>This person knew exactly what he was <BR>>doing - he chose his tools carefully. <BR>Yes. I think so.<BR>A circular cord would have slid up and down the neck and the force that was applied would be not only diminished but dissipated erratically.<P>This guy really knew what he was doing.<P>Unfortunately, its a bit like the Prosecutor's Nightmare when it comes to hate crimes: If a white man attacks a minority taken from a large crowd, the prosecutor can allege that it was a hate crime of some sort; whereas if a minority attacks one white person from a large crowd,,the allegation of 'hate crime' can be countered with 'selected a victim randomly' and chances favored the white person due to there having been fewer minorities.<P>So in cord selection, we are left with several alternatives:<P>Was it merely something lying around which turned out to be the best thing to use? Or was it simply picked by chance from among a wide variety of cords being sold? Or was it knowingly and carefully selected for its purpose?<P>The cord is sold at various Army/Navy Surplus stores and outdoor outfitter type stores. It is not some very rare item at all. <P>Rock climbing? Camping? Sailing? Equipment Stowage, such as in a Marina? Skydiving? Rescue work? Movie set construction? Displays and Exhibitions?(such as would also use duct tape).<P><P><BR>