A blood knot (Barrel knot) is most usefully employed for joining sections of monofilament nylon line while maintaining a high portion of the line's inherent strength. Other knots used for this purpose can cause a substantial loss of strength. In fly fishing, this serves to build a leader of gradually decreasing diameter with the castable fly line attached at the large diameter end and the fly or hook at the small diameter end. The principal drawback to the blood knot is the dexterity required to tie it. It is also likely to jam, which isn't a concern in fishing line, which is no great loss to cut, but may be a concern in normal rope.

In tying the blood knot, the two lines to be joined are overlapped for 6-8 cm with the short ends of the two lines in opposite directions. The short end of one line is then wrapped 4-6 times around the second line and the remaining portion of the first short end brought back and passed between the lines at the beginning of the wraps. The short end of the second line is then wrapped 4-6 times around the first line and the end of this line brought back and passed through what is now an oval space between the first wrap of each set.

A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load". Knots have been the subject of interest for their ancient origins, their common uses, and the area of mathematics known as knot theory.

There is a large variety of knots, each with properties that make it suitable for a range of tasks. Some knots are used to attach the rope (or other knotting material) to other objects such as another rope, cleat, ring, or stake. Some knots are used to bind or constrict objects. Decorative knots usually bind to themselves to produce attractive patterns.

While some people can look at diagrams or photos and tie the illustrated knots, others learn best by watching how a knot is tied. Knot tying skills are often transmitted by sailors, scouts, climbers, cavers, arborists, rescue professionals, fishermen, linemen and surgeons.

Colman Domingo (born November 28, 1969) is an award-winning American actor, playwright and director.

Domingo graduated from Temple University where he majored in journalism. Soon thereafter he moved to San Francisco, California where he started acting, mainly in theatre productions.

One of the first films for Domingo was in 1999 in the movie Around the Fire as Trace, where he worked with Eric Mabius and Tara Reid.

Colman starred as the closeted Baptist church choir director, Mr. Franklin Jones, Amsterdam naturist, Joop, and West Berlin protest artist, Mr. Venus, in the critically acclaimed rock musical Passing Strange, which, after a successful 2007 run at The Public Theatre, opened on Broadway on Feb. 28, 2008. Colman Domingo received an Obie Award in spring 2008 as part of the ensemble of Passing Strange Off-Broadway. Colman reprised his roles in the film version of Passing Strange directed by Spike Lee, which made its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.

In 2010, Domingo's self-penned play "A Boy and His Soul" premiered Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theater, for which he won GLAAD Award: Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off–Broadway and a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show. He was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award and a Drama League Award.

Scott Shepherd is a principal at Piller/Segan/Shepherd, an independent content production company that has produced shows such as Greek, Haven, Wildfire and The Dead Zone.

In 1999, Shawn Piller partnered with his father, Michael Piller, to form Piller Squared, an independent production company headquartered in Hollywood, California. After Michael’s death in 2005, the company merged with producer Lloyd Segan’s company The Segan Company to become Piller/Segan. The latest addition to the company and now third partner was Shepherd and the company became known as Piller/Segan/Shepherd.

Currently he is executive producing Sexy Evil Genius which stars Katee Sackhoff, Seth Green, Billy Baldwin, Michelle Trachtenberg and Harold Perrineau.

Shepherd is a veteran writer/producer/showrunner with years of experience running network series, having overseen hundreds of hours of television. His list of credits include; The Equalizer; Quantum Leap; Miami Vice; The Outer Limits; To Have & to Hold; L.A. Doctors; Justice League of America; Haunted; North Shore; Tru Calling; Angela’s Eyes; and Reunion.