MadL

I must say Oderlesseye, I like th' cut o' yer jib matie! If'n by chance ye ever learn how t' tie one o' them fancy cravats like them English blokes above then do let me know! I believe th' one on th' right has it tight with a Waterfall style knot, but mine ne'er come out so fancy. I have th' booklet "How to tie a cravat" 'n for th' Waterfall it say: Ye may recall my attempt with th' one I wore on HMS Surprise? Not quite right for some reason...

Firstly: Peacock feathers?!? Are ye mad man?!? Them be th' devil's eyes they be!!! Peacock feathers are not taken well by people o' period, unless o' course ye be a witch or sea hag!! Also avoid peasant feathers as certain periods and in certain regions ye will be accused o' poaching on royal land! I me self wear two parrot feathers (all that was left o' him after supper I fear), one crow feather but th' crow was NOT harmed as it be well known that th' crow 'n other birds carry th' dead's soul int' the after life...nay, this crow's feather was offered up t' me freely by a mated pair that once shared me lunch with on a daily basis while in port. Also me seagull feather was offered t' me freely by it's former owner, he sail'd over me vehicle one day 'n simply drop'd it down t' me, I thank'd him kindly and have worn it ever since. I do however wear one black 'n one white ostrich feather on t'other side o' me tricorn, why? because they looked good on th' ilk's hat I kill'd so now they look good on mine I also keep a gold coin under each 'X' cross'n as well as a shark tooth I knock'd outta one o' them blaggard's what tried t' bite me!

I Caught A Couple British Guppies I Did!! ...but Fish 'n Game say they be 'too small' 'n made me toss'em back oh bloody 'ell, I forgots t' ask'em how they tie such nice cravats before they got away as well; mine never come out so neat 'n tidy

Aye, I know bout sea turtles....They Bite!!! ...'n I have no hair upon me back either Hey Iron Bess, I will gladly pay ye Thursday fer a rum today!

but...but...they threaten'd t' take away me rum rations fer a Whole Week if I did not give her back!

Aye Iron Bess, that it be! I arrived early 'n ....well, procured th' fine ship, HMS Surprise, fer me own ...but then th' blaggards made me give her back actually I had arrived early t' fulfill a promise t' a CGI modeler friend o' mine at www.renderosity who has already made a fine 3D computer model o' this fine ship, however he had no reference photos o' th' top deck and...well, it twas ALL WRONG!!! Not even had a poop deck did it, 'n th' ship's wheel sat down on th' main deck it did!! So, I arrived early, took several photos o' th' deck before everyone else got there and covered her over with their bodies 'n lust. I even took some shots below deck fer he'm, 'n in return he gave me a copy o' his current ship model and will send me th' update once he gets t' it. He even sent me he's model o' th' Black Pearl...which also be not perfect....but hey, 'Free' be a price that a pirate can live with

Aye, that I did. Used Stockholm tarred hemp, gotta LOVE th' smell o' good Stockholm! Wrap th' handle first: Then tie th' turks: Mix a few different size line for better effect: I really like th' feel in me hand as well, less slip, better control, 'n just like a fine wench it leaves behind a fine smell on yer hand.....oops, did I just say that out loud?? but o'course it helps t' have th' right tools t' do it all:

Well that what ye get 'n that what ye deserve; waist'n good rum like that. Next time pour th' cider in a Separate glass!!

As I got mine all out fer packing, here be me sharp pointy things: (Ye ask'd bout "eating knives", I circled mine in green. All here be SHARP except th' aluminum stage sword 'n th' board'n sword above it) STOP! NO BODY MOVE!!! ....I be miss'n one o' me daggers! Th' one what I wore on me back side befer I got me new waistcoat 'n sword belt! (guess I should check th' kitchen drawer!!) *add* Oh bloody 'ell! Just recall'd I have two other small 'eating' knives as well...bloody place tis a mess as I prepare t' move at month's end...perhaps next time

That be a Fine piece o' cutlery indeed Oderlesseye!! HUZZA!!

I still wanta see 'Jack Sparrow meets American McGee's Alice'! Perhaps Jack, on his way t' find th' fountain o' youth in that li'le dingy, could get suck'd down a maelstrom where he finds he'm self in a demented world with sirens 'n a Cheshire version o' a Sphinx 'n a big hookah smoke'n sea serpent! Then Amphitrite could run around scream'n "T' Th' Locker With He'm!!" 'n they could play underwater croquet with seahorses they hold upside down by their tails! Now I Would Stand In Line Fer That!!

Hav'en been born 'n raised in Southern Calieforniea but beeing from th' valley yet hang'n at th' beach throughout th' 70's (valley skateboarders vs beach surfers - "uh, like ya dude, shred that!") but then go'n t' th' Mid West (St Louise, MO) then on t' th' East Coast (Fort Benning, GA) then o'er t' Germany where I lived out 'on th economy', where for a good solid year or more I became almost fluent in German, one dialect at least - by th' time I gots back t' Californiea when I would meet new people I was oft asked "Where ARE ye from lad? I can not tell by yer accent!". Me first year back t' th' west I not only got lost go'n t' th' store in th' very town I grew up (seriously! I got lost go'n just 5 blocks 'n ended up driving for over an hour t' find me way home!! Ended up in Eagle Rock!?!) But me speak had turn'd int' a hodge-pogg o' whatever I could muster out between me tongue 'n teeth!!! An' when I told them I was born 'n raised Right Here, they often just look'd at me with blank disbelief As fer 'accents', I just can not do them at all, I am one that can not even recognize me own voice when I hears it on a record'n play'd back at me - as fer spelin, I n'er have been a good speler (Thank Neptune Fer Spell Checkers!!), I have always been told I spell fenetickally (that be phonetically t' ye skool mums 'n genteelmen). But it does make me wonder; pirates, and sailors, them what 'lived by the sea', especially them what would be said t' "have no country" and would make port where ever they could and NOT just within ports of their own countrymen - would they have suffered the same 'identity crisis' as did I on me own 7 year tour o' th' world? Seeing as how many often could not read or write anyway, and many who perhaps tried where probably worse then I even at it. I have seen it written in many ways that seamen of period often "had a language of their own" and used "words not known to proper gentlemen". Now of course if a re-enactor be seeking other re-enactors of the same port and nationality then one might say "Where are all my countrymen?" and yes I do see some words such as 'Aye' being used incorrectly (even by a naive, uneducated sailor who can not read or write) and as for "Ahrrr", I have lately taken to giving back the response t' those who say that by saying "Ahhh matie, I also know me A, B, C's as well!!" or "S, T, U, V t' ye too mate!" (aye, I try t' avoid 'Ahrrr' but sometimes it is just plain fun; and I do love those ol' Long John Silver movies!) As fer 'accent voice', I don't really try to use one at all yet I find I do, as fer th' words I just try t' follow some simple guides - drop the 'g' when ending in 'ing', drop some 'e' at th' end o' some words but not all, use 'n' for 'and', use he'm (heam) fer him, then toss in any nautical words 'n phrases I can come up with. Nay, I naught try t' use any 'proper English' at'll, but then again; thar be NO English in me blood, neither in real life nor in character, so Why would I?!? (if'n ye be wonder'n; me mum's family, th' Allison clan, hails from Ireland while me da's family, th' Madl clan, hails from th' Black Forest region o' Germany. Aye, there be an English born great great grandmum on me mum's side as well as an American Indian married int' her side as well; but me da's side be pure blood German right through me da's generation....he's parents 'n me mum's parents would not even stand in th' same room t'gether, they hated each other t' their die'n day) So how about this li'l ditty I wrote up a few year back fer X-mas, I submitted it t' Bilge Munky and he tried t' read it on air, he gave up after th' first couple paragraph fer he could not make it out....yet others have read it and say they had no trouble at'll (of course there be a wee bit o' creativeness here 'n thar t' make rhyme):

FANtastic shots Oderlesseye!! HUZZA! 'n another HUZZA t' th' FX photo designer!!

Me usual mix o' favorites off me hard drive: John Kraus - Donkey Riding Rillian & the Doxie Chicks - Donkey Riding (I really like their version too) Unknown author - Calico Jack (kinda 'bluish' in sound but really good) Jolllyship Wizzbang - Bone of My Brain Musical Blades - Maracaibo (I LOVE this one!) Unknown author - Where's The Rum Roger McQuinn - Gallows Pole Unknown author - Deadman's Gallows Musical Blades - Whiskey In The Jar The Jolly Rogers - We Want Roger McQuinn - Jamboree Unknown author - Marooned on an Island Musical Blades - 14 Years On A Pirate Ship Seadogs - Letter O' Marque The Jolly Rogers - Black Jack Slim's Cutthroat Inn Musical Blades - The Derilict (NOT the "15 men" song, this one be different!) Unknown author - Chicken On A Raft (as catchy as Donkey Riding!) The Pirates Charles - Take Me To Cat Island (PLEASE!!!0 John Kraus - Ten Thousand Miles Away The Jolly Rogers - Dread Pirate Robers Captain Scapegoat - Sirens Sing'n On The Shore Musical Blades - Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya John Kraus - Fire Marengo The Pirates Charles - Farewell to Novascotia John Kraus - Fathom the Bowl Mad Maggies - Rough Music (I would love to hear more from this new group!) Musical Blades - Sail Away (one of my all time favorites!) Musical Blades - Johny Home Musical Blades - Heave Haul Away (another o' me most favorites!) The Pirates Charles - One More Bottle O' Rum The Pirates Charles - Sand In The Rum Rillian & the Doxie Chicks - Health To The Company (they do the MOST Much Better version of this song!!) ...not really that much variety, see'n as how me MP3 CD version has a total o' 176 song on it earlier I was listen'n t' me Jethro Tull collection: ROCKS ON THE ROAD!!

I think it is around 6oz, I did not purchase it me self but it was given t' me...fer favor not yet declared Yes, it be 'tooling' leather (Vegetable tanned) I also just found out, quite by accident, that leather looks quite fine when tarred with Stolkholm tar!!! Really, it soaks in fast, dries very well, and has a Sweet smell! It darkens the leather a tad, makes it stiffer, oh and did I mention the Sweet smell?!!

Ah, but here be where ye enter very murky waters mate, ye speak as if everyone be on Yer side o' coin... Depending upon where one stands a 'privateer' is every much a 'pirate' as the next and every much 'illegal' and will be shot and/or hung upon site. Now of course if everyone was indeed on 'your' side and hailed from 'your' country then what ye say would hold water. Example: what about those ships (can't think of a particular off hand but ye surly can from yer above statements) that went to war for the Queen of England, but upon their return found they were labeled a "pirate" for they did not get the word to stop fighting in time - 'Privateer' or 'Pirate'? (some even say 'hero' but none the less they were taken or shot upon as 'pirate') And what about Blackbeard during the period that he left he's mates and took a bride (forgive me I do not run and look up all the location names, but I am sure ye know of what I speak - or can look it up yer self) - he made an accord with th' local governor that he would Only take foreign ship and legal salvage and would split the takings with the governor - would this not at that time make him a "privateer"? But of course as history tells the story he did not stick t' he's accord and indeed committed acts of 'piracy' behind th' governor's back; some say with full knowledge of the governor who chose t' stay ignorant as long as he was getting a share - so, during this period what Blackbeard a 'privateer' or 'pirate' or simply a common thief? Or even more so t' stand on me comment lets take a clear cut example: Sir Henry Drake He sailed with letter o' marque from th' Queen - 'privateer' (Private Men of War)? or 'pirate'? How about ye go ask a Spaniard... Aye, I do realize this be 'Captain Twill' and we stick t' "facts and only facts" here, and aye, I do realize that most members here be American with a few Englishmen toss'd in - But facts be facts; one man's privateer is in FACT another man's pirate and one man's pirate is in FACT another man's hero. Being an American who's parents on either side hail from neither England, Britain, France, nor Spain, I tend t' look at things from all sides before casting judgment. But th' judgment I cast be that of mine and mine alone. Further; having grown up in a town full of 'gangs' but having been 'anti-gang' all me life until one day a particular high school decided that me and my close friends (just good buds who hung out peacefully together and laughed as we watched th' Crypts, Bloods, Villa Street Boys, such walk by and mocked what kind of kids they must be t' join such folly) but the school had chosen that WE too where a "gang", the school even created a name for us, they called us "The Family" (???now where the 'ell did they get THAT??? - recall Charles Manson....?!? this was all set back in the mid-70s) - from that day fourth life had changed for we twelve high schoolers; gangs wanted t' challenge us, certain teachers had it in fer us...the story goes on, til finally we where all sent to separate schools "for the safety of others" the high school had told our parents (??!!?) - so, where we a 'gang' simply because the school said we where? or where we simply twelve high school kids (some of us even on the football team, and ALL with good grades!) or where we merely victims o' others perception and forced t' fight fer survival in a town gone unjust. Sorry, but I find it hard t' cast judgment until I me own self has walked in th' other man's shoes, and often I wonder how much of the 'history book' had cast judgment the way my old high school had (of course not speaking of such as Blackbeard who was a self-proclaimed "pirate"...except for a short period) So: 'Privateering' = legal but 'Pirate' = illegal Sorry, I find both a blurred and, depending on which side ye stand, act of "Piracy" Again, depends upon th' side o' th' pond ye stand upon...after all, this be "Captain Twill" as ye yer self once pointed out - History be History ;p

westcoastpickers, actually I did find some dice t' suit me needs at Scarlet Scarab 'n Sutlerjon made me up some fine cups. However, perhaps some more information on th' dice ye hold? Size, details, coloration; perhaps they would fit th' ideal set fer that "Hands Off, These Be Mine" kinda dice

Ohhhh, a Goat Whacker... .... ..now that just plain sounds Dirty!!

Aye, good t' finally meet ye too Iron Bess, th' Goat Beater!! (it is ok t' keep beating a dead goat with a stick now is it not...just not a dead horse fer it may get back up 'n kick ya!)

I found mine on Ebay, ye really must look HARD and daily however to find any NOT sold for crazy price! I got a lot of around 10 for $10, four I kept, a few I sold t' Oderlesseye 'n he's lovely wife. There be a couple left but they are not that good and they are small - all from a macaw. Now ye know th' African Grey feathers are gonna be a bit difficult as they (red tail feathers) are said by some Indians t' posses special powers and therefore are highly sought after. I would like t' find some other, non-parrot species, bird feathers; such as magpie ones (the Long black ones with a white tip) or some Birds of Paradise tail feathers 'n such....NO PEACOCKS! They be possessing EVIL LUCK!!! 'n no pheasant feathers fer they get ye locked up as a poacher!! And no swallow feathers as it be awfully bad luck t' kill one o' them!! However I do have a crow's feather and a gull's feather in me own hat but both where given freely t' me by their owners.

Sounds then like a video card driver issue. I have read of some who have such issues with screen savers in some forums I frequent such at Serene Screen Marine Aquarium (www.SereneScreen.com) where I was at a lot during its early stages (only supports XP and Vista now and wont run on Win2K at all, new version that is). Often people would have to roll back their video drivers after an update as some games and Direct X stuff would stop working. Currently I have Marine Aquarium 2.6 that works great but I found some versions of my card's driver that it did not, I have a shark saver that stopped working at all and I don't want to go back to the old driver it did work on because of other issues - the shark saver is kinda like you describe, I can still hear the sound but the images are all gone, just a few flashes of light. That is too bad, its really a finely crafted solo player game. Perhaps ye can find a friend's computer t' try it out on...