hurricane

Well how cool is that! Congrats! All I have in my family history is rum runners and horse thieves. -- Hurricane

If you can ever find Olicana Rough get it. I bought it from Veer but I don't see it on their site now. Lots of ligatures that have things like ink blotches for authenticity - it looks very much like hand drawn quill pen with lots of alternatives letters for each font. Love it! -- Huricane

Fonts are a local issue. In other words, the browser uses the fonts you have on your system to display type. If I don't have a font installed, then I don't see it, even if the designer spec's that font to appear. Also, a user can specify the browser to see override all fonts. For example, I have my all set to see san-serif, such as Helvetica and Arial because I don't like serif fonts. So, in short, the only way to absolutely have a font to appear that everyone can see is to use artwork, Flash, a pdf, etc. -- Hurricane

Ahoy all! I could use some information from those in pyracy.com who like to perform as pirates. I've received three requests alone this week from clients in different parts of the country who need pirates. We can't cover all the bases and I prefer to use my mates here instead of finding ones I don't know through No Quarter Given's listings (a great resource, I just don't know everyone there). So, if you'd like a referral (these are usually corporate gigs, festivals, special events, fundraisers and educational institutions), please provide the following here and I will create a little sheet to send to clients when they ask. Crewe: Location: Area Served (how far will a tank of gas take you): Number of members available weekends: Number of members available weekdays: Number of members available weeknights: Type of group (re-enactors, Hollywood type, etc.): Special talents (swords, guns, music, fire, etc.): Phone number: Email: You can send it directly to hurricane@piratesofthecoast.com. I know I've already sent some folks on the West Coast to Tales of the Seven Seas but I could sure use others. Just had someone from New York this week and Wisconsin last week. -- Hurricane

That's a pretty simplified chart. I would definitely recommend Hume's book. It has three pages of evolution on bottles. In some cases, just one year made a huge difference in design. -- Hurricane

There's already web cams all over Key West, including Mallory Square, Duval, Hogsbreath, the marina... etc. But, as far as I know, there's not one at the fort. But connectivity could be a bit more pragmatic out there since Wi-Fi is extremely spotty. But that's Harry's area. Great idea!!!! -- Hurricane

If you have the time I recommend taking the ferry across the river to MardiGras World where they build all the floats. It's a fascinating tour, whether you've been to Mardi Gras or not. http://mardigrasworld.com/tours.html -- Hurricane

The Quarter is very walkable and everything is easy to get to, especially if you're staying there and not outside the Quarter. Sounds like good times all! Wish we could all come but our crewe is preparing for another romp in the Bahamas at Green Turtle Cay's festival and the back to back trips are just too much. If you haven't caught Cascabel's session make sure you do. He's such a wealth of information and a true pirate's pirate. -- Hurricane

NQG used to have some great stuff. I was tremendously disappointed to see a two page interview with Kendra about a reality show that was so terrible they never even showed who won because it was cancelled. And as a bonus I get a full page about Tom Sawyer Island being turned into a Pirate Island. Thrilling stuff it is. Downright riveting. -- Hurricane

Yeah, it's a great layout and very intuitive. I like that I can just zip down to a region and then to an event. Superb work and I think it will be a big hit! I already bookmarked it for meself and will pass it on to the entire crewe. -- Hurricane

Very cool - I like a forum that's dedicated to pirate festivals and the people that work them, perform at them, attend them, etc., etc. etc. Good work sir! -- Hurricane

That is an act of selfishness, for it shows that one does not care about the feelings, the grief, of those who must go on without you. To love is to be loved. I know all too well, having a friend whose wife preceded him unexpectedly in death. I know for a fact that she would and does care deeply that the love of her life is grieving and that he has a loss that nothing can repair... not time, not money, not another's love. She would have traded her own life in an instant if she could have spared him that grief. You may not care. And maybe those you know don't care. Sad, isn't it, that others wouldn't care about your loss. Such a sorry state of affairs. For you might as well not have been here to begin with. I would much rather be one who is remembered rather than one who is easily forgotten and dismissed as being unimportant in this world. The latter is death within life. - Hurricane

Thanks for the recommend. I'll snag one off of amazon.com and add it to the collection. I had pre-ordered it last year but then a bunch of other must-have resources fell in before it (what's new, eh?)... -- Hurricane

Has anyone purchased or checked this one out? Textiles in America 1650-1870 (Hardcover) First published in 1984, Textiles in America 1650-1870 remains the definitive study of textiles as they were used in early American homes. The book offers an overview of textiles in America, based on years of research, that is unmatched in scope. Imported textiles played a central role in the lives of American colonists. The most-imported commodity, and a highly valued one, textiles were used for bedding, bed curtains, clothing, household linens, window curtains, upholstery, and floor covering. This book illustrates samples from collections around the world, as well as drawings and engravings of the time. Its dictionary-style entries depict the myriad household uses for textiles in the period. Drawing on original documents, prints, paintings, commercial records, merchant papers, advertisements, and pattern books, Textiles in America 1650-1870 is a comprehensive resource and a treasure trove of scholarship. 117 color, 225 black-and-white illustrations. About the Author The late Florence M. Montgomery was assistant curator of textiles at the Winterthur Museum. I'm thinking of purchasing it but wanted to see what others thought. It's on amazon.com. -- Hurricane

I do know that if I said such a thing and my wife was found out about it I would rightfully be looking for a new port myself. Good that you have the latitude to do that... Been there, done that and packed my bags too many times to dabble in lusting others these days. I'd like to keep my family jewels intact. -- Hurricane

That sort of lusting gets people killed in Florida all the time where it's OK to shoot first and ask questions later. Sounds more like midlife crisis than anything else. -- Hurricane

I can carry swords there. :) And Queen Anne's Revenge is in the neighborhood -- good enough reasons right there! -- Hurricane

True, true. Gots to keep a hand free for the rum. We just use the "ask forgiveness, not permission" rule and it's worked well. I guess most people figure if we're ballsy enough to walk along a street with the gear that it must be fine to come inside a bar, etc. with them. Guess that's more reason for those on the East Coast to go to PiP. Weapons welcome... outside of the Green Parrot and the Holiday Parade (long stories). -- Hurricane

Never had any problems ever with weapons over the last 25 years - big cities, little towns, huge-arse festivals along waterfronts, packed bars of drunks, parks, banks... never once been asked not to carry a weapon and have never had anyone in the public try to pull my sword out or anything. That's as reenactors, entertainers, casual participants, general public and folks who just walk into any public place unannounced to cause mayhem. Sounds a bit sissyfied to have pirates without weapons. Might as well just be the damned aristocrasy and pop around town in silk britches and powdered wigs. -- Hurricane

Wow! You had me with keys in hand until the no weapons thing. We don't go anywhere with at least a cutlass - just can't pull off a proper pirate representation disarmed... Think we'll stay in Florida where the weather is warm and we can carry proper arms. -- Hurricane

The shuttle was a wonderful addition, to be sure. I had the chance to ride it and entertain aboard it to and from Pyrate Soul and I would do that all day. And for those who want to get on the other side of Old Town it's a great ride to get over to places like the Schooner Bar, the sunset cruises, Pepe's, the Rum Barrel (of course) Turtle Kraals (bet on the turtles Friday and Monday evenings) and BO's Fishwagon, one of the last original dives in Key West and superb seafood on the cheap. -- Hurricane

If you know where to park it's not that expensive. For example, by the seaport we always park at the toothless guy's lot - usually $5 a day if you get there early. At the fort, it's easy to hitch a ride over to the larger stores if you need one. Our own crewe made daily trips for ice and bread so there's always someone heading over to the other side of the island. Sounds like you did some great research. After years of doing the hotel thing and staying at the fort last year, I wouldn't trade staying at the fort even for a free room. Come to think of it we did have a free room last year and still picked the fort over it. But to the people who don't like to rough it, I think you really came up with some great options. Renting homes is a dicey thing. When we looked at doing it, the city was considering banning the practice because the neighbors didn't like the transient renters and loud parties. Not sure what the city council decision was on that and perhaps our Bone Island mates could shed some more light on that... - Hurricane

Loyalist Arms is coming out with a shoe patterned after it. They sent me a photo of the prototype yesterday. It's full custom They will have a high tounge, block heel, smaller buckle than the later 18thC shoes, and squared toe. Sole will ne nailed on and pegged, along with the wood heel. They don't have them yet but should have them available in the next month or two. -- Hurricane

It's basically a good reason to drink. The pirate crewes are very cartoony and usually very drunk. But the floats look great. The real party is in Ybor City after the parade as all the crewes shift into the local bars and fill the streets. It's something everyone should do once, though... -- Hurricane

Go with the reserved bleacher seats - it's the only way to see the parade and still have mobility. And bring a cooler of booze - tough to cross over to vendors once the parade starts. -- Hurricane