GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Have you read the book, "Don Quixote"? What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Michaelaway Posted April 24, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted April 24, 2022 (edited) What do you think? 9 hours of... what the heck? Edited April 24, 2022 by Michaelaway 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 OK, no problem. What do you think about this? "The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the western coast of North America. As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in full sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three year voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure. The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap, and kid gloves of an undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked shirt and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive the practised eye in these matters; and while I supposed myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can never get. The trowsers, tight round the hips, and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a superabundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well varnished black hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over the left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk neckerchief, with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betray the beginner at once. Beside the points in my dress which were out of the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to distinguish me from the regular salt, who, with a sun-burnt cheek, wide step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands athwart-ships, half open, as though just ready to grasp a rope. "With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next day we were employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I might not hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing himself snugly away under the long boat, for a nap. That was sufficient lookout, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor. The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the city, and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. My watch began at eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became fair, and having called the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this I do not know, but I am quite sure I did not give the true hoarse, boatswain call of "A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy!" In a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land. I could take but little part in all these preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving the windlass, began, and in a few moments we were under weigh. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding "good night" to my native land." I suggest that you read more of this book. TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea By Richard Henry Dana, Jr. With an introduction and notes by Homer Eaton Keyes, B.L. Assistant Professor of Art in Dartmouth College ((Please note: My father attended Dartmouth College)) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 During the past few years, many years, I have been reading many interesting papers coming out of the University of Washington. U Wash. I never attended this university. Yet, I believe this is one of the greatest and most inclusive universities our world ever did see. https://www.washington.edu/ I have the suspicion that, at U Wash, they must be doing great things. I think that this is not a predominantly farang place, if you know what I mean, which is good. Yet, in order to be accepted to this university, then you need to be smarter than most farang in the USA, perhaps. ======= You know, my friends, that I just feel so sad. I feel so sad because, just when we are at the point of educating our young better than we ever have before, and succeeding at this, so well..... Now, in fact, our world is heading for so many tipping points, and cascading effects, which will probably obviate any good that we might accomplish, these days, just by educating our young.. This point is debatable. One of the things I like least is young people with wireless earbuds. You never know what they are listening to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayWright Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 7 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: Tokyo (1965) Those were the days. It was 1999. The clue is Gibraltar drum frames weren't invented until 1993. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said: OK, no problem. What do you think about this? "The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the western coast of North America. As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon, I made my appearance on board at twelve o'clock, in full sea-rig, and with my chest, containing an outfit for a two or three year voyage, which I had undertaken from a determination to cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by a long absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure. The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap, and kid gloves of an undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked shirt and tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made, and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is impossible to deceive the practised eye in these matters; and while I supposed myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can never get. The trowsers, tight round the hips, and thence hanging long and loose round the feet, a superabundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well varnished black hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black ribbon hanging over the left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk neckerchief, with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betray the beginner at once. Beside the points in my dress which were out of the way, doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to distinguish me from the regular salt, who, with a sun-burnt cheek, wide step, and rolling gait, swings his bronzed and toughened hands athwart-ships, half open, as though just ready to grasp a rope. "With all my imperfections on my head," I joined the crew, and we hauled out into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next day we were employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail gear, crossing royal yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board our powder. On the following night, I stood my first watch. I remained awake nearly all the first part of the night from fear that I might not hear when I was called; and when I went on deck, so great were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I walked regularly fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over the bows and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing himself snugly away under the long boat, for a nap. That was sufficient lookout, he thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor. The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, and had barely opportunity to take a last look at the city, and well-known objects, as no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower harbor, we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. My watch began at eleven o'clock at night, and I received orders to call the captain if the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became fair, and having called the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. How I accomplished this I do not know, but I am quite sure I did not give the true hoarse, boatswain call of "A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy!" In a short time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, and we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land. I could take but little part in all these preparations. My little knowledge of a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given and so immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a landsman beginning a sailor's life. At length those peculiar, long-drawn sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving the windlass, began, and in a few moments we were under weigh. The noise of the water thrown from the bows began to be heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and rolled with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long journey. This was literally bidding "good night" to my native land." I suggest that you read more of this book. TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea By Richard Henry Dana, Jr. With an introduction and notes by Homer Eaton Keyes, B.L. Assistant Professor of Art in Dartmouth College ((Please note: My father attended Dartmouth College)) Hey what a coincidence, my Father also went to Dartmouth College. When was your Dad there please? What rank was he? Edited April 24, 2022 by KannikaP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayWright Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 6 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: One thing I really do not want to do is to read the writing on the wall. Do you? How many of us do not understand that we are on a trajectory to our own doom? We realize that Human Behavior will be responsible for our doom. And, we also realize that human behavior is something that cannot be altered, and cannot be changed, in time, to save the Human Race. We know this. This is so very obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparktrader Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Who is Jack Bruce? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 5 minutes ago, Sparktrader said: Who is Jack Bruce? John Symon Asher Bruce was a Scottish bassist, singer-songwriter, musician and composer. He gained popularity as the co-lead vocalist and bassist of British rock band Cream. After the group disbanded in 1968, he pursued a solo career and also played with several bands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayWright Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: Have you ever been to Nantucket? Have you ever been Two Years Before the Mast? Have you ever climbed the mast, even? Have you ever taken a sledge to break ice off the bow of a ship? I took a Sleigh ride once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparktrader Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Bass players soon forgotten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 10 minutes ago, RayWright said: I took a Sleigh ride once! nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 32 minutes ago, KannikaP said: Hey what a coincidence, my Father also went to Dartmouth College. When was your Dad there please? What rank was he? He was there before WW2. No women there, at that time, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Just in case some young people might be reading down this far, as I have been told they sometimes do: My advice is to read more from Project Gutenberg. Here is the link to Two Years Before the Mast, by this Harvard guy, Dana.... https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4277 And, here is the link to Project Gutenberg.... https://www.gutenberg.org/ Most people here on the Farang Pub read books. Why? Because, guys here are very old, in some cases. They have not much better to do. Read books. Read The End of the Road, maybe. Or, please do not read Giles Goat Boy, until you are older. Too bawdy, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GammaGlobulin Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Lou Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, RayWright said: 10 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said: Tokyo (1965) Those were the days. It was 1999. The clue is Gibraltar drum frames weren't invented until 1993. The other clue is just taking a look at Beck, he didn't look like that in 1965! Edited April 24, 2022 by Liverpool Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KannikaP Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, RayWright said: I took a Sleigh ride once! There was a young man from Nantucket Whos d**k was so long he could suck it He said with a grin, as he wiped off his chin If my ear was a c**t I would **ck it. Edited April 24, 2022 by KannikaP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Off topic and flame posts removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayWright Posted April 25, 2022 Share Posted April 25, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 12:14 PM, Liverpool Lou said: The other clue is just taking a look at Beck, he didn't look like that in 1965! You're right. Being a Techy, I have no dress sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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