My dad was a PATE. AJ is a PATE. My dad could mix words with the best of them. Intelligence was not a problem for my dad, he had plenty of that. He also could talk the rough language. Those who knew him well just laughed about it. He did not mean a lot by it. That was just the way he was and it rolled out of him without much effort. To his credit, he did try to eleminate some of it when he finaly was forced to sit in the house all day with my mom.   Ages ago when Congressman Charley Wilson (famous for the movie, Charley Wilson's War) was still a State Congressman, he walked into my dad's place of business as he was accustomed to do in Lufkin. A discussion about the proposed state sales tax which was an idea floating around Austin at that time (this was a long time ago) took place. My dad received assurances from Charley that he was going to vote against it. The next thing that happened, Charles Wilson not only voted for it, he may have introduced the bill. The next time Charley walked into Dad's store, Dad called him the same bad name AJ used and Charley just laughed. Charley enjoyed the whole scenario.   I hope Joel is as thick skinned as Charley Wilson. The point I am trying to make is that sometimes men can use language around each other that isn't necessarily derogatory but sounds terrible when written. Depends on the man. I hope the parties involved can work this out. I thought it was good for a laugh as I was reminded of my dad. Too bad we are not selling subscrptions to the Pate list serve. It would be great salesmanship.   I do not read everything that comes to my email box from the Pate genealogy or DNA website unless it is from AJ, Joel, or Joe Scarborough. These are the guys who have the most knowledge and the most relevant things to say. I saved AJ's "The Troubled Times.." research because I recognized it as serious and helpful research although I don't know how Sir John Pate fits into my family if at all. So guys, make nice to each other and the rest of the world please understand that we Texan's can be a little rough around the edges.                                                                              Billie Pate Grunden