Well, thanks, Al. Don't quite know what to say...

As one of the Nat Service generation, that sort of verbal obloquy comes fairly instinctively to me. And when I first joined the Cat I adopted much of the contentious obscenity that so many posts were couched in. Then it occurred to me that this was both unworthy, and weakening to one's argument; so I explicitly forswore it in a post 3 years back at least, and have stuck to this resolve since [tho not, of course, like you, Al, necessarily when driving!]. Sorry again that a bit of my nerve-pain should have knocked me off the self-chosen course whereby "scoundrel" or "rascal", of at worst "swine" or "rat", would be the lowest level of abuse to which I would permit myself to sink.

Apologies to all again ~~ esp to pete cockermouth. Very sorry, pete!

~Michael~