THESE GUYS EVER HEARD OF VELCRO?:

Mathematics unravels optimum way of shoe lacing (Rachel Nowak, 04 December, New Scientist)

The knotty problem of choosing the optimum way of lacing up shoes has been solved by a new mathematical proof.

There are many millions of different possibilities but, reassuringly, the proof shows that centuries of human trial and error has already selected out the strongest lacing patterns. However, the pattern using the least amount of lace possible, the decorative "bowtie" lacing, is usually only seen in shoe shop displays.

Great, metric shoe lacing. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 4, 2002 7:51 PM