Cap'n Pete Straw

I've misplaced me own keys somewhere in me house. Anyone who finds them, I'll give ye a fiver.

Strait of Magellen

Extremely stinky people? Meet them every day. But to actually be serious about this topic for a moment... Yes. I have experienced many instances of precognition, have been able to recall specific earlier memories when the actual event occurs (not just Deja Vu -- I have been able to recall where and when I "pre-membered" this event,), scored 100% on an informal ESP test (but this was with a person whom I felt attuned to). I have personally experienced far too many instances to discount the whole ESP thing. But it remains beyond my control. I share it with certain people, and foretelling events is hit-or-miss.

From the official ticket website: August 4-9 Tall Ships® Chicago 2006 Tall Ships® Chicago 2006 will highlight Chicago's rich maritime history, and emphasize the role of the river and lake in the city's birth and development. Located on more than 500,000 square feet of festival grounds, including the Chicago River, from Wabash Avenue to Lake Shore Drive, NavyPier® and DuSable Harbor, this year's festival promises to be a display of vessels reminiscent of the majestic lakefront of the 1800s. Access to the festival grounds along the Chicago River, DuSable Harbor and Navy Pier is free. Individual wristbands, which serve as boarding passes must be purchased to board vessels. A separate wristband must be purchased for each day that boarding is available, August 4-9. Wristbands are $11 per day, or available at a group rate of $9 per day with a purchase of twenty or more in one transaction. ... More detail on the indicated website. Lady Barbossa, I started this topic so we can talk about the event HERE, instead of the various Port Washington threads (and I saw another Tall Ships Festival thread, but that was for the state of Washington). As I indicated elsewhere, I will be in Chicago that week (my office window overlooks Lake Michigan), although the weekend of the 4th I will likely be in Kentucky.

Rummy3, I am glad you enjoyed them. As I said, I have lots more, but these are more than representative of the rest. Yes, there is a lot to see. I think I mentioned it before, but you simply must spend a weekend night in the non-stop street party throughout Paceville. Plan to see the ancient temples, but don't forget the modern churches. Lots and lots of museums -- try to see as many as possible. And take a walking tour of Mdina. There is also a charter boat service that runs a pirate cruise! Do not miss a chance to see Malta from the sea. I cannot begin to remember what I already posted here.... and I did not begin to shed light on the island's rich culture and scenic must-sees.

Spamalot

I had a different answer, but I think the line I was thinking of was actually "Hit me as hard as you can. Go ahead." Anyway, this was from Napoleon Dynamite. However, after (just now) looking it up, the line (from N.D.) is: "I said come down here and see what happens if you try and hit me"

... and most of us are satisfied to have a parrot or a monkey. I had not considered an eland! Can you teach it to talk?

If you so demand, then take and post such a photo I will. Of course, Navy Pier is about a mile away, and I do not have a telephoto lens. If you were standing in my office, you would likely say "Oh wow, nice view." But when I take and post this picture, you are likely going to say "Er, what am I looking at? What are you trying to show me?" Of course, I have your cell phone number, I could send also you a snapshot from my cell phone... but on the 1.5" x 1.5" screen, you would be even more perplexed. You might want me to wait until I can get over to the Pier and take some more close-up shots of the Windy II. So, if you do not have a window, why don't you reciprocate by sending me a shot of the wall behind which sits the ass-end of said dumpster? It's still got to be more photogenic than my tent! LadyB, during the Tall Ships Fest, I will endeavor to get down to the lake & get some shots to share with you if you are not going to make it to Chicago. Or I'll try to purchase a telephoto lens and get some pix from my office window. I think I can see a dumpster from up here, too.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Exceedingly salty pistachios? Yes. I have some. Quite tasty

I logged in to the Pub on my lunch break... I can see the Windy II from my office window right now! Thanks for the Tall Ships dates. The weekend of the 5th is a Civil War reenactment, but more importantly it is also a family reunion in Kentucky. Decisions, decisions...

Over a month has passed, and no one has 'fessed up to trying one of these. No one at all? Or are ye all so freaking pissed off yer arse on Grogtinis that ye cannot drag yerself over to the keyboard? Fool's Gold Crew: I am so terribly mad at myself -- when we all sat down at the bar in Port Washington, I was so excited that they had Guinness on tap, that I forgot my own plan -- and that was to teach the bartender how to mix Grogtinis and buy all of us a round. Next time.

Is it okay to desire the mystical experience itself? I had a box containing eighteen perfectly good foibles, but the recent high water flooded the basement and ruined them all to Hell. Anyway, that's my experience.

"Special"

Pirate Festival in Port Washington (WI) this past weekend... How many of you were there? We promoted the pub rather heavily, so by default I may have already met some of you people who are only now joining... 'Twould appear that I did meet one new person from the Pub at the event: Bloody Jack Madd And I did NOT meet Gypsy Rose , for he chose not to introduce himself to me.

Captain Sterling -- a fine job. A fine job indeed.

Will Smith

Ring of fire

A short (600 meter) downhill stroll from Hagar Qim takes you to another temple, Mnajdra (pronounces im-nyeh-dra). My regret is that these were the only two temples I was able to visit (there are even older ones on Malta and Gozo), but I am comforted that I at least saw these two. ...and a shot of me in front of the Mnajdra entrance for scale... Okay, folks, that's it for me. I knocked off about 20 rolls of photographic film during my second trip to Malta (and it was a business trip -- so I also got a few hundred digital photos, as well as over 20 hours of video footage), but scanning the pictures, uploading to Photobucket and then over to the Pub is exhausting. I chose these highlights from my piles of photos, and hope you enjoy them.

Okay, here is the last round... The temples. The oldest standing buildings on the face of this planet are all located on Malta and Gozo. Pyramids of Egypt? Stonhenge? Newborns! Walking through these buildings is truly an emotional and unforgettable experience. It was after walking through these temples that I went and got my Maltese Cross tattoo... First off, a shot of the temple of Hagar Qim: The name "Hagar Qim" means "standing stones," which refers to the three huge stones that were originally all that could be seen of this (otherwise completely buried) temple when it was discovered in 1839. When the temple was eventually unearthed, these three stones were revealed to be over five meters tall. Speaking of huge stones, it remains a mystery how these ancient temple builders moved these great slabs of stone. One megalith, on Hagar Qim's northeast wall, weighs an estimated 20 tons: And before we leave Hagar Qim (and I have a crapload more shots of its interior, etc.) here is a shot of some of the decorative style which the temple builders employed. Many of the rocks (including this low altar stone) were decorated with polka-dot indentations...

You asked for luzzus? I got your luzzus right here.... Here is one in use -- a couple of fishermen out for the day...

Must add some gratuitous shots of myself... Taken aboard the aformentioned gullet, you can see in the background one of the many walls built around the various Maltese cities: It seems that no trip to Malta is complete without getting a picture of the ubiquitous Gardjola Tower that commands a complete view of the Grand Harbor at the tip of the city of Senglea (or, better yet, your picture with it in the background! Carved into the stone of the tower is an eye and an ear, indicating that the guard on watch had to be "all eyes and ears" to lookout for enemies. And here is simply a great shot of one of the many decorated doors from all over Malta:

Okay... here we go... Here is a picture of chain shot (linked cannonball halves which were fired to cut through masts... and men) from the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa. From the same museum, a "weatherproof" flintlock. Note the closeable metal box fitted around the lock mechanism, which was designed to keep your powder (and flint!) dry. Good luck shoving this in your belt. While we are on the subject of Vittoriosa, here is an impressive shot... Parts of Vittoriosa have been dug up so they could be flooded to create impassable moats... The view (along with the dramatic setting sun!) can make for a great picture: One of the narrow streets of Vittoriosa.

Dude! It's a bong!