I know this is completely unrelated to the last few posts, but has there been any theories/discussions about Rand, Mat, and Perrin's visions of one another? I have not been able to find anything in either the boards, or from questions asked/answered by either RJ or BS.

This is one thing I have never understood; how are the ways, the taint, and Fain connected? I always thought the ways were something akin to a permanent structure created in the zone between skim-gates. If that is the case, and if they were created using tainted Saidin, I can understand a connection between the taint and the ways. How does Fain then enter into the equation? How does Machin Sin recognize Fain and obey him? Is that due to the DO's influence on him, or a result of his Shadar Logoth experience?

As a side note, we know shadowspawn cannot enter waygates; if the Ways are indeed the in-between zone of Skim-gates, how can they even enter the ways? Does that mean trollocs can Skim with a Forsaken?