Maybe I'm crazy, but my reading of Dag's comments on the Italians seems to be different than others. And I've read it over several times. But since it keeps being mentioned, I'm adding my two cents.

All I understood from the comment was that hiring Italians was less expensive than hiring Norwegians and that maybe they are even better captains. He then goes on to say that there are a lot of Italians in those positions.

Isn't this a possible legitimate interpretation? Maybe it's the economist in me.

----------------

Eugene