Just came across some really punny jokes on the 'Baba Mail' site. Reminded me of the word game i used to play with Shumita some time back. We would choose a word and make sentences using words that rhymed. Here is an example.
Son of a gun was eating a bun having won a run for fun with pals out in the sun. Having done, he visited a nun to convey to God "thanks a ton" and went back home to read about Attila the Hun. No pun and intention of none.
Centuries before the likes of WhatsApp and Gen Z came up with 'btw' and 'lol', and Akhila's cousin stumped me one day with 'JSK' (Jai Shri Krishna), ships have had their own codes based on flags and pennants. Each letter of the alphabet and numeral is represented by its own distinct flag and every flag by itself has a meaning in the International Code of Flags. For example, flag G is hoisted by a ship requiring a pilot for entering and leaving harbour and H to indicate that the ship has a pilot on board.
Additionally, navies have their own code books in which a combination of flags denotes an order or a message, Flags may not be much in use now but the flag code is extensively used whatever the means of communication providing for brevity and speed. In my time in the Indian Navy, we used the Allied Naval Signal Book (ANSB) which was the Bible for signalmen in Commonwealth navies. So YM was a signal to 'act independently', YW to 'follow in my wake' and just M telling others ships to 'disregard my movements'.
Presently, the Indian Navy has its own INSB.
Numerals also have pennants and there are some special ones for naval use. Manoeuvres like 'Turn' and 'Corpen' are indicated by their own pennants as also 'Emergency' and 'Negat' which are self explanatory. And there is the 'Gin' pennant hoisted to celebrate a special event or someone's promotion and, as long as it remains hoisted, all are welcome on board for a drink without a formal invitation.
The code has other uses as well. It is customary for a newly appointed Commanding Officer to formally call on his boss. So he signals RTC which means 'request time convenient to call'. The boss replies with WDS, 'would be delighted to see you' followed by date and time. If the boss desires to see a junior, he signals ICU, 'I wish to see you' but if it is for a 'bottle', naval jargon for scolding, the signal is UCM, 'you see me' followed by date and time.
A signal a junior longs to see is BZ or 'well done'. What is dreaded is Negat BZ! Many of these terms are ingrained in our blood and we continue to use them long after retirement. If we wish to invite someone over, it is RPC, 'request pleasure of your company'. The reply, VMT 'very many thanks' followed by WMP 'with much pleasure' for acceptance or MRU for 'much regret unable'.
Phonetic code used in voice communication has some fun words too. There are dance terms 'Foxtrot' for F and 'Tango' for T, the eternal lovers 'Romeo' and 'Juliet' for R and J, and Yankee, Zulu and Charlie topped up with Whiskey.
Let's end with a baker's dozen of corny jokes that started it all.
Why don't they play Poker in the jungles? Too many cheetahs.
How did the picture fetch up in the jungle? It was framed.
How do I impress a female baker? Bring her some flours.
How did the barber win the race? He knew a shortcut.
Why did the baby ant get confused? Because all his uncles were ants.
I sold my vacuum cleaner. All it was doing was collecting dust.
I just found out that I'm colour blind. That dawned on me completely out of the green.
Did you hear the story about the claustrophobic astronaut? He needed some space.
Two muffins were in the oven. One said,"It is hot in here''. The other said, "Wow! A talkin' muffin!"
Why can't a nose be 12 inches long? Because then it will be a foot.
How do you make a swiss roll? Push him down the mountain.
How can you make a Venetian blind? Poke him in the eyes.
Why did the golfer bring two pants? Just in case he got a hole-in-one!
Have a pun day!
