Shoes - What size?

New starlettes achieve fame by dropping their clothing, this we all know. But a man can become famous by dropping or rather aiming his shoes is new.
Muntadir has become famous just on this Act.
Many of our Indian politicians deserve the same treatment but our politicians are so shameless that they would collect those shoes and sell them to the poor.
I understand shoes is not a good way to start a new year blog, but then, not everyday does the President of the most powerful nation on earth has shoes thrown at him.
The following is from my Equitymaster Newsletter.

Muntadhir Al-Zaidi, the Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at President George Bush during Bush’s farewell trip to Iraq, is doing his bit to revive global demand. And creating a brand name for himself.
While there is a debate about where his shoes were manufactured (the claimants are China, Iraq, and Turkey) note how Indian shoe manufacturers have not put in their claim - yet more proof of the relative de-linking of India from the global economy. Another testament to quality - one that the advertisers will no doubt hide - is that Al-Zaidi’s brother confirmed that the reporter did not wear his "good" shoes and changed into the "other" shoes before he set out on his mission. Even anger has a cost - why waste good shoes on a bad person? So this can be the ad for the shoe manufacturer: "Not good enough for you to wear, but good enough for him!"
But the fact is that the Al-Zaidi shoes are in demand in the Middle East. Along with posters of President Bush. It will not be long before some bright entrepreneur reinvents the game of darts and creates a game called "Sho-ush" - shoes for Bush. Little plastic shoes made in China, priced in US Dollars, and packed neatly in different shades of green with a poster of Bush to hang on a nail.
Will it sell? Sure, the endorsers of "Sho-ush" are some pretty well connected people. CNN reports that Ayatollah Ahmad Janatti told his congregation in Tehran that "The shoe intifada (rebellion) in Iraq should not be overlooked easily. Well done to the Iraqi journalist for throwing the shoes at the U.S. president." Speaking to worshipers at Tehran University, Jannati labeled the shoes "more valuable than crowns, medals and signs" and believes they should be place in an Iraqi museum.
So London may boast of the Crown Jewels, and Iran can boast of the Al-Zaidi shoes.
Has the fever died down? Nope - not as yet. On December 26th, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps sponsored shoe-throwing events near Tehran University and the U.S. Embassy. CNN reported that "about 70 people stopped to toss their shoes as they walked to Friday prayer meetings on the main campus of Tehran University". This is not a dead cat bounce of a dead stock market: this is for real.
In fact, while the global art market - and the 3-kisses-on-the-cheek Indian art market - is heading for a collapse in volume and price (just like the stock markets and the unreal estate market in India) the Al-Zaidi shoes and gold are the only assets that seem to have any demand these days.
A Saudi gentleman reportedly was willing to buy the shoes for US$ 10 million. And, there have been offers for marriage made by shoe-struck fathers looking for a suitable match for their daughters.
While the Americans may not be as blunt as Al-Zaidi - they seem to have the same feelings about President-in-fade Bush. Seventy-five percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp survey released on December 26th (the same day the Iran Revolutionary Guards sponsored the Bush shoe-throw) said they're glad Bush is going; 23 percent indicated they'll miss him. "Earlier this year, Bush scored some of the lowest presidential approval ratings we've seen in half a century, so it's understandable that the public is eager for a new president to step in," said Keating Holland, CNN polling director. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider added, "As President Bush prepares to leave office, the American public has a parting thought: Good riddance. At least that's the way the 75% feel."
The other 25% are probably working in the Wal-mart stores that will sell "Sho-ush" so they need Bush to be around - he is crucial to their jobs!