---------------------<snip>-------------------
This thread deserves to die, I suspect indeed that it were better
stillborn.
--------------------<unsnip>------------------
Maybe I can inject a little humor into the death throes:
A very fine lady was invited aboard a US Navy ship, to a reception after
the conclusion of some multi-national naval maneuvers. While walking
around, she noticed a number of abbreviations on the uniforms of the
officers present. Approaching a US Navy officer, she inquired "What does
the 'USS' stand for?"
He replied "USS stands for United States Ship, ma'am". Wandering
further, she met an officer of the Royal Navy, so she asked "What does
'HMS' stand for?"
The British officer replied "HMS stands for Her Majesty's Ship, ma'am."
Near the end of the reception, she met an Italian officer who was
slightly "into his cups". She asked him "What does the 'IMB' on your hat
stand for?"
Wavering slightly, he replied "It'sa my boat"!
-----------------------------------------------------
Moral of the story: Acronyms are VERY MUCH context-sensitive. If we can
at least agree on that single point, then the so-called heresy pretty
much ceases to exist, and it's only the obvious misuses that matter. And
we can all pick them out, pretty much without a second thought.
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