William Brand

Aye, but a link, location and brief description would serve better.

So I watched the free preview. It was okay. Not as bad as I thought from a plot standpoint, albeit free with plot interruptions for obligatory sex scenes. And I do mean obligatory. Not well crafted into the story, but obvious rating-hunting scenes. Skin for the paying customers. It felt forced. No set-up, just sex for sex's sake. That said, the costuming is not flagrantly bad, but it is all over the map. Some good fighting. Not bad fighting at all, though I'm loathe to figure out why steel 'shings' in leather, wind and wood. I did like the use of CGI. Since it doesn't look real, at least they made the ships look pretty, almost painted. It's like watching maritime art move. There were some historic points made and some accurate terminology given, but it's counterpointed by almost as many obvious flaws, so it evens out. I'm not a fan of shows that 'even out' because the story telling is usually not enough to give the story life and longevity. If I don't want to watch it again or own it, well... ...you be the judge.

I went back to see what the oldest, unanswered thread is on Captain Twill, and found this interesting citation from way back in 2003. I invite people to go back through the archives here on Captain Twill. There are excellent materials and lively discussions about a wide range of topics.

With Michael Bay's fingerprints on this one I've lowered my expectations as low as I can set them. I expect lots of modern slang and turns of phrase, excessive violence and sex, little or no real shipboard life and details and the occasional electric guitar solo.

Will this suffice? DEVIL'S BROOD PYRATES (CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES) We do anything from re-enactments to performing, with a required certain level of historical authenticity ROVING FLEET (CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES) A chapter of the Devil's Brood Pyrates with emphasis on travel through the U.S. as vendors and Performers I'll add the Knights of the Black Flag once you've recruited enough to be a crew or group.

To make a good Spanish Olio PERIOD: England, 17th century SOURCE: The Accomplish'd Lady's Delight In Preserving, Physick, Beautifying, and Cookery, 1675 DESCRIPTION: A stew of beef, lamb, veal, & poultry with vegetables & herbs Take a Rump of Beef, or some of a Brisket or Buttock, cut it to pieces; a Loyn of Mutton with the Fat taken off, and a fleshy piece of a Leg of Veal, or a Knuckle, a piece of inter-larded Bacon, three or four Onions, or some Garlick, and if you will, a Capon or two, or else three great Tame-Pigeons. First, put into the water the Beef and Bacon, after a while the Mutton, Veal, and Onions, but not the Capon or Pigeons, only so long till they are boyled enough; if you have Garavanza's, put them in at the first, after they have been soaked with Ashes all night in heat, wash them well in warm water; or if you have Cabbage, Roots, Leeks, or whole Onions, put them in time enough to be sufficiently boyled. You may at first put in some Crusts of Bread, or Venison Pye-Crust; it must boyl in all five or six hours gently, like stewing; after it is well boyled, a quarter, or half an hour before you intend to take it, take out a porringer full of Broath, and put to it some Pepper, and five or six Cloves, and a Nutmeg, and some Saffron, and mingle them well in it, then put that into the Pot, and let it boyl, or stew wuth the rest a while, put in a bundle of sweet Herbs, salt must be put in when it is scumm'd. ...bacon.

pins

A personal favorite of mine... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia's_Graveyard It predates the Golden Age, but discusses elements of life at sea and economics that were still in effect well into the Golden Age. It discusses disease, shipboard conditions, social power structures, the disproportionate economics of the period, etc. It's a fascinating, sometimes harrowing and horrifying read.

January 17 - Benjamin Franklin was born on this day in 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. Later in his life in In 1778, while ambassador to France, Franklin hired privateers to capture British sailors and use them to exchange for the Americans held by the British in insufferable conditions.

Here are a few random threads that have discussed books... New Pirate/Maritime Books http://pyracy.com/index.php/topic/1670-new-piratemaritime-books/ Books... http://pyracy.com/index.php/topic/248-books/ Pyracy history books http://pyracy.com/index.php/topic/10346-pyracy-history-books/

Cloud

January 16 - On this day in 1704, approximately one hundred lives were lost when the 4th rate HMS Colchester was wrecked in Whitesand Bay.

Live, spontaneous music is also a plus, so a talented vocalist or a good fiddler is a great addition.

Well, many ships carried spare sail and stole their share of it, so you could make it look worn and mended enough to have the appearance of too much wear for use. It could also be leftovers from the Speedwell.

I love this tent! I was just reviewing old threads and found this. Great looking careening style tent,.

There are lists, some more comprehensive than others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pirates

First - Company is the first big draw. If I know people that are going to be there, I am motivated to consider it. Second - Presentation, be it historical or not, but even this can vary. For example, I prefer to go to historic oriented events, but the only local event is a pirate themed pirate festival, so I do attend that, as it's right in my back yard. Still, I'll fly across the country for a good period oriented event and location. Third - Battles and boats. If an event has both of these, that's a huge draw. These are all starters for me. I generally hear from like minded people about events that I should attend. People who think like me are always says 'You would love this event!' and so my list grows and grows.

I posted what may be the thirstiest drinking game ever to the Black Sails Facebook page... If you see a monmouth cap. Even one. You get to drink. If someone is wearing their 'tankard' on their person, you pour out a drink in the sink. If someone is wearing actual shoes and stockings, you get to drink. If someone wears boots while riding a horse, you get to drink. If someone jumps in the water wearing boots, you pour a drink down the sink. If someone is carrying a fid or true sailor's knife, you get to drink. If someone brandishes a caplock, you dump a drink out. If someone says 'Ahoy!' in context, you get to drink. If they ever yell 'Weigh Anchor!' and drop the anchor, you dump out a drink. If someone uses an eyepiece suspended by a ribbon or tied with a ribbon, you get to drink. If a wench is wearing stays, you get to drink. If you see a miniskirt, you pour a drink in the sink. If someone is given a ship's pistol to use just before a battle you get to drink. If any ship uses a tiller, you get to drink. If a ship's surgeon is seen shaving anyone, you get to drink. If you see a ship's sails filling one way and the same ship's flag flying the other way, you pour out a drink. If the scuttlebutt is shown, you get to drink. If you hear amazing grace, you pour out a drink. If someone says 'Larboard' you get to drink. If they say port in place of Larboard you have to dump your drink in the sink.

Mini-skirt. That's my only feedback for today.

Well, it was a good questions, because it forced me to satisfy my curiosity and I found numerous interesting ponce sanders. I own one in brass and one in copper, but I found period examples in earthenware, tin, and wood as well, including some beautiful painted and glazed examples from China.

And that's a modern detail that's certainly worth knowing. Thank you.

January 14 - On this day in 1639... In Hartford, Connecticut, the first constitution in the American colonies, the "Fundamental Orders," is adopted by representatives of Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford. The Dutch discovered the Connecticut River in 1614, but English Puritans from Massachusetts largely accomplished European settlement of the region. During the 1630s, they flocked to the Connecticut valley from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and in 1638 representatives from the three major Puritan settlements in Connecticut met to set up a unified government for the new colony. Roger Ludlow, a lawyer, wrote much of the Fundamental Orders, and presented a binding and compact frame of government that put the welfare of the community above that of individuals. It was also the first written constitution in the world to declare the modern idea that "the foundation of authority is in the free consent of the people." In 1662, the Charter of Connecticut superseded the Fundamental Orders; though the majority of the original document's laws and statutes remained in force until 1818.

Express

That is excellent news!

ride