Happy Birthday to Nike Air Max

There was nothing like the first drop of the Air Sole...



It was the '80s...Maybe it was the birth of the Space Shuttle or the Cold War, but it seemed that people went for that extra stretch of innovation in all phases of their life. And who usually looks most for the edge when it comes to athletics...Yes, it's runners people...Those introverted freaks who are always looking for the edge in human performance and with their only tools...shoes.

Since the release of Nike Air, it's wild how market and consumer has reacted to it. What first came out as a revolutionary technology is now...a revolutionary fashion accessory.

Check out Theresa Howard's article in today's Money Section of USA Today...Did you know that 34% of all basketball shoes are used to play basketball, 22% of running shoes are used for running? (Proves my theory that most of the Shox users are poseurs. Yes, that means you...you buxom blonde bunny from the Valley.)

Well, to keep my love for great technology and innovation in sports, particularly in track and field in focus. I've been celebrating Nike's choice to release several re-issues from past years.

Some of the models were fair, but several of them were nothing short of exceptional. A big thank you to the retro marketers who appreciate what the senior designers at Nike have accomplished over the years.

So, while you're oggling the tens of 20-30 somethings that are showing tribute to their nostalgic times and odes to their family relatives and role models by rocking the Air Max models from '87, '90, The Air 180, '95, '97, '03, and now the Air Max 360...Be sure to check out Thomas Bradley and Liquorice's historical review of the Nike Air Max at Freshness.

On my end, my particular favorites are the '87, '90, and the '95.

The ones that I could do without were the 180, '93, '97, and '03.

Quickly...Why?

The air sole of the 180 was way too stiff. It felt like you were running on a pressurized tennis ball. The '93 was too bubbly or for a better description...way too cushy with the neo-prene sleeve and the oversized sole.

The '97 model's air sole blew out several times on me. And the '03, (even though I wrote a favorable review in 2003), turned out to be a clunker. However, I ran a lot of miles in it. My "clunker" call derives from the weight. They are way too heavy when you compare to the Nike Air Miler that was released the following year. I know...I know...Different shoe, but damn, the Air Max needs to consistently be a lightweight shoe.

For my faves...I love the '87 look. The red is dope, and I dug the dark blue colorways that were released later that year. The '87 still brings the Apple McIntosh commericals to mind.

However, I won't mess with running in the '87 now because I know three of my cross-country teammates in high school that year received stress fractures from the shoe. Seriously, it was like an epidemic...So, I'll leave that shoe to the techies who want to rock them with their '80s costumes.

The Air Max '90 is extra-Cadbury. But if I'm going to drop for the retro, give me a shoe that I can grab a run in or play a pick-up game of 21 in the park with...Ya' know.

That's why the Air Max '95 is still the 'Wham-Bango!". Hell, I trained for a marathon in that shoe, and I used to take that shoe on the road with me. Surprisingly, that shoe balled many full-court runs and 21s all over...from Venice Beach to Boulder, to Chicago, to even several runs with Ed Cota in Woollen Gym. How's that for versatility?

No shoe in the last two decades has blown design away like that '95. Hell, this shoe is so strong that Nike has reissued the shoe for the third time now.

With all that said, 'Happy Birthday' to the Air Max. I will be picking up the Air 360. And I'll give you the review. As far as looks are concerned...The full-length Air sole finally arrived...They're worth the wait.

Runnin',
IronDog

Nike Air
Nike Air 180
Air Max
Air Max 2003
Air Max 360
Air Max 95

Great Article, "Let There Be Wi-Fi"

Everyone talks a big game about public wi-fi...But where is the walk, people?

Yes, community projects are sprouting across the U.S. And yes, we have seen action in cities such as Austin, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. However, where is the rest of the country? What are we doing with public and affordable broadband services?

Robert McChesney and John Podesta addresses these questions and more in their article "Let There Be Wi-Fi" in the Washington Monthly. They provide a clear snapshot of the challenges that public municipalities are facing with the advance of technology and our lackadaisical efforts at decreasing the 'digital divide.' Be sure to check this out...

While you do, keep in mind the Friedman 'World Is Flat' warnings that have been discussed here.

McChesney and Podesta discovered about 60 percent of U.S. households do not subscribe to broadband because it is either unavailable where they live or they cannot afford it while most Japanese citizens can access a high-speed connection that's more than 10 times faster than what's available here for just $22 a month. They also point to a fact that Japan is now rolling out ultra-high speed access at more than 500 times what the Federal Communications Commission considers to be “broadband” in this country.

Is that a way to prepare people for a service economy? In my sight, with the blend of public and private entities mixing to install public broadband access in other countries, we're not only falling furthering the chasm of the 'digital divide', but we're also losing several steps in the race for innovation that will arrive with new forms of media.

Why are we not taking more of a progressive stance to create open and public information access for communities?

McChesney and Podesta use a great anaolgy of public wi-fi to the birth of electricity by stating that communities who didn't have electricity couldn't produce as much, and couldn't keep up with urban competitors. It's not a stretch to compare the necessity of the two technologies as a public service in today's world.

Wi-Fi and free information is that important in the new economy and new world...Support your local Wi-Fi advocacy groups and donate, promote, and utilize wirless access.

More than just surfing,
IronDog

Getaway Driver

I had to put this up here tonight...

I've been sharing videos with a few of my boys through YouTube. Check out this one from Iraq. These guys would be perfect 'Getaway' drivers in the US.

Scrreeech,
Irondog