Which they are tales from January of 2005. Given that I’m re-posting these things weekly, and culling them from months (usually), I am acutely aware of the fact that in 20 weeks or so I’ll be out of material, and out of “new” material far sooner than that. Still, although Saturdays are generally low traffic days, they are high page-view per hit days, which means that people are at least clicking on the archives, if not actually reading them
So it’s like I’m providing a service. To you.
Night in the barrel, part 1
Night in the barrel, part 2
The separation thing
Motion sickness
Navy showers and the steam cycle
You’re welcome.
Update: The first couple of links were all boogered up. They’re fixed now.
S’what I get for hitting “Publish” and not checking my work before wandering off into the Elysian fields of Wikipedia – Idly googling Segolene Royal led me on a merry trip through modern French civil unions (pactes civiles des solidarite), which led to a wiki on Morganatic marriage, which in turn led us to the partible heritance traditions which existed in medieval Kent (a Kentish privilige wrested as a concession from the Conqueror, whose lot generally preferred male primogeniture), on to British history in general, including pre-Roman Britain, Gauls, Celts, Ostrogoths, Gaetas, the Swedish use of their Gothic absorption as cudgel to wield against the Ostrogothic succession in Spain, a discussion of fiefdoms, what separated a hamlet from a village (a chapel) and a village from a town (a market). All of this somehow led down side-paths discussing ballistae, trebuchetes, pilia, Wessex, Sussex, Windsor Castle, the first and second Roman invasions of Britain, etc, etc. A man could get lost.
Which anyway, the links are now fixed, and there’s about two hours of my life that I won’t ever get back.
You know, you don’t have to post every day. I’ve gota admit that I’m a bit disappointed if I don’t see a new post pop up in bloglines. I just try to remember that you’re driving the bus and we’re just along for the ride, with a free pass.
“Gauls, Celts, Ostrogoths, Gaetas, the Swedish use of their Gothic absorption as cudgel to wield against the Ostrogothic succession in Spain, a discussion of fiefdoms, what separated a hamlet from a village (a chapel) and a village from a town (a market).”
Links! Gotta have Links! More! More! Seriously, ain’t Google, Wikipedia and such Oh, so Grand?
Dale B is so right, Lex. Don’t be a slave to content. If it ain’t fun for you, it won’t be fun for us. “…we’re just along for the ride..” But are we ever loving the ride.
“…British history in general, including pre-Roman Britain, Gauls, Celts, Ostrogoths, Gaetas, the Swedish use of their Gothic absorption as cudgel to wield against the Ostrogothic succession in Spain, a discussion of fiefdoms, what separated a hamlet from a village (a chapel) and a village from a town (a market)…”
Who knew you’re interested in that stuff? If so inclined, you might enjoy WSC’s “A History of the English-Speaking Peoples” Gotta admit he had a flair for the long sentence. Bantam has a nice boxed paperback set – makes an attractive addition to the throne room, particularly if one appreciates haute d?ɬ
“…British history in general, including pre-Roman Britain, Gauls, Celts, Ostrogoths, Gaetas, the Swedish use of their Gothic absorption as cudgel to wield against the Ostrogothic succession in Spain, a discussion of fiefdoms, what separated a hamlet from a village (a chapel) and a village from a town (a market)…”
Who knew you’re interested in that stuff? If so inclined, you might enjoy WSC’s “A History of the English-Speaking Peoples” Gotta admit he had a flair for the long sentence. Bantam has a nice boxed paperback set – makes an attractive addition to the throne room, particularly if one appreciates haute décor.
OK, so you probably read it by 2nd year at USNA. It would still look good in the loo and might bring back memories.
But…speaking of history. I found an animated map of “the Old World” last night, showing the ebb and flow of the occupants. Good graphic history.
Motion sickness. Oh boy. Your gleeful descriptions of the misery suffered by your friends and colleagues reveals you to be a completely heartless…um…well, I know the word that I want to use but I can’t bring myself to type it (but it begins with a b.)
I have every sympathy for your carrier visitors who wouldn’t venture aboard without a patch. I’m so prone to motion sickness that I can feel queasy standing on land and LOOKING out at a boat on the ocean. I wish I knew of a really reliable remedy for it, cause my husband would love to go on a cruise. Unlike you naval types, he thinks of that as a break from work.
You really don’t know where “A night in the barrel” comes from?
Well, I didn’t when I wrote that post, but Chap tightened me up.
It was in many ways better not knowing…
Capt Lex,
Well, when time permits, seein how yer so interested in the Ancient stuff, I’d reccomend you grab a copy of Procopius’ History of the Byzantine Empire. Only 8 volumes, (not counting his “SECRET” history) hardback in both Greek and translation. It’s facinsting stuff, if I do say so….. and I do…
Procopius was contemporary to Belisarius, and accompanied him on at least one campaign. Also, as a scribe to Justiniun and his wife, he has some interesting insights into those two conniving monarchs. His secret history was published after their deaths, and included all the stuff he was too afraid to actually include while they were alive. Good stuff, that…
Anyway, I find the Byzantines incredibly interesting, because they make Machiavelli look like an amateur, and our current politicians as barbarian lightweights/wannabes.
Plus, I’ve got an excellent paperback copy of several good treatises regarding the evolution of European governments. Shows pretty convincingly that the adoption of the stirrup gave rise to feudal government. Good story, and worth the read. I’ll send it to you if you like.
Respects,
Your mention of British history made me think of this, the Declaration of Arbroath, in 1320:
“…For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom ?
Your mention of British history made me think of this, the Declaration of Arbroath, in 1320:
“…For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”
http://www.constitution.org/scot/arbroath.htm
Very much agree with the others – we come for the quality, not the quantity, Lex…
Ahh, the dreaded night in the barrel – had the misfortune of riding through a couple of them as an E-2 NFO…night recoveries suck for everyone for different reasons – for E-2 guys, you get to come down last, listening all the while to everyone else have their go at it. On bad nights – no moon, pitching deck (think USS Midway), etc. – it was not fun to loiter listening to the LSO power and bolter calls knowing that your nugget in the left seat was listening to the same stuff and was starting to really think about “riding the bicycle” on the ball. We couldn’t tank, so blue water ops made for some interesting scenarios to consider when in said loiter. But, hey, we also have two pilots. So after the first guy takes his turns ratcheting up the pucker factor, you head out at a couple hundred feet and watch the guys in the cockpit try to switch seats without falling on the controls and taking you all to see Davy Jones. I hated those nights.
On motion sickness – just went to a change of command for a West Coast VAW sqdn. The new CO is a very fine fellow who, when we both hit our first fleet squadron, was known as “chunks” due to his propensity for severe motion sickness. He willed himself over it and the Navy’s so very much the better for it.
On Navy showers – a C-clamp??? S**t! That never even crossed my mind (slaps his forehead).
Thanks for the great writing and the history lesson. A chapel makes a hamlet a village – who knew?
Lex;
I read Chap’s telling of “A Night In The Barrel”. Although the point comes across, that’s the most antiseptic version I’ve ever heard. What-the-hell, I was down-and-dirty in “The Big Green Machine” while you-all are sailors all squeeky-clean in your whites, on big grey boats, three hot meals a day and warm dry bunks… Finger bowls even I’ve been told. Keep up the good work Lex. I try and read you every day.
Comrade,
You said: “while you-all are sailors all squeeky-clean in your whites”…
I’ll have you know that, as much as we might have LOOKED squeaky-clean in those dress whites, there was a devious and cunning enemy who would stoop to no low and dastardly deed to spoil our appearance, our hard-worked and washed and starched “whiteness”. I am speaking, of course, of the Mess Management Specialist or “Mess Cook”.
Though often smiling, and always asserting his desire to please us, still and all, he was about his wicked ways whenever there was due notice given of a Change-of Command ceremony, or some such nonsense afoot.
His most evil plan was to spoil our fun through serving us something which was bound to interfere with our spotless gleam, our upright, forthwith and Naval appearance. I am speaking, of course, of the infamous “chicken adobo” or the equally strongly-colored “Lasagna” or, most vile and indellible…. “chili”.
Served in monumental proportions upon a slippery china plate, these concoctions were designed with but one purpose…. to stain our uniforms and extract more of our hard earned yankee coin for the laundry-boy’s purse.
To my dying day, I will curse the memory of the laughing mess boy as he surveys the horrid carnage of sauced-besmattered whites, cursing sailors, and wide-eyed laundry boys, who saw in our glum and violated expressions a large and joyous windfall.
Respects,
[...] Capt Lex sent us to the archives for entertainment a few days ago. One of the linked choices was a story about life at sea and the availability of (fresh) water while keeping oneself in a state of good hygine. [...]