hurricane

He looks smashing in a dress, too... -- Hurricane

So that's what I smelled this morning. The wind was coming in from the north and I picked up a whiff of wet Dogge... unmistakable stench it is... -- Hurricane

You gotta love a guy who puts down on his professional theater resume that he is a kazoo player. Hum with pride lad! We are few and far between! -- Hurricane

But they bring their cell phones with them... I just wish they could spell the word "website" correctly on their "websight". -- Hurricane

Thanks Cascabel... I just couldn't place the bloody name of the weapon. A fountain of knowledge you are, as always. -- Hurricane

Diosa's bite is far worse than her bark. If we're able to put the package together we'll be offering it to anyone who wants to go, regardless of articles that have been signed. Of course, Dogge, you're always welcome to come play with us! Diosa has no one here who can rough her up enough. Guess we're all pansies (or afraid for our lives). She was a happy girl in PR, however. We confirmed that the Old Gaol was indeed a woman's jail, the one that Mary Read almost assuredly died in (thanks to local lore, The Jamaica Gleaner and some basic detective work). By the way, I picked up a great book in Port Royal on the Buccaneers... http://www.amazon.com/Search-Buccaneers-An...l/dp/0333976525 It's written by Anthony Gambrill from the island. Good stuff... even includes the Puritan Buccaneers and those from Cuba. Lots of good maps of the key battles. -- Hurricane

Very nice work! Love them! -- Hurricane

Indeed. We're talking about a tour that will encompass the town itself, the fort, Spanish Town, Gun Cay, Lime Cay and Rackham's Cay, and then head over to the other side of the island to visit Morgan's outlook, Llanrumney (where Noel Coward is buried as well), Flamstad, and then Dunriver Falls and the caves. -- Hurricane

The blade part was about 8". They totally redid the exhibit. I would have taken more photos but I had to respect the sign that said no photographs. They had lots of buttons, shoe and clothing buckles, pewter ware and every day items on display this time that I haven't seen before... In the second building they have the artifacts from the naval era, including lots of surgical items, shipwright tools and other implements used by carpenters, wood workers, cooks and cobblers. -- Hurricane

This is now on exhibit in Fort Charles in Port Royal. It's out of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust's collection of artifacts. It had a little story along with it about how the pirates used them. Forgot to take a photo of it (too much Red Stripe and rum, no doubt). Looks a bit familiar, eh. Can't remember what the information card said - it did have a reference to it being in use after a particular battle when they saw it first in use. Anyway, interesting artifact that I hadn't seen before. Oh, and to the left of it were balls made of stone, not lead, for the pistols. -- Hurricane

Here's Diosa in her moment of glory, standing on Rackham's Cay. She is about to get trashed as waves from four different directions converge on her. We'll have photos soon of some other neat stuff, including Gun Cay, which still has remnants of a small fortification in the water there (the fort used the cay for target practice). Port Royal (far left), The Blue Mountains and the Palisadoes are in the background. -- Hurricane

Port Royal has been the benefactor of some great sprucing up, namely, all the streets are now signed with their names and the 16 historical points of interest are graced with interpretive signs. More soon. Just returned. The coolest thing was my mate, Diosa, managed a trip to Rackham Cay where she stood in the same place as Calico Jack as he swung in the wind. We have video of his view at death. She also went to Gun Cay and found remnants of the small fort that was there in about three feet of water. Very fun trip as always!!! -- Hurricane

That's the advantage of white bread. We shot off a dozen shots in the back yard yesterday and the bread instantly burns up, creating a wonderful kick and lots of fire and smoke with no residuals. It also keeps the powder in the gun until you're ready to shoot. The gun doesn't foul up much either, certainly not any more than it does with 2f in it. I've tried wheat, but the cheaper the white stuff, the better (more sugar to burn off). We used hamburger buns yesterday. -- Hurricane

I think the main issue is the erosion of earning power. For example, in 1981, the cost of a gallon of gas averaged $1.38. If you factor in inflation, that's $3.15 today. In 1981, it was easier to pay that $1.38 than it is to pay even $3.15 a day. Even without profiteering or price manipulation, earning power is eroding. Of course, the price has been all over the place. I just picked that year at random since it was the year I started working in the real world, fresh out of college. For example, I made $5 a hour in 1981 and managed to live. With inflation factored in, that is $11.40 an hour -- not many people make that even now. I know a lot who are just above minimum wage. That seems to be a big factor, especially when housing is so far out of whack. Inflation alone has averaged 4.18% a year and raises don't seem to keep up with that. And who could forget the wonderful year of 1980 when inflation was a whopping 13.52%. Go here and you'll be amazed at how the value of the dollar and our purchasing power has changed over the years... http://www.measuringworth.com/ppowerus/?re...ators/ppowerus/ -- Hurricane

I either use nothing at all or stuff it with a wad of Wonder Bread, the same size as a ball. Adds some kick and smoke. At night it's a bit of steel wool for the flame and blast. -- Hurricane

Ah, they named it after me. Awful thoughtful, given my penchant for rum. Seems like I'll have to find me some someday. Of course, I'm heading down Port Royal way this week and anything under 62.8% alcohol would be considered a sissy rum down there among the locals. God I do love overproof and cane sugar Pepsi. -- Hurricane

Defoe wrote about the storm in, appropriately enough, The Storm. It contains eyewitness accounts he collected. -- Hurricane

Diosa and I are already talking about a return trip. We want to spend it almost entirely in Spanish Town. That's where all the historic records were found. In fact, I just came across a land grant to Henry Morgan in my photos from when I last visited it. It was dated 1675 and was a grant for 4000 acres near Port Lucy. Hurricane

I will check into it, for sure... -- Hurricane

I chose smooth side out too. The others reminded me too much of a pair of Hush Puppies I had when I was a kid and hated. Pyle's renderings are nice, but they are fanciful as well. For instance, there was only one official portrait of Henry Morgan ever painted and it was in Jamaica. It later went into private hands and hasn't been seen since on the island. So no one really knows what he looked like, let alone his shoes. :) -- Hurricane

Here's an article for you... Seems the dunderhead that runs the Washington Fantasy Faire Festival leased property for the event without checking into the state regulations about chopping trees and the need of permits. So, not Washington (State) festival next month... and, says the owner, perhaps never. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/14/...alt-to-fantasy/ -- Hurricane

I shall be voyaging to Port Royal this coming week. Does anyone want to know anything while I'm there? I'm hoping to hit the town's library this time -- if it's open. -- Hurricane

I have no problems with it. My son saw an episode of an autopsy on NCIS that was far more graphic than a gibbet. He didn't think twice about it. There is a difference between graphic portrayals to scare or shock and one that teaches history. This is history... we didn't make this up and I see no problem having it at PiP. I would add the educational portion like the photo show of what it was and how it was used. We must be cautious not to sanitize history. As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". -- Hurricane

I have to agree with that. If you really want to help, while don't you expand your vocabulary and send a bag of rice through a reputable non-profit. 20 grains of rice, ooh. It's not for me. I do the contributions directly with as few middle men as possible. -- Hurricane

I know it's been seen elsewhere, but Sam's is not selling it online. http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate....t=5&item=399805 -- Hurricane