Hello to everyone. I have VERY limited internet access. Doug and the board's kindness should have me back online soon. THANKYOU to one and all. If anyone has had any unresolved issues with access please PM me. I seem to have lost many messages and emails over the past month. Meanwhile I've been given a few delightfull links by friends of interest. http://www.internet2.edu/~shalunov/materialism/knives.html offers a story about knife use that is inspiring. His link to ETS is delightfull. Doug has been called many things, this one is nice <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ My cobbler offered this one after the heel of my boot ripped off in some harmonic convergence with my computer dying, watch literally dropping out of the case and my cat peeing on my freshly laundered clothing on the same day <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I looked it over while winding a ancient Soviet Poljot gifted to me on the Bering Sea. I figure this is a good time to question all my life assumptions from the ground up, including tieing my own shoes <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> There are some very usefull patterns for boots and knots for slippery round laces. Now we can have our paracord and wear it too <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Best- Chris