ealgylden: (apple (castalia))
[personal profile] ealgylden
I'm still pondering Barbossa's monkey. I need to sleep on what I'm pondering, which is sure to give me some weird dreams, and I need to see the movie again (any excuse, any excuse), but... well, anyway, it'll keep. I was pretty amused by the little stuffed monkey they have modeling Monkey Jack's outfit on this page (about halfway down); too bad it's not a better picture. He looks pretty happy for a nattily-dressed stuffed monkey.


The fun part about doing historical research on the web (or just playing, like I have been) is seeing what bizarre conclusions have benefited from the "anything goes" nature of online publishing. This article, sort of a Cliff Notes version of longer, better (a relative term) articles, caught my attention for this bit:

"The popularity of parrots may be another clue about pirate sexuality. Parrots can live long lives, double that of even the longest living dogs, forty years or more; parrots are monogamous, staying with one partner for life. The common bond between pirate and parrot suggests an acceptable relationship in an era when homosexuality was apparently uncommon even among outlaws."

A parrot as a substitute for hooking up with that cute pirate with the gold teeth and most of his own fingers? Who knew pirates were so much like spinster Aunt Fern with all the cats?


Pirates of the Caribbean apparently had a historical consultant named Peter Twist on staff, and he sounds a mite defensive: "Although the pirate characters aren't based on any real pirates, the movie is 'a compilation of a lot of the things that were done by real pirates, and pirate codes, and so it is fact based,' he stresses." It's a pity that it's such a brief interview with him; he gives some general pirate facts but doesn't really talk about the movie very much, which is unfortunate. What I did find rather neat, though, was that the company this Mr. Twist works for, Heritage Film Services, is also doing advising and providing props and costumes for Master and Commander. It's a small movie ocean, I guess.


Swashbuckler's Cove is a good general pirate site I found while looking for something else- for something that looks simply cute and fun, it has a nice range of useful things like maps, timelines, a glossary and basic facts on a variety of subjects (including Vikings and Columbus, which amused me). It's not deep, but it's a nice little primer. And it has an entry on rum. Rum is very important.


Lastly, two particularly random links- a list of a few superstitions of the sea, including some interesting ones: "To see a Swallow at sea was considered good luck whilst seeing a Cormorant or Curlew at sea was bad luck." "All the seas are purified at the full moon." "Gold hoop earrings protect the wearer from drowning." "Avoid red heads on the way to a ship as they bring bad luck to the ship. The bad luck can be avoided if you speak to the red head first."- okay, that one just caught my eye because, dude, we redheads are always getting picked on in superstitions. We're witches, we're vampires, the fairies love us, the fairies hate us... and now we're unlucky at sea? Sheesh. There are several superstitions concerning women listed, too. We’re bad luck, even when miniature, but of course, we knew that already. Unless we’re naked, that is. What a surprise.


And for all your online pirate shopping needs, The Pirate’s Locker and The Pirate’s Library. I could spend a lot of money buying fripperies and books. I’m not nearly rich enough to have this little resistance to shiny objects.


And a quiz, nicked from [livejournal.com profile] cortese and [livejournal.com profile] elke_tanzer simultaneously:

archie.gif
You're COMMANDING ARCHIE. You usually have a grip
on yourself these days. Giving orders? No
problem. Blasting up French forts? Can't
wait!!! You're a little quick to act sometimes,
but that's fine by us. I mean, heck, you're
ARCHIE after all.


Which Archie Kennedy are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Grr, he's fierce! Grr!

I just want to rumple his hair, the cute little pup. Poor sweet Archie.

(no subject)

Date: 2003-08-06 05:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] castalianspring.livejournal.com
More great links! I love the site with the costumes especially. I so want Barbossa's boots.

Interesting theory re the parrots.

*sigh* We redheads always get a bad rap. I wonder how that came about.

I'm Commanding!Archie too. I think it was the questions concerning cannons that gave me away ;)

(no subject)

Date: 2003-08-06 06:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ealgylden.livejournal.com
I so want Barbossa's boots.

Oh, me too. They'd certainly make an impression. It'd be fun to go stomping around the grocery store in them, don't you think? I like his coat too. He's very stylish for a dead guy (has to match the monkey, doncha know).

We redheads always get a bad rap. I wonder how that came about.

We do! It isn't fair! Everyone else must be jealous. Hmph. (Still, it is a little neat that redheads are always assumed to have these bizarre mystical powers. Did I forget to pick mine up or something?)

Somehow I knew the cannon questions would appeal to you. Not that that was at all predictable, oh no. Heh. Like I can talk, since I picked them too. Nice picture of Archie, anyway.

(no subject)

Date: 2003-08-06 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] castalianspring.livejournal.com
Barbossa had such great taste. So first the playground, then the grocery store? You're going to get quite a reputation *g*

Jealously, that's it. Still, if we're to be branded as evil and unlucky, I want some magical powers too. I wonder if anyone's researched the history of redheads and our bad rep...

I've never seen a bad pic of Archie. Lovely boy. Cannons! We have good taste, just like Barbossa.

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