The St. Briac was a transport ferry during WWII, took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, and sank after drifting into a British minefield.
I guess it will be classified as a military gravesite and declared off limits for divers, as is only proper.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Custom of the Sea
When you're in a small boat at sea and there is no food and water, how do you survive?
By eating those who die first, and if necessary, killing and eating the weakest.
This is known as The Custom of the Sea. It's based on the Law of Necessity: Necessity knows no law. It's always shocking when it happens, and the survivors must be ready to face an inquiry when they finally reach land, and possible punishment, if the inquiry determines evil intent rather than necessity.
This is why a survival mindset is vital for anyone who puts him/herself into a situation that might result in such desperate measures. Be Prepared, say the Boy Scouts, and better yet Semper Paratus (Always Prepared), the motto of the US Coast Guard.
Go thou and do likewise.
h/t Hot Air Headlines.
By eating those who die first, and if necessary, killing and eating the weakest.
This is known as The Custom of the Sea. It's based on the Law of Necessity: Necessity knows no law. It's always shocking when it happens, and the survivors must be ready to face an inquiry when they finally reach land, and possible punishment, if the inquiry determines evil intent rather than necessity.
This is why a survival mindset is vital for anyone who puts him/herself into a situation that might result in such desperate measures. Be Prepared, say the Boy Scouts, and better yet Semper Paratus (Always Prepared), the motto of the US Coast Guard.
Go thou and do likewise.
h/t Hot Air Headlines.
Election Day Blogging Note
I'm not going to obsessively blog the election all day today. It would be depressing to read the propaganda coming out of the MSM designed to depress Republican turnout, so I'm going to ignore it. Sometime tonight at work I'll probably know who the new President will be, and I'll mention it at that time. In the meantime I'll blog my normal subjects, and spend most of the day in Middle-Earth, fighting evil in a direct fashion, sword in hand.
Good luck to Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin. Confusion to the Democrats!
Good luck to Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin. Confusion to the Democrats!
Irony Of The Day
The New York Times in an editorial today riffs on First Amendment rights today, saying that the FCC should allow the occasional "fuck" or "shit" in the name of free speech, and urging the next president to appoint FCC commissioners "with a greater respect for the First Amendment."
Gee, I wonder if that means that the NY Times will oppose the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine on First Amendment grounds if Obama and the Democrats try to impose it?
We all know the answer to that, don't we? And if we question this, they'll throw Emerson at us: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Gee, I wonder if that means that the NY Times will oppose the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine on First Amendment grounds if Obama and the Democrats try to impose it?
We all know the answer to that, don't we? And if we question this, they'll throw Emerson at us: A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Getting A Little Ahead Of Ourselves, Aren't We?
"Obama weeps for dead grandmother - just hours before he is set to be crowned America's first black president."
That's a UK Daily Mail headline this election morning. More than a bit presumptuous, isn't it? Maybe you might wish to let the voters in the US actually vote before bestowing the crown?
That's a UK Daily Mail headline this election morning. More than a bit presumptuous, isn't it? Maybe you might wish to let the voters in the US actually vote before bestowing the crown?
UK: The Hangman's Diary For Sale
The diaries of two different hangmen, actually: Henry Pierrepoint and Harry Allen.
What does the hangman put in his diary? Professional notes about how long to make the noose, and the state of the condemned person's neck: "muscular neck," "strong neck" are a couple of the notes in Pierrepoint's diary.
Pic:
The tape measure is for measuring height of the condemned person, an aid to calculating the length of the noose.
What does the hangman put in his diary? Professional notes about how long to make the noose, and the state of the condemned person's neck: "muscular neck," "strong neck" are a couple of the notes in Pierrepoint's diary.
Pic:
The tape measure is for measuring height of the condemned person, an aid to calculating the length of the noose.
Yearn For The Troglodyte Life?
Always wanted to get in touch with your primitive self? Did Tolkien's tales of Moria and the Glittering Caves of Aglarond enchant you as a child, or were you scared by Injun Joe in the cave from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?
Now's your chance to own your own caverns:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Calling Batman: Cave owner Steve Rush has a deal for you. Rush, 49, is auctioning off the Mystic Caverns in the hills of Ozark Mountains on eBay. The 28-acre property in Arkansas includes a gift shop and three caves, two of which are safe enough for visitors.
The bidding starts at $899,900, cut from Rush's original asking price of $1.2 million.
Rush bought the property near Harrison in 1988 and began giving tours in 1992 to the two accessible caves, Mystic cavern and the Crystal Dome cavern. A third cave on his 28-acre property, Not Much Sink cavern, remains too dangerous for tours.
You probably couldn't find a better fallout shelter than a deep cavern, and in fact, caverns have been designated in the past for just that purpose. For a survivalist-minded individual with some funds, this is a great opportunity.
I seem to recall seeing a cavern for sale in the Knoxville area back in 1979, during one of my family's drives through the countryside house-hunting. Seems to me it was closer to Oak Ridge than to Knoxville, and may have been known on the sign as "Cherokee Caverns." (yah, just Googled it, found this.) I actually was inspired by this cavern to outline a science fiction novel, still unwritten.
Actually, the very first cave I ever entered was the wonderful small faux cave at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. As a child I spent many happy hours in that cave; the coolest feature was a "crack" in the rock near the entrance in which a lifelike replica of an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake took refuge. He probably startled more than a few people out of their wits.
Now's your chance to own your own caverns:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Calling Batman: Cave owner Steve Rush has a deal for you. Rush, 49, is auctioning off the Mystic Caverns in the hills of Ozark Mountains on eBay. The 28-acre property in Arkansas includes a gift shop and three caves, two of which are safe enough for visitors.
The bidding starts at $899,900, cut from Rush's original asking price of $1.2 million.
Rush bought the property near Harrison in 1988 and began giving tours in 1992 to the two accessible caves, Mystic cavern and the Crystal Dome cavern. A third cave on his 28-acre property, Not Much Sink cavern, remains too dangerous for tours.
You probably couldn't find a better fallout shelter than a deep cavern, and in fact, caverns have been designated in the past for just that purpose. For a survivalist-minded individual with some funds, this is a great opportunity.
I seem to recall seeing a cavern for sale in the Knoxville area back in 1979, during one of my family's drives through the countryside house-hunting. Seems to me it was closer to Oak Ridge than to Knoxville, and may have been known on the sign as "Cherokee Caverns." (yah, just Googled it, found this.) I actually was inspired by this cavern to outline a science fiction novel, still unwritten.
Actually, the very first cave I ever entered was the wonderful small faux cave at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. As a child I spent many happy hours in that cave; the coolest feature was a "crack" in the rock near the entrance in which a lifelike replica of an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake took refuge. He probably startled more than a few people out of their wits.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Arrival
Mosin-Nagant M38 carbine in 7.62x54R caliber. It looks like this, (this is not my actual rifle, but is a representative photo):
This is a short rifle, as short as the typical .22 rimfire. Looks like it has a healthy kick to it. *laughs*
This is a short rifle, as short as the typical .22 rimfire. Looks like it has a healthy kick to it. *laughs*
The Goofy Little Air-Powered Car
Story.
Pic:
I'll say that there are a lot of Americans, myself included, who probably would have a hard time fitting into a car that small.
Pic:
I'll say that there are a lot of Americans, myself included, who probably would have a hard time fitting into a car that small.
Japanese Develop Blue Roses
Story. Gene splicing involved, apparently.
Pic:
A blue rose calls to my mind David Eddings' wonderful Sparhawk novels, in which a blue stone carved in the shape of a rose plays a central role.
Pic:
A blue rose calls to my mind David Eddings' wonderful Sparhawk novels, in which a blue stone carved in the shape of a rose plays a central role.
Weather Note
November is my favorite month of the year; it's the height of autumn here in the NC Piedmont. There are two types of weather I like a lot this time of year: the dry, sunny, cool days, with a sky the color of sapphire and the smell of leaves everywhere; and the grey, cool, overcast days that I associate with childhood and Christmas season.
Today is one of the grey days. One of the big sugar maples in the side yard has dropped most of its leaves, making a golden carpet. A red-shouldered hawk called from a nearby tree as I took the dog out, and a Carolina Wren scolded me from the low brush in the area where the dog took a dump. We've mowed the lawn for the last time this year, hopefully, and soon wild onions will make their appearance, pushing up through the grass.
The sugar maples are the big show-offs right now with their golden foliage; the sweet gums drop scarlet leaves, as do the few hickories in the yard. The oaks, mostly scarlet oak, turn coppery and then brown before dropping their leaves. Poison Ivy, believe it or not, is a handsome creeper in the fall, turning a pretty red color before shedding its toxic leaves. Don't rake poison ivy leaves into a bonfire pile, the smoke itself is toxic.
I have been taking my annual vacations in the fall for the past dozen years or so. With my mother an invalid, I can't really go anywhere, so it will be three weeks here at the house in early December, trying to catch up on sleep lost during the year. When I return to work it is the quietest time of year at the hotel, so it is like having an additional couple of weeks' vacation.
Today is one of the grey days. One of the big sugar maples in the side yard has dropped most of its leaves, making a golden carpet. A red-shouldered hawk called from a nearby tree as I took the dog out, and a Carolina Wren scolded me from the low brush in the area where the dog took a dump. We've mowed the lawn for the last time this year, hopefully, and soon wild onions will make their appearance, pushing up through the grass.
The sugar maples are the big show-offs right now with their golden foliage; the sweet gums drop scarlet leaves, as do the few hickories in the yard. The oaks, mostly scarlet oak, turn coppery and then brown before dropping their leaves. Poison Ivy, believe it or not, is a handsome creeper in the fall, turning a pretty red color before shedding its toxic leaves. Don't rake poison ivy leaves into a bonfire pile, the smoke itself is toxic.
I have been taking my annual vacations in the fall for the past dozen years or so. With my mother an invalid, I can't really go anywhere, so it will be three weeks here at the house in early December, trying to catch up on sleep lost during the year. When I return to work it is the quietest time of year at the hotel, so it is like having an additional couple of weeks' vacation.
Shipwreck Blog: Schooner Riverside, Great Lakes
Story.
1870's schooner Riverside. Seems to be in good condition, other than algae growing on it. Shipwrecks in cold climates typically can be found in better condition than in tropical climes, and shipwrecks in fresh water are usually exceptionally well preserved.
Pic:
Look a bit like green jack-o-lanterns, don't they?
1870's schooner Riverside. Seems to be in good condition, other than algae growing on it. Shipwrecks in cold climates typically can be found in better condition than in tropical climes, and shipwrecks in fresh water are usually exceptionally well preserved.
Pic:
Look a bit like green jack-o-lanterns, don't they?
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Sorry About That
In UK, a woman died in a National Health Service hospital because the staff, both doctors and nurses, couldn't be bothered to check up on her after surgery.
Looking forward to your ObamaCare?
What happens today in UK will be happening in the US tomorrow if Obama wins.
Looking forward to your ObamaCare?
What happens today in UK will be happening in the US tomorrow if Obama wins.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Sorry For The Light Blogging
Sometimes Middle-Earth, even with the threat of Sauron to deal with, is more hopeful than the possibility of having to deal with Obama.
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