Tinker's Air Jordan 2012

I recently wore these sneakers to NutMeg's 30th birthday. When I mean recently, I mean it was in June. As you have seen from what I have been writing, I do not have much time to update this blog, but I will attempt to do it when I can.

The Air Jordan 2012 was created as a modular shoe. It had one outer shell, 2 inner cuffs, and 3 insoles. You can mix'n'match all the different components. Currently I am happy with the low inner liner, with the Fly Over insoles. They are very comfortable, and I would not have a problem using them for casual wear, as well as sport.

The query some of you may have is why am I wearing sneakers to a 30th birthday. Was it a casual affair? Well not it was not. The birthday was a theme dress-up. NutMeg asked people to come dressed in the 50s, but KittyKat and I dressed in the 30s. The Air Jordan 2012 (in this instance, Tinker Hatfield's personal design) looks similar to a wingtip shoe with spat look on it, as you can see:

These shoes were worn under a grey pinstripe suit, with tie and fedora hat. The best thing I liked about this shoe was that no one who saw me thought I was wearing sneakers until I pointed it out. I am definitely looking for the next formal occasion I can slip into these.

Toddler Adidas Shelltoes

With someone special on his way, KittyKat and I decided we needed to purchase some sneakers for the little man. KittyKat saw these on special and knew that I would be getting them. There is not much I can write about the Adidas Superstar II for toddlers, as I cannot actually try them on, but they look just as sturdy as the Shelltoes I have.

The main difference is the laces with the adult version and the toddler version - with the toddler version not having any laces but velcro straps instead.

After little man arrives, I'll report on what they appear to do, but keep in mind, this is more of an exercise in marketing than in comfort for any toddler. Most toddlers may get about 2 months usage out of these type of shoes (especially in this shoe size) before they are not longer usable. I have already made comments on this in the Adidas Toy Story Woody shoes article I have written, and my stance is still the same.

The revised SplinterWin deck on Android

I've recently been working on my Infinite Copies Modern deck for Magic: The Gathering (MTG), and this is the latest iteration of it:


SplinterWin (Modern) [blue/red]
CREATURES

• 2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
• 4 Pestermite
• 4 Deceiver Exarch
• 2 Spellskite

NONCREATURES

• 4 Splinter Twin
• 3 Pact of Negation
• 4 Remand
• 2 Mana Leak
• 2 Dispel
• 1 Firespout
• 1 Lightning Bolt
• 4 Serum Visions
• 1 Spreading Seas
• 2 Echoing Truth

LANDS

• 4 Steam Vents
• 4 Reflecting Pool
• 4 Scalding Tarn
• 4 Cascade Bluffs
• 4 Sulfur Falls
• 2 Island
• 1 Breeding Pool
• 1 Stomping Ground

SIDEBOARDS

• 2 Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
• 2 Spellskite
• 3 Nihil Spellbomb
• 3 Naturalize
• 2 Firespout
• 1 Echoing Truth
• 1 Dispel
• 1 Lightning Bolt

I have been working on this deck with my new Android phone and it the MTG toolbox application. The application itself is quiet interesting, but appears to be prone to crashing during mid operation. SpecialK has the same application on his iPhone, and it does not appear to have the same crashing problems. The application's features include a card viewer, a location finder, a news reader - all of this is to do with MTG, of course. Additionally, I am able to analyse the decks I create (seeing percentage breakdowns of different cards in the deck), build different decks at the same time, share the decks (via email or sms), and even draw sample hands.

Another fault (other than the random crashing) I have seen in the application is that during the simulated drawing of sample hands, there is a significant doubling up of cards in sequence. I do not think the randomiser works well. I have not seen behaviour like this in real life draws.


I am still keen to know of alternative applications, as well as decks in the modern format that are competitive against this deck, which can win by turn 4 around 35% of the time, and by turn 5 around 60% of the time. It would win easier if Preordain and Ponder were not banned in the format - but there are reasons for that, and it has been discussed in:

• What’s Up with the Modern Banned List?

Other Modern format deck ideas have been discussed in:

• Analyzing the Modern Format - Post-Dark Ascension Edition

Air Jordan 11s - but not the Concords

The Air Jordan XIs Concords recently were released to a world wide frenzy amongst sneaker collectors. This article is not about them. This article is about the Air Jordan XI Retro Low shoe.

The main similarity with this shoe and its original incarnation is the sole of the shoe. The tread design is the same, and it appears that components that make up the sole are the same. There is a big shank of carbon fiber, but instead of the clear or icy sole, it is a smokey sole. This, I believe, is an improvement over the original soles. After wearing the shoe, I have noticed no yellowing of the sole, whereas the Air Jordan XI Concords and Space Jams that I own are already showing yellowing - out of the box.

The upper of the shoe does not have any patent leather, and this is where I think this shoe has an improvement over the original. Instead of the shiny leather, it has ventilation panels, and on hot days, it is greatly welcomed. The shoe stays breezy and my feet do not feel overheated. In comparison, my feet sweat and overheat in the Pewter Foamposites - but that is expected, as it has no ventilation to allow for the memory foam that makes up in inner lining of the shoe to mold to the shape of the wearer's foot.

I find these shoes comfortable to wear, but they have deteriorated quickly. I am hoping this is only confined to the pair I have. The left shoe appears to have bad glue or not enough of it, as it appears that sole has broken away from the midsole in the middle of the shoe. The edges of the sole are fine. What this translates to is that the shoe now squeaks when I walk. I am not impressed with the "Quality Basketball Products Inspired by the Greatest Player Ever" that have been recently made. I would have expected that from a fake / knock-off shoe, but these were purchased from the Nike Factory Outlet in Smith Street, Collingwood, so I doubt that would be fakes.

If I am willing to overlook the fact that my left foot squeaks when I walk, and I do, I do find these shoes versatile and comfortable, but I would not choose to play sports in them. I believe that is the general consensus on the internet.