Karen S. thought a reference I made to somebody "smoking their ropes" --- meaning they were embarking on a course of action likely to have adverse results ---- was very funny. As this is a slow time on the board, I thought I'd explain the origin of the term. It's not what you think; it's an old nautical term.

Back in the 1700's and 1800's, the British warships were at war with "privateers", which were a type of pirate often in league with France which stole from whaling and commercial ships. The British warships adopted a tactic of burning their ropes (smoking their ropes) in their incinerator to simulate the smoke from rendering whale blubber, attract the privateers, and (hopefully) sink them. All too often, however, the British warships found themselves outgunned by the privateers, who often got their ships "through the back door" from the US back when we used to build the best ships, and were themselves sunk. So "smoking the ropes" turned out to be a not-so good idea.

And that, I believe, is the origin of the term.

Hope this amuses,
Richard :) :) :)