The Captain’s Christmas: Cartoon; MGM/United Features Syndicate.
Originally Released on December 17, 1938

…The Captain is going to surprise the kids by dressing as Santa Claus, but the peg-legged pirate villain, John, takes his place. However, John and his wacky henchman get into the spirit, giving the Captain and the kids a Christmas Eve celebration that brings down the house- on their heads…

The Big Cartoon Database: Watch The Captain’s Christmas On Video »

Ice-bound Russian ships wrecked off Kamchatka »

Aral: the sea that vanished overnight »

The Art of cartoonist Kurt Schaffenberger; The Aquaman Story » (via grottu)

Military divers to help clear undersea tires in Fort Lauderdale »

Having cleared harbors and assessed dam safety in Iraq, a team of military divers is likely to come to Fort Lauderdale to work on an environmental mess inflicted on South Florida in the 1970s.

Broward County has requested the return of Army and Navy divers to haul up thousands of waste tires that had been dumped off Broward County in a failed attempt to create artificial reefs. Previous operations brought up about 72,000 tires before being suspended as divers became busy with the war in Iraq, earthquake rescue in Haiti and other missions.

keep reading (video) »

Snapped in the Sea: Underwater Photo Winners

Makassar, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia: Once the world most busiest port and center of global spice merchants, the port of Makassar is not used much anymore.

National Geographic: winners of global photography contest »

Remembering the Christmas Whale from
A Cape Cod Notebook on WGBH (via thingsihappentolike)

St. Mary’s College of Maryland staff wave farewell Sunday to the Sea Voyager, which housed 240 SMCM students for almost two months. STORY ON BAYNET »

St. Mary’s floating dormitory sets sail »

Officials at St. Mary’s College of Maryland announced Monday that the Sea Voyager, a 286-foot cruise ship that served as an impromptu residence hall for 240 students, had returned to sea.

So ends a unique experiment in waterfront living. Students at Maryland’s public liberal arts school spent nearly two months housed in cabins on the idle ship, as college leaders repaired their mold-sullied dormitories on land.

• also: Maryland college says goodbye to cruise ship dorm (USA Today)

German POWs carrying body of American soldier killed in Battle
of Bulge through snowy Ardennes field

Vivid new Battle of the Bulge photos offer never-before-seen look at the war-weary soldiers braving the frigid weather as they fight off Nazi Germany’s last major offensive of World War II »

Breathtaking new photographs, including several vivid full-color images, offer a never-before-seen look at the war-weary soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge who fought through the frozen Ardennes Forest in a mountainous region of Belgium in the dead of winter.

They show soldiers on both sides battling the frigid weather as they fought each other during Nazi Germany’s last-ditch effort to drive back Allied forces between December 1944 and January 1945. The pictures were released by Life Magazine on the 67th anniversary of the start of the grueling battle. –via greatestgeneration

go see »

Ship Sunk 4 Centuries Ago Virtually Reconstructed In 3-D

Sunk in 1606, the Portuguese merchant ship Nossa Senhora dos Martires is sailing again — in 3-D presently but perhaps one day in reality. If the cyber-replicated vessel ever does hit the high seas, the way will have been paved by the research of a persevering Texas A&M University nautical archaeologist combined with the high-tech applied study of a graduate student well versed in computer-based visualization techniques.

more »

Poster forSergei Eisenstein‘s October (1927); Posters of the Stenberg Brothers »

IMDb: October (Ten Days that Shook the World): In documentary style, events in Petrograd are re-enacted from the end of the monarchy in February of 1917 to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April. In July, counter-revolutionaries put down a spontaneous revolt, and Lenin’s arrest is ordered. By late October, the Bolsheviks are ready to strike: ten days will shake the world. While the Mensheviks vacillate, an advance guard infiltrates the palace. Anatov-Oveyenko leads the attack and signs the proclamation dissolving the provisional government.

Love at Sea by Cassia Lupo (via thingsihappentolike)

Rambles Through our Country – Children’s Map (1890) originally posted to the BIG Map Blog.

Brooklyn Bridge by Currier and Ives (1885) originally posted to the BIG Map Blog.

Chevalier map of San Francisco (1912)

see also:

• Map of Proposed and Operational Telegraph Lines (1855)
• Los Angeles – the wonder city of America (1934)

The Neptune on Penfeld River, c. 1892, by Edmond Chagot

The Neptune was an ironclad battleship of the French Navy. She served in the Mediterranean squadron until 1898, when she was used as a school ship, and as a hulk from February 1908, and was was eventually sunk as target off Cherbourg.

see also: Le Neptune (via myoctoberrevolution)

New Orleans: Showing Mississippi excursion boat The President, c 1955 »

Gottfried Franz – Munchhausen Underwater (via mudwerks)

Sea Gull in Heavy Seas by Alfred T. Agate

On August 18, 1838, six United States Navy ships left Norfolk, Virginia on an expedition to the South Pacific. On board were 424 officers and crewmen and nine scientists, setting off on a mission to explore and survey the islands of that region, investigate their commercial potential, and assert American power.

Lieutenant Charles Wilkes commanded the expedition. At the time of his appointment he was in charge of the Depot of Charts and Instruments at Washington, D.C., an organization now known as the Naval Observatory.

Being a peaceful expedition of discovery, the ships were stripped of heavy armament and its space was given over to scientific exploration. The nine civilian scientists, referred to as the “scientifics” by the sailors, were tasked with observing and describing the resources of the various islands.

These men were among the most able in their fields: James D. Dana, Minerologist, Charles Pickering, Naturalist, Joseph P. Couthouy, Conchologist, Horatio C. Hale, Ethnographer, William Rich, Botanist, William D. Brackenridge, Horticulturalist, Titan Ramsay Peale, Naturalist, and Joseph Drayton and Alfred Agate, the two artists, or “draughtsmen.”

keep reading on thingsihappentolike »

Captain John Gray’s parents grave in Old Calton burial ground in Edinburgh (by Stephen Callaghan) – via darknightatsea

Cable Laying Ship Giulio Verne by NJ Photographer

Chinese Navy Hospital Ship “Peace Ark” – November 8, 2011

Peace Ark Ship (Set: 27)

It’s a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings – one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. Today, for the first time, the happily reunited couple was gay.

The dock landing ship Oak Hill has been gone for nearly three months, training with military allies in Central America. As the homecoming drew near, the crew and ship’s family readiness group sold $1 raffle tickets for the first kiss. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 – which is actually fewer than many people buy, she said, so she was surprised Monday to find out she’d won.

Her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was waiting when she crossed the brow. They kissed. The crowd cheered. And with that, another vestige of the policy that forced gays to serve in secrecy vanished.

–By Corinne Reilly; The Virginian-Pilot © December 21, 2011

Video report on You Tube »

cryptofwrestling

H.P. Lovecraft by Sean Phillips (via dirtyriver)

Some great gag cartoons from a very well-worn copy of SEX REARS ITS LOVELY HEAD, “a rib-splitting collection of cartoons about the biological urge assembled from the best of America’s foremost family magazines,” edited by Jerome Beatty, Jr. Copyright 1956 by Bantam Books, Inc.

Mike Lynch Cartoons: SEX REARS ITS LOVELY HEAD edited by Jerome Beatty, Jr.

Coast Guard releases Top 10 videos of 2011, announces Video of the Year contest »

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday the release of its Top 10 video compilation for 2011, highlighting the year’s most compelling cases from the work done every day by America’s Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard also announced its 2011 Video of the Year contest in which the public is invited to vote for their favorite video. The contest begins Thursday, with voting open through Jan. 13, 2012. Starting Thursday, and continuing through Dec. 31, the Coast Guard’s official blog, the Coast Guard Compass, will publish one of the Top 10 videos each day including commentary from a service member who participated in the mission. Voting for the 2011 Video of the Year will remain open through Jan. 13, 2012, so each video will have ample opportunity to be “Liked.”

Each day of the contest people may vote for their favorite videos by choosing “Like” on the Coast Guard’s Facebook page or on the Coast Guard’s YouTube 2011 Videos of the Year playlist.

more on the 1790 blog

Beaver Harbour, New Brunswick — Original (3767 x 5079)
On the Bay of Fundy, 1955. The illustrator’s signature appears to read “Hames Hill”.

The Schneider Trophy Contest 1929 – official programme cover

A stirring front cover from the 1929 Schneider Trophy Contest souvenir programme that was produced by Gale & Polden (a major publisher of thing military in Aldershot) on behalf of the organisers the Royal Aero Club. The competition to take the coverted trophy took place over a course across the Solent on England’s south coast as illustrated here. It really captures the feeling of excitement that flight had in peoples imaginations at the time – fast, sleek seaplanes speeding through the skies!

Original (4308 x 5862)

Clovelly harbour and village, Devon

Clovelly was a working herring-fishing port before its scenic charms started to attract sightseers in the 19th century. Reaching the town was difficult for paddle steamers, whose passengers had to be carried ashore by rowing boats. As this photograph shows, the village is built on a cliff, and the High Street, known locally as ‘Up-a-long’ and ‘Down-a-long’, is one of the steepest streets in England. Photo circa 1906

grottu

The story behind the French navy pompom onI See Stripes

A Girl in Every Port; German Navy Postcards

Two 17 cm/40 (6.75″) guns on SMS Deutschland

Kaiserliche Marine: German Imperial Navy Postcards, Set 42

vintage postcard – SMS Deutschland and SMS Gefion. Arrival at Kiautschou Bay, 1899

• from Imperial Germany in China »
• another view: SMS Deutschland + SMS Gefion

SMS Deutschland + SMS Gefion3

SMS Deutschland postcard on MaritimeQuest

Torpedo Boat Crew / Torpedo Division 1. Photographed at Wilhelmshaven, original postcard dated 24th November 1914 (worldnavalships.com)

The Deutschland; LIFE magazine 1939 — Original (3815 x 5188)

Real photo of the German Imperial Navy / Deutsche Kreigsmarine ship SMS Deutschland

Our beloved beneath-the-sea behemoth battles Krampus, the Anti-Santa, to help keep your Christmas Merry. Happy Holidays from The Kraken Rum. (kraken-research)

Happy Boxing Day!

Few Americans have any inkling that there even is such a thing as Boxing Day, let alone what the reason might be for a holiday so named. And even though Boxing Day is celebrated in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and Canada, not all Gift that many people in those countries have much of a notion as to why they get the 26th of December off.

The holiday’s roots can be traced to Britain, where Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen’s Day. Reduced to the simplest essence, its origins are found in a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable goods to those of the lower classes. Gifts among equals were exchanged on or before Christmas Day, but beneficences to those less fortunate were bestowed the day after.

And that’s about as much as anyone can definitively say about its origin because once you step beyond that point, it’s straight into the quagmire of debated claims and dueling folklorists. One of the more elaborate versions of this origin involve boxes kept on sailing ships:

The title has been derived by some, from the box which was kept on board of every vessel that sailed upon a distant voyage, for the reception of donations to the priest — who, in return, was expected to offer masses for the safety of the expedition, to the particular saint having charge of the ship — and above all, of the box. The box was not to be opened until the return of the vessel; and we can conceive that, in cases where the mariners had had a perilous time of it, this casket would be found to enclose a tolerable offering. The mass was at that time called Christmass, and the boxes kept to pay for it were, of course, called Christmass-boxes. The poor, amongst those who had an interest in the fate of these ships, or of those who sailed in them, were in the habit of begging money from the rich, that they might contribute to the mass boxes; and hence the title which has descended to our day, giving to the anniversary of St Stephen’s martyrdom the title of Christmas-boxing day, and, by corruption, its present popular one of Boxing Day.

more on Snopes

sovietpostcards: Happy New Year postcard by T. Sazonova and Yu. Prytkov (1964)

Merry Pirate Christmas by Phredd »

Uke Hunt Podcast #12 by bossa – via feastingonroadkill

The Swashbuckling Bearded Old Man of Christmas and his marauding band of famous shipmates follow their map to Christmas Treasure.

Monkey Fist

Monkey Fist is a smack-talking, potty mouthed, Yankee hating, Red Sox fan in Baltimore, Maryland.  In addition to compiling Maritime Monday, she blogs about nautical art, history, and marine science on Adventures of the Blackgang.

Submit story ideas, news links, photographs, or items of interest to her at MM@gcaptain.com.  She can also out-belch any man.

Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the tug,
The AB was stirring,
a sauce for roast pug.

The dock lines were hung
by the fidley with care,
in hopes that crew change
soon would be there.

The tugs’ crew were all nestled
safe in their beds,
all hoping the Captain
was not off his meds.

Me out of my float coat,
and warm woolen cap,
had just settled in
for a short off-watch nap.

When down in the galley
there arose such a clatter,
I rolled back over-
didn’t care what’s the matter.

The moon on the breast
of the calendar girls,
gave luster to the New Year,
and calming to fears.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear?
But a rusty old crew boat, approaching too near.

With a little old Captain,
so Cajun and thick.
I could tell right away,
he wasn’t too quick.

More rapid than eagles
his curses they came,
as he whistled and shouted and
called us bad names.

Go faster!
Get moving!
I’m boozed up
and drooling!

Then up to the wheelhouse
the drunk Cajun flew,
with reckless abandon,
all hopped up on glue.

And then in a clinking,
a clunk and a shutter,
he flew down the stacks,
slid down just like butter.

He was wearing his besties,
from his head to his testes.
A coonskin, a gator
and 2 robins’ nesties.

His eyes, they were bloodshot,
his dimples all hairy.
His hair smelled like onions,
his nose was quite scary.

He spoke not a word,
but went strait to his work,
he ate all of our junk food,
this guy was a jerk!

And laying his finger
alongside of his nose,
he emptied its contents,
as if blown from a hose.

He sprang to his crew boat
still belching black smoke,
I stopped and I spoke,
“I know I’m up early,
but this must be a joke!”

But I heard him exclaim,
as he steamed out of sight,
“I Captain by day,
and I pillage by night!”

When up from my nap
I suddenly wakened.
It’s all just a dream,
but why am I naked?

• Thanks to the sheepsfoot blade I know I’m not going to acciently stab myself in bad weather
• It has a built in (really loud) whistle in case I go overboard.
• It’s designed to open with one hand
• Sypderco are simply the best quality knifes.
• The combotip allows you to have the benefits of both a straight and serrated edge.
• See the ridges on the back of the blade and again on the front of the handle? If you open the blade just enough to get a line in then squeeze the blade against the handle you’ll very safely cut the line.

How sharp does the knife have to be for the last “trick”? Very sharp but spyderco has Free Sharpening for life and a broken blade will never cost you more than $25 to replace. If you are looking for a simpler/thinner knife be sure to check out the Leatherman Rescue.

If I don’t have my spyderco on me it means I’m carrying my second favorite knife; the Leatherman Wave. A great multipurpose knife since leatherman has an excellent warranty, each knife has both a straight edge and serrated blade. These blades are located on the outside of the knife so they are easily accessible with one hand.

With the Spyderco Assist being sold at Amazon for $59 and the Leatherman Wave on sale for $65 you can probably afford both and thank us the next time a storm rolls through during lines.

Amazon Links:

• Spyderco Assist
• Leatherman Wave
• Leatherman Rescue

For more on this topic, check out the “Mariners Carrying Knives” discussion on gCaptains FORUM

Navagear points us to “Rite in the Rain”:

The folks from “Rite in the Rain” were at the Pacific Marine Expo, and I picked up a brochure, an all-weather pen, and another pocket-sized spiral notebook…thanks guys!

See, I use these products every day. Into my pockets each morning go my keys, wallet, coin purse, cell phone, and my little Weems & Plath-branded Rite in the Rain 3″ x 5″ all-weather spiral notebook.

I have been using these products for many years in fairly harsh environments aboard ship and highly recommend them for use on deck.

“Rite in the Rain” Product Links;

• All Weather Pen
• Adventure Travel Journal All Weather Writing
• All-Weather Pocket Journal
• All Rite in the Rain Products

Also be sure to check out another gCaptain favorite;

• Fisher Bullet Space Pen

Merry Christmas to gCaptain’s readers but especially to those at sea this year and the family missing you back home.