Thank you thank you !! It took me a day to absorb your post, but it is absolutely genius! Your comments are very insightful... and I believe you are absolutely correct about the randomization. It seems to work now, but as you say, only about half the time !! I don't understand what's going on here at all!

## first run with added randomization
pid 46234 NOT piped
pid 46234 checking pipe
pid 46235 piped
pid 46235 checking pipe
pid 46235 cannot read

## 2nd run with added randomization
pid 46327 NOT piped
pid 46327 checking pipe
pid 46328 piped
pid 46328 checking pipe
pid 46327 cannot read
reading from pipe data  <= IT CAN READ
pid 46328 can read
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