[Milsurplus] France to ban military collections

[D C (Mac) Macdonald]

Because it is an international thing, standardized
within SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea).  It is supposed
to be pronounced as PAHN and is always supposed
to be announced in triplicate (PAHN, PAHN, PAHN).
It is the announcement of medium hazard conditions,
not reaching the standards for a MAYDAY call.
This can be for something such as a vessel taking on
water, but not in immediate danger of sinking.

Mayday, the most urgent announcement signifying
severe and immediate danger to life, is an anglicized
pronunciation of the French "Mai Daiz" (or at least
a similar spelling.

The least urgent danger announcement is SECURITE,
pronounced SAY COOR IT TAY.  Again, it is supposed
to be stated in triplicate, just as MAYDAY and PAN.
It is a general marine announcement of a danger such
as drunken or reckless boater, debris in water, and
other such less severe hazards.

Believe me, standard announcement procedures on a
world-wide basis are far preferable to some language-
specific procedure that varies from one nation and/or
language to another.

Here in the USA, the average person cannot distinguish
the difference between TORNADO WATCH or TORNADO WARNING.
At least these are standardized and SHOULD mean the same
thing to everybody.

If you ever hear somebody saying ***** Alert (other than
Amber Alert) you can be reasonably certain that the person
doesn't know the difference between his butt and a hole
in the ground.

Mac, K2GKK/5



-- "Hue Miller" <kargo_cult at msn.com> wrote:

From: "Hue Miller" <kargo_cult at msn.com>
Cc: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] France to ban military collections
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:33:49 -0800

While we're bashing Fr*nce, let me mention something:
i have a vhf scanner going here 24x7, and just heard the
USCG station here in Newport, Oregon, calling asking
for all to look out for any vessel in distress, as an EPIRB
was just heard. ( CG even gave MHz frequency of EPIRB ).
However, what's bizarre, to my mind, is the way the CG
station heads the emergency broadcast, "PAN PAN, 
PAN PAN, PAN PAN" This is Coast Guard station
Yaquina Bay"  Now, pan is french for "bread", am i not
correct? It certainly is, in Spanish. Why use a term
that dates back to some ancient outdated international
radio agreeement, that was decided before VHF fm came
into wide use? This CG station has a range of probably
30-40 miles at best, not overseas, and "PAN" has scant
connection to USA boaters today. Why not just use,
"EMERGENCY", or "ALERT!"   I am thinking about 
writing the top officer in the USCG to point out the
silliness of this anachronism.
*To give France its due, the USA would most likely not
have won its indpendence, in the 1770s war, if not for
the French navy and some military advisors.
Hue Miller