The Individual Guide

Summer has finally arrived. Along with summer comes shorts and tank tops, bathing suits and BBQs, sun and, of course, sandals. Easy to slip on and off and cool enough for the hot summer days, sandals tend to be the main choice for footwear during the summer months. Sandal styles vary, but flip-flops have been gaining in popularity in recent years. Unfortunately, along with flip-flops come foot injuries. The flip-flop style sandal has almost no arch support and little beyond the two flimsy straps on top to keep the foot on the sole of the sandal. The result is overworked tendons and an overstressed arch. Ankle sprains are common injuries for flip-flop wearers, but more chronic problems, like tendonitis and plantar fasciitis can also develop. Flip-flops are not the only culprit, many sandals do not offer much arch support, shock absorption and have little material to keep the foot on the sole. The combination of flip-flops and high heels tends to be the deadliest summer sandal choice. A nice summer evening out can easily turn into a night in the emergency room with a sprained or broken ankle.

There are many shoes and sandals available today which are comfortable, but will not compromise your sense of style. When looking for a summer sandal, following these simple tips:

1. The sole of the sandal should be larger than your foot. Your foot should not hang over the sides or the back of the sandal.

2. There should be enough material on the top of the sandal to keep your foot on the sole and to keep the foot from slipping.

3. The sole of the sandal should be rigid and not flex in the middle. If you can take your sandal and fold it in half, then it is too flexible and it will not offer enough support.

4. Keep in mind that many sandals are not made for walking, but designed purely for style. Owning one pair of sandals for walking and one pair for sitting at the beach or at a BBQ may be a good idea.

5. When buying a sandal for walking, look for a sturdy sole, multiple straps with buckles or velcro, built in arch supports or an accommodation for a custom orthotic.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has a list of shoes and sandals which have been given their approval. For more information on the APMA’s Seal of Acceptance program and their list of shoes and sandals, visit their website at www.apma.org/sealofacceptance.

If you just can’t imagine the idea of parting with your flip-flops or stylish sandals this summer, then consider carrying a pair of athletic shoes or walking sandals in your car for those times when you may be doing more walking. Areas with hills, stairs or slippery surfaces are not appropriate for walking in flip-flops and could lead to injury. If you develop arch pain or heel pain while in your sandals, stop wearing them and visit a podiatrist.

A walk through any urban area or within institutions of higher learning in this country makes one encounter the ever dynamic and evolving mode of dressing among the youth. Gone are the days when formal dressing would be used to accentuate one’s personality; fashion and style now take center-stage in decision of attire by younger people.

Inasmuch as this is a contentious issue that elicits unending dialogue and varied opinions, the question that begs asking is: Who or what primarily determines what today’s young men and women choose to wear, and why?

The media comes out as a major influence on the decisions young people make, especially when it comes to dressing. Under the umbrella term ‘media’, is publications, television, radio, cinema, theatre, the internet and various modes of advertising that relay information to people.

With such universal rights as freedom of expression seemingly in full effect, young people need no prompting to enjoy these rights and exercise the freedoms that go with it. Besides style and fashion, human beings primarily get dressed for protection from the elements and also to safeguard their dignity. The question that arises then is: Why would a young man endure the discomfort of a winter jacket worn in the afternoon heat or teenage girls bear the morning chill in sleeveless tops. Are we more interested in looking and feeling like people in the western world or being dressed comfortably?

Many young people find role models in celebrities, both locally and internationally. Tattoos are acquired simply because a favorite musician, actor or other famous person has one. Accents and choice of words are also determined by these same factors. Little wonder there is prevalence of vulgar language and obscene gestures among the youth.

Young persons living in urban areas are more affected considering their exposure to a more versatile and metropolitan environment. Life in towns is so eventful and communication channels are quite developed.

The warped view that the youth get especially after watching movies and music videos from the developed countries is that the attire worn during performances is every-day wear. Many young people eventually wear shameful skimpy clothing while aping what they have watched. Very tight and close-fitting clothes worn especially by ladies supposedly make them ‘feel more comfortable’.

There was in recent times a launch of a Kenyan national dress that had taken both fashion experts and the public many days to come up with. Since the launch, very few people still remember how those dresses looked like, let alone ever wearing one. Either the dresses are very costly, unavailable or out of taste for the Kenyans they were being made for.

This craving for what is foreign runs deep within all of us but it is more evident in the youth who are more prone to peer influences and impulsive actions by virtue of their age and the circumstances they find themselves in.

Can the young man or woman living today in a world where everyone else seems to be quite busy minding his or her business get direction from these ‘other’ people?
To many an adult, the modern youth have either lost direction or are headed into oblivion, both culturally and morally. And this is happening really fast. At this juncture, we need to pause, take a second look and ask ourselves: Have we failed as a society to take charge of our own, such that our sons and daughters are now seeking direction in other cultures that unrelentingly dish out their own values and cultural practices, however despicable?

How then can the local media outlets which do have such an enormous influence on our youth promote more positive values and thus endear our youth to constructive ways of expression? The programming and content carried by electronic and print media should be aimed at providing the population with information and values that enhance their knowledge and appreciation of their own culture. Surveys should be carried out to find out what the youth really appreciate and without comprising the business reasons for which this industry exists, they should be more involved in propagating their own cultural values.
The youth will therefore enjoy our rich culture, be more dignified and discover in themselves renewed self-worth.

It is now 2006 and for men’s hairstyle trends, the New Year starts off with the first celebrity award show, The Golden Globes. All the male celebrities either set new hairstyle trends or hairstyle do nots for all the guys out there. Let’s get started with some of the best looks.

Johnny Depp’s hairstyle may not be the best for an award show or other gala, but the bed head style is great for days of hanging around or the club scene.

Joaquin Phoenix, on the other hand sported an old hairstyle that just did give an award winning appearance much like Evan Marriot, of Average Joe 15 minute fame.

Hot young actor Adrien Brody offers a smoldering look with a fine, long hairstyle. This will definitely be a hot, men’s hairstyle. As for off the radar, former hot actor Ryan Philippe just does not fit the mold with the brown hair and short hairstyle. Reese is still a blonde and so should he.

For guys looking for that buzz trend, Matthew Fox, of the very popular series Lost, shows how it’s done from back to front and especially the side burns.

Hugh Laurie of, House Call, just is definitely an out of place doctor with his fuzzy hair that seems to be sticking out everywhere even with his Golden Globe.

Matt Dillon’s new look came a little short just like his Golden Globe and will not be starting any trends with this hairstyle.

Well that is the quick view of some of the hot and not so hot men’s hairstyles from the Golden Globe Awards 2006. If you would like some more hairstyle ideas please visit our men’s hairstyle guide. Next up, the Oscars.

Cindy Marcus is an editor for latest-hairstyles.com, a popular hairstyle website that provides hairstyle ideas and tips for women, men and children.

http://www.latest-hairstyles.com

Marc Ecko Enterprises have been in business since 1993, when three men came together with an idea. They’ve got clothing choices for all too, even cute little outfits for the baby. For ages 4 and under you’ll have a choice between what’s currently hitting the streets to what will one day be hitting the markets. For those of you that want to stock up on the winter wear for your baby there is the mosh mini thermal shirts, embroidered jacket, reversible Go Gully hoodie or even a 2-fer for the not so cold days. 2-Fers are the long sleeve t-shirt with a short sleeve designed worn above it.

If you are just looking for some trendy outfits for the warmer months they’ve got a ton of short sleeve T-shirts and shorts. This company may have only started out with 6 different t-shirts but they’ve grown into a much bigger business then that. I’m sure you’ll find something you are looking for. Get your baby some ecko baby clothes that you won’t have to pay a fortune for. Head online and check out baby sites that might have the prices cut in half. Imagine how many more outfits you’ll be able to buy.