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A clever idea for dressing the ends of childeren's shoelaces at home

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Dr. Emily Sockerill

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Nov 21, 2012, 1:03:57 PM11/21/12
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Do you have a clever trick for dressing children's shoelaces?

My son loosely ties tennis shoe laces such that they always fray
even after I put glue on the ends, melt them, or knot the ends.

Here is a picture of his shoes that I'm dealing with now:
http://img259.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=19472_shoe_laces_122_185lo.jpg

Whatever (patent pending?) solution you provide has to have the hard
dressing because he often pulls the laces out of the eyelets.

New shoelaces aren't necessarily the best answer because they too
will fray. Neither is simply scissoring the ends (it's not repeatable).

What I need is a repeatably cheap method to prevent fraying
and to harden the tips for lacing that can be applied at home
as a DIY to make my child's sneaker shoelaces last longer.

Do you have a clever idea for inexpensively repeatedly dressing
shoelace ends that you can share with the world?

Rock

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Nov 21, 2012, 1:24:26 PM11/21/12
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Dr. Emily Sockerill wrote on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:03:57 +0000,

> Do you have a clever trick for dressing children's shoelaces?
> http://img259.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=19472_shoe_laces_122_185lo.jpg

I snip the ends, dab with white glue, and then strangle about
a half inch from the end with a few loops of common thread.

After the glue dries, I smear the half inch end with Crest toothpaste.

That hardens into a usable shoelace tip.

Danny D.

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Nov 21, 2012, 1:33:36 PM11/21/12
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On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:24:26 +0000, Rock wrote:

>> Do you have a clever trick for dressing children's shoelaces?
>> http://img259.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=19472_shoe_laces_122_185lo.jpg
>
> I snip the ends, dab with white glue, and then strangle about
> a half inch from the end with a few loops of common thread.

It's not cheap but heat shrink tubing works well.

Someone out there may know of a source for inexpensive heatshrink
tubing perhaps?


Oren

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Nov 21, 2012, 1:50:16 PM11/21/12
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On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:33:36 +0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
<dann...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Someone out there may know of a source for inexpensive heatshrink
>tubing perhaps?

<http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=shrink+wrap+tubing>

SMS

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Nov 21, 2012, 2:37:51 PM11/21/12
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On 11/21/2012 10:03 AM, Dr. Emily Sockerill wrote:

> Do you have a clever idea for inexpensively repeatedly dressing
> shoelace ends that you can share with the world?

I use heat shrink tubing. Very cheap. Very effective. Not quite as hard
as the original tips, but sufficiently hard. You can dip the ends in hot
wax prior to putting on the heat shrink tubing and this will harden the
ends a bit more.

You can buy a 4' length, which should be about a lifetime supply for
just a couple of bucks. Not sure what the right diameter is, buy the
smallest diameter that you can slip over the lace, probably around 1/8"
or 3/16"

<http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/HUG-18C/1/8-X-4-HEATSHRINK-TUBE-CLEAR/1.html>

<http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/HUG-316C/3/16-X-4-HEATSHRINK-TUBE-CLEAR/1.html>.

Around here (Silicon Valley) Fry's Electronics sells 4' lengths, and a
local surplus store sells it by the foot.

SMS

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Nov 21, 2012, 2:39:58 PM11/21/12
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<http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/265/Heat-Shrink-Tubing/1.html>
is one place. Locally it depends on whether or not you have that type of
a store. Fry's Electronics sells it for not very much more.

John Keiser

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Nov 21, 2012, 2:46:22 PM11/21/12
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The end is called an "aglet." 40 years ago, the high-end shoe store I
worked at still had an old hand held device to replace aglets.
This site has several ideas, including the shrink tubing:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletrepair.htm



"Dr. Emily Sockerill" <emmaso...@misspelledonpurposeyahoo.com> wrote in
message news:k8j52d$mvp$1...@dont-email.me...

Vic Smith

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Nov 21, 2012, 3:39:45 PM11/21/12
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On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:03:57 +0000 (UTC), "Dr. Emily Sockerill"
<emmaso...@misspelledonpurposeyahoo.com> wrote:

>
>New shoelaces aren't necessarily the best answer because they too
>will fray. Neither is simply scissoring the ends (it's not repeatable).
>

Steel won't fray.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_sl_yj1q90gj2_b?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ametal+tip+shoe+laces&keywords=metal+tip+shoe+laces&ie=UTF8&psrk=steel+shoe+lace+tips


Danny D.

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Nov 21, 2012, 3:51:31 PM11/21/12
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On Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:46:22 -1000, John Keiser wrote:

> The end is called an "aglet."
> http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/agletrepair.htm

Interesting.

That aglet web page gives me an idea which isn't listed.

I'm going to try this "Brush-On Electrical Tape" right now on
my current pair of New Balance running shoes as shown below:
http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/11460999/img/11460999.jpg

Note: The New Balance running shoes only seem to last a few
months before they're run ragged in the California chaparral! :(

For my hiking boots, I bought a hundred feet of 1,000 pound
test (IIRC) parachute cord from the Army Navy Surplus Store for
a couple of bucks and painstakingly sewed a web pattern on the
ends (and melted the tips) as shown in this photo below:
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/11461183/img/11461183.jpg

The problem with that parachute cord is that, for some strange
reason, parachute cord (whatever it's actually used for) acts
like a horrible magnet for thorns, burrs, and many other
unwanted bristley thorney grassey chaparral objects.

So if you guys know of a BETTER wide-lace alternative to this
parachute cord for Raichle hiking boots, please let me know
as I go through those rather long shoelaces at the rate of
a pair a year or so, hiking in the California chaparral.

Stormin Mormon

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Nov 21, 2012, 4:02:42 PM11/21/12
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http://www.harborfreight.com/127-piece-heat-shrink-tubing-set-67524.html
Harbor Freight to the rescue.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

"Danny D." <dann...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:k8j6pv$fug$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

dadiOH

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Nov 21, 2012, 4:52:15 PM11/21/12
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1. taper the ends a bit
2. dip the ends in super glue

I doubt you will have to do it again.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net


notbob

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Nov 21, 2012, 5:20:33 PM11/21/12
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On 2012-11-21, SMS <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote:

> I use heat shrink tubing.

Kinda makes ya' wonder exactly what it is that kids DO to a shoelace
to wreak such havoc on them. I know I did, as a kid, but then I haven't
had a shoelace tip fray on me in 50 yrs. Go figure.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

David L. Martel

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Nov 21, 2012, 7:01:23 PM11/21/12
to
I'd go with metal by crimping on an appropiate butt splice connector from
the local hardware store.

Dave M.


nestork

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Nov 21, 2012, 11:40:12 PM11/21/12
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I think if it were me, I would dip the ends of the shoe laces in a
liquid that would harden as it dries before shrinking some heat shrink
tubing on the ends to make aglets. I expect that something like boiled
linseed oil, or polyurethane would work OK.

Just dip the shoe lace ends several times, squeezing the lace ends after
each dipping to ensure the cotton is saturated with the BLO or PU.

Then, heat shrink some tubing onto the lace ends, and the BLO or PU will
gradually cure inside that tubing as O2 from the air gradually cause the
BLO or PU to cure.

That way, even if the heat shrink aglet comes off, the cured oil will
keep the end of the lace in a deformed and hardened state so it wouldn't
fray even without the heat shrink aglet in place.




--
nestork

gazil...@online.com

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Nov 22, 2012, 4:45:11 AM11/22/12
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That sounds like a good idea, but for the low cost of shoe laces, I
think I'd just buy new ones. The materails to make ends probably cost
more than replacement laces.

Robert Green

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Nov 22, 2012, 5:56:03 AM11/22/12
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"Danny D." <dann...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:k8j6pv$fug$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

<stuff snipped>

> It's not cheap but heat shrink tubing works well.

I use adhesive lined heat shrink tubing because the regular stuff tends to
slide off eventually. Alternatively you can put a little hot melt glue on
the shoelace end, let it cool, slide the heat shrink tubing on and
reactivate the hot glue when you heat the tubing to shrink it.

--
Bobby G.



Dr. Emily Sockerill

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Nov 22, 2012, 8:35:04 AM11/22/12
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On Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:45:11 -0600, gazillion44 wrote:

> That sounds like a good idea, but for the low cost of shoe laces, I
> think I'd just buy new ones. The materails to make ends probably cost
> more than replacement laces.

The replacement laces would just fray in no time and you'd be back
where you started. Plus there's nothing wrong with the lace except
the aglet so why NOT fix them?

Replacement laces aren't cheap either, BTW.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/shoelaces.php

I did write to Ian Fieggen who kindly responded saying he had read
this thread and he would try the methods suggested to add to his
aglet web site.

The Daring Dufas

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Nov 22, 2012, 8:49:52 AM11/22/12
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The Internet still amazes me after all these years with the websites
that exist. Who'd have thunk there was a shoelace webpage? Just for
the heck of it I searched for another mundane item item and wasn't
surprised when I found "Toothpick World". I needed a good laugh today. ^_^

http://www.toothpickcity.com/

TDD

Art Todesco

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Nov 22, 2012, 9:07:21 AM11/22/12
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Google 'replacing aglets'. I was surprised at the number of ways to do it
and the fact that they show up on so many sites. Many were discussed in
this thread.

John Keiser

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Nov 22, 2012, 10:28:45 AM11/22/12
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Go to the library and read The Toothpick: Technology and Culture. (2007),
ISBN 978-0-307-27943-9, an entertaining book by the estimable Henry
Petroski.

"The Daring Dufas" <the-dari...@stinky-finger.net> wrote in message
news:k8lahe$kd5$1...@dont-email.me...

Rock

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Nov 22, 2012, 11:13:45 AM11/22/12
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Art Todesco wrote on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:07:21 -0500,

> Google 'replacing aglets'. I was surprised at the number of ways to do it
> and the fact that they show up on so many sites. Many were discussed in
> this thread.

The real problem is that the original manufacturer cheaped out by
putting lousy aglets on in the first place.

gazil...@online.com

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Nov 22, 2012, 1:19:04 PM11/22/12
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In that case, there's some stuff that you can buy to put a rubber-like
coating on the handles of tools. It's costly, but should last a long
time for your needs. Unfortunately I dont know the name of this
product.

Sta No

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Nov 22, 2012, 11:56:53 PM11/22/12
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nestork;2964584 Wrote:
> Gordon:
>
> As with most things, the quality of the decision you make depends
> entirely on how much you know.
> so, Welcome to Carpet 101:
> IF (big if there) you opt to replace your old carpet with new carpet,
> spend a bit more and buy a carpet that is:
>
> a. made of nylon,
> b. that is solution dyed, and
> c. is "level loop" construction.
>
> And, it's a good idea to get a good underpad for the carpet as well to
> maximize the life of your carpet.
> Carpet is made of wool and three synthetic fibers; nylon, polyester and
> ...cut...
>

Nestor, thanks for the carpet 101. I know your response was intended for
Gordon. However, I found it very educational with specific information.




--
Sta No

nestork

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Nov 23, 2012, 1:50:38 AM11/23/12
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Thanks for taking the time to read it, Sta No.




--
nestork

chaniarts

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Nov 26, 2012, 4:34:51 PM11/26/12
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dip-it, available at your local borg

Danny D.

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Nov 26, 2012, 5:51:17 PM11/26/12
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On Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:34:51 -0700, chaniarts wrote:

> dip-it, available at your local borg

I used the suggested gorilla-glue + heat-shrink tubing trick
this weekend, which seems to have worked.

Now I have gorilla glue all on my hands.

Tegger

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Nov 26, 2012, 8:05:31 PM11/26/12
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"Dr. Emily Sockerill" <emmaso...@misspelledonpurposeyahoo.com> wrote in
news:k8j52d$mvp$1...@dont-email.me:


> Do you have a clever idea for inexpensively repeatedly dressing
> shoelace ends that you can share with the world?


Tie a knot in the ends, then snip off the excess.

This has the side benefit of preventing the ends from pulling through the
holes in the first place, which is when frayed ends really become a
problem.

However... Once your kids get to be the age of my kid, this problem ceases
to exist. The current fashion among teenagers seems to be to eschew tying
the laces at all. Instead, the loose, untied lace-ends are stuffed inside
the shoe, under the foot, and are trod upon all day. It seems that tied
laces are "uncool", and that walking upon loose laces is not at all
uncomfortable. Or so the kid says.


--
Tegger

The Daring Dufas

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Nov 26, 2012, 8:45:42 PM11/26/12
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Does your kid walk around with his undershorts hanging out too? ^_^

TDD

yve lynch

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Nov 27, 2012, 5:33:01 AM11/27/12
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Dr. Emily Sockerill;2964432 Wrote:
> Do you have a clever trick for dressing children's shoelaces?
>
> My son loosely ties tennis shoe laces such that they always fray
> even after I put glue on the ends, melt them, or knot the ends.
>
> Here is a picture of his shoes that I'm dealing with now:
> http://tinyurl.com/d9xdfwb
>
> Whatever (patent pending?) solution you provide has to have the hard
> dressing because he often pulls the laces out of the eyelets.
>
> New shoelaces aren't necessarily the best answer because they too
> will fray. Neither is simply scissoring the ends (it's not repeatable).
>
> What I need is a repeatably cheap method to prevent fraying
> and to harden the tips for lacing that can be applied at home
> as a DIY to make my child's sneaker shoelaces last longer.
>
> Do you have a clever idea for inexpensively repeatedly dressing
> shoelace ends that you can share with the world?


I am thinking maybe you can recreate how they do shoestrings. I think
you need a piece of tube like plastic (something that looks similar to a
drinking straw) that shrinks when heated then heat it with a hair dryer.


Tell me if it works. ;) -yve




--
yve lynch

Tegger

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Nov 27, 2012, 9:16:15 AM11/27/12
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The Daring Dufas <the-dari...@stinky-finger.net> wrote in
news:k915vj$og1$1...@dont-email.me:

>
> Does your kid walk around with his undershorts hanging out too? ^_^
>



Nope. This one is a girl.


--
Tegger

The Daring Dufas

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Nov 27, 2012, 5:02:10 PM11/27/12
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I'm sorry, I won't make any inappropriate remarks that could come from
my warped mind because I know girls are harder to raise than boys. ^_^

TDD

bowhu...@gmail.com

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Aug 9, 2019, 11:13:23 AM8/9/19
to
Make sure that the shrink tubing is adhesive lined dual wall, if you want it to last!

On Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 1:03:57 PM UTC-5, Dr. Emily Sockerill wrote:
> Do you have a clever trick for dressing children's shoelaces?
>
> My son loosely ties tennis shoe laces such that they always fray
> even after I put glue on the ends, melt them, or knot the ends.
>
> Here is a picture of his shoes that I'm dealing with now:
> http://img259.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=19472_shoe_laces_122_185lo.jpg

Rod Speed

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Aug 9, 2019, 12:58:31 PM8/9/19
to
<bowhu...@gmail.com> wrote

> Make sure that the shrink tubing is adhesive
> lined dual wall, if you want it to last!

Those kids have likely left home by now and may not
even bother with shoes with laces anymore. I havent
for more than 50 years now.

devnull

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Aug 9, 2019, 1:19:39 PM8/9/19
to
On 8/9/19 12:58 PM, Rod Speed wrote:
> Those kids have likely left home by now and may not
> even bother with shoes with laces anymore. I havent
> for more than 50 years now.
>

Most obese people wear loafers because they can't bend over to tie their shoes.

Rod Speed

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Aug 9, 2019, 2:56:24 PM8/9/19
to


"devnull" <dev...@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:HWh3F.19826$Pr1....@fx01.iad...
I'm in the ideal BMI range and don’t wear loafers, I wear these in winter
and what you barbarians call flip flops in spring summer and autumn
https://www.aussiedisposals.com.au/redback-ubok-soft-toe-boot

Peeler

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Aug 9, 2019, 4:08:49 PM8/9/19
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On Sat, 10 Aug 2019 02:58:21 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


>> Make sure that the shrink tubing is adhesive
>> lined dual wall, if you want it to last!
>
> Those kids have likely left home by now and may not
> even bother with shoes with laces anymore. I havent
> for more than 50 years now.

Goes to show HOW handicapped (just like ALL trolls) you are, senile troll!

--
Website (from 2007) dedicated to the 85-year-old trolling senile
cretin from Oz:
https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/rod-speed-faq.2973853/

Peeler

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Aug 9, 2019, 4:11:58 PM8/9/19
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On Sat, 10 Aug 2019 04:56:11 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

<FLUSH yet more of the usual trollshit>

--
Richard addressing Rot Speed:
"Shit you're thick/pathetic excuse for a troll."
MID: <ogoa38$pul$1...@news.mixmin.net>

Bod

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Aug 10, 2019, 1:02:25 AM8/10/19
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> Ok if you're into butch lesbian shoes I suppose.

--
Bod

Rod Speed

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Aug 10, 2019, 2:42:23 AM8/10/19
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"Bod" <bodr...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:gr71es...@mid.individual.net...
Butch lesbians don’t wear what you barbarians call flip flops, stupid.

Peeler

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Aug 10, 2019, 5:33:57 AM8/10/19
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On Sat, 10 Aug 2019 16:37:35 +1000, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:


>>> I'm in the ideal BMI range and don’t wear loafers, I wear these in winter
>>> and what you barbarians call flip flops in spring summer and autumn
>>> https://www.aussiedisposals.com.au/redback-ubok-soft-toe-boot
>
>> Ok if you're into butch lesbian shoes I suppose.
>
> Butch lesbians don’t wear what you barbarians call flip flops, stupid.

Go talk to your psychiatrist, you abnormal senile idiot!!

--
dennis@home to retarded senile Rot:
"sod off rod you don't have a clue about anything."
Message-ID: <uV9lE.196195$cx5....@fx46.iad>
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