“A Collison at Sea…” the Most Famous Thing Thucydides Never Said
July 8, 2010
Thucydides is often said to have first written, “A collision at sea can ruin your entire day, ” in his epic history, The Peloponnesian War. While the statement is unquestionably true, Thucydides never wrote it. Today the New York Times’ Fred Shapiro attempts to trackdown the origin of the mis-quote: Quotes Uncovered: When Ships Collide. Herb Caen [...]
Read MoreSailors’ and Fishermans’ Superstitions
October 4, 2009
Martin Evans on the Marine History List posted a collection of sailors’ superstitions from the current issue of “Fishing Boats”. Never start a trip on a Friday. Some fishermen would not sail if they passed a nun, rook, or a cat on the way to their vessel. Some fishermen would not sail if they saw [...]
Read MoreThe Holy Ground – Songs, Sailors, and Women of Easy Virtue
October 20, 2008
I am every fond of the Irish sea song “Holy Ground”. The song is about a sailor bound for sea, leaving his lady love and hoping to return. “And still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more..” It is also known as the “Cobh shanty”, and indeed the “Holy Ground” is a [...]
Read MoreSailor Talk – “Kissing the Gunner’s Daughter” and “Sucking the Monkey”
October 13, 2008
One of my particular frustrations with the “Talk-Like a Pirate Day” folks is that even if one ignores the very nasty nature of pirates, historical and modern alike, a second and perhaps even great problem remains. The Talk-Like-a-Piraters do such a lousy job of talking like pirates. A few “Aarghs”, “avast-ye maties”s and “shiver-me-timbers” isn’t very [...]
Read MoreThank You for Not Talking Like A Pirate
September 19, 2008
If by good fortune you missed the “International Talk Like a Pirate Day”, just as well. If you managed to pass the day without a single “Aargh” or “Shiver Me Timbers” congratulations. I have a rather good sense of humor and some might say a quick wit. (And some say half-wit, but be that as [...]
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