From Little League
 

Nice that they care to write me only when urged to by financial interests:
Dear Little League Volunteer:

In case you haven’t heard, the New York City Council voted to ban the use of aluminum bats for all high school games played in the City. Now, similar legislation is pending for the entire state of New York – legislation that would ban all non-wood bats from being used in all Little League games.

At Little League, nothing is more important to us than child safety and I can report to you that a ban on aluminum bats is not necessary. It will harm our game and make it less enjoyable for the millions of children who safely play the game today, just as it has been safely played for the last forty years.

Little League Baseball has joined a coalition of parents, coaches and bat makers to oppose this unnecessary ban.

The Coalition is named “Don’t Take My Bat Away” and I urge you to join.

Please log onto their website,www.DTMBA.com, and carefully review the facts and the science behind Little League’s decision to support the safe use of both wood and aluminum bats.

I’m proud that Little League has led the way in developing batting helmets, the modern catcher’s chest protector, helmet and mask. We banned head first sliding for safety reasons and we also abolished the on-deck circle ten years ago. Just this year, we implemented a pitch count to protect our players’ young arms.

If there was a safety-driven reason to ban aluminum bats, we would support it. There isn’t and that’s why I urge you to get involved.

Please log onto DTMBA.com and join our growing coalition.

Sincerely,

Steve Keener

Little League InternationalP.O. Box 3485539 US Route 15 HwyWilliamsport, PA 17701-0485

Phone: 570-326-1921
Fax: 570-326-1074


P.S. Please don’t allow the New York Legislature to ban the safe use of aluminum bats in New York. Log onto the Don’t Take My Bat Away Coalition’s webpage (DTMBA.com) and join Little League, Babe Ruth Baseball, the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, and many other groups that have studied this issue so we can work together to fight the ban. Please log on now – before it’s too late.

__________________________

Later, I find out that the person responsible for this is that lying immunity-shrined dirtbag, Ari Fleischer

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/...ap3891315.html

From Little League
 

What happened to the aluminum bats that were no more powerful than wood bats?

Back to School Shoes
 

Vietbabe is going to Kindergarten in a green plaid jumper and green knee socks (and will hate me for it when she's older but oh well). Would love to have her in fabulous leather shoes. Should I go for penny loafers of some sort? Look for shoes made from Italy somewhere? I found leather penny loafers on the internet but they seem to be for boys:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2888546?...cole_reaction_'pen_%26_paper'_loafer_(toddler):14846&cm_ven=nextag&mr:referralID=9826e88a-4895-4a66-81de-3a9ab31d008e

Ideas? Thanks. PS - she is a size 9 which is still a "toddler" size.

Back to School Shoes
 

Holy crap. My daughter, who turns 3 next month, is a size 9. Perhaps I should sign her up for the circus now.

OK, so that wasn't particularly helpful. How about Stride Rite - http://www.striderite.com/jump.jsp?i...bCat=43&page=2

Or Vincent - http://www.vincentshoestore.us/shop/...&bSubmit=Go%21

Or Brooks - http://brooksshoesforkids.com/catego...ef1badc1230269

Back to School Shoes
 

Or zappos.com or piperlime.com .

Back to School Shoes
 

Your daughter is on target (but I'm sure she'd love the circus). Mine just has teeny feet (and everything else -- the tag on her shorts say "18 months". Oh and she still rides her tricycle and, gulp, uses the binky.)

Thanks everyone for the links. No matter what, all the shoes for toddler girls (for school) are either pink or some variation of this from brookshoesforkids:

http://brooksshoesforkids.com/images...ABY%20MIMI.jpg

Stride Rite:
http://www.striderite.com/images/us/...l/104575_4.jpg

Dark, rounded toe, rubber sole with the obligatory velcro strap across it. Another words..."Baby Shoes". Darn. It would be so cute to see teeny little Italian leather penny loafers. Don't these shoe companies cater to tiny Asian children????? (PS - what do you think of these from Zappos (Michael Kors - only in black suede though):

http://www.zappos.com/images/727/727...4-319133-d.jpg

Back to School Shoes
 

I'm not much of a penny loafer person myself. I'd more likely go for the Vincent boots. (Hell, I've even found kid shoes I love at Target.) However, I Googled "child penny loafer," and did come up with quite a few hits (including these http://www.endless.com/dp/B000HHZIY4...0&linkCode=asn). I imagine that high end retailers (like the sort that sell infant Ralph Lauren) would provide nice quality leather shoes for little ones. Have you checked Nordstom, Neiman Marcus or Saks?

I think you may make up what you're saving on uniforms on the shoes to go with!:D

Back to School Shoes
 

My absolute favorite kid shoes are by Agatha Louis de la Prada but they are very hard to find in the States - I usually getthem in spain. but I also like Umi shoes. they too are a european brand but are much easier to find in the states. they have a nice wide foot bed and a flexible sole which is especially good for growing feet. DD has two pair of really pretty ones for school, a brown with flowers and a purple (she isn't in a uniform yet) - both mary janes

here are some pretty ones -

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/15385856/c/108182.html

My daughter has these and she loves them - and she is a mini picky fashionista

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/15385932/c/3091.html

these my be better for winter walking in NYC

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/15387089/c/46767.html

Back to School Shoes
 

Those loafers are ca-ute! I may get those for my daughter! I see what you mean about looking a little like baby shoes, but give pre-teens are walking around half naked, I'll let my daughter look like a little girl as long as I can...

Back to School Shoes
 

You missed these:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1863628...s/I_65536.html

and these:

http://www.piperlime.com/browse/prod...scid=441977022

Both are loafers, although neither look like you could slip a penny in them.

Back to School Shoes
 

I remember my first day of kindergarden, my mom put me in adorable saddle shoes. I loved them. I still would probably love them.

http://www.jumping-jacks.com/gallery...=8#spgmPicture I think you can get them at Nordstroms.

Back to School Shoes
 

I don't know if zappos carries the Sonnet brand (they're also sometimes referred to as Start-Rite, I think), but they have really adorable shoes. There are some shoes stores in NYC that carry them, but I'll bet you can get them on line. They have buckles (no velcro -- I couldn't tell if velcro was a plus or a minus for you) and come in small sizes.

ETA: Zappos does carry a few styles. The Delphine are really cute. As are the ones with the crepe soles, though I couldn't tell from the pictures whether this site carries them.

For the record
 

I blam you people and your links to Zappos for my internet shoe purchases today. No, they are not children's loafers.

Back to School Shoes
 

All cute, but a warning: my first-grader to be really, really likes my strappy sandals and the um, patent leather "dress up" shoes she found in my closet because "they look like Bratz shoes." And my little one is fond of my knee-high boots, which of course are thigh-high on her. Just saying. :-)

Shoes
 

Oh wow. Thank you SO MUCH for all the great shoe ideas. I did miss all those shoes! And I love the saddle shoes and DTB - those Delphine shoes are great. I wish they had them in something other than white leather. Not sure they would go with the uniform or green knee socks (!!). Will check out all those links. Thanks again!!!!!