Who Is To Blame?

So how did Murphy's law come about?

According to George Nichols, another engineer who was present, Murphy, in frustration, blamed the failure on his assistant, saying, "If that guy has any way of making a mistake, he will." Nichols' account is that "Murphy's law" came about through conversation among the other members of the team. It was condensed to "If it can happen, it will happen," and named for Murphy in mockery of what Nichols perceived as arrogance on Murphy's part. Others, including Edward Murphy's surviving son Robert Murphy, deny Nichols' account, and claim that his father's statement was along the lines of "If there's more than one way to do a job, and one of those ways will result in disaster, then somebody will do it that way."

... Or a Mrs. Murphy?

Was there really a Mr. Murphy, him of the infamous law?

It states "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong," and was named after Major Edward A. Murphy, Jr., a development engineer working for a brief time on rocket sled experiments done by the United States Air Force in 1949.

Yum

Privates!

Getting a Private Jet and Getting the Most From It

Adrianna Notton

Getting a private jet can be a big financial commitment. However it is important to be careful when deciding what company to invest in. You want to make sure that they are reliable and offer the kind of service that you require.

There are a number of benefits to this kind of flight. Even when booking first class there are various inconveniences when booking with a commercial airline. You often need to go through customs and security. There will be a number of restrictions, both in terms of where you can fly to and what you can bring with you. This often makes the whole travelling experience stressful and often means it is harder to enjoy your eventual arrival at your destination.

Before you contact any airlines you should do some research. Look at companies that have been operating for a long period of time. They should have a good record in both safety and reliability. Once you have decided on an airline you should then discuss your requirements. One of the main benefits of this kind of airline is that you can be specific about what you want and you can have the service tailored to you.

For example some people want to use private charted airlines to get to their destinations quicker. If this is the case it is less likely that they will be particularly interested in cabin sizes or any other extra options. If this is your particular concern then your questions should focus mainly on speed and reliability.

Equally for a lot of people they associate these kind of jets with a certain kind of glamour. Increasingly commercial airlines have more budget lines and tend to offer less in the way of comfort. This is one aspect in which a private charter is more appealing as you can be sure of more leg room and getting the kind of customer service that people used to associate with flying during its early golden age period.

For example on a private flight it is more likely that you will be able to bring pets with you. It is also more possible to make arrangements from both take off and arrival. Other aspects such as catering can be specifically adapted to your own individual needs. A good company should be prepared to listen to your requirements and adapt as necessary.

Like a lot of companies there are a number of customer review and feedback forums available on the internet. They should let you know how they feel about the service each company offers and whether it is reliable. It is advisable to look at a number of different ones in order to get the broadest range of views to help you make an informed decision.

Getting a private jet is not something that should be done on a whim. It should be a long term decision that will make your travel experience more comfortable and convenient. Look online for company directories to find the best one for your needs.

Did Someone Say Moon?

Today's Word "Mooncalf"

A daydreamer or absent-minded person

mooncalf \MOON-kaf\ (noun) - 1 : A daydreamer or absent-minded person. 2 : A fool or simpleton. 3 : A congenitally deformed person.

"Jefferson, who has become a justly popular leading actor over the past few seasons, is both monster and mooncalf."

From the earlier belief that a misshapen birth was a result of effects of the moon.

Clitties Forever!

When you want to know what’s up down there, you consult your ob-gyn, friends or the latest “Cosmo” issue. But what if you’re stumped over your partner’s parts? Most women don’t know as much about their guy’s anatomy as their own. What’s the average size? Can it break? Read the gal’s guide to his equipment for answers to 8 common questions...
1. 5-6 inches is averageIs my penis big enough? It’s such an age-old worry for guys that someone actually got out a tape measure and checked. In a laboratory.

The result: Studies indicate that the average guy measures 5.1-5.7 inches when erect and 3.4-3.7 inches when not.

Some penises can appear smaller than they are because fat around the lower abdomen masks their true size; guys can lose the appearance of a full inch for every additional 35 pounds they’re carrying.

It can also be caused by skin on the penis that isn’t securely anchoring the shaft, which means his member retracts when soft.

When it comes to size, remember this: “The vagina always adjusts to the penis," says Ciril Godec, M.D., chairman of urology at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn.

2. There’s no need to supersize.Email boxes are flooded every day with offers to “enlarge your penis” – even if you don’t have one.

“They’re garbage,” says Marc Greenstein, M.D., a urologist with the North Jersey Center for Urologic Care.

Same for penis expansion surgery. One such procedure involves injecting body fat into the penis to thicken it.

Another severs the suspensory penile ligament, which attaches the penis to the pubic bone.

Reputable urologists won’t perform either procedure because they’re not effective and there’s a risk of mutilation, infection and fracture.

Plus, once the ligament’s cut guys lose their ability to steer, which is not good for you.

“The penis just kind of flops; you can’t really direct it,” says Sovrin Shah, M.D., a urologist with Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

Still, if you and your partner feel the need to upsize, pick up a penis pump or cock ring at an adult boutique.

They can temporarily increase size by drawing more blood to the area.

3. If it’s morning, he’s erect.

Much as we’d like to think that guys wake up hard because they’re sleeping next to us, morning erections (called nocturnal penile tumescence in the urology world) are really just a holdover from the dreaming or rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep.

During REM, neurological activity and the release of hormones like testosterone produce erections.

Some doctors believe that the body’s natural way of keeping the penis healthy is to infuse it with fresh, nutrient-rich blood each night through erections.

Regardless of why it happens, it’s fairly routine.

On average, healthy guys experience 3-5 erections during a normal night’s sleep.

We’re just awake enough to appreciate it in the morning.

4. If you bend it, it can break.

The corpora cavernosa – the chambers of the penis that fill with blood during erection – are made of connective tissue.

If the penis bends suddenly and awkwardly, the tissue can crack.

“It breaks right in half,” Greenstein says. Fractured penises require surgery to repair and take about six weeks to heal completely.

5. His testes won’t burst if he doesn’t ejaculate.

The truth about this popular ploy for talking us into sex: Arousal without release doesn’t damage his testes.

While it’s true that men’s testicles can expand by 25%-50% during arousal, there’s yet to be a report of testicles popping from lack of climax.

The trapped blood can make the testicles feel achy without the big finish (they may even turn a bit blue as blood loses oxygen), but the only damage done, says Greenstein, “is to men’s pride.”

6. Not hard? It’s (probably) not you.

Equipment malfunctions have a lot to do with how guys treat their own bodies.

Smoking, for example, narrows the blood vessels in the penis, which are already narrow at 0.5-1 millimeter in diameter. Since erections depend on unimpeded blood flow to the penis, any kind of impediment.

In fact, smokers are twice as likely to become impotent as nonsmokers.

Also, having a few drinks to “get you in the mood” can backfire by basically paralyzing the nerves of the penis, according to Godec.

“If there’s no stimulation leading to dilation of blood vessels, there’s no erection,” he says.

The occasional flop isn’t cause for concern. But if your guy’s been more often deflated than elated lately, get him to a doctor pronto. Erectile woes are often the first indicator of serious health problems.

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) typically develop coronary artery disease within three years and diabetes within eight years.

And if they have hypertension, they’re more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

“The penis is the thermometer of men’s health,” says Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, associate professor of urology at Columbia University in New York City.

Check out 10 Health Symptoms Your Guy Shouldn't Ignore.
7. Hair triggers can be handled.About 30% of guys are quick to ejaculate. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy marathon sex with your guy, as long as you approach the situation diplomatically.

First, raise the issue.

Yes, this will be awkward, but couching it as a conversation about how you can please each other takes the edge off, says sexpert Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., author of Prime: Adventures and Advice on Sex, Love and the Sensual Years (Collins).

She suggests this opener: “Is there something we can do that can help us last a little longer? I enjoy having you so much, I don’t want it to stop that quickly.”

“This way it’s not all about him; it’s about you as a couple,” Schwartz says.

Once you’re both on board to slow down, there are many ways to apply the brakes.

SSRI antidepressants are often prescribed to help with premature ejaculation. But according to Shah, this buys guys only a couple minutes of extra time.

A better approach may be the “start-stop” method: Your partner gets aroused, backs off before the point of no return, lets things cool down and then starts again.

The idea, explains Shah, is to gradually build tolerance so that with practice he can last longer.

Schwartz also recommends a throwaway round.

“Having a quick session will reduce the sense of urgency,” she explains. Then have a longer session together.

"He won’t be as quick the second time.”

Another exercise: Fool around without intercourse.

“This way he learns how to hold an erection for a while without feeling that he has to do something with it right away,” Schwartz says.
8. Erections can last too long.There’s admirable staying power... and then there’s too much.

Erections that stick around for 2-3 hours after ejaculation are a sign of plumbing problems.

Erections occur when blood rushes into the penis and the veins snap shut to keep it there, making the penis stay hard. After ejaculation, those blood vessels should relax so the blood can drain out.

If blood gets trapped, erection becomes painful and, if untreated, may lead to impotence. Known as priapism, this condition mainly affects men with sickle cell anemia, diabetes or leukemia.

However, it has been known to happen when guys double up on erection medications to put on a good show in bed.

If your partner's penis shows no signs of returning to normal, swallow your embarrassment and go to the emergency room. In the early stages, docs can use drugs to lower the boom. But the longer you wait, the higher the chances of surgery.

Perplexed By His Penis?

Your partner's penis can do wondrous things, but how much do you really know about how it works? Take this penis quiz to find out.

            

 

 

So Do You Want It?

Quote of the Day

Sylvia Plath

Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything it is because we are dangerously near wanting nothing.

What Does ...?

Every little bit helps, but there are simple things you can do you make yourself look younger that don't involve makeup. Whitening strips, for instance, help remove coffee and tea stains from teeth; whiter teeth help you look younger and healthier easily. And there's one that's even simpler -- work on your posture! You'll look thinner and younger without much effort ... and it's easier on your back, too.

Is Nikkij Dangerous ... For You?

Is coffee dangerous to you?

According to Dr. Bruce Ames, University of California at Berkeley, there are more than 1,000 chemicals in a cup of coffee. Of these, only 26 have been tested, and half caused cancer in rats.

Joe Is Where?

Why do we call coffee "Joe"?

According to one legend, in the past the US Navy served wine on board its ships. But that stopped when Admiral Josephus Daniels became Secretary of the Navy. Admiral "Joe" banned wine from the officer's mess, except on special occasions. Peeved sailors began to sarcastically refer to their coffee, one of the few drinks permitted, as a "cup of Joe.".

Coffee Tea or Me?

When and how did decaffeinated coffee get introduced to America?

Decaffeinated coffee was made available to Americans in 1903 by virtue of an accident. Coffee importer Ludwig Roselius brought in a shipment from Europe that became waterlogged -- and thus decaffeinated.

Will Coffee It Grow?

Can coffee sober up an intoxicated person?

No. This is a dangerous myth. There is NO known way to lower blood alcohol levels. Alcohol is eliminated from the body's circulatory system by the liver at a rate of about one half-ounce per hour and there is no way to speed up this process. Drinking coffee MAY relieve the effects of a hangover by reducing dehydration.

How Old is ...

How old is coffee?

Avicenna, an Arabian philosopher, introduced coffee as a medicinal tonic around 1000 AD. He called it "bunc". The drink didn't really catch on as a social beverage in Persia and Arabia until the 16th century.

Do You Travel Light?

 Around The World: Travel Light, But Include Safety and Comfort Gadgets

Jennifer Merin

 

Although it’s advisable to travel very light these days, there are several gadgets that are well worth their extra weight in comfort and security, and can easily be stowed with the rest of your essential travel gear.

You’ll find that everything on this roster of suggestions is easy to find, if not at your local luggage or convenience store, at airport boutiques and kiosks and, perhaps most convenient of all, via online and mail order.

Luggage Strap: Most airlines require you leave checked bags unlocked for possible hand-inspection by TSA agents. That, of course, means that luggage handlers have access, too. And, there have been many incidents of theft reported. A sturdy luggage strap with a secure TSA approved lock will allow for hand-inspection by the authorities, but should prevent luggage handlers from pawing through the contents of your bag. Additionally, in case your bag pops open while it’s being lurched along a conveyer belt or if it’s dropped by a luggage handler, the strap will prevent the contents of your bag from spilling out entirely, although you may still lose small items that have been packed last minute, squeezed into the bag near the perimeter.

Luggage straps come in a wide variety of colors, and with various fasteners. They range in price from about $4 to $25. They weigh next to nothing. Luggage stores sell them, as do convenience stores, and they’re available at airport shops or kiosks. Or, you can order from Magellans.com or a plethora of other online sellers.

Collapsible luggage carts are invaluable when porters are scarce or carry-ons are to heavy to be toted on your shoulder. There are plastic and metal varieties, and before buying one of them, consider how much it weighs -- because you will have to tote it when you’re not using it to tote your stuff. Make sure your model is sturdy enough to meet your needs, with a wide enough base and balanced wheels that prevent tipping over. Luggage carts are sold at travel gear stores and airport shops, but a good selection is available online from ebag.com for $24 to $40.

Packing light requires using packing accessories that let you stuff a lot into a little bit of space. Compression is the key. Clear plastic compression bags flatten bulky sweaters and squish a stack of shirts into a flat and packable shape. Best of all, the flattened items spring back to their regular shape when the bag is opened. Sets of two or three bags in various sizes are sold in most hardware stores, or online at amazon.com.

Eagle Creek’s packing cubes are invaluable organizers that will sort out essentials so you can instantly find them. They also allow you to sort clean and soiled items, and help you keep the inside of your luggage clean. A good selection is available online from Backcountry.com

For safeguarding travel documents and vouchers, credit cards, travelers or personal checks, different currencies and keeping your receipts in order, you’ll need an organizer wallet. Of course, there are a variety available at a wide range of prices, but LL Bean’s passport wallet is a good bet, with pockets for everything and a sturdy strap that fits around your neck or will loop over your belt. For $25 at llbean.com.

Depending on your itinerary and planned activities, a good alternative is a waterproof case that keeps documents and other valuables safe and dry. You’ll find a wide selection -- including those that you can hang around your neck -- online at thewaterproofstore.com.

To relieve concerns about preventing pilfering of your expensive clothing and other valuables in your hotel room, keep them in a locked drawer. Safetycentral.com has a drawer travel lock for $20. To prevent anyone from entering your hotel room -- with or without a key -- at a sensitive moment, use a portable door lock. A good model is available online from corporatetravelsafety.com, for $11.

Second to only safety in travel is comfort, and that’s becoming harder and harder to find. On crowded planes, little is offered to make the environment accommodating. Seats are small and uncomfortable, and most carriers no long provide even pillows or blankets in coach class. The solution is to bring your own. There are lots of models to choose from, but go for the best and most comfortable you can afford. Tempurpedic.com offers a range of travel pillows that feature the manufacturer’s form-fitting foam. They’re a bit pricey, but they’re so comfortable you may decide to use them at home, as well.

Fleece travel blankets are lightweight and warm, but they’re a bit bulky. A good alternative is the silk travel blanket, available from magellans.com for about $45. Along with the silk blanket order the silk DreamSack, a lightweight silk sleeping bag (from $70, depending on size) that you can use on the plane -- or in your hotel -- to assure yourself a clean wrap.

Clean and potable water, too, is an issue on airplanes and in many travel destinations around the world. To make sure you have plenty of it, bring along a portable water purification system. There are tablets, purifying bottles and steripens to choose from. All can be purchased from magellans.com.

Even if you want a total escape from the work and worries you face at home, you’ll want to bring a notebook, laptop or pad computer with you. In any variety, these are invaluable travel assistants: they keep your calendar for you, store copies of your travel documents that can be printed out if necessary, and you can use them for Skyping or otherwise keeping in touch via email or social media platforms. And, they serve up your own selection of entertaining movies, games, books or other media, as you wish to enjoy them.

Of course, there’s a daunting range to choose from. Before you buy make a lot of comparisons regarding size, weight, programs, battery life and the time it takes to recharge it, and the range of available applications. Ask a lot of questions and compare prices, and whether repairs and replacements can be made while you‘re on the road. . Best advice on selection is to ask a lot of questions, including whether a model is compatible with overseas servers, whether there are extra charges for use at long distances from your home and/or overseas, which apps are available for travelers, battery life and length of time it takes to recharge, and how much it weighs.

Copyright 2011 Jennifer Merin

Who's Submissive To Who?

Today's Word "uxorious"

Excessively fond of a wife

uxorious \uk-SOR-ee-us; ug-ZOR-\ (adjective) - Excessively fond of or submissive to a wife.

"Of looks, words, consideration, habitual deference, and eager attention, I was quite as uxorious as I should have been of the warm kiss, or the yielding, fond embrace." -- W. Gilmore Simms, 'Confession, Or, the Blind Heart'

Uxorious is from Latin uxorius, from uxor, wife.

Speaking of Penetration?

You may be in for criticism today. Take it constructively, even if it's not given that way. Don't let ego defenses prevent you from making improvements but don't follow every critical advice either.

Apply It Everywhere?

Health and Beauty Tip -- Use Sunscreen ...

... on your hands! Even when applying your own sunscreen or sunblock, it's important to apply it to your hands they way you would the rest of you. Too much exposure to sun can age them prematurely. You can use special products made for hands, or your regular sunscreen or subnblock.

Make It Grow!

Quote of the Day

Karen Kaiser Clark

Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.

Explain ....

Today's Word "posit"

To propose as an explanation

posit \POZ-it\ (transitive verb) - 1 : To assume as real or conceded. 2 : To propose as an explanation; to suggest. 3 : To dispose or set firmly or fixedly.

"It was difficult to posit a solution to the problem or even, indeed, to determine exactly what the problem was."

Posit is from Latin positus, past participle of ponere, "to put, to place, to set."

I Try To Be Different!

Quote of the Day

Rosa Luxemberg

Freedom is always freedom for the man who thinks differently.

Do You Approve?

You want approval. To get it, some try to appear as others want them to be; others hide in mystery. You are challenged to approach relationships honestly, without pretense.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Quote of the Day

Jeanette Rankin

You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.

Then Find The Trojan Aisle

Health and Beauty Tip -- New Sunscreen

When buying sunscreen this summer, look for two new ingredients: meroxyl and helioplex. These will help protect from both UVA and UVB rays, and are showing up in more and more products this year.

Did Someone Say Take Off Your Pants?

Classic Quotes by Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Statesman, Soldier, and Author "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." ------------------------- "A joke is a very serious thing." ------------------------- "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."

Tilting

Are seasons caused by the Earth's proximity to the sun?

The Earth's distance from the sun during its yearly elliptical orbit actually has little effect on temperature. It's the angle of the Earth's tilt toward the sun in the summer for the Northern Hemisphere and away in the winterthat dictates climate.

Say What?

Quote of the Day

Anne Frank

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

What Lasts ....

Health and Beauty Tip -- Nail Polish That Lasts

The type of nail polish you use, as well as how you apply it, can determine how long it will last. Shimmery colors tend to last longer, as the small particles of sparkle help the polish cling to your nails. Also, don't lay the polish on too thick. Rather that two thick coats, try three or four thin ones. They'll last longer and dry more quickly.

Who Do Annoy?

Today's Word "Gadfly"

One who persistently annoys

gadfly \GAD-fly\ (noun) - 1 : One who persistently annoys. 2 : Any of the various types of flies that bite livestock.

"Despite his stern image, Frederic loved gossip and bawdy, silly jokes and became close friends with noted gadfly Angela DeMauier."

From gad (a goad for cattle), from Middle English, from Old Norse gaddr.

Facts... Nothing But The Facts

You can be an engaging storyteller today. Be sure that you don't try to pass off misrepresentations as the truth, however. Instead, try to relate the facts in interesting ways.

Which celebrity do you most resemble?

Jenny McCarthy

Talk Dirty To Me!

Nikki, I'm sorry to hear you were given the date rape pills. Under what circumstances were they given to you? Disguised as something else or already dissolved in a drink? Looking back, what should you have looked for or should have known?

It was during a gang bang

Talk Dirty To Me!

What do you like on your hamburgers?

lettuce, ripe tomato, thousand island dressing

Talk Dirty To Me!

Not yet final

Today's Word "Nisi"

nisi \NY-sy, NEE-see\ (adjective) - Not yet final, taking effect at a later date unless invalidated by a certain cause.

"Albert was interested to read that his ex-wife's latest divorce was granted decree nisi as of the previous Friday."

From Latin nisi (unless, if not), from ne- (not) + si (if). The word usually appears in forms such as "decree nisi", "order nisi".

Post ...

Post-Wax

To minimize redness and bumps, try an after-wax product that contains azulene, an essential oil derived from chamomile. Gretchen Hauer, an aesthetician at Avia Spa in Santa Barbara, CA, also recommends applying Tend Skin - a lotion that helps prevent ingrown hairs – the day after your treatment. For general soothing, you can use aloe vera gel, but the best thing is to just leave the area alone.

The main thing you’ll feel post-treatment? “Clients have a real sense of accomplishment after they’ve been waxed,” Hauer says. “They always feel sexy and are excited to show their partner.”

Go Bare Down There

Bikini waxes aren't just for strippers, coeds and Brazilian beach bunnies. Women of all ages have discovered this sexy beauty secret. Whether you want to raise your partner's heart rate or feel less self-conscious in your swimsuit, defuzzing your southern hemisphere is fast becoming a grooming must-do. Click here for more.

Waxing Styles

There are several popular waxing styles, which may be known by other names depending on the salon:

Bikini: Perfect for a waxing newbie, this type cleans up the sides, as well as a little off the top for low-rise shorts and pants. It's perfect if you're shy; you can wear paper undies called "bikini buddies" during the treatment. (Also known as the Basic)

French: Similar to a basic bikini wax, this type takes about a half-inch more off each side.

Brazilian: Most Brazilian waxes remove all hair front and back (including labial lips and butt), but leave a thin "landing strip" down the front. (Also known as the Playboy) However, at many salons, a Brazilian doesn't include the landing strip.

- Full Brazilian: Leaves you completely bald. (Also known as the Telly Savales, the Full Monty, the Sphinx, and the Hollywood)

Be sure to ask the aesthetician how her salon defines each type of bikini wax. Also, don't hesitate to tell the waxer specifically what you want.

The Long and The ....

This is a good day to get into the particulars of your finances. Learn what's going on with your earnings, deductions, benefits and investments. Once you see the nitty-gritty you can make changes or be ready to do so.

Speechless

Today's Word "laconic"

Sparing with words

laconic \luh-KON-ik\ (adjective) - Sparing with words, concise, terse.

"Lana's laconic way of speaking was completely at odds with her wordy, rambling prose style."

From Latin Laconicus, from Greek Lakonikos, from Lakon, Laconian, a resident of Laconia, an ancient country in southern Greece (Capital: Sparta). From the the reputation of the Laconians for terseness.

Highly intricate

Today's Word "gordian"

gordian \GOR-dee-uhn\ (adjective) - Highly intricate; extremely difficult to solve.

"All agreed that coming up with a solution to the gordian problem of where to locate the company's new branch office was certain to take everyone's full attention for quite some time."

In Greek mythology, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a knot that defied all who tried to untie it. An oracle prophesied that one who would undo this Gordian knot would rule Asia. Alexander the Great simply cut the knot with one stroke of his sword. Hence the saying, "to cut the Gordian knot" meaning to solve a difficult problem by a simple, bold, and effective action.

Before ....

Health and Beauty Tip -- When to Apply Blush

As a rule, you should apply blush before powder, but find what works best for you. Some makeup artists like to use blush before foundation for a more natural-looking glow. Always use a full brush, rather than the small one that comes in your compact

Give Light....

Quote of the Day

Adela Rogers St. John

Happiness is a sort of atmosphere you can live in sometimes when you're lucky. Joy is a light that fills you with hope and faith and love.

Higher .....

ARMONK, N.Y. (UPI) -- The heels on U.S. women's shoes remain high -- as they often do during poor economic times, but an IBM official says the company's analysis portends a change.
"Usually, in an economic downturn, heels go up and stay up -- as consumers turn to more flamboyant fashions as a means of fantasy and escape," Dr. Trevor Davis, a consumer products expert with IBM Global Business Services, said in a statement. This time, something different is happening -- perhaps a mood of long term austerity is evolving among consumers sparking a desire to reduce ostentation in everyday settings.

The relationship of shoe styles to the economy has been tracked for at least 100 years. The low-heeled flapper shoes in the 1920s were replaced with high-heel pumps and platforms during the Great Depression.

During the 1970s oil crisis, the platform shoe made a comeback reversing the preference for low-heeled sandals in the late 1960s, while the low, thick heels of the 1990s "grunge" period gave way to Sex and the City-inspired stilettos following the dot-com bust at the turn of the century, Davis said.
An analysis of the last four years of social media showed discussions of increasing heel height peaked toward the end of 2009 and declined after that, but key trend-watching bloggers from 2008 to 2009 wrote consistently about heels from 5 to 8 inches. By mid-2011 they were writing about the return of the kitten heel and the perfect flat from Jimmy Choo and Louboutin.

"This is not to say that the sky-high heels have gone, rather that, as the economic downturn has worn on, they are discussed as glamwear and not for the office or shopping trip," Davis said.