Contributed photo, above, bottom photos and blog post by John HoffThe problem with going on a super-successful "shoe patrol" is, afterward, you have to figure out how to dispose of all those shoes. My environmental radicalism is no secret--heck, I wrote two "cult classic" books on the subject of dumpster diving--so I'm not going to throw away shoes which still have some life left, even if the foot ware has a dubious history which involves being a piece of "shoefiti" on a powerline.
Of the 7 or 8 pairs of shoes taken off power lines in a recent shoe patrol mission, about 5 of those pairs were in fairly decent shape, including a relatively new pair of white canvas shoes emblazoned with the name "Mike Dog Azz." These shoes made their way out to the ultra-rural boonies where my numerous blood relatives reside, and what do you know? Some of the shoes...
...fit pretty well!
A few of the shoes were so badly worn they were fit for nothing but keeping the Franklin stove blazing on some cold future night, but even in those cases the SHOE LACES were still good. Why waste a perfectly good shoelace? You might have to run out and buy one if you don't save one aside.
What Germs Can Be Carried On Shoes?
ReplyDeleteThe study, reported in April of 2008, found the following in large numbers:
Escherichia coli (E. Coli) - causing symptoms ranging from severe stomach pain accompanied by diarrhea to kidney failure and potential death in 1 out of 50 victims.
Klebsiella pneumonia – a gram-negative bacteria that can rapidly destroy lung tissue and in 25 to 50% of patients will cause death.
Serratia ficaria – causing gallbladder empyemas and sepsis as well as biliary infections.
Gerba stated that "The common occurrence (96%) of coliform and E. coli bacteria on the outside of the shoes indicates frequent contact with fecal material, which most likely originates from floors in public restrooms or contact with animal fecal material outdoors" .
Read more at Suite101: Sole Survivors - Germs And Shoes: What Diseases Are Your Shoes Carrying? http://diseases-viruses.suite101.com/article.cfm/sole_survivors_germs_and_shoes#ixzz0sYuBfghV
Seriously, you think the shoes aren't going to get WASHED first?
ReplyDeleteYeah, how about we just throw away shoes after wearing the shoes ONE TIME? Don't worry, the earth will make more, the earth will grow shoes on trees for you like bananas. There's PLENTY for everybody, and all the land in the world to make more landfills. SO JUST USE CLOTHING ITEMS A LITTLE BIT AND THROW THEM AWAY!!!
(Ultra saracasm, self-righteous radical environmentalist font)
How can you take a photo when you are in the photo?
ReplyDeleteThank you for catching that. I have corrected the photo credit accordingly.
ReplyDelete