Updates are going to be sporadic for now. I'm working a 7pm to 3:30am shift and this is going to require some adjustment for me (I'm usually asleep around 2am, and I can defiantly feel that while at work).
I've got to say I am very disappointed... my new job is at a call center and I expected some barefoot freedom with this. There is a rule in the books that says "shoes must be worn at all times" (even if only flip flops) with the claim being someone may step on a staple or some other silly such thing.
I'm going to have to consider what I'm going to do regarding this (sadly I can't rock the boat too hard because, frankly, I need this job).
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Barefoot Speech
If you look back a few posts you may recall I mentioned something about a speech on going barefoot, well that was just given on Tuesday.
I'm in a public speaking class at college and was told to write a persuasive speech on anything I wanted and thus I chose to persuade people why they should remove their shoes more often (sorry guys but I think telling everyone to burn their shoes and go barefoot everywhere would be a bit too much for many).
As I doubt anyone here wants to red a 4 page outline the basics of what I went over were the following:
1. I talked about the natural gate of a human being thrown off by shoes (There is a wonderful article on that subject here).
Mostly I explained the heel-strike, push off, and stance phases and how shoes interrupt each of them. There is also a wonderful picture explaining this in The Barefoot Book which I did use to help me illustrate the point.
2. Foot arches- I showed a short clip to explain to my audience how the arch expanses and collapses, explained the main jobs of the arch (shock absorber, spring, weight distribution, and uneven terrain accommodation), and explained how shoes force the arch into a position where it is unable to do any of those job.
3. Some physical deformities caused by shoes and how shoes cause them: Hallux valgus, hammertoe, bunions, and knee arthritis.
4. Fungal infections and how shoes are a nice dark, damp, and warm environment for bacteria to grow in.
5. Broke down some of the myths including the fact there is no rule with the Health Department, or the Department of Agriculture (and thank you Society for Barefoot Living for having both letters for my state for me to print out as mine still have no made it). That bare feet are no more dirty than the bottom of a shoe (and likely less so as we wash our feet more often),that glass is not on ever street corner and that it doesn't much effect a seasoned barefooter, and that germs are everywhere not only on the ground (we don't wear gloves all day, why shoes?).
... And that was my 11 minute speech in a nut shell. However Thursday (the class following this speech) brought about some interesting things:
Firstly there were questions, quite a few surprisingly. People asked what I do in the winter, if I go into public restrooms still, about confrontations I've had, and what troubles I had with it in general.It was actually a pretty nice question and answer session with no one saying anything negative, though a few people laughed when I said I do indeed keep the health department letter in my purse.
There were also comments that eased my paranoia. Despite having been going to class ever day barefoot for months now... The vast majority of the class never noticed! Even the teacher who I had previously thought had noticed claimed never to have seen it, and that I did have many people in the class lean over and down to look (considering I've given all my speeches barefoot as well this surprised me- Of all the times I would think standing in the front of a room would give you away).
The most interesting thing though was finding that there apparently is another student that goes barefoot! I have no idea who, why, or if our paths will cross but it's nice knowing there's someone else so close by going barefoot. I hope to run across him at some point and have the guts to go up and speak with him.
I'm in a public speaking class at college and was told to write a persuasive speech on anything I wanted and thus I chose to persuade people why they should remove their shoes more often (sorry guys but I think telling everyone to burn their shoes and go barefoot everywhere would be a bit too much for many).
As I doubt anyone here wants to red a 4 page outline the basics of what I went over were the following:
1. I talked about the natural gate of a human being thrown off by shoes (There is a wonderful article on that subject here).
Mostly I explained the heel-strike, push off, and stance phases and how shoes interrupt each of them. There is also a wonderful picture explaining this in The Barefoot Book which I did use to help me illustrate the point.
2. Foot arches- I showed a short clip to explain to my audience how the arch expanses and collapses, explained the main jobs of the arch (shock absorber, spring, weight distribution, and uneven terrain accommodation), and explained how shoes force the arch into a position where it is unable to do any of those job.
3. Some physical deformities caused by shoes and how shoes cause them: Hallux valgus, hammertoe, bunions, and knee arthritis.
4. Fungal infections and how shoes are a nice dark, damp, and warm environment for bacteria to grow in.
5. Broke down some of the myths including the fact there is no rule with the Health Department, or the Department of Agriculture (and thank you Society for Barefoot Living for having both letters for my state for me to print out as mine still have no made it). That bare feet are no more dirty than the bottom of a shoe (and likely less so as we wash our feet more often),that glass is not on ever street corner and that it doesn't much effect a seasoned barefooter, and that germs are everywhere not only on the ground (we don't wear gloves all day, why shoes?).
... And that was my 11 minute speech in a nut shell. However Thursday (the class following this speech) brought about some interesting things:
Firstly there were questions, quite a few surprisingly. People asked what I do in the winter, if I go into public restrooms still, about confrontations I've had, and what troubles I had with it in general.It was actually a pretty nice question and answer session with no one saying anything negative, though a few people laughed when I said I do indeed keep the health department letter in my purse.
There were also comments that eased my paranoia. Despite having been going to class ever day barefoot for months now... The vast majority of the class never noticed! Even the teacher who I had previously thought had noticed claimed never to have seen it, and that I did have many people in the class lean over and down to look (considering I've given all my speeches barefoot as well this surprised me- Of all the times I would think standing in the front of a room would give you away).
The most interesting thing though was finding that there apparently is another student that goes barefoot! I have no idea who, why, or if our paths will cross but it's nice knowing there's someone else so close by going barefoot. I hope to run across him at some point and have the guts to go up and speak with him.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A Beginners Guide to Going to College Barefoot
I notice quite a few people finding my blog by googling "going barefoot to class" so to help out the students having trouble I've wrote a short step by step guide.
Step one: Remove shoes.
Step two: Take normal transit to school without shoes. Drive barefoot, walk, hop on the bus, have someone drive you... What ever floats your boat. Just don't bring the shoes with you! (hard to back out when you have no alternative).
Step three: Breath.
Step four: Walk to class with your head up. Don't shrink down, don't avoid people, you're in the right and doing absolutely nothing wrong.
Some other newbie tips:
- Barefoot sandals may help you to gain some confidence as less people tend to notice you're barefoot.
- If you need a distraction use one. Put your nose in a book, call a friend while you're walking to class, walk and talk to a supportive friend, put some head phones in; people are less likely to confront you if you look busy and even if they try you're less likely to notice.
If you have questions or even further advice you're welcome to put them in the comments section.
Step one: Remove shoes.
Step two: Take normal transit to school without shoes. Drive barefoot, walk, hop on the bus, have someone drive you... What ever floats your boat. Just don't bring the shoes with you! (hard to back out when you have no alternative).
Step three: Breath.
Step four: Walk to class with your head up. Don't shrink down, don't avoid people, you're in the right and doing absolutely nothing wrong.
Some other newbie tips:
- Barefoot sandals may help you to gain some confidence as less people tend to notice you're barefoot.
- If you need a distraction use one. Put your nose in a book, call a friend while you're walking to class, walk and talk to a supportive friend, put some head phones in; people are less likely to confront you if you look busy and even if they try you're less likely to notice.
If you have questions or even further advice you're welcome to put them in the comments section.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Rob Zombie- Not as barefoot as I would have liked
Ugh. I'm sorry everyone, it's been very hectic lately with a new job (a call center which means I'm going to be looking into barefoot at the work place), classes to get done, and life throwing me curve balls left and right. I have a few posts I want to write up that can be expected in the next few days, but for now I'm just going to talk a little about attempting to go to a Rob Zombie concert barefoot.
Security did NOT like me. They took one look at my feet and told me it was a no go. I asked why, argued their points ("We have food inside!" "So?" "There's a health code!" "No there isn't") and their final argument came down to I'll get stepped on or slide in something spilled and they'll get in trouble. In short- If I wanted to get in they expected something. I came back with flip flops and through security they let me go.
There was security everywhere as to be expected at a concert of that size, but I slid my shoes off, hooked them to my purse, and not a word was ever said. The floor was padding placed over top of ice that slid slightly as people walked across, and there was the occasional damp spot and cigarette bud (way to follow laws there guys), but I ran across nothing that would be safer in flip flops.
Over all I stuck near the wall and had no worries about being trampled and could feel the vibrations of the speakers through my bare feet better than anyone with shoes could. Sadly though I don't find indoor environment that spectacular these days even while screaming along with a crowd for Alice Cooper (who played before Zombie who I sadly missed due to sickness).
Security did NOT like me. They took one look at my feet and told me it was a no go. I asked why, argued their points ("We have food inside!" "So?" "There's a health code!" "No there isn't") and their final argument came down to I'll get stepped on or slide in something spilled and they'll get in trouble. In short- If I wanted to get in they expected something. I came back with flip flops and through security they let me go.
There was security everywhere as to be expected at a concert of that size, but I slid my shoes off, hooked them to my purse, and not a word was ever said. The floor was padding placed over top of ice that slid slightly as people walked across, and there was the occasional damp spot and cigarette bud (way to follow laws there guys), but I ran across nothing that would be safer in flip flops.
Over all I stuck near the wall and had no worries about being trampled and could feel the vibrations of the speakers through my bare feet better than anyone with shoes could. Sadly though I don't find indoor environment that spectacular these days even while screaming along with a crowd for Alice Cooper (who played before Zombie who I sadly missed due to sickness).
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