Cap'n Pete Straw

What? Did I hear someone say "Cascabel isn't a real Pyrate"? God, I hate this pub. Disappointing bad news everywhere. Nest you'll be trying to tell me that there's no such thing as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, leprechauns, and eskimos.

So, I just now saw this story on the news. It is the National Anthem that is being considered. And President Bush announced in a major press conference that he wants it only sung in English ... so you all probably think I sound like a fool, 'cuz the entire country knows about this, and I am only just catching up to speed. Erg. My opinions are the same as President Bush? That's disturbing. Anyway, my opinion stays the same on this issue. Translate it to understand it, but sing it in English. After all, I have sought out English translations of the French and German national anthems because I could not understand what they were sayng ("Dutch land, Dutch land, underwear?"). BTW, Francis Scott Key is a distant relative of mine (the Key family line is part of my family tree... Francis Scott was a cousin of some sort to one of my ancestors, but I cannot recall the exact details.)

...Another thought... I heard part of a news report that someone, somewhere is trying to pass some legislation or law to allow the Pledge of Allegiance to be translated and spoken in Spanish. (I missed the entire story, so I assume this is for a Spanish-speaking school)... Here is my take on this. I am all for preserving native culture and heritage. HOWEVER, I feel that this country's Pledge of Allegiance should be always spoken and understood in English. I support it being translated into every known language so that anybosy anywhere can understand (for scholarly purposes) what we are about, but when spoken as an actual oath, it should be in English. Always. IMHO.

I did not read everyone else's posts yet... I will come back for that later. From my Chicago office window on South Michigan Avenue (14th floor), I have an unobstructed view of Lake Michigan and, therefore, overlook Grant Park. I had the opportunity to watch hundreds and thousands of people gather throughout the day of May 1 in the park below my window. All day long they were leaving by the hundreds, but seemed to be arriving by the thousands. It was a rather impressive sight. But you asked my opinion. This is a country of immigrants, and virtually everything we are is based on the fact that almost all our ancestors (yes, I am part Native American, so don't pick nits with me about this) came from other countries. There must always be a place in this country for immigrants. That being said, we are talking about illegal immigrants. They are illegal because they are in our country by circumstances contrary to the laws which we, as a democratic society, have voted for and established to specifically address them and their circumstances. Where am I going with this? I do not have a clear response to the question, but my gut feeling is that we need better laws and methods to treat these people as humanely as we possibly can, in a fair manner. Perhaps we need to grant better work visas and carve for them a better niche in our society that accommodates them as friendly foreigners (and not as outright criminals), so they will come forward to be counted and dealt with in, as I repeat, a fair and humane manner. These are people. While some may have malicious intent (thinking 9/11 here), almost all are simply yearning to breathe free. We created a desireable land and society, and the consequence we must face is that some others want to share in that. And we must find better ways to accommodate/deal with that. IMHO. Please do NOT read this post as support of aggresive policies to shove our democratic ideals down the throats of foreign governments. That is another topic thread.

In no particular order whatsoever... F-Troop (!) Hogan's Heroes Time Tunnel (!!) Get Smart (!) Batman Land of the Giants Gilligan's Island The Prisoner (!!) Monty Python's Flying Circus (!!) Underdog Speed Racer Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Avengers Twilight Zone Outer Limits The Odd Couple (the best sitcom ever made, IMHO) Mission Impossible Dr. Who Star Trek (but since I still watch the "classic" series almost every week, it hardly seems "old" to me. Thank You, Cable) I realize this list is all over the place. I tried to define "old" as pre-70s, although I may have crossed that line (I did not check dates of these shows). For instance, I did not get hooked on Dr. Who until the late-70s, and I believe The Prisoner was a late 70s or early 80s show (but decades ahead of its time!). This list is utterly incomplete. Ask me tomorrow, and you will get a different list. In fact, upon re-reading and editing this list, I could not rid myself the sudden desire to listen to F-Troop, and just now returned to teh computer after tossing on DVD of the series (this episode is the one featuring guest star Don Rickles. Gads, this was a good series.)

Show of hands -- who has tried this? Anyone? Anyone? I am quite interested to hear feedback on this recipe. These are smoooth... ...In fact, as I finish this Guinness, I think I will mix meself up a Grogtini!

chicken

Straits of Magellan

Timing did not work out. As I read this now for the first time, yer party is as lively as the Billy Bones of song.

Lady Barbossa, I told you (via earlier private e-mail) I had it somewhere... and I finally found it. The following information is from Time-Life Books' "The Pirates" (from their "Seafarers" series). This is hardly authoritative, especially as this 1978 publication credits Daniel DeFoe as the true author of "Captain Johnson's General History of the Pyrates" -- a once-popular theory which has since been largely discounted. And, of course, what was true on one ship may be different on another. I will retype as much of the narrative as I can here, but will skip lengthy expository sections in the interest of brevity. Nonetheless, I expect this will be a somewhat long post... * * * * * * * * * * One of the most remarkable characteristics of pirate life was the almost total absence of those features of ordinary society the pirates detested -- overbearing authority, class distinctions, lack of say in important matters ... the pirates shared their ship and worked for nobody. They elected their captain and they could depose him... Except in the heat of battle, major decisions were generally taken by a show of hands... The pirate captain ... had no constitutional authority and was entitled to no special priviledges aside from a double share of the loot... Next to the captain the most important man on a pirate ship was the quartermaster ... the strong man of the ship. He was the ship's magistrate and empowered to punish minor offenses like quarreling or not looking after weapons properly, though serious offenses could only be tried by jury. He was the only man on a pirate ship who was allowed to administer flogging -- though so detested was this form of punishment that it was allowed only when sanctioned by a majority vote of the crew. The quartermaster was also the first man to board a prize, and he was responsible for the selection and division of the plunder... He [too] was chosen by majority vote and he could be deposed by it. ...The pirates had all the other officers usual on a man-of-war -- if they could get them. These officers were sometimes elected, but more often appointed by the captain and quartermaster. There was sometimes a lieutenant, who had no particular function except to assume command if the captain was killed. The sailing master was more important -- it was he who was in charge of navigation and the setting of the sails. Theboatswain was responsible for maintenance, ship's tackle and stores, and the day-to-day work of the ordnance, gunnery training and the gun crews in action. Other invaluable specialist officers or "artists," as they were called, included the carpenter, the sailmaker and the surgeon. The surgeon on board a pirate ship often spent his time treating veneral disease among the crew members. Against the main causes of death and incapacity in tropic waters -- yellow fever, malaria and dysentery -- he was virtually helpless. During a battle he would be required to dress wounds and perform amputations. If there was no surgeon, the carpenter stood in for him: the tools were much the same. Members of the pirate orchestra ... were seamen who had been impressed from captured ships because of their ability as musicians. [They] were continuously on call to play a jig or a hornpipe at a pirate dance or to serenade the pirates as they took their communal meals... during a battle they were ordered to play nautical tunes and aggressive war notes on drums and trumpets to demoralize the enemy and encourage their own men. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * So, there you have it. A pretty good starting list, I believe. I also have the "Men-Of-War" book from the same series. I will thumb through it and see if it adds light to this topic.

What's wrong? I just threw beads at my computer monitor, and they just landed on my keyboard. RumbaRue, ye have to work on yer eye-hand coordination. Ready? ...Catch! Damn. There they landed again. Have to do this in person, I guess.

I am just signing in here to say that I have no idea what to say. So many ideas rushing to the fore... yet, no words. Okay... something comes to mind... I tip my hat to all ye ladies. Keep up the good work. Er, I guess, keep up the good breasts, too. Huge fan of this type of work. Huge fan indeed. (DDD? That's my new favorite number).

Very nice, everyone... ...But my kudos to Cascabel. Nice job, sir.

My wife is deathly afraid of sharks. My kids conspired with me to pick up a battery-powered-motored shark fin, which we snuck aboard, and released in the river. The kids thought it was a great joke... but my wife did not flinch. I guess the whole Fresh Water River thing... The "shark" kept getting snagged on plants, and we were continuously circling back to retrieve it. It turned into a very short-lived prank.

Commodores

Not laughing... I have done that too many times.

So the new question (since I answered the question at hand) seems to be: Who do you WANT to meet from this pub? So many names, but the list tops as follows: -- Rummy3, but in Hagar Qim or any other place of your choice in Malta. -- Foxe, but in that Brighton Antique Weapons Shoppe. Of course, this list of wanna-meets would be incomplete without Christine and Pyrate Phil. Must add Hawkyns and Callenish Gunner. There's a few others that I would choose solely because of their flattering profile pics....

Oops... I think I really screwed up this time I accidentally turned all the pattern pieces backwards and sewed them together upside down... and did it by following the instructions in Frecnh. This is what I ended up with:

Finally dug out the photos... Pirates on the Fox River (distant shot): But, oh no! SHARKS! I have another really great photo, but the prominant person in the foreground is my 16-year-old daughter in a skimpy bikini (wearing my pirate hat). And if you think I am posting that on the Internet, you are high.

Montage of my flintlocks... ...and a few other toys ....

Well, here's a photo that I have been looking for...

Ahrr, Bloody Jack Madd... a lurker, eh? Well met, indeed! Look us up in Port Washington -- we should not be too hard to find. "Twould be a pleasure to toss back a couple in your company. Alas, for I am without bratwurst, so ye shall have to set yer sights on other treasure... I hardly think I would scoff at yer "Pyle-style" kit, chum, for I would have to admit to being a "Maitz-style" pirate and beg that ye not criticize me own. Lookin' forward...

The TV is on (as always) so I am listening to the Live Daily Lottery numbers. Shoulda bought a ticket.

Here, gents.... I brought a pack o' Guinness (here, pass 'em down), as well as some honey-roasted cashews -- I don't much care for popcorn. Scoot over, you -- give a guy some room. Now, where's them photos of cleavage? I swear, this Pyracy Pub gets better all the time.

Well, Mr. Gunner, thank you for the tip. This is not a front burner project (I have so much on my plate) but it sure will be nice to get this thing fully operational.