hurricane

If all else fails, here's the link to the ebay store:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZfinearts29mv

He also has a Revolutionary belt and powder horn listed as well as a Dragoon hat.

-- Hurricane

They're consolidating the listing under a new number...

Here's the current URL for the jacket...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...6503637674&rd=1

The hat:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...6509822088&rd=1

I will post the photos in a bit in here for all to see.

-- Hurricane

Last year, the fort allowed vendors with period encampments to be there Thursday through Monday on the last weekend... that would be Dec. 1 through Dec. 4 I think... as far as evenings. We're hoping they will expand that this year to the full week, beginning Nov. 28...

-- Hurricane

Here's about as authentic you can get, at least to the 1770s... It's on ebay as is the coat and vest...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...035&item=650982

Coat

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...041&item=650363

Vest & Shirt

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...951&item=496503

I just pulled the photos off for reference work in the future.

-- Hurricane

The location there is horrible, even for a relatively small event. We've done the Commencement Maritime Festival there and parking and access, even with buses, is mighty poor. After all, it is a working waterway, so there are plenty of businesses down there with private parking lots that are usually closed off to the public. We had a terrible time with access when we were performing at the smaller festival.

They say they have lots of in-kind money to promote the event, but I don't see a lot of cash going to support the ships or crewes while they're there... and Homeland Security hasn't even approved their security plan for the duration.

Knowing Tacoma I don't think they can handle this either. It bankrupted the group in Seattle who tried it in 02... and that too was a less ambitious plan...

Guess we'll see but I'm glad our band of entertainers already turned down going there.

-- Hurricane

Here's an interesting article on the tall ship problems for Tacoma. Guess we'd better all hold our breath...

-- Hurricane

It’s time to kill the Tall Ships Festival

DAN VOELPEL; THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Last updated: January 28th, 2005 08:50 AM

Should Tacoma pull the plug on the 2005 Tall Ships Festival?

Somebody needs to ask the question. Before it’s too late. Before the planned summer parade of sailing ships from around the world breaks the city’s bank account. Before Tacoma falls flat on its new civic face.

Despite genuine enthusiasm and good intentions from a stalwart team of local nonprofit organizers, genuine enthusiasm and good intentions remain the event’s most significant assets.

That’s far short of what’s needed to float the Tall Ships Festival.

“The event is going to happen,” said Doug Miller, the former city councilman now in charge of the Tacoma Events Commission. “It’s too late to say, ‘I wonder whether it’s going to happen, because it is. Now, it’s up to us whether we want to present a Rolls-Royce event or a Lexus event. We would like to present a Rolls-Royce.

“Our biggest obstacle is an attitude that lends doubt rather than inspires people to believe it’s happening or could happen successfully. The worst thing that could happen is to plant doubt in people’s minds.”

But facing tough, unanswered questions with a positive attitude won’t make the obstacles disappear by the festival, which begins June 30.

Organizers face unresolved, critical gaps in funding for security and support services, in parking logistics and in potential hotel availability that suggest, I hate to say, Tacoma can’t yet pull off an international-scale event like this on its own.

Organizers have outlined a cumbersome plan that calls for visitors to park throughout downtown Tacoma in city-owned parking garages and other surface lots, then wait for a shuttle to take them back and forth to the Foss Waterway. Yet three days of the six-day event occur during the work week when those lots are near capacity.

Worse yet, the Tacoma Police Department fired an unheeded warning shot more than three months ago. The 24-hour-a-day security costs, preplanning, public works and fire services for a six-day event with homeland security implications would cost the city nearly $850,000.

Since then, the City Council passed a budget with just $100,000 earmarked for police expenses related to all special events in Tacoma over the next two years.

Just this week, the council’s Economic Development Committee instructed the police department to direct the full $100,000 to the Tall Ships event. Yet Tall Ships organizers have no intention of cutting a check for the balance.

“I am 100 percent certain $100,000 will not totally cover the cost of our resources,” assistant police chief Jim Howatson told the council committee Tuesday. “This is a big event. It will need security for 24 hours a day and overlaps with the Fourth of July, which stretches our resources further.”

In fact, Tacoma police will send a letter in the next few days to the chiefs of every police department in Pierce County asking them for a list of officers available for hire to supplement Tacoma’s force.

Organizers believe the police department estimated costs based on too much uniformed security. Miller said the events commission submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security a detailed security plan that relies more heavily on trained volunteers and less on uniformed cops.

The feds have not blessed the plan yet – and might not accept it without upgrades, Miller acknowledged.

Miller also has drafted, but not yet delivered, a request to the Pierce County legislative caucus in Olympia for nearly $1 million in state funding for dock construction, security and transportation, plus authorization for policing assistance from the Washington National Guard.

How should events like this work? Take the Pacific Rim Sports Summit – 900 athletes from nine countries coming to the Puget Sound region in June with gymnastics set for the Tacoma Dome. Tacoma police say the U.S. Olympic Committee has agreed to pay for security costs provided by local police.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 11, Tall Ships organizers handed the city a list of services – including safety and security – they expect your City of Tacoma to provide at no cost to the organizing committee for the entire six days of the event: parking and transportation, trash receptacles, portable toilets, street barricades, fire support on Commencement Bay and Foss Waterway, printing and promotion.

Miller reiterated the request this week to the Economic Development Committee.

The $100,000 in security funds will help, Miller said, “if we, as a nonprofit, can have the assurance (from the city) that we won’t get a separate billing for police, fire and public works services.”

The council committee members stopped short of committing more money to Tall Ships, yet Kevin Phelps made his position clear: “My expectation is we would do whatever we can as a city to make this event happen. This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to showcase what Tacoma is about. My hope is that our public works department, fire and police will do what they can.”

Without money? And during a week when those premium services traditionally get stretched thin battling illegal fireworks complaints throughout the city and supporting the popular July 4th Freedom Fair on Ruston Way?

The Tacoma City Clerk’s Office, which issues special events permits for events that block city streets, has yet to issue one for Tall Ships 2005 because the city departments that must sign off on the event still don’t have a clear grasp of the event demands of their services, said Clerk Doris Sorum.

The City Council couldn’t come up with enough money to keep Fire Station No. 13 open and keep a team of police community liaison officers on the street after this year. Anyone who thinks the city can come up with $847,000 for security and so many other services fails to grasp the new reality of civic finance.

This isn’t the Tacoma you can come to with your hand out anymore and expect the city treasury to fill it.

Yes, but, organizers say, this event follows an economic formula: 400,000 visitors x $69 spent per visitor = $27.6 million spent in six days.

Opting to invest in activities that provide Tacoma a positive return on investment makes a good rule of thumb for local government. Take the convention center, as a good example.

But Tacoma won’t see nearly the full predicted return on an investment in Tall Ships. If you read between the lines of the festival’s Jan. 11 update to the city, that $27.6 million will get spent throughout Pierce County.

During the heart of the Tall Ships schedule – July 1-3 – Watchtower, the religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, comes to Tacoma with an estimated 9,000 members for its annual summer gathering at the Tacoma Dome. Typically, Watchtower’s arrival during this peak travel weekend results in a near sellout of Tacoma and Fife hotel rooms, according to local host industry sources.

The new Courtyard by Marriott hotel, which hasn’t opened yet, projects near-capacity crowds for Watchtower and already-booked wedding parties – without factoring in the Tall Ships visitors, said Lisa Wolch, sales manager.

The Sheraton Tacoma Hotel has roughly 60 percent of its room capacity still available and hopes Tall Ships visitors take it. But the Silver Cloud Inn on Ruston Way, Days Inn Tacoma and three Fife hotels already show as sellouts on Expedia.com.

So where will the out-of-towners stay when they come to see the Tall Ships? Out of town at hotels Federal Way and Lacey, which doesn’t benefit Tacoma proper.

What about the ships?

Eighteen ships have given verbal commitments to the commission, said Miller, who expects at least two more to commit.

National Geographic Traveler magazine, Miller said, has informed him Tacoma’s Tall Ships Festival will make the April edition as one of the summer’s Top 10 must-see events.

Does that mean the event has so much momentum that it will occur, somehow, and box City Hall into providing the support services and paying the invoices generated by the Tacoma Events Commission?

Miller announced this week that one of the highly regarded Japanese ships Tacoma hoped to woo here now plans to sail for a more lucrative offer in England instead. Queen Elizabeth is hosting a yearlong celebration for the 200th anniversary of Britain’s famous Battle of Trafalgar, including a summer tall ships events.

“She can outspend us,” Miller said of the queen.

Let her.

I've been bouncing around some of the other topics trying to fight fires, end rumors and stuff. Otherwise, I've been in the hideout - posted some new fixin' recipes in the Mess today, I did...

- Hurricane

Diosa will have much more to share about the upcoming trip. It truly is a once in a lifetime chance - most of the places we are going to be able to visit either aren't open to the public or simply not part of any tour. This is the only chance to visit some of these spots, or to do things like the lantern lit evening at the fort or the visit to Captain Morgan's estate ruins (which is now on private property. The governments have been very cooperative with the travel company putting this on so it should be amazing.

So now's the time to refi the house, sell the children and hawk your spouse. Because this may not ever happen again. It's been two years in the making...

More upon Diosa's return, not only about the itinerary but they Legacy's accommodations and specs. She's at Norman Island today, heading back to St. Thomas tonight. Ah, tough duty.

-- Hurricane

Tea... isn't that something you throw ice into on a hot summer's day here?

Part of my heritage is in the British Isles, so perhaps one day I'll get to enjoy the countryside and pubs in person... of course, the other half of me is German so it's constantly World War II in my head...

-- Hurricane

The dates of the festival have been tentatively set for Nov. 25 through Dec. 4 this year. We will have a soft pirating weekend Nov. 25-27, but wanted to shift the full festival to a full week to get away from the dreaded high rates of flying near Thanksgiving and to create a more energetic week of activities without so much downtime.

New this year:

A larger Thieve's Market - we have reduced the price of boots substantially to get more vendors in the market and to make it easier to make a profit. We already have some really good vendors, including a company that makes authentic hooks.

Evening Pub Runs & Parties - we will be doing pub runs every evening ending with a pirate party at a local establishment. These have been very popular in the past and a lot of people have asked for an evening event where the pirates can just party and enjoy each other's company. This will also solve the problem of having to flit from one one-hour event to another which is logistically challenging for larger crewes and those without cars.

Historical Education at Schools - during the day we will be sending re-enactors out to schools to talk about pirates and promote the fort event that weekend.

National Dread Pyrate Game Championships - the makers of the game have added their full support to the festival and are placing flyers in all the games, promoting the championship at the fort on the Thieve's Market weekend.

More period entertainment - we are seeking more entertainment who can do sea chanteys as well as modern nautical oriented music, children's music, fight circle performances and people in character.

More Food - we are looking to add several new vendors to the thieve's market area.

Expanded sails, opportunities to fight, weapons demonstrations, etc.

The fort is very accommodating and is allowing us to do even more this year at the fort.

Other favorites will be back:

The End of the Hurricane Party

The Pyrate Tryal of Anne Bonny and Mary Read

The 2nd Annual National Walk the Plank Championship

Literary and Arts Talks and Walks

Tours, Sails and Battles

and the amazing evening at the fort under lantern - the annual Cast Party

Let me know if you have any questions. There have been rumors afoot that everything is changing now that Julie is running all the festival. She's still actively involved in the cultural, arts and literary events - she just didn't want to do the entire thing so some of us are helping her with other, more labor intensive aspects of the event.

We will have some rooming challenges this year as the Banana Bay and Atlantic Shores may be going condo. But we're working on getting some new hotels to step into the gap there.

Finally, we're working on getting some celebs down our way to help promote the festival, judge some of the events and generally have some fun. This includes the creators of the Talk Like a Pirate Day and possibly Dave Barry, author of Peter and the Suncatchers...

Email me at hurricane@piratesofthecoast.com if ye have questions...

-- Hurricane

The arrangements for Jamaica and crewe will be the same as 04 as far as I know. Julie is still part of the festival, she's handling just the cultural, literary and arts side of the event instead of taking on the whole thing. The only challenge facing the festival this year is the closure of the Holiday Inn and the potential condonization of the Banana Bay and Atlantic Shores. So we are looking for some new hotel sponsors to fill those spots.

Everything else is the same as always with a few additions in the evenings in the way of pub runs, daytime education visits to schools and expansion of the thieve's market, fight circles, beachside battles and entertainment.

And Julie still is very much a part of that - in fact, I spoke to her yesterday as the creators of Talk Like a Pirate Day want to join us in 2005 and I see Dave Barry, author of Peter and the Suncatchers this weekend to see if I can swing him our way as well...

Don't let rumors fly that simply aren't accurate . And we will be contacting the crewes soon with more information and a more complete schedule.

-- Hurricane

I agree. There's no harm in creating clothing that at least comes close to what was worn - the materials are there - and in most cases much less costly than the synthetic ones. And there are plenty of period patterns to choose from... And there's no reason why the two sides don't get along.

Now I know I'm one to shake things up in some of the threads. But I often try to demonstrate the ludicrousy of a thread by going in the opposite direction. And when you go to some of the larger festivals, the entertainers and re-enactors get along fine. And it takes both types to make an event memorable for the public. People like to see period encampments, even at events such as PiP. And those moments when time and space intersect and you can't tell where you're at are amazing when they happen.

Alternately, the entertainers are sort of the event ambassadors (at least, how many in our group portray pirates), posing for the photos, interacting with the crowd, helping them have a good time. And it all works fine.

I think really, it's ignorance (hold your tongues for a moment, everyone). But up until PiP this year, I was one who regularly slung mud at the re-enactors. And then I spent a lot of time with some fine people, including a guy who was trying to teach kids how to bore cannons with period tools. Amazing stuff. And I suddenly found that neither of us was a threat to the other - rather, done right, we complemented each other and made the event even better.

I hope many of you get to go to a similar event this year and experience how the two sides work together. I know there are other events like PiP in the country where the two sides meet... but at least PiP has palm trees and Duval Street...

Pub crawl anyone in 200 bars? :)

-- Hurricane

This is old news down Altamonte Springs way. The guy has been hyping his version for a while, seeming to cash in on the box office success. I think he's full of it actually - particularly since 1) he won't show anyone his short, and 2) he can't find a lawyer who thinks it's worth his time. And there are plenty of starving attorneys down this way who would love to make a good case against Disney. Just look at the guy who represented Tigger, the psycho pedofile...

And yes, it pains me that he's from my new hometown... Gadzooks!!!!

-- Hurricane

Well said, Hawkyns. I think you covered that ground with aplomb... Right on target you are...

-- Hurricane

Even as one who balances between history and entertainment, I have to agree that it's just as easy to use the right materials than cheezy polyester and sequins. I can't count the number of coats I've seen online made of satin that just look hokey. There are plenty of sources for more authentic material - even a fabric store will have some of it if you have a keen eye.

And I can't count the number of people at otherwise good events who think a pair of raggy white pants, a t-shirt with a skull on it and a bandana is a good costume to wear. At least make an attempt. The fashion police should cuff these people and soak them in lye until their bones turn white...

Soothe.... soothe...

Hurricane

That's a great tale, mate. Thanks for sharing it.

I had one of those "other world" moments at Pirates in Paradise last year when we were under lantern in Fort Taylor singing sea chanteys and sharing a period meal. Seeing seamen, wenches and pirates enjoying the evening, hoisting tankards and telling tall tales, most of us could have sworn it was another time. Very exciting when that happens.

Hurricane

Ship to ship duels have happened. I was aboard the Lady Washington as she battled the Chieftain in San Franscisco's harbor some years back. Full charges between the two for two and half hours. Some 70 rounds on the Washington alone. And while we didn't get to grapple hook the other ship and board, it was pretty fierce fighting in very close quarters and downright deafening. Pirates were on both ships, doing what they do - instigating, cursing and waving weapons while the cannons pounded one another.

While no blood was spilled and the charges were just powder, it was pretty darned fun. And while I do pretend that it is full reenactment, there are other events like this around the country that I've had the pleasure of attending. And the ship's captains really get into it as well... there were several times when we cut across the Chieftain with only 15 or so feet between the two ships.

Otherwise, yes, it's the ship is in the harbor schtick or careened. That is one of the drawbacks of pirating ashore - you can't take a brig into the nearest bar.

As for me, I'd sign up in an instant if I could be a firefighter who could bring real fire into a bar. That would be some fun, he says, arsonistically. And authentic.

Hurricane

My crewe would keel-haul me for not mentioning that very fact, Royaliste. The main reason I suddenly ended up with a crewe ot 20+ down here in Florida from a crewe of 2 is the comraderie. We can't wait to get together to do something. And it's the memories - the good and bad - that really make it fun. In fact, I think I have at least five crewe members moving to Florida from other states, purely because they miss that cohesiveness. Pirating simply allows us to get together, enjoy a good time, and in the process, let the people we come across have a good time.

Well said... and I think you're right on as far as why many of us do it.

-- Hurricane

Now that's an interesting question...

As for me, I stumbled into it as part of the Seafair Pirates, a group in Seattle that does community service and parades as pirates. It was a fraternal organization. It is almost cartoonish in the presentation of pirates, with oversized swords of sheet metal and garish clothing.

But being a pirate is far different than being, say a clown or a cowboy. It has a mystique about it... for young and old, male and female. Very rarely do you run into someone who hates pirates -- clowns yes, pirates no. And if allows one to delve much deeper into different aspects of the character, the profession and the history.

So I came from the entertainment aspect originally and only in the last five years or so pursued the historical aspects. But I don't think people just put on a costume and are hooked. Far from it. I've seen many in the three crewes I've been in that have come and gone. Then there are the others who were already pirates... they just didn't have the costume yet. And then there are others perfectly authentic period attire that couldn't project the "air of piracy" to the public. That indefinable something that separates a pirate from the rest of the public. They're just not pirate material... at least as far as working with the public in an educational or entertainment fashion. And that's OK, because if everybody could be a pirate then it wouldn't exactly be special.

I've always told my new crewe that this is a gift from the gods. If you're able to "be" a pirate, then you can get away with all the things the public can only dream of. Who else gets to walk down the street with a sword, get a police escort through the streets of Boston, fire off a round with a black powder pistol when entering a bar, kiss women or guys (for the wenches) and not gett slapped, hang around with heads of state or celebrities and take their booze right out of their hand and swig it down... it's an amazing gift and privilege. But it's not for everybody.

I'm not sure why others are called to it, but for me it is the rush I get from pulling off a perfect performance as a pirate, whether it's educational, entertainment or a party... It's like a drug for many of us. Too long between voyages and you go through withdrawals.

-- Hurricane

Now there's a switch... the government giving pirates powder... Love our modern times.

Here's to a mighty good blow California way!

- Hurricane

A vast improvement, lass! Great coat. Thanks for sharing the befores and afters as well as the resources. Much obliged...

The Captain

I did appreciate your comments about the "argh" thing. I have not and never will do that to anyone in public. It is just too stupid! Speaking of authenticity, who ever came up with the idea that pirates say "argh!"... oh, Hollywood...

Hahaha... I used to ask that same question... but if you look around here on this board somewhere some clever researcher came up with an account dated as I recall to the 1730s (maybe 50s) in which the author describes being accosted by a fellow who yells "argh" (or something VERY similar).

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio..."

I'll try to find the post if you are interested. It may have been from Slopmaker Cripps.

Thanks blackjohn,

Always wondered about that - glad there are people who are figuring these things out. I'll have to reintroduce it to my vocabulary...

And Royaliste... I agree. Being from the west coast we know about piracy in the Pacific waters. But Hollywood has made everyone a little West Indies and Caribbean centric. At least Against All Flags had the decency to be out of Madagascar, pillaging the Grand Moguls' ships.

Here's to the Pirates of the Pacific (hoists his mug - which still have coffee in it this morning).

Captain

Grow up?

That sounds rather boring, Foxe. I think I'll avoid that at all costs.

And yes, being here since the beginning does have something to do with it since this is all ground that has been treaded upon countless times... And many of the newer posters obviously don't know that. Hawkyns and I went around about this stuff nearly two years ago. So who's not following threads around here?

I did appreciate your comments about the "argh" thing. I have not and never will do that to anyone in public. It is just too stupid! Speaking of authenticity, who ever came up with the idea that pirates say "argh!"... oh, Hollywood...

And as to why someone goes for the fantasy pirate... because it's fun... it allows you to be outrageous and bigger than life... the center of attention rather than a piece of furnishing in a large ballroom, a bar or an event. You can do both when you're doing a looser interpretation. You can't when you're trying to be historical... unless you're Blackbeard.

-- Hurricane

Uhhhhh... captain.... who is beating down the other side?

This IS the forum for discourse like this... there are other forums for back slapping lets all get together for pirate “one-ness” Kum-by-ya stuff…

It seems your too busy laughing to actually read the threads…. So thanks for reposting a lot of what has already been said.

We have already stated that there are too sides and that there are horses for courses, chocolate and vanilla yadda yadda yadda.

I know that I am not going to dissuade folks from doing what they are going to do, we were just continuing the discussion as to the motivations.

Part of what makes the hobby fun for some of us is the research of that snapshot in time.  We like the history of it as much as we do putting on the clothing and going to the event. Some, in this post, are saying that its not just a snap shot, but a mountain of information from all kinds of sources that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to give you a better idea of the picture.  You just have to look and be willing to accept what you find.

I for one am just Gobsmacked that someone interested enough to “craft a persona” and travel hundreds of miles to participate at an event spends more time researching their kit via POTC than reading Captain Johnson. 

Aren't we a little full of ourselves, Mr. Fortune.

While I don't have my own library card I am well versed in the historical nature of piracy and the period in general. I have spent the last 20 years separating fact from Hollywood fiction and teaching the public what we know as the truth, so don't bore me with your higher than thou rants. In fact, I'll be leading a summer expedition as historian for a shipload full of afficianados who will walk in the footsteps of the Golden Age in Jamaica and the Bahamas.

As a pirate, I like both sides. In most public contact, I do the Hollywood schtick because the public enjoys the improvisation and being part of the action. They just don't get the historical thing as far as interaction and pretending modern things don't exist. It just comes across as stupid. So, at PiP and like events, I go for hystorical accuracy.

I can kit with the best of them. I have all the period crap I could possible want. Thankfully, my business has afforded me the opportunity to purchase all my gear since The Pyrates is a subsidiary of it. And I wear the authentic stuff in public. I just don't do period when performing. The majority of the general public, in a public contact situation, could care less about education. They want to be entertained, engaged and have their kiddies pose for a photo.

And if you were privvy to our group's forum, you'd find that we discuss these activities (history, weapons, etc.) in far greater detail than is ever covered here.

Oh, yes, I do laugh at the threads. As someone who's been on the forum since the beginning, I've seen my share of blowhards and know-it-alls. Perhaps you need to purchase a sense of humor for your pirate kit. Of course, would that be period humor or modern humor. Hhm. Perhaps we need a thread on that. I'm sure there's documentation.

Hurricane

I continue to laugh at these threads... especially when people start saying things like, "I don't have a problem with people playing Hollywood pirates, I really don't, but I would rather they didn't pretend that they are authentic, and I would really be much happier if they didn't try to tell me that I can't possibly know what is and isn't authentic when I've spent several years of my life dedicated to finding out just that."

It sounds like the old, "I don't have a problem with ______ people, as long as they don't live in my neighborhood." A silly statement if ever there was one.

If you've ever been to PiP, you'd see both sides working together and respecting their individual pursuits - died in the wool re-enactors playing right alongside those that just stopped by FantaSea Weddings down the road. All having a great time. Too bad the author of that quote would never consider hanging out with those fantasy peasants.

Without going into an endless diatribe here, I agree that there is no solution here. They are entirely different pursuits and a fantasy pirate would feel just as lost in a period pirate encampment as a re-enactor would posing for pictures with the family (if I hear one more silly statement like "what's that strange device you have in your hand," I'm going to run someone through.)

And while I agree there's a lot of research available, it is a mere snapshot of a time we are no longer privvy too. It would be something akin to looking at the year 1969 a hundred years from now and assuming that everyone in the 1950s to 1980s dressed like hippies, did drugs and protested. Even with the best research available, it's difficult to capture what really occurred or didn't occur at a particular period of time. We like to lump everything together and make sweeping statements about what it was like in the mid 1700s, say, but that would differ greatly even within a 10 year range... time has never stood still and never will.

And revisionism is a part of history, even when you lived through the period. Most of what we learned in history (if you were in school in the 70s say) differs greatly from what kids today are learning. In some cases, there's a lot more information. In others, you wonder what the researcher was smoking. Has anybody read a school history book on the 60s lately? I don't remember it being like that at all and I was there. It's like watching episodes of The Wonder Years or that insipid 70's Show and declaring that that's the definitive way things were.

The truth is, no one knows exactly. We have small snapshots of history left by the chroniclers of the time. Yes, it's a great body of work and we're learning more all the time, but it's still a small snapshot that is based on what people actually took the time to record at the moment.

An example: Go to your grandfather's house. Read all his letters, go through all his photos, souvenirs and memorabilia, ask him for his memories. Take as much time as you want. Then write up a biography of this life and show it to him. I'll bet you he'd laugh at all the things you missed concerning his 80 years. It would be tough to do if you just stuck with his life, let alone trying to extrapolate how life was elsewhere based on his information. All we're talking about is a few more grandfathers who left their stuff lying around for us to find. That's history!

Why don't we share some useful information about what history does tell us rather than try to beat down the other's side. It's a chasm that will never be forged....

-- The Captain