Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2007 July 25

= July 25 =

Gomboc.
Any idea where I could purchase a Gomboc from? preferably made from something durable like metal or glass. A UK or European source would be best. Capuchin 07:13, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

What to say in court over ticket
I got a ticket for speeding, when in reality the cop never saw me speeding and just assumed I was and gave me a ticket for that when he could have easily given me a ticket for two other violations that I clearly commited in front of him.

What happened was I was driving and I made a sharp right turn without stopping at a red light before turning right and I slightly crossed the double yellow lines (because I couldnt make exactly a 90 degree turn). He could have given me a ticket for those violations, but he told me I was speeding based on his experience. I told him 'no, I took the turn without breaking enough."

So when I goto court, I was thinking about asking the officer if he caught a drunk driver with a dent in his hood, if he would arrest the guy for murder because "based on his experience" people who are drunk with dents in their car hit pedestrians. If he cant charge someone for murder because he didnt see it happen, how could he give me a ticket for something he didnt see happen (my speeding).

I also wanted to mention that he is unethical and if it is part of his job description to be unethical and write people up for tickets with no proof, when clearly there was proof of other violations I committed.

What do you guys think? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks
 * You are asking for legal advice here, and we are not ging to give it. I suggest you run your idea by a lawyer. Theresa Knott | The otter sank 10:13, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

...and where are you from exactly? but basically Theresa is spot on. Get over it, life is often unfair. Be happy you didn't get the other violations. --Richard Avery 10:15, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

And (repeating that legal advice is not something we give here) criticising the police without good grounds is unlikely to win the favour of the judge in most countries. You'd be better off simply asking for proof that you were speeding than sarcastically asking a rhetorical question. --Dweller 13:08, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * There is the adage that "The man who represents himself in court will have a fool for a client." Like Dweller says, questioning a police-officers honesty and integrity in such a manner in court would most likely be a bad course of action. (This is of course not legal advice). Lanfear&#39;s Bane


 * Very often under these circumstances the cop is trying to do you a favor. He wants to ensure that you get some kind of penalty for screwing up (and you freely admitted that you did screw up) - but perhaps he doesn't feel justified in hitting you with something like 'Reckless driving' (which would be hard to get off your record and would look very nasty to your insurers) - so he gives you a relatively mild speeding violation - the penalty is small and (at least here in Texas) is pretty easy to keep off your record and hence isn't going to show up on the desk of your insurance company.  We can't tell you what to do about it though - that would be offering legal advice - and we're not allowed to do that. SteveBaker 13:59, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Well FYI in maryland, if you commit 3 simultaneous violations, then it's called "agressive driving" and it results in draconian penalties.. I hear it's about as hard to get your license back as after a DUI. So in your situation I wouldn't be admitting that I "committed 2 other violations but not speeding" since I may be stuck with speeding AND the violations I just confessed to, which would be far worse than just the speeding. This is the reason you need to ask a lawyer familiar with your state law. If you're serious about this (and it's just a speeding ticket..) then hire a lawyer- that's my legal advice. --⁪frotht 14:29, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV; the following not to be construed as legal advice, just my personal layman's observations.
 * It varies from court to court, but my experience is that


 * 1) traffic courts are pretty quick and dirty
 * 2) you are presumed guilty
 * 3) the cop doesn't remember that one incident out of the hundreds that happened, so if he/she has to testify, of course he/she is fibbing
 * 4) all those ideas they tell you to try, like asking for the calibration documentation of the radar, just piss the judge off and will not get it tossed
 * 5) if the cop doesn't appear in court, they'll just continue the case until he does rather than toss it
 * 6) even if you have a lawyer with you who makes a deal with the prosecuting attorney for a lesser charge or minimum fine or some such (which would be way overkill in this case) they may very well go back on the deal and ask for a higher penalty anyway once you're up there in front of the judge.
 * 7) when you meet with the prosecuting attorney before you go before the judge, his/her job is to clear as many cases off the docket as possible rather than find "justice", so in many places for something like this they will just pretend to believe you and make the offer that you write a check for the amount of the fine to the local Women's Shelter or some such and they will dismiss the charges and your license doesn't accumulate points and your insurance doesn't go up. This is the best deal you will get.
 * 8) you're more likely to get this deal when your license is already clean than when you've already been convicted many times and you're desperate to get this one thrown out so you don't lose your license. whereas if you do get this deal, then the next time you get a ticket, you will have a clean license and it's your first offense all over again.
 * Gzuckier 15:28, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I think Gzuckier has the best take on this. In any case, your line of argumentation about the dented car would not impress a judge in the slightest. It doesn't impress me, either — it doesn't logically follow at all. If you want to chew it out logically with a judge and a cop get a lawyer, as they'll know how to do it and they'll know what's even a legally relevant argument. It's traffic court, not debate club. --24.147.86.187 21:48, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Acutally unless this is a huge fine you are going to end up paying a lawyer more than the fine, or paying both fine and lawyer. (This is of course again not legal advice). Lanfear&#39;s Bane

Registering New Products
Does anyone have any ideas about the necessity to register products with the manufacturers? I'm refering to household goods, white goods and similar stuff. Does not registering affect the guarantee in any way? I've always thought that encouraging customers to register their newly bought goods was a way to generate advertising lists and trying to sell extended warranty insurance. Does this happen in other countries? --Richard Avery 10:11, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * You're correct. According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act,
 * the implied warranty of merchantability is a merchant's basic promise that the goods sold will do what they are supposed to do and that there is nothing significantly wrong with them. In other words, it is an implied promise that the goods are fit to be sold. The law says that merchants make this promise automatically every time they sell a product they are in business to sell. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty.shtm
 * The only wiggle room allowed, even if there is a written warranty with less coverage, is that if the written warranty is for shorter duration than the implied warranty, which applies forever (in practice, limited by statute of limitations), then the implied warranty is shortened to the same duration. Which is why everything you buy comes with that limited warranty these days. Otherwise, the only way they can get out of the implied warranty is to prominently sell the thing as "no warranty". They can't require you to send in the warranty card, or buy only Acme brand replacement parts, etc. On the other hand, if you don't send in the warranty card, they the onus is on you to prove that you bought the thing and it is still in the warranty period, assuming it's a limited warranty. On the other other hand, as I have found out many many many times, when you do send in the warranty card, most of the time you still have to prove that you bought the thing and it is still in the warranty period.
 * The other use of warranty cards is that in the case of a recall, they can use them to contact you about the product. Especially in the case of automobiles. Gzuckier 15:10, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

It sure does in the UK and France. Also, of course, globally, for firms such as Adobe. Guarantee laws vary, but generally failure to register does not negate a guarantee. Some firms do follow up on registrations. Most, in my experience, simply collect data. All (again laws vary) should offer the choice of whether the data can be used for other than record purposes. i.e. sold to a direct mailer, or used by themselves to direct mail.86.219.35.251 15:03, 25 July 2007 (UTC)petitmichel

Right...thanks for your time Richard Avery 06:17, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

food
What are some foods with the words 'baby' or 'mother' or the like in the name of the food. Ex., Liebfraumilsch, baby back ribs, etc. Thank you.
 * Baby carrots. You can bung baby in front of a lot of vegetables if you use your local supermarket as a guide; as to whether this constitutes it actually being in the 'name' is open to debate. Baby Ruth and Mother, however they are both brand names. Lanfear&#39;s Bane
 * Baby food? =) --⁪frotht 14:32, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * If you are making vinegar, then "mother" is slime. Mother can be removed from vinegar with a coffee filter, or left in it and ignored. Edison 16:37, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Ignored? Ew.  Corvus cornix 18:09, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * There are also baby dill pickles. Adam Bishop 23:01, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Hey! I'll have a Babycham! DuncanHill 23:07, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * And some Mothers ruin for good measure. DuncanHill 00:45, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * And baby corn. Corvus cornix 16:52, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * To wash down the Baby Burger? TreeKittens 18:59, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Firing guns in the air to celebrate
On the news you often see guns being fired in the air in celebration. For example in Iraq a few days ago, three people were acidently killed when loads of people started shooting into the air to celebrate the Iraqi football team winning a match at the Asian Cup. So my question is whether the practice is mainly a middle eastern thing or if its done elsewhere? Why is it done in some parts of the world and not others? Willy turner 14:25, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Because it's prision for life in america if you start firing an ak in the air and you kill someone... there aren't exactly going to be crowds of people doing it --⁪frotht 14:32, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Mythbusters examined part of your question and noted that in most states it is illegal for the people getting killed reason. Many countries also have gun laws that are very strict when it comes to carrying firearms in public and would prohibit this activity. Lanfear&#39;s Bane


 * According to The Onion: Iraq and Kentucky Vie For World Shooting-Into-The-Air Supremacy. iames 14:51, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Of course The Onion is a humor site. Edison 16:36, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Seems to also be a Hispanic-American thing, at least on new Year's Eve. Gzuckier 14:57, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Another risk of firing celebratory shots into the air in a war zone is that passing warplanes might fire back.  --TotoBaggins 19:25, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * The practice is done anywhere where there is a combination of 1. ample guns, 2. celebratory revelry, 3. lack of common sense about firearms, and 4. perceived lack of likelihood for being prosecuted for discharging a firearm into the air. I don't think it has anything specifically to do with the Middle East except for #4 being particularly high in places like Iraq, Palestine, etc. --24.147.86.187 21:52, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

See the end of the movie "Jarhead' where the celebrants were (fictional) American Marines, who were doing their celebrating in the Middle East. Also, I'd be very, very surprised if 40% of gun deaths in America result from celebratory gunfire into the air, but I wouldn't be surprised to read it in The Onion.


 * It's even done in Switzerland, I'm afraid to say. A few months ago, Giuliano Bignasca, the leader of a populist party in the canton Ticino fired a shot in the air to celebrate his party's success in local elections. He was fined 50 CHF for disturbing the peace. Sandstein 09:53, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

smoking and obesity
Is there any correlation between reduced smoking and the increase in obesity in the U. S.?Bill sekerak 15:35, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * There may well be correlation between smoker-rates and obesity rates but Correlation does not imply causation...ny156uk 16:09, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia may not give any medical advice. Smokers weigh less because tobacco suppresses the appetite, per the Mayo Clinic, but weight gain is not inevitable. The average gain of 7 to 10 pounds (3.2 to 4.5 kilograms) when quitting is "far outweighed by the physical benefits when quitting." . Nicotine withdrawal has been associated with increased appetite.

weird road signs
Is there an article in Wikipedia about weird road signs? I searched weird road signs, but nothing. I was wondering if it has a different title or something. TechMath 18:00, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * [[Image:Magic Roundabout Schild db.jpg|thumb|right|Is this weird enough?]] Well, we have an article on road signs, which has some wacky signs (here, here and here), although what makes a sign weird is very subjective; there's no way to define it scientifically (I find this sign weird, even though those who live near volcanoes would consider it perfectly normal), so there's no way we could make an article about it. Incidentally, the best I've seen is this sign; it means "No bicycles except for bicycles" in Polish! Laïka  17:12, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Just found this one, which has some surreal brilliance to it! See Commons:Category:Road signs. Laïka  17:14, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Which way to Hogwarts? Clarityfiend 18:04, 25 July 2007 (UTC) ->
 * Wow - there are some very interesting ones in the Commons page! This makes me think of super-fast runners; this makes me think of tantrums in the supermarket aisles; I can't begin to imagine what this is; and I wouldn't like to live in an area where people have to be told not to do this!  Hassocks5489 19:12, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * The strange thing about that last one is, there's no red bar through the red circle. Are they only half-serious about the prohibition? Were they expecting a possible need to someday paint the circle green? dr.ef.tymac 19:56, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I see a red bar. Perhaps you web browser isn't rendering the svg correctly. Jon513 20:13, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I think Dreftymac means that the one linked from "told not to do this" has no red bar. And the explanation is that many prohibitory signs in Europe use the circle alone.  Over here in North America we know the international prohibitory symbol as the circle-and-slash, but in Europe both styles are used on different signs. --Anonymous, July 25, 23:25 (UTC).
 * I interpret that second-to-last one of Hassocks5489's as "Rip in the space-time continuum ahead." Am I close? Clarityfiend 23:55, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

There's one of those magic roundabout thingys in Hertfordshire (I forget exactly where) and the first time I encountered it, I wasn't expecting it and almost had heart failure. The nice thing about it is that if you take the last exit at every small roundabout, you can go round the big roundabout the wrong way. Yes, I know, the winter nights just fly by. --Dweller 22:03, 25 July 2007 (UTC) -- SGBailey 22:46, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * One of several traffic roundabouts in England with a complex layout, nicknamed after the series:
 * Magic Roundabout (Swindon), one such roundabout in Swindon
 * Magic Roundabout (Hemel Hempstead), one such roundabout in Hemel Hempstead
 * Ah yes... Hemel is where I nearly met my maker. Thanks, SGBailey. --Dweller 05:30, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Magic Roundabout (Colchester), another such roundabout in Colchester


 * One assumes that Icelandic drivers have amazing speed-reading skills DuncanHill 00:06, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Judging from that picture, I suppose the assumption there is that drivers will be able to stop and not worry about too much traffic. While not quite as detailed as the Icelandic sign, I've found British highway signs, even on busy roads, are often quite crowded, with diagrams, several destinations and all kinds of numbers, some in parentheses. British drivers must be able to read faster than North Americans or Continental Europeans. -- Mwalcoff 01:57, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * 1) The "object in road ahead" sign always seemed odd to me. After all, for the amount of effort involved in installing the sign, couldn't they just move the object off the road, instead ?


 * 2) It's hard not to take the "DIP" sign personally.


 * 3) The "SLOW CHILDREN AT PLAY" sign makes me wonder if the kids are retarded or just move like snails.


 * 4) The sign with a big question mark on it made me wonder at first (it directs the driver toward a tourist information center).


 * 5) West Virginia gets past the too many words on one sign problem by spreading sentences over several widely spaced signs: "PLEASE"..."KEEP"..."OUR"..."STATE"..."CLEAN".


 * 6) The most philosophical sign (at a state park) said "TAKE ONLY PICTURES AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS".


 * 7) And just for interesting visualizations, the "FANGBONER RD." sign has the others beat: . StuRat 06:26, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * On this topic, see also the Flickr photo pool Stick Figures in Peril. Pfly 10:38, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * You may also want to see the Gallery of examples in Street sign theft... Laïka  12:03, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * This reminds of sign I saw when I visited Norway few years ago - they have made this. It's meant mainly for tourists, I hope Xil/talk 12:03, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Circa 1990, someone added the word DUSH to a BUMP sign on, I think, Duboce Street in San Francisco. —Tamfang 07:10, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

Mysterious Screw
I recievied a large package in the interdepartmental mail (meaning it came from someone at the company localy). The contents of the package are as follows:

1 Screw (triobular) 1 Rubber Band

I think someone is trying to anonmously send me a message. What are some possiblities this could mean? XM


 * Use contraceptive when you make love? ny156uk 19:42, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm like rubber, you're like screw? --24.147.86.187 00:11, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Reminds me of MacGyver jokes. "Peter: (writing letter) Dear MacGuyver, Enclosed is a rubber band, a paper clip, and a drinking straw. Please save my dog." --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 01:58, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * They thought you needed a rubber band and a screw for something? - Woo ty   [ Woot? ]  [Spam! Spam! Wonderful spam! ] 05:01, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Perhaps they think you're not too tightly wrapped and/or have a screw loose. StuRat 14:56, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, with a bit of glue, a matchstick (or another screw) and a cotton reel, you could make a cotton reel tank - perhaps you'll get another package with the rest of the bits in! Laïka  15:53, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Don’t open unidentified packages. Could be dangerous next time. Report it to a supervisor. --S.dedalus 19:16, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * It came through the questioner's interdepartmental mail; it's unlikely to be a letter bomb unless someone's supervisor is named Kaczynski.


 * Atlant 12:41, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

nonesuch sailboat
I've tried to find out what a nonesuch sail boat is, does, etc. (It's got two curved metal beams meeting at both ends, one attached (I think) to a single-sail mast, shaped like a wish bone.)I have a sailing manual, which doesn't mention it. Also tried my local library in various sections, including general and specific reference areas - no results. Asked a sailing friend, who only knew what the boat looked like. Please help.

eljak
 * Take a look at Nonsuch (sailboat). Donald Hosek 00:17, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Won-Ton soup
Where I can find the recipe for won-ton soup? Or, if possible, could it just be placed here? Thanks! -- Polar Wolf  19:26, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * -- LarryMac | Talk  19:29, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Wikibooks:Cookbook:Wonton Soup and Wikibooks:Cookbook:Wonton Wrapper (Let's keep it "in house" no need to involve google) Jon513 20:10, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * My internet doesn't have walls. -- LarryMac  | Talk  20:22, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * My personal advice is to not make your own wonton wrappers. The store bought ones are not expensive at all, and come at the correct thickness and already cut into squares for you. Most stores have them near the tofu, which is often near the produce. --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 21:21, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Thanks! I'll be sure to buy the wrappers instead of making them & thanks for all the recipes! -- Polar Wolf  03:18, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

transferring driver penalty points
I live in B.C., Canada, and I received a speeding ticket in the province of Quebec, Canada. At the time, I was driving a B.C. registered vehicle, and of course was using my BC drivers license (the only one I have). The officer told me that the two points associated with the ticket may or may not accrue on my driving record, depending on whether BC and Quebec have some sort of treaty. I've been unable to figure out whether the points transfer after researching online for a bit; anyone hear know the answer or where one can find it out? -74.57.231.219 20:01, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia does not give legal advice - ask a lawyer instead. We have to say that (it explains why at the top of the page). The Driver Licensing Agency for BC or for Quebec would presumably know the answer - or if you have some sort of Citizens' Advice Bureaux in Canada then they may also be ale to help you find out. DuncanHill 20:21, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Aren't they both just provinces of canada? >_< --⁪frotht 01:40, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Argentina - US relations
In a new global survey released by Pew (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/24_07_07pewglobal.pdf), they found 52% of Argentinians view the US as a threat (top of page 14). I find this perplexing: I don't know much about Argentina, but are there any specific issues that have caused this, or is it more general unease over the Bush administration's policies? 12.118.102.38 21:16, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * While I don't claim any expertise, I think that this is primarily unease over the Bush administration's policies. Another factor specific to Argentina could be its recent history. Critics both inside and outside Argentina blame the Argentine economic crisis (1999-2002), which brought great hardship to many Argentines, on Argentina's earlier adherence to an economic doctrine called the Washington Consensus. This doctrine, advocated by successive U.S. governments, has been criticized as an effort to advance the interests of developed-world multinational corporations at the expense of the people of the developing world.  This experience may have left a legacy of distrust among some Argentines toward the United States.  Marco polo 01:25, 26 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Going a little bit further back in history, Argentines may also distrust the US because of the support it gave to the "Dirty War" against the left by Argentina's military government of the 70s and 80s. Skarioffszky 11:09, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

Questions...yet unanswered
I POSTED a couple of questions on WIKIPEDIA, but havent found a simple answer to any of it,yet.

Q.1)What are the meanings of words Arzhaan (probably a persian name)& Zulkifil


 * You're best off taking questions like that to the Languages desk. You might get lucky and find a linguist here, but your chances are enhanced by posting there. Good luck. --Dweller 21:58, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

q.2) how much time it takes( i understand it isnt fixed, but i m asking of usual number of years) to be an ayatollah (a shia muslim prominent cleric)

plz help out


 * Arzhaan is Tuvan for springs (of water) - there is some information on this link . DuncanHill 22:01, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * There is also a town in Tuva called Arzhaan - map here . DuncanHill 22:03, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Arshan is a Persian word meaning man. As Persian uses a different alphabet from English, it may be that the Persian word can be written in more than one way in English. DuncanHill 22:16, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Zulkifil appears to be a personal name - used both as a forename and as a surname, I'm sorry I don't know if it has a particular meaning. DuncanHill 22:06, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I do not know how long it takes to become an Ayatollah, but the articles Ayatollah, Mujtahid and Hawza have some information on the studies required which may be helpful to you. DuncanHill 22:09, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

We did answer Zulkifil, it is Dhul-Kifl, the Islamic name for Ezekiel. Adam Bishop 22:59, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

CIA's NCS
Does the CIA recruit young (around 18 years of age) agent into their National Clandestine Service? Acceptable 23:28, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * They could, but they do require at the very least, a bachelor's degree and a 3.0+. --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 01:55, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * An Englishman writes..... what's a 3.0+? DuncanHill 01:58, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * A Canadian answers: it's a university (college) grading system, replacing letter grades (A,B . . . ) and marks out of 100. 3.0 is not amazing, but solid; I think 4.0 is the highest grade. Bielle 02:32, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * It's not really a replacement for letter grades, it's a different way of showing them (or rather, their averages). Academic grading in North America might be relevant here, basically, 4.0 = A, 3.0 = B, 2.0 = C, 1.0 = D, and of course 0 for fails. So, someone could have a good GPA if they do well in most subjects, but not all. -- L augh! 03:06, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Right. So a 3.0 is a B student; not too hard to manage if you are reasonably smart and are actually trying. Just one additional note is that not all universities/institutions/etc. calculate GPA the same way — some have their own idiosyncratic approaches when dealing with grades from other institutions which are meant to reduce grade inflation. (Many high schools, for example, treat Advanced Placement classes as being out of 5.0, which throws the curve when they are compared with high schools which do not, unless they are normalized.) --24.147.86.187 01:28, 27 July 2007 (UTC)

Shoe sizes
Does wearing a sneaker with the width a little wider than it could be hurt the foot. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.254.3.116 (talk • contribs) 23:41, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * A loose shoe could possibly cause irritation to the foot, especially if it rubs against something hard in the shoe. The shoe could also fall off, but tightening the laces should prevent that.  On the other hand, a loose shoe will be better ventilated, and keeping the feet cool and dry prevents all sorts of nasties from growing on them (and will keep them from stinking).  I'd try it for a while and see if how it feels. StuRat 01:16, 26 July 2007 (UTC)


 * I imagine that an overly wide shoe would not provide proper arch support, which could be a painful for people with pre-existing plantar problems. 199.172.246.196 17:18, 26 July 2007 (UTC)