BILLY BONES

Since I'll be driving down from Oregon, and have not attended before, is there anything I should know? I'm thinking about weaponry policies and whether I can sleep there Saturday night mainly. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks, BB

Ol' Bill will be there. Hope to see you all there.

Why must they add Maynard's sweetheart into the mix?

I just noticed that the first Portland Pirate Festival has one fatal flaw. I would love to support a local pirate get-together, but it's the same weekend as the largest pirate festival on the west coast! Is it too late to change? I know it is, but it's too bad. I'm sure you'd get a lot more support if it was a vweekend earlier or later. BB

Kass,

I'd like to officially order one of your frock coats. Let me know what you need! Thanks! BB Oh, how about a waistcoat as pictured?

Mr. Hand,

I concurr with you assessment. You can't beat the book. Of course, I should know. Billy Bones

The Exumas are your best bet, and you may recognize a location or two from POTC. Don't go to Grand Bahama Island!! Not a terribly attractive Island, and it's seen better days. The displays at the Pirate Museum are worth seeing. They have a website---- Pirates of Nassau. BB

I'll be there, barring any unforeseen circumstance. BB

Look, I've gotten through the first fews pages of all this, and all I know, is that I'm happy that the Pirate genre is back, with some exciting and well-directed results. When I think back to the days when Cutthroat Island and Muppets Treasure Island were all, movie-wise, we had (not withstanding the classics), as opposed to the excitement about pirates, along with the scholarly volumes about piracy generated by that excitement, that these movies have brought, I don't give a rat's arse if Barbossa's really dead or he's taken up ballet. This is the greatest thing to happen to the study of old-time piracy that could ever have happened. Look at all these entries discussing pirates! Hell, look at all the pirate web-sites! Look at you mates who didn't know anything about pirates until we met Sparrow for the first time. A nice shot in the arm. BB

About 2 months before Pirateology came out, my son gave me a book called Pirates by John Matthews, Atheneum Books. It's quite a bit like Pirateology, but in my opinion, much better! It doesn't have the little story about the female pirate. It's just about pirates. and has much better and more fun pull-outs, etc. Anyway, give it a shot if you're curious. The cover has a Jolly Roger with an eye patch, a jewel for his other eye, and a gold tooth. BB

I think I may be able to help you. I have photos from all angles, but can't post them on this sight. E-mail? The pistol is the same in both films. Although the dealer says 1760's, having worked with the pistol off and on everyday, it seemed slightly older. Of course, being a reputable dealer, he would know more of the history than I, and I haven't had a chance to research Perry, and whether he built the pistol in it's entirety, or just the lock. BB

Don't worry about Davy Jones' backstory. You'll get it in 3.

I bought Gurkees in the Bahamas, and used them almost exclusively on shipboard. Once they got saltwater in them, they got horrendously stinky, but I threw them in the machine, and the smell washed out completely. Comfy until the heel wears away.

I have seen hand cannons of similar design. This is, of course, "home made". I'm sure it was fired with a fuse.

'Tis quite true, Miss Bess

I rode the ride twice on Tuesday. I have to tell you, that I grew up around D-land, and was a frequenter of THE ride, so it was with trepidation that I rode it again, what with the changes and all.

My wife and I recognised Mr. Rush's voice even before we entered the room, and were pleasantly surprised by the changes. Of the 3 appearances of Captain Sparrow, the last looked the least like him, in my opinion, but it was a wonderful effort. I had ridden the ride shortly before the renovation, when I was working on POTC II in L.A., and the nostalgia was thick, but the ride seemed a bit shabby for a Disney ride. Everything looks pretty ship-shape now! I, for one, am actually happy with the update.

I saw DMC at the cast & crew showing Monday night. This is really great, mates!!!

I surrender.

Me at work on POTC II & III.

I was the armorer, and this was my work uniform. BTW, Thanks Black John, for you help!http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/billybones_2006/pirates/

I've tried to order an Old Dominion cutlass several times, but evidently, they're not taking orders. Too much backlog.

Like the indiscrutable Miss Bess said in so many words, YIKES!!!! I never saw this being filmed, and I was there. Most decidedly a fake.

Well, I think I'll be steerin' a course fur Vegas, what with Rummy, Scarlet, and the like attendin'. I've got some friends what live there, so what the heck? I haven't seen many of you for ages, and never met most of ya. I'm a raiding pyrate wherever I go, so it matters not to me. Hope to meet you devils in October. BB

Well, that didn't work. It was a picture of me standing next to Rummy3, so nobody would have noticed me anyway.

/Users/kelly/Desktop/PIC00357 picture - Webshots.webarchive

I'm the one on the right. Yes, guys, there's a person on the right.

Of course, for those who don't want to, or don't have the culinary talent to make them, you can order hardtack from two sources. One is the Mechanical Baking Co., and the other (which I recommend) is Bent's Cookie Factory. Both have made hardtack since the 1850s, and Bent's makes them on the original dies. Look at Bent's website (www.bentscookiefactory.com), and with alittle research, you'll find a rounder biscuit than their square Civil War biscuit. It looks quite similar to the above example. If I remember correctly, they sell the crackers in boxes of 20. Nice people to deal with too, and have a good handle on the history of hardtack. BB