By the way, David, where, exactly, did Ruth say anything about Americans lacking a sense of irony? I can't find it anywhere, in this thread or the other one currently going.

There was a humorous exchange between Little Hawk, Smokey, and me, but that was obviously a matter of kidding each other.

As I say, perhaps you are the one who lacks a sense of irony and are not able to recognize humor.

Don Firth