Doing the Impossible

That expression "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" always struck me as silly. After all, how can you lift yourself up off the ground by pulling on your feet? Can't be done. Silly. Or is it?

Spikeless tree trimming is now all the rage and if you watch these guys, they actually pull them selves up by their boots. No kidding. With their hands they hold tightly onto the tree trunk with a strap, then they bend their knees and lift their feet. The feet are attached to a little platform which braces against the tree when weight is put on it. So they stand on the platform, raise the strap in their hands and do it again. Great workout for the abs! Not to mention the sense of accomplishment for doing the impossible..