As if we didn't have enough to worry about:

Carcinogenic shoes found

CHEAP shoes and slippers made in India, China and other Asian countries contain cancerous substances, claims the French magazine Le Cuir.

In tests on 16 pairs, colouring, preservatives and chrome 6, all of which can cause cancer or allergies and are banned in France, were found.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 03, 1999

Answers

Whaaat? You mean I've got to stop eating shoes??!!! No more tongue sandwich, no more Dover sole. Damn! Here I had a year's supply for my whole family - kept in nitrogen (the shoes too) - and now I find out that all this preservation was unnnecessary.

-- Anyone (want@some.shoes), September 03, 1999.

Chemicals are absorbed through the skin (feet in this case).

Another bullet. Russian roulette anyone?

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 03, 1999.

Dear Anyone,

Don't be so quick to scoff. Read a few years ago that young Chinese males die fast while working in leather factories (and no one cares; there is always another to take their place). They must strip to the buff and climb into vats containing hide-preserving chemicals to complete the processing. The cancer-causing agents enter their systems and cause hideous consequences.

-- Mo questions (Maureenls@Worldnet.att.net), September 03, 1999.

I'll try to remember that everytime I slip into my black leathers for a wild time in the bedroom.

-- YeeHAA (YeeHAA@YeeHAA.com), September 03, 1999.

My wife has been stocking shoes for 25 years. Guess she's GI.

-- && (&&@&&.&), September 03, 1999.

OG--I was seriously going to go to Chinatown for some tai chi shoes, which I actually love. But I guess not. However, I need sneakers. Those are made by slave labor, too. How horrible about those men dieing from their work. What a sucky world. Guess some things gotta change!!!

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 03, 1999.

I suggest redwing boots. They will last you a long time and are made here. They are my favorite hands down

-- Feller (feller@wanna.help), September 03, 1999.

&&&&&&&

That is top notch humor!! :))))))!!!

-- Dave Butts (dciinc@aol.com), September 03, 1999.

Aw come on, don't look on Anyone as a heel--were you never footloose and fancy-free?

Having started to stash shoes (and I know Taz has been doing same), I saw that and thought, oh no, not SHOES too!!! It's bad enough we've got the GM soybeans and corn, now we have to think about what goes in our feet!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 03, 1999.

Alternatively- we could look at what we wear- where it is made- and who makes it. and the process that the making ofg our shoes and clothing entails. Then- instead of choosing to purchase and wear "disposable" shoes and clothing from China and various third world countries- we COULD instead, choose to buy well made, durable long lasting shoes and clothing. for instance- I have a beautiful pair of sheepskin slippers- bought from a fellow Vermonter who hand-crafts them- one pair at a time. Yes- they cost more than a cheapie pair from Wal-Mart- but they look great, feel great, will last for many years- and did not involve unsafe working conditions, exploitative labor, child labor, etc.

We can buy cheapie boots for the winter from Ames, Wal-Mart, K-Mart- etc- and buy another pair each winter. Or- we can buy well-made sorel boots from Canada- and wear them for years. Mine were purchased for my partners son when he was about 8 or 9- he's 24 now- and he long since outgrew them, and I've worn them happily for years- no sign of wearing out.

Just a thought- but this applies to so many things we purchase- perhaps we should give it some thought??

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.net), September 03, 1999.

Not cheap shoes, good ones. Solid walking shoes, hike across town or out on the woods. Bought two pair in the last two months, probably get another pair before EOY. Shoes and glasses -- the only things you can't borrow -- don't forget them.

And walk to wherever you're going, if in walking distance. I know some who think walking distance is 50 yards or less, but I mean REAL walking distance, anything under a half-hour walk and some stuff over that. You're gonna need those muscles, next year.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 03, 1999.

"And walk to wherever you're going, if in walking distance. I know some who think walking distance is 50 yards or less, but I mean REAL walking distance, anything under a half-hour walk and some stuff over that. "

Good advice. I'm a "big" boy (OK, fat slob), not a real fan of exercise. But walking a couple miles a day can make a BIG difference.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 03, 1999.

"Shoes for Industry!" (Firesign Theatre fans will understand)

Speaking of which, here's a touch of extreme strangeness: the Firesigns are now doing the radio ads for San Diego Gas & Electric. For anyone who's a fan, it's very hard to take them seriously, especially since the ads sound a lot like something from "The Wall of Science". The last few lines run something like:

Voice 1: "now and into the Future..."

Voice 2: "which will be ready and waiting for you..."

Voice 3: "whenever It gets here..."

Most strange...

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), September 03, 1999.

I fear the pouplace may begin stockpiling pumps & loafers! I demand this thread be ended now!

-- Toecheese (Imelda@Marcos.nut), September 05, 1999.

What does that make Imelda Marcos - ;)

-- andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 05, 1999.

Or Mexican shoes could be OK. I understand they use plain old-fashioned piss to cure their leather. (Horse or mule piss?)

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 05, 1999.

Thanks for the footnote, Mister A.

-- Toecheese (Imelda@Marcos.Nut), September 07, 1999.