selam yTna,
 
   I just remembered your question about sorting and tried it on Mule
 and yes!  it does sorting in fidel lexicographical ordering.  With 
 mixed numbers and letters and punctuation, no problem.  I am sure that
 it is based on the character addresses.  Which means that it is
 very important where ethiopic punctuation and numbers go.  Sorting
 will be A LOT easier for programers if the address table is already
 in sorted order (since programers and computers work with characters
 as numbers).
 
   THIS ALSO MEANS that the extended diqalawoc absolutely should not 
 come at the end of the fidel -what a headache it would be for this
 issue!  Programers would forever be scratching their heads asking
 "why.. why..." was this oversight made as they do such much more work
 to code sorting routines by the iso fidel table of '93.
 
 I think this is a strong point to argue, something abass could over-
 look since he is using LISP which (by design) gets around the issue.
 
 all for now,
 
    wendmh dan'El