Great post, Ian. I love British humor, really I do.I think I did once hear of the Battle of Britain. That was the title of an old Hollywood war flick, wasn't it? (The Army-dominated American military history community still refuses to recognize that such a battle occurred, since it does not lend itself to a historic and poignant portrait of a dashing saber-wielding general mounted on a horse.)True, we didn't show up for a while, but we did ship you gents something like $31 billion in war material beginning in March of '41...even before Tojo peed in our Wheaties on Dec 7th."In the end we got the right result, which is what mattered."Right...the right result...we freed the French. We need to talk.And believe it or not, some of us Yanks still look on the British as friends... :-)CheerioBob Scott

Indeed it does. The word 'Britain' in a WW2 context should always be taken to include the huge contribution of the 'Commonwealth' nations - principally Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa - but many other smaller places as well.Ian

Bob,"....And believe it or not, some of us Yanks still look on the British as friends..."Of course you look on us as friends - that's the least you can do after borrowing our language, trying to re-invent it, and then forgetting to give it back! ;-) (And without the French being free, the popular phrase "Big Mac & Fries" would probably have been "Big Mac & Mash"!!!)Vive La Difference!Toni.

>Great post Philip and I think you hit the nail on the head as>to what people (including myself) do when they sit down and>write something... Everything I say is taken the wrong way so>I'm used to it. This very email is going to be taken the>wrong way as well... :-roll DillonSo what you're saying is that I .............:-)Just joking ;-)Best regards!http://online.vatsimindicators.net/916312/3.png

Three cheers for Mr. Olson for having the mind and will to attempt what he has so humanely attempted, to wit: to bring about a more brotherly, more respective atmosphere here at our beloved AVSIM.I, too, have pondered over the words I should use, worried about the feelings I could offend, and just decided not to make the attempt. But, again, three big cheers for Philip and his modest nobility.We pilots, even if only virtually in some cases, are a thinking lot, and I mean deep thinkers. It's a commonly known fact that pilots are above average in their mental capabilities and we are all proud of ourselves and our achievements. But couldn't and shouldn't we be equally proud of the comrades we have here and strive treat each other not as equals but as just a bit superior to our own selves? After all, there is probably not an aviation, physics, computer, or even psychological quandry that can not, in my estimation, be solved surely by the members and staff here at AVSIM.We, possibly, are in the forest and don't see the trees, but if one were to leave and not visit AVSIM for, say, thirty days, and instead visit and attempt to find a better, more perfect site to join you would be sorely disappointed. It just doesn't exist. Why? Because there is only one Tom A., only one Philip Olson, only one Ken Salter, and only one of each of us, and we are all here.Let's make the very best of that, what.Oh, if it wasn't for the "tea sippers" there'd be no USA. Where d'ya think we got all our ideas and attitudes? God bless the UK and thank Him for giving them what we got from 'em. And, thank God for the Hawker Hurricane and her pilots.

The Spitfire and Wellington and their crews did a pretty good job too! (Tally Ho. :-))Toni.

>there is probably not an aviation, physics, computer, or>even psychological quandry that can not, in my estimation, be>solved surely by the members and staff here at AVSIM.Oh YEAH??!! Then tell me: what's the velocity of a swallow?>We, possibly, are in the forest and don't see the trees, but>if one were to leave and not visit AVSIM for, say, thirty>days, and instead visit and attempt to find a better, more>perfect site to join you would be sorely disappointed. It just>doesn't exist. OK, no argument here. But part of what makes it perfect is the fact that you can have a raucous, back-slapping, in-your-face thrashing of an issue here.>Oh, if it wasn't for the "tea sippers" there'd be no USA.Holy Black Pekoe! My aversion to tea-sipping girly-men has nothing to do with the British. I refer to those who don't drink fire-water or smoke smelly ceegars, and who spend too much of their time in group therapy sessions trying to figure out why we can't all just solve our differences with a big group hug.>Where d'ya think we got all our ideas and attitudes? Dang, you're right! I think it WAS King George that came up with that "Libert

>Oh YEAH??!! Then tell me: what's the velocity of a swallow?Depends, do you mean the European or African swallow?:-) CheersDan

Bob, Oh no you don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You better not turn a thread started by me into an Ariane thread! I will hunt you down and beat you down with a swallow, then to top it off I will make you sip some tea! :-lolPhilip Olsonhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

Ariane - did someone mention Ariane....? ;-) Toni.(p.s. What's wrong with sipping tea? :) )

How about making this thread a sticky?Mike