Of Mercury and Far-Flung Feet

Let's start with the good news, shall we?

Skafest started this weekend, and both the temperatures and the sunlight have been gorgeous. Highs are expected to be around 70°F (20-22°C) all week, with nightly lows in in the low 50s(F)/teens (C). Sunny + cool breeze = Chas loves this weather!!

So on to the macabre news ...

There's been more info out about the mysterious (and now, thanks entirely to this blog, reported worldwide) case of the sneakers filled with disembodied human feet which have washed up on the shores of various islands and rivers in our general region.

Here's a good rundown of the latest revelations, but in a nutshell:

• Of the five feet found so far, four were right feet. One of the right feet belonged to a female.


• The one left foot has been matched to one of the right feet. The identity of the victim is not yet known.


• It's important to reiterate that despite the reckless use of the term "severed" in news reports, all the feet found disarticulated from the body "naturally" rather than being separated by force. There's no evidence of foul play, these feet are probably remains of small-plane or boat sinkings.

Looking at the photos and video of the (now-cleaned) running shoes, I'm struck by how well-preserved these shoes are after at least a year in the water. I'm thinking now that when I die, I want my body encased in tennis-shoe-like material (particularly if I were to be buried at sea!).