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Dow said it was recycling our shoes. We found them at an Indonesian flea market U.S. petrochemicals giant Dow Inc and the Singapore government said they were transforming old sneakers into playgrounds and running tracks. Reuters put that promise to the test by planting hidden trackers inside 11 pairs of donated shoes. Most got exported instead. At a rundown market on the Indonesian island of Batam, a small location tracker was beeping from the back of a crumbling second-hand shoe store. A Reuters reporter followed the high-pitched ping to a mound of old sneakers and began digging through the pile. There they were: a pair of blue Nike running shoes with a tracking device hidden in one of the soles. These familiar shoes had traveled by land, then sea and crossed an international border to end up in this heap. They weren’t supposed to be here. Five months earlier, in July 2022, Reuters had given the shoes to a recycling program spearheaded by the Singapore government and U.S. petrochemicals giant Dow Inc. In media releases and a promotional video posted online, that effort promised to harvest the rubberized soles and midsoles of donated shoes, then grind down the material for use in building new playgrounds and running tracks in Singapore. Dow, a major producer of chemicals used to make plastics and other synthetic materials, in the past has launched recycling efforts that have fallen short of their stated aims. Reuters wanted to follow a donated shoe from start to finish to see if it did, in fact, end up in new athletic surfaces in Singapore, or at least made it as far as a local recycling facility for shredding. To that end, the news organization cut a shallow cavity into the interior sole of one of the blue Nikes, placed a Bluetooth tracker inside, then concealed the device by covering it with the insole. The tracker was synched to a smartphone app that showed where the shoe moved in real time. Within weeks, the blue Nikes had left the prosperous city-state and were moving south by sea across the narrow Singapore Strait to Batam island, the app showed. Reuters decided to put trackers in an additional 10 pairs of donated shoes to see if wayward pair No. 1 had been a fluke. It wasn’t. None of the 11 pairs of footwear donated by Reuters were turned into exercise paths or kids’ parks in Singapore. Instead, nearly all the tagged shoes ended up in the hands of Yok Impex Pte Ltd, a Singaporean second-hand goods exporter, according to the trackers and that exporter’s logistics manager. The manager said his firm had been hired by a waste management company involved in the recycling program to retrieve shoes from the donation bins for delivery to that company’s local warehouse. But that’s not what happened to the shoes donated by Reuters. Ten pairs moved first from the donation bins to the exporter’s facility, then on to neighboring Indonesia, in some cases traveling hundreds of miles to different corners of the vast archipelago, the location trackers showed.

Car enthusiasts are an emotional bunch. So, I naturally develop feelings for things on wheels, be it four wheels or two. However, I was surprised to discover that I had become attached to my old pair of sneakers, whose soles are so worn that it hurts to wear them. That is the unequivocal signal to retire them. But I must say "Thank you" before bidding them goodbye. The laceless design is convenient, saving time when you need to rush off in the morning Through thick and thin These Adidas Ultraboost sneakers were purchased during a holiday in Taipei over six years ago. Back then, I saw them as shoes to wear on Thursdays and Fridays. The fact that they didn't have laces added to their appeal. Indeed, this was their purpose for the next two years. I wore them sparingly - no more than once a week and not when it was raining when I was about to leave the house. Then COVID came. It put an end to work trips and twice-yearly holidays - these shoes accompanied me on such occasions. But the pandemic was also a blessing, for it allowed me to reset and chase after better health. These sneakers became my workout companion. As my other pair of running shoes wore out, this pair accompanied me on numerous walks, jogs and runs. Kilometre after kilometre, they plodded along with me as I strived to improve my fitness. I went from being haggard after walking two kilometres to being able to easily walk 10 kilometres - with plenty of 'petrol' left in the tank. Walking for two hours straight is now easy. This newfound fitness continues to pay off during holidays. Of course, all this pavement pounding took its toll. Wear patterns emerged as the once-fresh soles became flatter. I washed them whenever they began to smell. They began to lose their 'bounce' as well, with the springiness lessening each month. At the same time, these sneakers continued their service as part of my casual Friday ensemble. Or, if I had to go somewhere where a lot of walking was involved, I would slip them on. When I began pursuing my 2B licence last May, these sneakers were once again called to action. They were my de facto choice of footwear for practical lessons. (I wear proper riding boots now with protective D30 inserts.) I really put these sneakers through hell. Many of my practical lessons occurred during heavy downpours, leaving them and my feet soaking wet. Still, they soldiered on. The 'tread' is worn and flat, and the soles have actually cracked Age sets in Midway through my nine-month journey (which included a two-month wait for the TP test availability, during which I kept spamming circuit reviews), I began to worry that my shoes wouldn't last till the end. I had ceased wearing them on Fridays and had bought another pair for workouts. But they still performed exercise duty from time to time. My concern then was that I did not want to alter my riding footwear. When you're a newbie, you're scared of having to get used to something else. What if your other shoes are slippery, causing you to miss a shift and even fail the test? Well, these sneakers held, and I passed my 2B licence in them. Calling them my 'lucky shoes', I promised I would throw them away right after earning my 2A licence this year. That deadline has long passed. Goodbye and thank you Now that I've written this sole-ful tribute, I am ready to bid these sneakers adieu. My rational side knows that there's no point in keeping shoes I can no longer wear, and that throwing them away frees up space for a replacement pair. But rather than parting with them with a heavy heart, I wish to send them off with a grateful and happy one. To my long-serving sneakers: Thank you for being there for me each time I needed you. Thank you for standing up to the rigours of my lifestyle. Your worn soles are a testament to how far we have travelled. Thank you for being my initial riding companion and getting me through the first riding licence. And for always being there for all other casual occasions. If shoes could tell a story, you would be a diary that chronicled my journey over the last six years. I have worn you till you wore out; it is only fair for you to retire. Life is about choices, and it's also about learning to let go to make room in your life for new experiences. Should Adidas make another pair like this one in a colour I like, I would probably buy it. It won't be the same as my old pair of sneakers, but I'd still be excited to see where they take me over the next few years.

Hi, To the fair ladies here, and also those (not so fair ones) of you who have wives/GFs/daughters, even mothers/aunts or female colleagues/friends/classmates/relatives, etc. and who has knowledge of where can buy lady's court shoes that are... big/huge, can you share your knowledge here? My girl needs to get a pair, as required by her course in poly (for some formal presentation), and her legs are bigger than average... Almost all the designs that she's seen (and like), all dun have her size 😓 We've brought her to some neighbourhood malls' shoe shops, and so far no success. Am sure there are such shoes available, so am trying to see whether can get any recommendations here. Bonus if not too expensive too 😅 . Don't think she'll wear it a lot, ha ha... Thanks in advance.

Running Shoes - Are expensive running shoes a waste of money? 57 yr old Tarahumara runner ran the 100 km race with a pair of sandals made from old rubber tyres and came in first - so much for expensive high end running shoes :-) Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 9:35 PM The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money? Thrust enhancers, roll bars, mic rochips ... the $20 billion running - shoe industry wants us to believe that the latest technologies will cushion every stride. Yet in this extract from his controversial new book, Christopher McDougall claims that injury rates for runners are actually on the rise, that everything we've been told about running shoes is wrong - and that it might even be better to go barefoot. By CHRISTOPHER McDOUGALL Last updated at 8:01 PM on 19th April 2009 Every year, anywhere from 65 to 80 per cent of all runners suffer an injury. No matter who you are, no matter how much you run, your odds of getting hurt are the same At Stanford University , California , two sales representatives from Nike were watching the athletics team practise. Part of their job was to gather feedback from the company's sponsored runners about which shoes they preferred. Unfortunately, it was proving difficult that day as the runners all seemed to prefer... nothing.

Hi bros, do you guys drive barefooted or with shoes on? or maybe even slippers? hahahahaha🤣 What are your thoughts on this? Which is better? I personally drive barefooted as I feel safer without shoes. I feel that i can control how much pressure i apply on brakes and accelerator better with my feet. Another reason why I do not like to wear shoes to drive is because my shoes always get stuck and I could not take out my legs (maybe cause i have big feet👣). Most people says that it is dangerous to drive barefooted so what do you guys think?

anyone wears safety shoes for work ? i am looking at skechers ... but read a review that the front is abit small. another thing is it looks kinda heavy ... wonder if it really is ? i have been to a few skechers shops but it seems they do not have work shoes in their shops. i need something that provide extra cushioning and light like my skechers walking shoes, so hoping their workshoes are the same. i am wearing nitti now ... thye are good and lasting ... but thing is does not provide enough cushioning for my 90kg frame.

Hi, Any bro here have experience with Podiatry ? Any good ones to recommend to check on feet condition to make customise insert for shoes? Thank you

I recently bought a pair of Hush Puppies black leather shoes and realized that it is not really good. Regretted the purchase. Any bro here can recommend a good pair of leather shoes?

Hi guys anyone have bought shoes online? Am looking for a pair of shoes and after few trips to the usual Robinsons / Tangs find quite same old boring. Thinking to hoot a pair online from https://meermin.es/index.php. Read quite good reviews and after conversion abt SGD300 - SGD600 depending on model. Problem is there is no physical shop selling at all, so don't know the cutting/fit. Anyone bought meermin or shoes online before can share experience

Hi guys.............i having a hard time now as i looking for shoes but hard to find shoes that is my size about 11 or 12 for smart casual shoes...... any1 have lobang pls tell me

Anybody know where to get the above in SG? Can't find much info online

Hi, being someone who doesnt travel often to winter countries, I wish to find out from the seasoned travelers what shoes to wear to Japan for a 67 year old man. Where can I find reasonably priced winter shoes that are non slip and yet comfortable to wear? Would a pair of shoes from Caterpillar like this be suitable? http://img.ishoe.co.uk/photos/CATERPILLAR/Pritchard/Cat-Pritchard-Tyre-08.jpg

Hi, anyone knows where I can customise those ladies sandals in Singapore ?

Any good running shoes to recommend? is those minimalist running shoes good on running on granite stone track? I have a reebok but the side of the shoes, poked by my toes, now punctured a hole...less than 1 yr, so lousy thin material.

This article reminds me of these two movies, Homerun by Jack Neo and Children of Heaven. A wish for a pair of shoes. http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/teens-wish-new-shoes-come-true-20150223 http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/request-footwear-touches-donor-20150223

Ex-Malaysian Beauty Queen Has 1000 Pairs Of Shoes, As Told To UK High Court http://eng.mynewshub.cc/2014/10/06/ex-malaysian-beauty-queen-has-1000-pairs-of-shoesas-told-to-uk-high-court/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mynewshub-English+%28MyNewsHub+-+English%29 LONDON: In a bid to have her divorce heard in Britain, Pauline Chai, the estranged wife of Malaysian business tycoon Khoo Kay Peng, has told the High Court that she keeps 700 of her 1,000 pairs of shoes in her £30mil (RM156mil) Hertfordshire mansion. “I have more than 1,000 pairs of shoes from 43 years. I have accumulated them, I never dispose of them,” Chai, 67, was cited by the Telegraph as saying. Chai, who was crowned Miss Malaysia 1969, was giving evidence last Friday to prove that the couple settled permanently in Hertfordshire in 2009 and she was therefore entitled to file her divorce petition in the country. Khoo, 75, is contesting Britain’s jurisdiction and has filed his own divorce petition in their native Malaysia. Neither of them is a British citizen. They have five adult children together. Chai’s claim is estimated at £200mil (RM1bil) and if successful, is potentially Britain’s largest divorce settlement. It is believed that she filed her petition in London because divorce settlements are based on an equal distribution of matrimonial assets here. She could be entitled to less under Malaysian law, which divides matrimonial assets according to a spouse’s contribution to their acquisition, either directly via payments or indirectly by raising the children and taking care of the home. The couple lived a lavish lifestyle during their 43-year marriage, with luxury staffed homes also in Kuala Lumpur, Canada and Australia. In Britain, they live in separate mansions at Rossway Park, a sprawling 405ha estate in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire guarded by Gurkhas and containing some llamas, alpacas and two man-made lakes costing £60,000 (RM312,000) each. According to the Telegraph, when challenged by Khoo’s lawyers that she also had an extensive collection of clothes, shoes and handbags in her Kuala Lumpur home, Chai responded: “When you have houses all over the world and you travel so much, (you have some at each house) so you don’t have to carry it all along with you.” Khoo is ranked 42nd on Malaysia’s 50 richest list by US magazine Forbes. According to Forbes, his net worth as at February this year is £190mil (RM987mil), though it is speculated his worth is closer to £500mil (RM2.6bil). Chai also told the court last Thursday that she had ordered a padded toilet seat for her husband as he had backache from spending hours reading and working while sitting on the toilet daily. The Daily Mail reported that Chai’s lawyer Richard Todd QC said last Friday she lived on a “beautiful English estate”, had a taste for English TV shows and valued what was “quintessentially” English. It had been reported earlier that Chai had her 15-room Hertfordshire home decked out in Laura Ashley furnishings because she “loved England and everything English”, and not just because her husband owns a 40% stake in the clothing and interiors firm. Chai filed for divorce in February last year, citing her husband’s unreasonable behaviour. She has accused him of being “very controlling”, rationing her food and forbidding her from leaving their house without his permission. Chai said on Friday that she was not divorcing her husband for money, but to get away from a “violent” relationship, admitting that at one point she had locked herself in a back room, according to The Telegraph. “I just wanted to get away from an abusive, oppressive relationship which I could not take because of my age,” she said. “When I was younger, I could recover. Now it is too difficult to overcome it because of the violence and the fear he is putting on me,” she added. She said he had told her: “You are nothing, you have nothing, you have no bargaining powers.” Khoo’s lawyers have strenuously denied these allegations on his behalf, though the reclusive magnate has not made a personal appearance at any of the proceedings in Britain. He will give evidence via live video link when the hearing resumes on Oct 13. This high-stakes case has also attracted attention, and criticism, for its spiralling costs. The legal fees for both sides have reached an eye-watering £2.3mil (RM12mil) in total, just for the preliminary proceedings so far. Chai is represented by Ayesha Vardag, the capital’s “diva of divorce” who in 2010 got pre-nuptial agreements recognised in England, allowing her client, German heiress Karin Radmacher, to protect her £100mil (RM520mil) fortune from her former husband. Khoo has retained Fiona Shackleton, another renowned divorce lawyer who has advised the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Nigella Lawson and the Prince of Wales during his divorce from the late Diana, Princess of Wales. – Singapore Straits Times/ANN

, my time (1977) running in flat sole black PT shoes ... CNA: SAF to get adidas, Zoot running shoes SINGAPORE: From the end of the year, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers will get to choose between German brand adidas and American endurance sports brand Zoot for their running shoes. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed on his Facebook page on Sunday (Aug 24) the fourth change to the SAF’s running shoes since 1995. Referring to the ASICS running shoes used by the SAF since 2011, Dr Ng said he was delighted with them. “They were of a high quality and have given me many hours of happy walking and jogging,” he said. “More good news for National Servicemen. The next set of running shoes will be from adidas and Zoot, and will be available at the end of the year.” When contacted, the Ministry of Defence said more details on the shoes – such as the specific models and whether they would be available to recruits first or on SAF eMarts as well – would be announced later. There are more than 300,000 regulars, active full- time and operationally ready national servicemen. Currently, servicemen can choose from two models of ASICS running shoes, depending on their foot type – the Gel Kanbarra 4 SP for those with neutral-to-high-arched feet and the Gel 105 SP for those with mildly flat feet. The ASICS shoes were first introduced in August 2011 and were said to be chosen because the Japanese brand is lighter, more durable and more shock-absorbent. Before that, servicemen had been using New Balance or Brooks models since 2007. In the first three decades of National Service, soldiers wore thin-soled black gymnasium shoes. -TODAY/cy link: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/saf-to-get-adidas-zoot/1328052.html Peng Kia nowadays chin heng ahhhhhhhhhhhh...................

Hi I am planning to pick up jogging, can someone suggest wat is a good jogging shoe. Please dont suggest SAF one hor I already got that. But growing old now so need to protect my leg.

Just realized one of my fav sneakers' soles had hardened. Tried searching googling but some said do this and some said do that with no conviction. Anyone with good, workable solutions to soften them? TIA.

Yes I'm a shortie, in case you ask...

what would you do if the following scenario happened to you: -come up with an idea that will help the customer -feedback to the higher up for quite some time (about 14 emails to show the though process, justifications and sources) -boss asks colleague X for a second opinion to make sure the idea is sound -within a few minutes colleague X has emailed customer the entire idea and has started a dialogue directly with them -receive an apology from higher up, since it's too late to interject at this junction if you were me, would you let it go? (and yes, this just happened recently) so far, i've simply chosen to hold my tongue so at least if the deal materializes, everyone benefits. the truth is, i would have been fine if the boss had run with the idea, but not the colleague, since the guy never has anything good to say ... ever. i would love to jump into the thread midway since i can better explain the idea, but it seems the driver's seat is already taken ...

My wife keeps buying shoes. There is a pair for all occasions and other pairs to go with that dress. Everything must go with something and then go buy another thing to go with this thing like a never-ending cycle. From stilettoes to boots and everything else in-between. Seriously, most of them look the same to me. Especially the heels. Whats your count?

anyone into Geox leather shoes? Is it really tat comfortable, and for pple like me with sweaty feet, is it beneficial?

There was a time (good 20yrs++), only two pairs: Office/Function shoes Sports shoes (and sandals, if counted as shoes) Other members (males) in my family typically: 2-3 pairs for sports 2-3 pairs casual 2 pairs for functions/dinners 2 pairs for office how many do you have? (office very quiet, many pple on leave.... needs to kill some time)