[Milsurplus] was French...

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>

> Pan is NOT French for bread. (it's pain)

Online software translates it as "section". Odd.
However, "pan" = bread in Spanish, the second most
used language in the USA. French is way down the
list. ( Maybe this word has more recognition 
value to the increasingly hispanic crewed   fishing
vessels here on the coast. On the other hand, 
maybe it puzzles them too, why the USCG would
try to order bread over the airwaves. )
I continue my case, regardless: International radio
conventions agreed on years re prowords, do not
apply any more. You do not need to strain to hear
an emergency call among the static crashes and
heterodynes of the olde AM marine band. It's more
like a telephone now.  VHF-FM marine radios are
sold in sporting goods stores. When was the last
time you heard a callsign on the vhf marine channels?
The Coast Guard does not use callsigns, even. Isn't
that a violation of the international agreement?
How many boats that listen on 16 today, have a trained
radio operator? How many other countries do you 
suppose cling to the use of this French language
proword? -Hue Miller