (depends how tired). Around here when you buy an SUV (vanity vehicle) I think you're given a gift certificate for plastic surgery - to implant the phone to your head. But maybe it's because people can't think for themselves so they their "brain" always in contact via cell

Looks like women are just gonna have to get back into heels :-) By Belinda Goldsmith Thu Jun 29, 1:38 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - With more women wearing flip-flops to the office this summer, U.S. style gurus are warning that the casual shoe once mainly seen on the beach could be damaging to careers -- as well as to feet. Lauren Cardinale, 25, who works at West Glen Communications, wears beaded or other fancy flip flops to the office -- when she can get away with it. "Occasionally I wear flip flops to work," she said. "I wear nicer shoes if I'm meeting with clients or if I know there will be someone in the office who doesn't approve of flip flops." Cardinale is one of thousands of young women in New York who consider flip-flops an essential part of their summer wardrobe. An online survey conducted for retailers Old Navy and Gap found flip-flops topped the list of wardrobe items that college and high school students planned to wear to work this summer. More than 31 percent of women said flip-flops were the single "must have" item for work this summer. But many companies disagree. "The dress code says no beach wear and flip-flops are considered beach wear," said a spokeswoman for BNP Paribas. Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career. "Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office," said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You." Doctors say it's not just careers they could harm. Physicians at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons say flip-flops are linked to a growing number of heel problems among teens and young adults. "We're seeing more heel pain than ever in patients 15 to 25 years old, a group that usually doesn't have this problem," said spokeswoman Marybeth Crane in a recent statement. She said flip-flops with thin soles have no arch support and can accentuate any abnormal biomechanics in foot motion which eventually brings pain and inflammation. $140 FOR FLIP-FLOPS? Flip-flops are far from new, dating back at least 70 years and believed developed out of traditional Japanese woven or wooden soled sandals in New Zealand. The basic flat sole with a Y-shaped strap, that passes between the toes and around either side of the foot, is known in every nation and to every social class. In developing countries, they are the cheapest -- and often only -- form of footwear, easy to make and easy to fit. The term "flip-flop" derives from the noise they make while slapping against the wearer's heels and the floor but they are also known as thongs in Australia, jandals in New Zealand, and slippers in Hawaii. But flip-flops took on a new life among the young and trendy a few years ago. They have surged in popularity with shops now selling them in every conceivable color, with sequins, flowers, and even bridal flip-flops with over 300 Swarovski crystals on the straps for about $140 a pair. Last June the Northwestern University's champion women's lacrosse team was widely criticized for wearing flip-flops when they visited the White House and met President George W. Bush. Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee of Color and Trends, a New York-based forecasting service specializing in footwear and accessories, thinks flip-flops' popularity will wane. "Usually these trends come and go in about five years," she said. "I think we've reached the peak, they can't be any more widespread, so maybe next summer something will replace them."

All of them look pretty good. The look works for you well.

Um.... wow...that would be pushing it way too far here. I'm glad you're doing it of course and it shouldn't be a push but it's a rather conservative area here. Good job. Black knee boots would look good with that.

I don't see anything clearly designed for the opposite gender. I see some nice looking shooz. So what is the problem?

There shouldn't be a problem.... but....heels are generally marketed towards women, that's (one reason) why they're known as women's shoes. I disagree with it too, but that's the skewed reality we live in. It's people like those on this board that are pushing the changes so that the definitions don't much matter.

Any way to change the way they're marketed? If that were to change then that would push people to accept heels on men more easily.

http://www.payless.com/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?&TLC=Womens&SLC=WomensCasuals&BLC=WomensCasualsComfort&Width=Regular&DescriptiveColor=Red/White/Blue&ItemCode=52959&LotNumber=048324&Type=Adult&cm_id=coloritemgraphic

Ahhh!! Run!! They've taken ugly to whole new level.

Thankfullly those things aren't up here yet. I guess it's only a matter of time though.

Wow, they really are ugly.

I think I was the first person in the poll to vote never. Even if it became popular for men (as jeans are for women) there is no way I would ever wear a skirt OR a kilt.

I'm curious - any particular reason? (not directed at you specifically but others as well).

I will wear a skirt or kilt as they are very comfortable - lets the boys breathe better :-) I just don't wear them around anyone but the wife, who likes them on me BTW.

We get Pingu over here too and it's not bad. So is "Bear in the big blue house". There aren't any that I'll turn the tv on to watch but if they're on I may watch. Popular Mechanics for Kids (aka PMK) is also quite good.

Hi all

Well, after agonising about it I told her about my heels. She'd helped me move in and we were sat having a brew, when I told her that there was something she needed to know before she moved in. When I told her that I liked to wear high heels her exact reaction was "Is that it? You had me worried there for a bit!"

We talked about it, and the upshot is that she's OK with me wearing them and quite enjoys having someone else she can enthuse about shoes with. As our feet are almost the same size, she's even suggested that we could borrow each other's heels when she moves in!

I've worn my spiky New Rock boots around her a few times now, and despite me being nervous the first time, she's OK with it. Phew!

Chris

Awesome! That'll make life so much easier - and better.

Well done.

hello heelsrus,

if i was you i would take it easy, like i didnt intend to tell her but it came out, i had a few pints of beer earlier that evening so it just came out.

it may have been different if i hadnt been drinking beer.

cheers

kinheels

Yeah, thought of doing something like that, but then ... well, this town is small, not in size but in who knows whom. It probably wouldn't help the employment situation.

I usually try to figure out if people are open-minded by seeing if they are more accepting of a freestyle fashion - not in those words of course, but general things - do they think pink is only for girls, what about kilts, that kind of thing. Once you get into a conversation about things like the "skater-boy/rapper" uniform (baggy pants, sweatshirt, underwear out of the pants, big sneakers, ....) or what you saw down in the market, many times you can tell if they are tolerant or not.

Oh well, life goes on. It seems to be all in our heads, but that's where I live.

So far only one friend knows and that was because I told. I've been tempted to tell some people so I can wear what I like when I like, but this is a small town and quite conservative (I think anyway).

Hi all what a intresting site, im new here and just wanted to say hi, i have a heel intrest and injoys my wife wearing heels and that ranges from 3 to 5.5" yes im lucky i know, any way i wear a uk size 6 or 7 also dose my wife for years iv been wearing her shoes with out her knowing and buying my own high heel boots to wear when im on my own,this has gone on for about 10 years and over that time iv worn heel boots and pointy stiletto shoes a fair bit all on the qt mainly at hime on my own, now i have developed very feminine looking feet if u now what i mean! slight angled toes all a bit hammered and mild bunions im sure my wife knows i wear heels etc becase she has said about my foot shape.

now for the first time i worn a pair of 4.5" block heel black leather round toe ankle boots out with long jeans my own boots and it was great, walked around the city centre for hrs untill my feet was hurting i felt so good and it felt also so normall,i did injoy wearing the boots the feeling of the heel hight was nice and plesent but i did find that heel hight of these boots felt faily high made my feet sit vertical, i felt ok dressed in jeans and normally guys cloths but in heeled boots now im thinking is this all wrong what i did shold i go back to the closset? im a litle mixed up so hense the reason for posting, hope some one replys regards Tim.

It seems you're in the same boat (or a similar one anyway) to many of us - wears heels at home, mostly private wearing, wife may or may not know, etc...

You'll find lots of advice here from people who have gone out in their attire and have had really good experiences. I'm still mostly one of the "hide-it" people but hope to change that somehow.

Hope you enjoy your stay. Take a breath, sit back, relax, read (and there's lots to read).

I just double checked the link, and they also just emailed me back, so It Does Work, If you have trouble, try typing the link into your browser, and then see if it works,.

The idea is an covered gathered elastic that is either plain colored, or fancy with decorations....The idea is like a figure "8" and one of the loops of the figure "8" goes around the shoe (under the sole) and the other figure"8" goes around your ankle. they are going to send me a sample, so I will let my wife see them and see how they work....She has an inbetween size of foot, Wider foot, narrower heel, and some shoes slip...

Try the main site, and then click through the choices...

http://www.mymuletto.com/

Turns out I had problems getting to a few places, not just that one. The problem was on my end. Many places worked but quite a few didn't.

Worse than spam second face, Trojan!!!

The odd part is that it never really occurred to me to click on the emoticon. It's just another part of the text. I'm glad people are pointing these out though, thanks.

I found this site to be interesting,,, a product to help hold shoes on, but in a decorative way... let me know if you think it works?

I have had alot of customers ask how to hold strap less shoes on,,, this looks like it might work, they have alot of different styles, etc.

http://www.mymuletto.com/store/index.php

Link doesn't work for me.

This is incredible and I'm contributting to it...

This thread started just a few days ago and has now 4 pages of posts.

I don't know if the people taked the cause of our friend le752 or if every man here in the board wants a girl/wife that thinks like her, but this thread is amazingly a record. Maybe I'm wrong...

Well, I for one would like a wife like that :-).

I'm not too surprised at the messages as there are a lot of very helpful people on this board. We'd all like to help a lad out who has the same interest as us.

Nice oufit and great boots, KrisS!

Isn't a really nice combination!? It's what I picture when I think of me going out (which has only happened once unfortunately). Nicely dressed and the heels are just there. Very well done.

KrisS, where did you go out? How long were you walking about?

What does TBG mean?

ThighbootGuy - come to think of it, it might have been Shafted. Can't recall.

In 4 or 4 1/2" heels I just walk down. I have a pair of 5" heels with a chunkier heel and those are just fine too, but with 5"+ stilettos I hold on (lightly) to the banister unless I'm carrying something. Besides, one should never be in a hurry wearing heels, and it's more elegant/sophisticated to take your time :-)

In New York State it is now a crime to talk on a cellular phone while driving a car unless you have a "hands free" device.

And yes. Men are oppressed when it comes to fashion. Both by society and designers and it really sucks.

Yahoo! New York has a brain! I wish Ontario did. Give me a high powered rifle to take care of the people on cell phones while working on their laptops and driving SUVs. Drinking coffee and smoking in addition to the above is really not adding much distraction.... Eating cereal - now that's committment! :-) A bowl AND a spoon! Let the passenger handle the steering wheel.

Yes, men are oppressed and limited in what we can wear. That's obvious to anyone who can either see or think. There are a few things promoting this - us by not wearing what we want, and peer pressure from other men (and some women) who see it as a weakness/feminine.

On the weakness point - this has to be considered more gender bias because men AND WOMEN see it as a weakness to dress like a woman. Why does what you wear determine your worth as a man or woman? Is it purely the shortsightedness of designers and the general masses (they aren't called the "unwashed" for nothing) or is it something else? Is it a way to hold men down, to subjugate them to the will of women ( :-) ) or generally oppress them? Is it a way to cause men stress and kill them early so women can inherit their wealth? I know I've had lots of stress lately over wanting to wear things but can't because of various reasons. Argh!

Good luck to those brighter than me and those more courageous than me to work out a solution.