Blackbead

Ahhh, Tempest! There ye be! Well, since you've been tugged, the quote comes from "Captain Kidd", an old, old film but one that has its merits! I watched "Kingdom of Heaven" last night and it they can do that they can definitely pull off a Napoleonic period piece with a few "extras" in costume! And, Black Jack, be the answers three to your excellent questions: 1. True Grit 2. The Outlaw Josey Wales And the bonnus round: 3. Isn't that Victor McLaglen as the inimitable Quincannon in "Rio Grande"? Or is it one of the other parts of "the trilogy"? Or am I totally out of the ballpark? Blackbead

I do this kind of stuff fairly regularly and do it for a lot less than what they're asking for it . . . at least until I become FAMOUS!! For instance, last year, I did a shark tooth necklace for a dad to give his son for Christmas. It had a 2 inch fossilized Great White shark's tooth wrapped in silver wire and turquoise dog bones with hematite spacers. It was a 22 inch necklace with a Bali silver toggle clasp. I did all of that for less than $75. If anyone is interested in anything like that or anything at all that uses anything from semiprecious to plastic let me know and I am sure that we can work out a deal. Blackbead

Okay, I'm workin' on it! The first one I'll be postin' is of me and Captain Jasper dressed for our trip to TRF. Me as a Cilician pirate and she as my kidnapped Roman lady. Should be good . . . hold on . . .

There I be, on the map. Now, ALL of you come see me! Blackbead

Now, wait a minute there, Mr. Nelson! If I be not mistaken then this here forum be interested in historical authenticity, correct? Well, then you needs to be makin' some corrections like to yer drawing there. I doubt very seriously if any of them second wives ever wore coconut halves as part of their tribal dancin' costumes! Now, get back there and do some erasin' and be quick about it . . . REAL quick! Just kiddin' mate! An excellent job by the way! That there lovely can dance for me anytime! As far as pirates meeting whalers I agree with the hypothesis that they probably didn't cross paths all that often 'cause they had different "habitats" like, don't yer see. Also, if a whaler was taken by a pirate there'd be little left to tell the tale and many alternate endings that the folks back home would put on the story - i.e. read "In the Heart of the Ocean" sometime. And I don't recall the candles but I do know that ambergris formed the basis for some of the most expensive perfumes made back then. Wasn't there some story about a 70-80 pound chunk of the stuff found floating by some body and that was the largest piece ever found and was worth som incredible amount of money?? Perhaps I'll have to hit Altavista up for some info on that . . . Blackbead

Rummy, I never dated any Girl Scouts but I have eaten a few Brownies! Just kidding! I am NOT a child molester!! But I DO like it when Captain Jasper dresses up in her cheerleader outfit . . . Wait a minute . . . was that my external voice?? Ya know, The Doors are one of those groups that I never think about until I start thinking about some of their incredible songs. And I'd like to know more about this "little Zep" since I would love to have some help getting over the hump! Just kidding, of course, Led Zeppelin is another incredible band! I think that's why this was such a great topic and one that was so hard so respond to - it's VERY difficult to pick only five CDs and INCREDIBLY difficult to pick only ONE book! Blackbead

So, ye be wantin' a clue, eh? Well, imagine Randolph Scott playing the son of an English lord and you have the weakest part of this old film. This is one you can buy on a DVD coupled with another film. But, the cast (other than Scott) is first rate and the period setting is full of accurate details. Regarding "The Duelists": It has to be one of the best representations of the uniforms of the Napoleonic period I have ever seen. I just wish that someone would remake it with a REAL budget. According to the director (and can anyone name him??), their budget was so small that they couldn't have more than 10 or 15 people in any shot. Some of the camp scenes are shot so that you are looking out the front of a tent and they had the same people walk back and forth several times to make the camp look like it had lots of folks around. Can you imagine a version of this film with the same cinematogrophy and battles the size of the ones in "Alexander" or "Braveheart" or "Spartacus"?? Makes this old military historians mouth water. So, thought of the Randolph Scott pirate film, yet?? Blackbead

Depending on where I am and what I'm doing I will wear a pin. If I'm at a show, selling me plunder then I usually won't because I'm "at work". If I'm "at play", like I was last weekend at the Texas Renaissance Faire then I'll wear a pin unless someone wants to take a picture with me. My most recent acquisition is the one I bought last weekend. Simple, direct, to the point, it simply says: "Arrrr!" BLackbead

I'll take a stab at this one: CDs: 1. Return of the Manticore by ELP (OK, I know I'm cheating here because this is a 5 CD boxed set but . . . PIE-rate!) 2. Soundtrack to the film "Jimi Hendrix," not the new one but a CD of the original that included the killer 12-string version of "Hear My Train A-Comin'" 3. Billy Joel's Greatest Hits 4. ANY version of "Carmina Burana" 5. "Summon the Heroes", John Williams (If you like Williams' soundtracks this is a CD that would blow you away.) Book: My old Boy Scout Handbook complete with annotations Pleasure: A state of the art computer with "Civilization: Conquests" and the entire set of "Steel Panthers" games loaded on it. Be prepared! Blackbead

I apologize if this one has already been done: "Our sails swell full as we brave all seas On a westward wind to live as we please With the wicked wild-eyed woman of Portobello town Where we've been told that a purse of gold Buys any man a crown" One of me favorites for a long time, even a'fore I be puttin' on the slops. Blackbead

A nun, a priest, a rabbi, and the Speaker of the House walk into a bar . . . you'd think one of them would have seen it. What's the difference between a politician and a catfish? One of them is a scum-sucking, bottom-feeder who lives off human garbage. The other one's just a fish. More to come . . . Blackbead

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father: prepare to die." Sophia and Mission, Unless me misses me guess, those lines be from the same movie as the one above. AND if you can't guess the movie from that one then you ain't seen the movie! But how's about this one: "Your neck will be stretched as long as your memory, one of these days." Enjoy . . . Blackbead

Well, damned I'll be if it isn't you again Rummy saying the thing very closest to me heart! Even with all the pirate movies I have in me hold, the one I miss the most is "Against All Flags." Without a doubt, one of the finest pirate movies ever made! The newer version, "The King's Pirate," may have had one of the most delectable women in filmdom in it (the lucsious Jill Saint John playing Mistress Jessica Stephens) but DOUG McCLURE as a British office?!?!? I would LOVE to have a copy of the old classic someday. Now, Coastie, as far as me life making a great story, I couldn't agree with ye . . . (Rummy leans over and whispers into Blackbead's ear) OH, by the Grace of God and all that's Holy! Forgive me, me friends! There I go being ME again!

"I take it you have your heart set on the Captain Blood hat huh?" Me heart set on it? Only for certain events. I've decided that a pirate's life can be "enjoyed in many times." For instance, at this year's TRF, since it's a "Roman Bachannal," I'll be going as a Ciliacian pirate: Greek tunic, a short sword on a thin baldric, a broad belt, probably some ornamental jewelry and a dagger, and a long, hooded cloak. For this weekend's show, I'm going as a traditional "Spanish Main" pirate. But, I also look forward to the day when I do a corsair impression complete with turban, curved toe boots, and scimitar! It all be in a day's work . . . it just depends on what day!

Allllrighty . . . I knows that I'll be catching seven kinds of hell for this one, but I have a small question to ask. It relates to that classic of pirate cinema: "Captain Blood." (I just picked up a DVD copy and have already watched it twice!) The piece is set in 1688, definitely in the midst of the "Golden Age." All of the pirate leaders were wearing what Deadeye described as "Montero hats." Now, the question: would I be proper in wearing something that looks like one of these fine hats in "Captain Blood"? Or would that make me a "Hollywood" pirate? What thinks ye?

I be sellin' "Pirates of the Spanish Main" and Pirates of the Crimson Coast" in me privateers market and it sells like bouca meat to a starvin' ship! The basic idea be the same as a coolectible tradin' card game except that ye get tiny little ships and other cards that make ye go faster, shoot straighter, etc. They come in small packets that look like baseball cards but there ain't no GUM! Check it out, lots of fun and, to quote another merry pirate band, "only slightly illegal!" (Monty Python's Flying Circus) Blackbead

Arrrggg! Sorry Aye be to hear that! Aye would have loved to introduce ye to me better half, Captain Jane Jasper. To be sure, tho' we be not meetin' this 'venture, both thee and me will be havin' a grand time, Aye doubt not! Till our paths meet again, fare thee well! Blackbead

MAD JACK!! IT WORKS!!! Please be acceptin' the many thanks of those sould here in the Lone Star State. It's currently 65 degrees and supposed to get in the upper 40's tonight! Whatever you and the missus are doing, keep it up! Hmmm, I suppose ye can take that a couple of ways . . . and I hopes ye'll be takin' it however way ye can get it!! Agin, me thanks fer yer friendly thoughts and wishes fer comfortin' weather. It appears ye have another wish come true! A fair wind and a low-ridin' merchantman! Blackbead

My friend, I have been to St. Augustine and have been lucky enough to stand in the fort on St. Kitts. I believe that ELP said it best: "Gold drives a man . . . to DREAM!" But being a pirate these days . . . is it the gold? Is it the women? Is it the rum? Is it the freedom? YES! All I know is that I love it and I want more of it. Is there more that can be said than that? Yes . . . but does the rest of it really mean anything? Blackbead

For almost twenty years I've been a Civil War reenactor. Many's the time I've sat and read for hours trying to get my impression as authentic and historically accurate as possible. I got tired of that. So, for me, my time in slops and flintlocks is mainly for fun with a smattering of historical authenticity because I just can't do it any other way. I slid into piracy as a gimmick for my sideline business (I work for Uncle Sam but I also sell handmade, beaded jewelry on the side). I started out going to shows dressed as a pirate and the gimmick was that I was a seadog who is selling off his plunder (a la Jean Lafitte outside of New Orleans, Blackbeard on the Carolina Coast or one of the Victual Brothers in Rostock.) As such, I play the part and "talk like a pirate" to attract business. What I'm discovering, however, is that I'm getting this piratical bent in me blood and I think, before it's all over, that I'll wind up becoming more of a reenactor/living historian. For now, it's for fun and profit . . . kind of like the real thing, no?? . . . and I see myself as an entertainer. But I can feel the wind in me hair and the pull of the tide, and before long, I'll consider me self that and more! Blackbead

Ahoy there me lads and lasses! It be that time of year again and I was just wonderin' which of you fine folk might be wanderin' to the Texas Renaissance Festival? I ask 'cause me and me friends'll be there on the weekend of October 22-23. If'n ye be payin' attention then ye know that this particular weekend be their "Roman Bachannal." Well, if ye show yer mugs that weekend, look for this old seadog dressed as a Cilician pirate! Which brings me to a question - any suggestions on how to dress as such? Me plans so far are to wear a tunic with a broad belt, a shoet sword (mine is a cross between a gladius and a hoplite's sword), some cross-tied mocassin boots, and a long, hooded cloak (hey, it should be chilly!) But, help is always welcome and if'n ye have more info on these fellow freebooters then I'll be glad to receive your epistles! Cast off! And I'll see ya when I see ya! Blackbead Master of the "Adventure Fantasy"

Ahoy, there, me fine feathered goddesses of the Sea! Ah, 'tis always a fine day when I see two of me most favorite lady pirates in the same place! 'Twas a pleasure, to be sure, to meet you, Fair Miz Fitzgerald and a true and continuing pleasure, without doubt, to see you again, Friend Emerald of the Emerald Sea and Emerald Isle. Heart-broken, I truly was, to have to set me sails early and depart from such fine company but Mister Brockman (me bo'sun) and meself had to tack trimly to get back to port to care for several crewmembers who were on the run from Hurricane Rita. I have digs down near the port of Beaumont, which survived handily the attack from the wind and rain, but me sainted mother and two of me scalawag brothers had to slip their moorings and find shelter alee of the storm here in me homeport. But the tidings be fair - all made it through safe and sound and . . . life goes on! More to come! Blackbead

Ahoy, me buck-o's and gentlefolk of fortune everywhere! The crew of the "Adventure Fantasy" be manning the capstan and setting sheets for an expedition up the Red River 'tween Oklahoma and Texas for a brand new renaissance faire in Muenster, Texas! 'Tis called the "Red River Renaissance Fantasy Faire" and since it be the first year for these folk 'tis only going on the weekend of September 24-25, 2005. Four stages, over fifty vendors, and lots and lots and lots of great German food and BEER!! And, if that not be enough, then yer's truly, Blackbead, will be there with the finest pirate's black market still taking solid specie for plundered goods! Come see the most beautiful, hand-plundered jewelry on this or any side of the Spanish Main and some of the most unique and beautiful items of treasure from around the world! Remember: Red River Renaissance Fantasy Faire September 24th and 25th, 2005 Muenster, TX (Just a few short leagues off of Interstate-35; go to Gainesville and head west!) And the magic word be "knucklebones." Come to Blackbead's pirate market, say the magic word, and ye'll get 15% off of any one item! On deck, ye scurvy dogs! Time to set sail for gold, adventure, silver and a warm wench . . . or TWO! Blackbead Master of the "Adventure Fantasy"