The first mate on a ship decided to celebrate an
occasion with a "little" stowed away rum.
Unfortunately, he got drunk and was still drunk
the next morning. The captain saw him drunk and
when the first mate was sober, showed him the
following entry in the ship's log: "The first mate
was drunk today."

"Captain please do not let that stay in the log,"
the mate said. "This could add months or years
to my becoming a captain myself."

"Is it true?" asked the captain, already knowing
the answer.

"Yes, it is true" the mate said.

"Then if it is true it has to go in the log. That is
the rule. If it is true it goes into the log, end of
discussion," said the captain sternly.

Weeks later, it was the first mate's turn to make
the log entries. The first mate wrote, "The ship
seems in good shape. The captain was sober
today."