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Al's Morning Meeting reader Ed Zagorski, of the Ozaukee County (Wis.) News Graphic, sent me a great story tip about a new kind of stalking that police are seeing. This involves a stalker sending zillions of text messages to the victim. The stalker bombards the victim with hundreds -- even thousands -- of messages a month. Not only are the messages a big nuisance, they can cost the victim hundreds of dollars because of the overuse of the phone service.

The story says:

It's become such an invasion of one's private space that Oklahoma legislators passed a bill last March making harassment by text messaging a criminal act.

The House Bill 1804, by Lance Cargill (R-Harrah), makes it illegal to use any electronic or telecommunication device to terrorize or harass another individual.

"This bill expands current harassment laws to make clear that not only are harassing telephone calls illegal, but so are harassing e-mails, faxes and text messaging," Cargill said. "This legislation was requested by an Oklahoma County assistant district attorney, who was concerned about victims' rights."

Cargill said advancements in communication technology have helped aid many batterers and stalkers in locating their victims.

According to Project Safe Inc., a nonprofit organization in Oklahoma that serves victims of domestic and sexual violence, reported that the level of danger for battered women and their children increases after they leave their abuser. Project Safe also reported that some victims could receive as many as 30 to 50 voice or text messages in a day.

Here is a group, called WHO@ (Working to Halt Online Abuse), that works to stop online stalking.

CASAS (Crime and Sexual Assault Support Services), a group that assists sexual-assault victims, says 25 percent of stalking incidents among college women involves cyberstalking.

Wedge Woes

The hottest women's shoe styles this spring include the high wedge and big ol' platform shoes. Doctors are saying that they'll get a lot of business out of this fad.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons say the thick, platform-style base of a high wedge doesn't allow the foot to move as naturally as in a shoe with a conventional heel.

The result is that more weight is borne by the ball of the foot.

Some high wedges also have curved soles, which can make it easy to lose your balance. "You're already on a pretty high pedestal... walking on your tiptoes, and then you put a rocker underneath it -- I don't think that's a very stable construct," says Dr. Judith Baumhauer, chief of foot and ankle surgery at the University of Rochester.

Wearing high wedges -- some measure as much as 5 inches at the heel -- can cause joint inflammation under the big toe, a condition known as sesamoiditis, and damage to the fat under the ball of the foot, doctors say.

Stilettos can cause these ailments, too. But some doctors say high wedges are more likely to trigger them because the clunky heels interfere with the foot's natural movement.

While conventional heels absorb some of the weight of walking, says Dr. Les Glubo, a New York podiatrist, "with these wedges, the heel is so high... it's throwing all the stress of the weight to the front of the foot."

Knee, back or ankle strain is also possible because wedges often weigh more than traditional heels, says Dr. Howard Glickman, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

The industry has done platforms and wedges before, but many of the current styles use synthetic materials to make the base lighter than in the past, and some incorporate shock-absorbing materials.

Makers say the new high wedges appeal to women who want to add 4 or 5 inches to their height but feel like they are wearing 2- to 4-inch heels (because the ball of the foot sits on a 1- or 2-inch platform). 

Half of Americans Have Foot Pain

It's sort of interesting, isn't it, that the newest uncomfortable styles come just as the American Podiatric Medical Association says one-half of Americans already has aching feet. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a nice piece about foot pain, especially among women.

Flip-Flops Are Not the Answer, Either

Forbes points out that summer flip-flops are terrible for your feet.

While spike-heeled stilettos and strappy sandals seem like the obvious culprits when it comes to foot pain, doctors say the worst shoes a person can wear are those flat thongs. And though many people believe wearing them is a way to give their feet a break, in fact, it's quite the opposite. The shoes are a major cause of foot problems because they offer little, if any, support.

"Flip-flops have a spongy sole, so when the foot hits the ground, it [rolls] inward and the sponge allows it to roll even more than usual," says Dr. John E. Mancuso, a podiatrist at the Manhattan Podiatry Associates in New York. "This is called pronation, and it causes many problems in the foot."

The story says: 

"Flip-flops don't really hold on the foot like most shoes do, so we use the tendons and muscles to hold them on," says Dr. Greg Cohen, a podiatrist at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

During the summer, Cohen also tends to see a lot of ankle sprains -- another result of flip-flop use. "When a person steps off the stairs or a curb wrong, there's nothing there to hold or support the foot or ankle."

Of course, not all foot crises arise from flip-flops (which, by the way, can still be worn to the pool or beach, as long as it isn't for the whole day). During the summer, people are at greater risk of getting athlete's foot, warts and blisters -- problems that are exacerbated by heat, moisture and friction.