hurricane

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

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

Just got the Crimson Pirate from Netflix today... And though it's not classic in the classic sense, Ice Pirates comes out on DVD Feb. 15. As for Against All Flags - video only as far as I know... -- The Captain

I got a double wrap belt from him for my sword. Not only is it superb in quality and durable, but he backs everything up with a guarantee. As for the belt, if it didn't fit perfectly I could send it back and he would alter it free. Can't beat that. I've sent many of my fellow crewe there since - never heard anything but Wows! and Thanks! Buy in confidence. He's terrific... -- The Captain

Thanks for the kind words, mate. Appreciate it! We had a lot of fun down Key West way and it was good to meet up with the likes of you. If you're ever Orlando way, give us a shout... we'll create one of our many "pirate for the heck of it" nights around here in your honor. -- The Captain

Ahoy all! The Captain isn't ignoring your missives - he's just at the Hideout these days, tending to the Blackheart and the Benbow Inn... See ya there... -- The Captain

Well, can't resist my two cents here. I understand the excitement about the upcoming sequels... I can't wait to see them. But do I want to ponderously go over scenarios to the point where the whole plot is spoiled? No! No point in going to the movie then, is there? Even a script can take multiple turns in editing. And many a plot has changed because of editing scenes in and out of a movie. Why, whole endings have been changed and subplots added or deleted. That's why you see director's cuts eventually. I'm letting the writers and director take their course. I'm sure it will be a grand adventure no matter what. And I agree... why keep bringing back the same villian that was vanquished in the first episode? Where's the challenge for the lead character... he's already bested the bad guy. It only worked for Darth Vader because he was omnipotent until the final installment. But bringing back Barbossa would like bringing Dog Brown back in Cutthroat Island II after he was blasted apart by a cannonball. Hardly a creative direction for a good writer to take. Way too formula. I truly loved Rush's character (so don't bash me Barbossa fans, I'm there with ya) But it's Depp's work along with Keira and Orlando that would make me return to the next installments... It's the chemistry between them that was magnificent to watch. -- The Captain

That is indeed a wickedly wonderful arm. I'll be interested to see how she performs. After you fire it can you stab someone to let me know how the blade is too? -- The Captain

Captain sets the bait and the mice take the cheese. Even have those who's plumbing works just fine check in on that one. Hhm, what new rumor can we create? Maeven dear, carry on doing your usual fine scribe work. I was mostly dressing down (as opposed to undressing, Sheila, Paisley, Flogger, Merry, Doc, Deadly, Diosa) - thought I'd take the straight line away - the rest of the crewe. They seem to have forgotten how to write. Not surprising knowing my crewe. But I like to keep them on their toes... Sheila, love, glad you're on the mend. They have adult diapers for that. Not that I know about these things - no really. But I did hear of a really fun drinking game with those things... But that's another story. -- The Captain

I wonder if he has a whole closet of those teal bikinis or if he wears the same one day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day... You'd think they'd get kind of gamey after a day or so in the tropics. Visualize ladies and gents... tepid heat, sweat, teal bikinis... Ewwwwwwww! The Captain

Solid work Master at Arms. 'Bout time these bilge rats get a proper calling to muster. Now stand to mates... there's work to do... step lively now and get your morning rations from teh cook - today you get two hardtack, an extra helping of moldy salt beef and some fine Jamaican rum to wash it all down with ya. Now no talking back - or I'll send you off to the Doc for some of her medicine. Will make the breakfast seem like a four course meal in the king's palace it will. And I don't want to have to get Flogger involved. You know how she loves her work. Get to work blackards... And I want to see some lively conversation about ship. Let's start with rumors about who is unable to pee this morning... I do see a trip to the Doc for that malady.... -- The Captain

Very nice arm, Master Studley. I see you're going to cost the captain some coin - been wanting a new cutlass and they have some real beauties to hang by me side. Appreciate the link BlackJohn... -- The Captain

So true, so true... she tells me I'm more than a handful... Take it as you will... let the shots come as they may... And you can take that as you will as well... -- The Captain

You don't have to type Olad, or Olaf, or whoever you are. You have the elixir and that's good enough for me. (hic). -- The Captain...

Sounds like a grand time - if I had been there I would have told the kiddies that we're pirates - we don't give we take - we did that once and ended up with two large boxes of beads that we then used elsewhere that day... Ah, the life of a pirate... Captain if on the mend today... about 7 cutlasses out of 10. -- The Captain

Tickets - all 19000+ were sold for Tampa in about 18 minutes... Glad we were online and persistent. Look out Tampa for the Pyrates of the Coast to visit! -- The Captain

Done... the Captain

Hook is a little plodding - I fast forward through the ponderous Lost Boys training segment until the food fight, that is. My cabin boy has watched pirate movies since he was 2. His favorites: 1) Cutthroat Island (lots of action to watch, a Friday night Boy's Night special at home), 2) Pirates of the Caribbean, 3) Muppet Treasure Island. He's almost 7 now and his opinion hasn't changed, event though we've watched them all a 100 times or more... And even though it's not piratical - A Knight's Tale - because it's funny. -- The Captain

Shh, don't tell anyone... We be buying tickets and going in pirate gear... -- The Captain

Where be the crewe? A whole day has passed an not a single posting? What a bunch of lubbers you've become... I see our newest recruits have reported back to Diosa on what they want to do and the skills they bring to the crewe. What about Animal, Doc, Paisley, Sheila, Nigel? Where are you? I expect your miserable hides to get your reports in... even the captain is sending in his missive so no excuses... On more fun notes, I've been sampling some new mead that arrived at the door yesterday from Empire Winery. They want us to sell it at PiP. I will need to do more (hic) research. We also met up with Flint last night - sorry girls, he's got a lady friend... but he's a stand up kind of guy with a lot of things to offer. His first raid will be Friday with us at the Deland Chamber event. We'll let you know all about it. Now, quit dallying. Quit having a personal life. And let's get back to work here... eh? -- The Captain

I forgot about Blackbeard's Ghost. May be a little dated for today's kiddies but Peter's performance alone is worth watching the movie and I would love to stay at the inn or decorate my own home just like it. -- The Captain

Sheila - is that you there? I'm not used to be seeing you working... Animal must finally be getting me crewe in order. Now if I can just chase down Paisley and get her to map out the waters of Tampa Bay before we raid there and get Merry to find a way through all that frigid white water she's surrounded by up north I'd be a happy captain. They be gawking at the new mates too much!!! I'll cut yer eyes out lasses... Yes, you heard right you scoundrels... a happy captain. -- The Captain

I hit him over the head - don't like wrong notes, other than my own and there's plenty of them to go around... -- The Captain

Leave the Goonies out - it contains lots of swear words... I would pick Hook and Muppet Treasure Island... Peter Pan is also good, and less well known. Not the Disney diatribe - but the live action made a couple years back with a great Captain Hook. -- The Captain