Comes today a call from an active U.S. mariner -- an endangered species if ever there was one -- listing the large and growing booklet which he, and apparently all mariners, must carry when they go to sea.

Truth in blogging: I asked for this phone call. A couple of weeks ago, there was a puff piece on the glorious things that ISO has done for the merchant marine. I forwarded the article to various sailing mariners and got an email back saying, "You're marking me sick to my stomach."

Further truth: it wasn't a puff-piece; the author stopped (I hope he stopped) just this side of donning a gap-blue dress & knee pads.

Anyone wish to comment on the added safety or business efficiency resulting from all this good stuff?