Okay, now I've gotta tell it.

A piece of string went into a bar and sat down, waiting to be served.  The
bartender came up and said, "Hey!  We don't serve string here.  You'll have
to leave."  The string jumped off the barstool and left.  He waited and
looked in the window and finally saw the bartender go on break.  Again he
entered the bar and sat down on a barstool.  A second bartender came up to
him and said "we don't serve string in this bar.  Get out before I call a
cop."  The string jumped down and left.  Dejectedly, he sat outside in front
of the bar.  A man came up to him and asked what was wrong.  The string said
"Do me a favor.  Pick me up, tie me in a knot, and fray my ends.  The man
thought it was a stupid request but complied.  "Now," the string said, "take
me in that bar and sit me on a stool."  The man did as he was told.  Pretty
soon the first bartender came up to the string and said "Didn't I tell you
once tonight that we don't serve string here?"

"I'm a frayed knot," the string replied.

In a message dated 02/09/2001 4:27:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> They can last 4-5 days worth if the knot is "not" pulled too tight.
>  Fortunately, large knots (e.g., full Windsors) are not stylish these days,
>  so the knots can be simple.
>