Sjöröveren

Black Hearted Pearl: How do you say "bribe" in Spanish? I understand it to be in common use in some parts of Mexico. If you go again, get one for me! And yes, it's been awhile since I've been in the pub. Busy, busy busy! Rigger McKnotty: Got it, along with "A Sea of Words" and "Harbors & High Seas" guides to words and locations in the POB books, respectively. Also have "Lobscouse & Spotted Dog" which it's a recipe book for many of the meals served aboard the HMS Suprise and elsewhere. I think I would buy "A Guide to Patrick O'Brian's Sock Drawer" is someone wrote it. King's Pyrate: To each his own, I guess. I found myself skimming some of the battle scenes, simply because I had a hard time keeping all the manoevers straight. I'm a grass-combing landsman, I must confess, and could only make a guess at which thingy was a haliard and which was a sheet. So someone else better sail the ship. However, the "other stuff" is what I love best about O'Brian. His characterizations are brilliant! The benign belligerance of Killick, the steadfast devotion of Baret Bonden; Oh, I could go on and on! Allbymeonesies: I checked a few audio books out of the library, but beware! Even the ones that said they were unabridged had bits edited out.

There's been references to him in various posts over the years, but I'm trying to get a head count of sorts. But there's got to be more than a few fans of POB around here. Anyone else read all 20 (or 20.5, for completists) novels in the Aubrey/Maturin series? I'm on my second trip through, currently just starting "Treason's Harbor" And for you unfortunate folks who have never heard of Patrick O'Brian, he is best known for the film "Master and Commander" which was based on his 10th book in the series, "The Far Side of the World." His writing style is often compared to Jane Austen. He creates a very complete sense of life aboard a Royal Navy ship during the Napoleonic wars.

both of those theories were discussed on the show today. One, that she "hogged", or broke in the center when caught between two crests. Or that she shoaled on rocks that were normally plenty deep, but the depth of the troughs between the crests brought the surface down to their level and exposed them. The mystery light may well have been her stern lights. The theory is that when the bow struck the lake bottom, the 1000 foot ship still had her stern a hundred feet or more in the air. It stood vertical for a while before sinking. All of these theories are discussed in the new book I mentioned, called "The Mighty Fitz"

The Edmund Fitzgerald went down with all hands 30 years ago tonight. The iron ore tanker lost its race against one of the November storms that Lake Superior is famous for. All 29 crew members went with her to the bottom. I"m sure most people know the story from the Gordon Lightfoot song. There's a new book by Michael Schumacher about the event. Here's a link to a show that aired this morning on Minnesota Public Radio (though this link may not work after today)

Just finished a big bowl of Cheerios. And I've got a big chunk of Gorgonzola cheese to eat during the Vikings game. Hopefully the smell of the cheese will block out the stench of the Vikings. The Falcons could do us all a favor and put the entire team on the DL. And don't forget the bench and the entire coaching staff. Leave the cheerleaders - someone will have to suit up next week.

That be Lake Superior ye sees behind me in my pic. Drove up to Gooseberry State Park this summer just to take some pics in me favorite clothes!

We will definately be at either Chicago or Green Bay! And I will begin lobbying ASTA to add Duluth, MN to the ports of call. Lake Superior can't be left out, it's more like the open sea than any other Great Lake.

The traditional RN toast to Nelson "to the immortal memory" is the only formal toast that requires that no reply be given. Under the circumstances, we being on both sides of the Atlantic, I think we can be a bit flexible, so that everyone can get their toast in. That being said.... To Horatio Viscount Nelson, Hero of Trafalgar, the Immortal Memory!

Tomorrow marks 200 years since Lord Horatio Nelson fell in his victory off the coast of Portugal. I invite all interested parties to join me at 1630 hours GMT on the 21st for a toast to the man and the victory. (1630 GMT=12:30pm Eastern Daylight time, 9:30am Pacific) (I think those times are right. Check local listings)

I bought one of these from Jas. Townsend a few months ago. It's just the head - I made a handle from an old axe handle - but it looks the same as the one it the first posting in this thread. I've popped it into a few trees in the yard, and some load- bearing beams in the basement, and it I'm pretty sure it would be fatal with the first blow!

Stanley of London, which has almost everything nautical and brass that you could ever want, provided you don't try to use it for actual navigation. Pretty to look at though. Wish they'd make a proper 30-minute watch-glass on gimbals. A ship just don't work right unless ye keep a proper watch.

Ye really can't top Barrett's Privateers. This link should work for a page with lyrics. There doesn't seem to be a Real Audio clip anymore, but I would wager Amazon would have one. I'm also very fond of Stan Rogers' version of "Rolling down to Old Maui" I also can't recommend Tanglefoot highly enough. They are definately in the spirit of Stan Rogers, and sing a great number of original sea-inspired songs. Check out their pirate song Traighli Bay. The pirates win in this one!

Ye needs a fittin exclamation when makin a raid, boardin a prize or emptyin a tankard, but there are so many choices! What say ye?

Good advice for any musician, but the image makes especially pertinent to pirates

In the Milk Carton Boat Race, what most reasonable people would call sinking, they call floating!

The Benjamin Noble, a steamer loaded with iron rails, was lost with all hands in April 1914. It had long been condidered a sort of "holy grail" for wreck divers, and was recently discovered by accident. Full story here. and here. Here's a side-scan sonar image of the wreck:

Here's something you don't see every day: A pirate ship made from milk cartons! The big summer festival in Minneapolis is called the Aquatennial, and for the last 30 odd years, one of the big events is a race featuring boats made from milk cartons. (I think it was originally sponsored by Land O' Lakes, the giant dairy company.) The boats can have wood, foam and other stuff, but the primary flotation must come from milk cartons - sealed shut with duct tape, glue or whatever. Most of the boats make it just a few feet into the water before falling apart, but some people put lots of hours and money into building something that will really float. The captains of this vessel won $700 in prize money. No idea how many milk cartons went into its construction.

I'm married to Red Bess, though having worked on the night shift last week and the week to come, it seems like we've never met. Just recently met up with Lady Barbossa, Merrydeath, Bilgemunky and Capt. Pete Straw in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the opening of the "Pirates!" exhibit at their Public Museum. Hoping to meet other Midwest Pirates this summer at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival (I'm looking at you, Mad Jack!)

anyone know why they held it in June, rather than on 21 October?

...should have known better than to rely on my memory! I knew I was close. Speaking of Jew's Harps, here's an excelllent source for buying some. They sound really incredible in the right hands.

If you're trying to be strictly historically accurate, concertinas & accordians didn't come along until the 1840s, well past the Golden Age of piracy. Even then, they were considered to be an orchestral instument for the first decade or so.

I haven't put a lot of thought into this, so these are mostly off the top of my head, and in no particular order: -Antarctica. Being a Northerner, I seem to have a natural preference for cold places, though I would go in summer of course. And, I want to eat penguins, just like in Patrick O'Brian's Desolation Island. Mmmmm, salted penguins..... -The Canadian Maritimes. From salmon fishing on the Mirimichi to prowling around L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. -New Zealand. I wanted to go even before Lord of the Rings, and now I want to go even more. Plus, I bear a passing resemblance to Peter Jackson, so maybe someone will buy me a pint. -Easter Island. Come on, those giant heads are just too cool. -Sweden & Norway. Land of my ancestors, but I've never been there. I even know the exact farm where my grandfather's grandfather came from in Gagnef, Sweden, so I'll stop in for lunch and a tour. And I'll bring flowers. Turning the subject on its head, is there anyplace that you've been that people should see before they die, but may not have ever considered visiting? I've got one: Northwestern North Dakota. Seriously. It still looks like old paintings of the Old West, there's still lots of bison and antelope around, and about 6 people. About 15 years ago, Red Bess and I went there in April, and we had an entire national park to ourselves. Just me and me sweetie and about 2 million acres without another soul. Simply breathtaking.

Just added a group shot in the Pub's Gallery. It's on page 12. "The Fool's Gold Crewe" Still haven't found an easy to use image host so I can just insert the pictures. Haven't looked real hard yet either.

Having a bit a trouble getting an image to post, so for the time being, here's a link to a group shot. L-R, back row: Merrydeath, Red Bess, Capt. Pete Straw, Sjöröveren, Lady Barbossa, Bilgemunkey. L-R, front row: Andre & Daniel (Red Bess & Sjöröveren's boys)

That's him. He's not using piratesareus anymore.