document updated 12 years ago, on Apr 28, 2012
Some of the more immediately practical things to teach about knots / ropework:
- the One True WayTM to tie up computer cables
- it avoids kinks (⇒ impedance discontinuities) for high-bitrate cable
- attention-grabbing intro — smash a bend in a network cable, and explain that it's permanently damaged
- it's a good way to shorten cables to the perfect length, to avoid cable clutter behind your TV
- caveat: (probably not worth mentioning) for rope, it starts to be non-effective once you use thinner less-stiff rope, and string in particular
- how to make shopping bags portable
- attention-grabbing intro — open up a small pocket of my backpack, and explain there's 20 shopping bags in that one pocket
- WHY is it useful to carry lots of shopping bags around?
- reuse helps the environment!
- can help to organize the inside your rucksack
- if you're a bicyclist, an extra bag can come in really handy if you're carrying home more stuff than you expected to... you can tie it to the outside of your normal bag
- if you have a messy car like me, they make a great trash-bag
- it's a two step process: 1) twirl the bag into a rope-like shape, 2) make a knot with the "rope"
- Explain that, although any knot will work, I like the Stevedore knot the best. Provide a simplified PVC/wire demo of the Stevedore.