I have come across an interaction between bash and yes or echo. $ echo "Hello there!" bash: !": event not found $ echo "Hello there\!" Hello there\! So there seems not to be a way to display that string. Oh, wait, apostrophes work! $ echo 'Hello there!' Hello there! Interesting... Mike -- p="p=%c%s%c;main(){printf(p,34,p,34);}";main(){printf(p,34,p,34);} This message made from 100% recycled bits. You have found the bank of Larn. I can explain it for you, but I can't understand it for you. I speak only for myself, and I am unanimous in that!