My beef is really with the Time Magazine article rather than Neatorama's link, but Crocs, Inc. did not 'invent' the foam clog.

Most people don't realize that "crocs" were not invented by Crocs, Inc., as the Time Magazine article suggests. The first foam clogs were invented in 2001 by a small Canadian manufacturing company called Foam Creations. That company decided the shoes might work well in the kayaking world, because, among other things, the shoes float. They contacted Walden Kayaks and asked if Walden would be willing to carry and market the shoes. Walden Kayaks agreed and decided to brand the shoes “Waldies.” The shoes sold quite well to hikers and kayakers. (source: http://www.dirdim.com/comp_newsevents.php?fileName=DDI_SmartCEO_Waldies_0506) It wasn't until Waldies had been on the market for a year or two that Crocs, Inc. bought out Foam Creations and began marketing "crocs," which were essentially a different version of the original foam clog.

Amazingly, a few years later, after Crocs had become hugely popular, Crocs, Inc. brought a patent infringement lawsuit against the company which was making Waldies! Crocs lost that lawsuit. (source: http://www.waldies.net/aboutus.asp#NEWS)

Waldies are still on the market, and some people think they are more comfortable than crocs. They are still very popular among hikers and kayakers. Waldies even has a clog called the "Appalachian Trail clog" which are worn by hundreds of intrepid hikers as they through-hike the AT from Georgia to Maine every year.

I don't understand why they didn't leave an auxiliary battery in there with juice enough to let Phoenix start making power again once the winter is over and the sun comes back out.

For more fire spinning, check out Unifire Theatre, based out of Asheville, NC. These guys are incredible.

http://www.unifiredance.com/