>>Folks, This is the "around the campfire" portion of this forum where we should be able to share jokes, stories, anectedotes and opinions not necessarrily tightly confined to survival equipment, usage, packaging and skills.

It's also an international forum with at least one member from France, who may not appreciate the humour.

It wasn't that long ago that France was fighting for its life against the Nazis, and it was the Americans who were sitting on the sidelines refusing to get involved. Not all American citizens were content to sit it out, of course; author Len Morgan, in Flying magazine, told of how, several months after the USA entered the war, he received his draft notice from Uncle Sam - in North Africa, where he'd spent the last two years flying bombing missions with the RAF. (He wrote a very humorous reply, to the effect that if Mr. Roosevelt would ask Mr. Churchill to release him from his duties with the Royal Air Force, and Uncle Sam would pay his passage back stateside, he would be only too pleased to report for duty. The offer was politely declined <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) Similarly, there may be many in France who disagree with their government's stance, but who nevertheless would not be amused.

>>Unless your profile is ADMINISTRATOR please don't try to play the role.

Chris has already had to shut down at least one discussion on this forum, when Mike and I got a little "emphatic" about our opinions. I felt badly about having put him in a position where he was forced to step in, and I don't think it's fair to put him in that position any more than we need to.