William Brand

No, I understood your post and you're right to make the observation. I'm just tabling the concern before it becomes rooted in anyone's mind. It never hurts to critique and observe the whole for the betterment of the individual.

Sadly, this is an often heard theme as we draw close to PIP. Just remember the PIP motto... "Next year..."

For anyone else with this concern, please remember. It is always important to maintain a healthy sense of optimism, perspective and willingness to participate. I spoke with a fellow years back who complained about an event he and I both attended. His complaint was this, no one had made him feel welcome. I asked him if he had introduced himself to anyone. His reply was a simple 'No'. I asked him if he actively participated in any of the activities. Again, he hadn't. I asked him if he had expended any effort in being a part of the event at all. Also a resonding negative. Then I asked him if he observed everyone else having a good time and interacting with one another. He had in fact observed them all actively getting to know one another. He had caused himself to be removed, while laying the blame at the doors of others. The careful organization of fires or any other part of the festival by acting upon the familar is not elitism. It's structure. Just that. The firepits are placed somewhat geographically by camp position in conjunction with large familiar groups to create an ease of location and shared use. It also places the care and control of fire under the supervision of groups large enough to govern them solely for the purpose of maintaining fuel and safety.

Wow. That picture makes you look seven feet tall. Did people take a step back when you went trick-or-treating?

Hide the nuns!

Once more with feeling... WANT.

We need to start a thread in Captain Twill devoted to finding you nothing but period buckle images in the hundreds and thousands. To the internet!

You should post your pictures.

Why does she always look so energetic and at ease brandishing weapons...? Don't forget her birthday ever.

I make water oily? But...I bathed.

Sooo...I'm out then, am I? Drat. I got a pocket watch and everything.

This could be a marketplace post, but since it touches on Firefly props, I'll put it here. I'm selling window vinyls of the Blue Sun, TG Freight and round Alliance logo. If interested, please contact me via private message.

Very nice work. Very nice, indeed. I'm always glad to see another craftsman on the Pub, especially one working with cast metals. Out of curiosity, is the design based on a period object or engraving?

And will you be selling any of these?

My mom gave me a similar one a few years back, and, being the pirate that I am, I keep all of my waiscoats and justacorps in it. Cool find.

WANT.

To quote Patrick, "There is no Captain." That said, Hurricane is absolutely right. Patrick's comment about me 'getting along really well with people' not withstanding, I will not brook any sailor getting out of line. This is not to say that I'm not a patient fellow, but endanger a life or risk harm to the fort or property belonging to others and you'll hear from me nose to nose. Those awake and sober enough to hear me on my third night at PIP in 2005 will tell you that I don't mince words. For those not in the know, I discovered some attendees that year attempting to climb parts of the fort that were closed to the general public due to safety reasons. They were climbing banisters (made mostly from brittle pvc pipe) in an effort to get up the fort walls in the dark. They were not only damaging the railing, but risking their quite foolish young lives in the process. They were not part of our crew at all, but this didn't stop me from putting on my prison warden face and giving them one very sound verbal thrashing, and none too quietly. They were putting themselves in harm's way, damaging fort property and risking the very future of our attendance. Needless to say, they never came back. I didn't even see them the next day. I reported the infraction and the damages to the railings to Harry, and he agreed that we were better for seeing the back of them. Still, these infractions tend to be the exception, not the rule. I have seldom had to raise my voice, and only a few times ever to stop an act that would harm someone or weaken our good graces with the park. I have witnessed many crew members of different groups policing themselves and using the casual caution that makes PIP so pleasant year to year. Even those of us who have stubbornly disagreed at times online and in the public, tend to fall into a mutual understanding that allows the event to run smoothly. These cautionary posts creep up on the Pub every year just before and after the event. It's a good sign that we care so much about the festival to caution one another about such things as safety, rules, property and the like. It's a good sign that we're all thinking about such things before PIP and reflecting and observing aloud afterward. This sort of well intended mindset keeps us all on our toes. It also displays that we have a good share of common sense, respect and an attention to details. If there were no rules, we'd probably just make them ourselves. At PIP, as on any ship, the life and well being of any sailor is in the hands of every other sailor. Watch each other's back. Lend hands. Laugh long. -William Brand Quartermaster of the Mercury

There was a wide enough difference in opinions that I shelved this one. I may actually take another stab at it one of these days, but I think we first have to decide if we would have one at all, as most of our goods would be marked by those we stole them from. We could in fact have a bale mark that we use when pretending to be someone we are not or when selling different goods to different people. It's still worth discussing.

sniff. It's beautiful. And on that note you should all know that Tracy has purchased the black wool and a heavy, natural linen to begin the flag. It will be roughly ten feet by seven feet.

It's hard to tell from the pictures. I tell you what...you send it out here and I'll wear it around to a few places. Let the public feel it out. See how it sits. After a few months, I'll do a full wrtie up and photo essay and send it back.

You are not wrong to think it similar at all, Mark. I drew on many period representations, including tombstones. Well, especially tombstones really, what with the macabre undertones and threatening nature of death and mortality.

I am so jellin'.

Okay...PIP is but a month away. This is the time (not a month from now) to begin training yourself to be on your feet for hours at a time in all kinds of weather. Anyone who has been to PIP will tell you that the time you spend up and about at PIP will wear you out and do the most unpleasant things to your feet, so start walking. Walk a half mile at least every day for this next week. Then walk a mile every day for the week after. By the time PIP rolls around you want to be walking two miles a day at the very least. This conditioning can be the difference between enjoying PIP and sitting about aching far more than necessary. Besides, who doesn't want to be healthier? And get some gel inserts for your shoes.

Despite the obvious setbacks of not attending PIP this year, I will be fulfilling the promise of making the Mercury flag, or more to the point, Tracy has agreed to make it by hand. All praise Tracy. I also spoke with Fayma earlier today and made the necessary plans to ship the flag and other things to her. She'll see that it gets to the right people, so prepare to serve under the dark jack of the Mercury.

William and Jim discussed many things together and William did not keep the information concerning Mister Whittingford from him, but this was only one of many things upon which they conversed. They spoke of prisoners and goods almost as if discussing the same thing, because both were but weight for the present. This subject turned to the cannon lost, and with the light of day coming on, the sea was scanned near and far for any sign of those barrels employed to mark the sunken guns. "Sorry, sah! No sign!" Ciaran called from aloft, for the sea proved too deep for the lines which had been lashed to the guns of the snow. No other cannon but those two taken in haste would ever be recovered from the lost ship, though their swivels were now many. With all of this accomplished William retired. He left the movement of the 'Dog in Jim's most capable hands, for William could not keep from yawning again and again until his jaw popped a little. He went to his hammock as one so tired that he could not sleep at first, but pondered on the long and eventful night, til at the last he slipped away. He dreamt of garden spot in Mut that his waking mind had all but forgotten and it was a good dream.