“We have been producing that specific style, which I personally designed, for 10 years, so I couldn’t have missed it, no way,” said Ramazan Baydan, a shoemaker in Istanbul. “As a shoemaker, you understand.”
Although his assertion has been impossible to verify — cobblers from Lebanon, China and Iraq have also staked claims to what is quickly becoming some of the most famous footwear in the world — orders for Mr. Baydan’s shoes, formerly known as Ducati Model 271 and since renamed “The Bush Shoe,” have poured in from around the world.
A new run of 15,000 pairs, destined for Iraq, went into production on Thursday, he said. A British distributor has asked to become the Baydan Shoe Company’s European sales representative, with a first order of 95,000 pairs, and an American company has placed an order for 18,000 pairs.
...
For now, Mr. Baydan’s customers will have to take his word for it. The journalist who launched the shoes at a news conference a week ago, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, was wrestled to the ground by guards and has not been seen in public since. Explosives tests by investigators destroyed the offending footwear.
But Mr. Baydan insists he recognizes his shoes. Given their light weight, just under 11 ounces each, and clunky design, he said he was amazed by their aerodynamics.
21 December, 2008
Ducati Model 271 flying off the shelves
New York Times
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18 comments:
somebody please tell me this is a joke...
DJ: didnt some US companies sell toilet paper with images of osama bin laden right after 9/11? and then there was saddam and george bush TP out as well.
if people can pay for crap like that, shoes at least offer a longer life (in terms of usage).
*shrugs*
whoever is ordering the shoes should, i think, ascertain they come from the 'original' maker.
I'm most definitely interesting in acquiring this Ducati Model 271.
Those ought to be real handy for bitch-slapping those responsible for doing this to Youssif.
More on Youssif here and here.
"The journalist who launched the shoes at a news conference a week ago, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, was wrestled to the ground by guards and has not been seen in public since."
So much for freedom of expression.
Not much different from bad old days under a dictator!
-FR
Thanks for those links Kyle, I'd forgotten about Youssif. Glad to know hes doing good,
-_-
I thought this was going to be about sports bikes. God forbid something halfway smart be posted on here.
kyle: pity no one's updated us on ali ismail abbas since 2004 :(
Hemlock:
I’m glad you brought that up because until your link I had not known about it. So, thanks much.
Kyle, so you quietly write a thanks note, is that all & pretend it ends at that?
Anonymous - 12/23/08 at 20:57:
*sigh*
No, I'm not exactly proud of that boy's predicament and all that befell him and his family members due to a missile gone awry.
The only thing I am proud of is my country's ability to maintain transparency and chronicle this incident on Wiki as well as publish it in our national & the worldwide media for the whole world to see instead of suppressing/debunking or for that matter pretend that it never happened. That is because of our freedom, our ability to criticize, hold accountable and most importantly even if it takes a lifetime, bring to justice (irrespective of their status) all those that commit such dastardly acts.
A true example of this freedom was the bringing to light the Abu Ghraib violations where all those guilty were named, shamed & dishonorably discharged. And in time, there will be more to come.
Having said all that, I admit these incidents were not our finest hour(s) but at least there are elements in our society that vehemently enforce accountability. You may call them a different kind of Brothers in Arms or for a lack of a better term - An elite fraternity for accountability.
Notwithstanding above, my heart goes out for Ali, Youssif and all those nameless & faceless (irrespective of their borders and ethnicity) tolls of senseless conflicts in this day & age.
*Merry Christmas*
Nicely said Kyle, nicely said indeed. You guys have a lot to be proud about. Only if more nations could follow suit.
Merry Christmas.
^^^^
the above exchange reminded me of a survey once done on Arab youth, the questions and the prevailing answers were along those lines:
Q1. which country do you dislike the most in the world?
A1. The united states.
Q2. which country do you look forward to emigrate to the most?
A2. the united states.
Merry Christmas you guys.
kyle: well said dude (in response to anon). i personally wanted to give them a shut up call, but couldnt be bothered.
and im glad i didnt - you did it really well :D
my heart goes out for Ali, Youssif and all those nameless & faceless (...) tolls of senseless conflicts in this day & age
ditto.
i cant beleive this dear.
Kyle: "We're baby murderers... but good ones deep down inside!"
Yeah.
Rosh:
Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to you and family.
Dubai Jazz:
Touché
Hemlock:
Thank you very much :)
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