Bilgemunky.com
"Old News"

Got some scuttlebutt worth sharing?

-- 12/23/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

Mucho reviews!

- Richard Becker, author/artist of Pirate Tales, has recently released his The Pirate Art Book. And the creators of the outstanding boardgame Dread Pirate have two new offerings - Dread Pirate: Buccaneer's Revenge and League of Pirates.

- Looking for a pirate flag that isn't made in a sythetic chemical factory? Check out Nautical Antiques Pirate Flag

- And let's not forget music review. An exceptional batch this round, and I highly recommend each and every one (or perhaps not, depending on your tastes. Read the reviews before making a purchase!) We start with the gritty yet festive Alaskan Pirate, and then move on to the wickedly raunchy Captain Dan and the Scurvy Crew. Also not to be missed are Sunken Chest and Pirates R Us.

Pirate News:

- It should surprise no one that Disneyworld is planning a special 3-Day Pirate Event next May.

- It's oddly titled, being as the humanitarian (or lack there of) nature of pirates is only an inconclusive footnote, but the New York Times printed an interesting piece: Archeologists Revise Portrait Of Buccaneers As Monsters.

- On Pirates of the Caribbean and Capturing a Cocaine Submarine Note: They never would have been caught if they'd bought a Bilgemunky Discount Submarine.

- It seems to be another online pirate game, but I'm too busy to dig any deeper than that.

- Win cash for acting like a pirate: Pirates pegged for CBS

-- 11/12/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Several new CD reviews! Check out the latest from 3 Pints Gone, Skeleton Crew Pirate Band, Virgil Franklin, and Johnny Depp's own project, Rogue's Gallery.

- Reviewed the exceptional new pirate collection of short stories, Tales of the Atlantic Pirates.

Pirate News:

- It's like Christmas has come early - check out an incredible new video from Captain Bogg & Salty!

- While we're on the subject of pirate music videos, don't miss DJ Bobo's Pirates of Dance.

- And just for kicks, you absolutely must see this preview for the greatest B pirate movie never made: Pirettes! Write your congressman - we NEED this film!

- It's quite the summer that brings us not one, but TWO new, full color pirate magazines! I've duly reviewed them both, starting with Pirates Magazine, and then moving on to The Pyrates Way.

- Reviewed Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales, a game for which I had very high hopes. Sadly, I - along with countless other fans of the Seadogs series - have been woefully let down.

Pirate News:

- Pirates of the Great Salt Lake has a new, full length trailer out. Check it out! I'm getting seriously stoked about this one!

- And we have another indi pirate film is in the works: Band of Pirates. Honestly, this one doesn't look very good.

- So rumor has it that a fourth PotC movie is in the works (yawn - I'll be happy if they just make #3 better than #2.) This same rumor mill is reporting that Will Turner is on the deathlist!

- Hey, guess what? Disney is now reporting that the rumor about Turner's death is bogus - God forbid Disney do anything interesting or gutsy with a multi-million dollar franchise! Looks like what started as a brilliant film will now rapidly devolve into an ongoing series of McMovies.

- I don't even know what to say about this one: Ninja Pirate Supermodels

- I've noticed some chatter online of late about promoting the fact that some of our favorite pirates were jewish. I admit I've never given the subject much thought one way or the other, but it's definitely interesting stuff!

- It seems Disney - never one to miss milking a cash cow to death (I'm being rather hard on Disney today, aren't I?) - is considering expanding the Pirates of the Caribbean section of Disneyland by wiping out Tom Sawyer Island. A similar story can be found in The Seattle Times.

- No Quarter Given - the flagship trade magazine for all hardcore pirate enthusiasts, was recently featured in LA Weekly.

- Why am I only NOW learning that there was a movie back in 1925 called Clothes Make the Pirate? Seriously, I need to look this one up.

- Yet another article reminding us that, yes, it's cool to dress like a pirate.

- Reports have started to come in that a pirate is running for congress. I'm not certain if he's more pirate, or more biker, but you can decide for yourself when you visit his official website.

-- 10/05/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Book reviews galore! We start with the truly exceptional Sea Rover's Practice: Pirate Tactics and Techniques, 1630-1730, in which we're briefed (in much detail, actually) on the various tactics utilized by pirates and their contemporaries. Next up is Sea Witch, a very fine piece of historical pirate fiction, and just a touch of witchcraft. Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas introduces us to many female pirates - some famous and some less so, while The Adventures of Short Stubbly Brownbeard is an interstellar piece of piratical weirdness. Swashbuckling Faith: Exploring for Treasure with Pirates of the Caribbean provides ample material for anyone seeking to glean spiritual lessons from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. And wrapping things up are two pirate children's books - the novice reader Pirate Mom, and the older kids introduction to historical (mostly) pirates, A Pirate's Life for Me! (whew!)

- Reviewed two more exceptional works of sterling silver from Celtic Jackalope: the Large 'Dead Men Tell No Tales' Ring and a marvelous Three Skull Pendant.

- Reviewed an absolutely over-the-top-and-awsome piece of pirate bling from Marcus Cove Creations, being their Bronze Pirate Bottle Opener/Medallion.

- Posted a recent interview with Matt Stone, proprietor of the pirate business Sea Wolf Clothing.

-- 9/27/06 --

Pirate News:

- RumFest 2006 is fast approaching! I attended RumFest 2005, and it was an amazing experience. Dozens of rums to try, along with new products and mixed coctails, plus the opportunity to meet rum authors and connoisuers. The venue and patrons were all completely top-notch classy - a first-rate event all around. I regret I won't be able to attend this year, but if you have the means, I HIGHLY recommend it! Details can be found at the Polished Palate website. Be sure and tell them Bilgemunky sent you!

- Wanna talk like a pirate? This hilarious video teaches you how.

- Who knew George Harrison sang a pirate song? Apparently not the host of this variety show.

- Pirates Magazine is on the shelves! My own subscription issue arrived last week, and I just found more copies at my local Barnes and Noble. Full of great articles on a variety of piratey subjects, this is well worth the cover price. Full color photos too - not to be missed!

-- 8/06/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Reviewed three new pirate films: The very fun Pirates - A Joone Film, the odd and uncomfortable Pirates of Treasure Island, and almost-decent-but-lacking Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

- Reviewed the new, not-quite-pirate, but still very worthy book The Two Space War.

- Reviewed three great pirate CDs, Prelude to Mutiny from Captain Bogg & Salty, The Scurvy Pirates from the band by the same name, and Aurum Piraticus Aetus from Verbal Deception.

- Readers of my rum reviews will know I wasn't terribly bowled over by Rhum Barbancourt's 8 year rum. But on the recommendation of a reader, I went ahead and tried their 15 year Estate Reseve, and am very glad I did.

- Added links to Dress Like a Pirate, Sea Wolf Clothing, and Stumpy and Scurvy's Pirate Shop.

- Posted a press release from Pirates of the Burning Sea: Flying Lab’s Pirate Party at the Penny Arcade Expo!

- Correction: In my recent review of the Highlander Shirt from All Things Renaissance, I erroneously stated that the cuffs had plastic buttons. I have since been informed that they are in fact made from a South American nut called "Palm Ivory." My review has been edited to reflect this.

Pirate News:

Geez, where to even begin. The headlines have been flooded with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest box office returns, which is good, but hardly worth reporting here. Still, siphoning through all the DMC news one can still find a few interesting tidbits:

- Two more pirate video games are in the works, East India Company and Buccaneer: The Pursuit of Infamy.

- What with the success of the new Pirates of the Caribbean, Pirate Chic is once again all the rage. This make me happy, although I'm disappointed that trendy Hollywood designers seem to think just slapping a skull and crossbones on something passes for creativity. C'mon - impress us! You can learn more by checking out a few news articles:
       Latest In Chic: Pirate Garb!
       'Pirates of the Caribbean' Inspires Latest Fashion Craze
       Pirate posh

although there's still hope - maybe these guys will take a chance and do something a bit more innovative... India : Pepe Jeans brings in Hawaiian Pirates range

- If you haven't seen it yet, there is a very cool pirate animation floating around the internet. Also viewable on YouTube. Totally brilliant!

- Physorg.com reports that pirates pursued democracy, helped American colonies survive, but we already knew that :P

- Yorkshire Today shares a cautionary tale about drinking and "boating." Yo oh no – pirates find themselves all at sea.

- and finally, on a less embarrasing note, you can follow the adventures of four guys attempting to rebuild a traditional Indian sailboat and journey to Australia in their documentary, When We Were Pirates.

-- 7/07/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

Watch True Caribbean Pirates on July 9, then listen to Bilgemunky on YarRadio (July 10) for a chance to win an exclusive T-shirt! Visit the True Caribbean Pirates T-Shirt Giveaway Page for details.

-- 7/05/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Reviewed the History Channel's True Caribbean Pirates, which premieres on July 9th.

- Reviewed two fantastic pirate games, the historical Shut-the-Box and the family-oriented Pirate's Cove.

- Reviewed a wonderful custom made leather tankard from the Scurvvy Dawgs.

-- 6/27/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Reviewed two new pirate shirts - one from All Things Renaissance and the other from our friends at Flying Canoe Traders.

- Reviewed a brand new outfit for lady pirates from the good folks at Silhouettes Clothing.

- Reviewed Dress Like a Pirate.com's Grog Box and an assortment of piratey oils from Black Phoenix Alchemy.

- Linked One Tough Pirate.

Pirate News:

- On Sunday, July 9th 2006, The History Channel will seek to dispell the myths of piracy in favor of revealing the equally fascinating truth of our cutthroat forebears! Featuring such skallywaggs as Anne Bonney and Mary Read, Morgan, Blackbeard and others, this special is a fine primer in piratical history. While hardcore scholars may not find much new here, any folks just now coming into this new interesting piece of history will find lots to sink their teeth into. And even the jaded will enjoy seeing many of their favorites portrayed with more attention than has been seen much before (even if their costumes are a little too clean at times ;)

True Caribbean Pirates also features expert commentary from the likes of Richard Zacks, James Nelson, and Benerson Little, as well as Bilgemunky.com friends Christine Lampe (of No Quarter Given) and Robert Ossian (of Pirate's Cove!)

- Think you have all the official Pirates of the Caribbean booty? Think again! Cinematical has printed an exhaustive list of all the products approved for merchandising. Personally, I'm looking forward to the Official Captain Jack Deodorant!

- Rumor has it that Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales (or as I call it, Seadogs III) is due out this month. Time will tell.

- There were several recent articles hinting that Pirates of the Caribbean 3 may not be the endgame for the franchise. It has also been widely reported that Keith Richards is slated to star in the third movie, but after the yes-no-yes-no Keith Richards stories for the second movie, I'm not taking this story to mean much.

- Legoland is getting in on the whole pirate game with a new section of their park.

-- 5/23/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

Please note that Plumage&Plunder, my YarRadio show, has changed to a new timeslot. Now you can hear your favorite pirate tunes on Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. Pacific, 5-8 Central. Only on YarRadio!

Pirate News:

- Our friends at Pyrate Leatherworx are having a contest to win a free pirate hat! This is the very same style recently reviewed right here.

- If ye be a lonely wench, and ye be seekin a lonely pirate captain, then head over to Talk Like a Pirate Day's official site to enter the Buccaneer Bachelor Contest! Fabulous prizes, and the chance at lifelong love and companionship with the one and only Cap'n Slappy!

- Hey, Yellowbeard is finally available on DVD! Well, almost - give it a month :)

- Johnny Depp, Captain Jack Sparrow himself, is producing an album of non-pirate bands singing pirate songs. Which is, of course, awsome. Noteworthy participants include Bono of U2, and the Virgin Prunes.

- Pirates of the Caribbean Online, the official Disney pirates online game, is getting closer to fruition. Visit the website to see screenshots, and even a preview video!

- New products are available at PirateMod, which is always good news.

-- 5/4/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Reviewed a Captain Jack Inspired hat from Pyrate Leatherworx. Also reviewed a new CD from Hucklescary Finn, and a fine rum from Cockspur

- Posted some pictures of the Dreadnought, being the privateer vessel coming to the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Wisconsin this Summer.

Pirate News:

Next month, the City of Port Washington Wisconsin is holding its 2nd Annual Port Pirates Festival. And if that's not enough for you, then please note that the opening night's festivity - The Buccaneer's Bash - is being hosted by your very own BILGEMUNKY! Yarrr!!!

The C-Dock Pirates (a fantastic online pirate store) is holding a fund raiser for a cause that's very near to their hearts - helping battle Melanoma. Donating $50 can get you free booty (while supplies last), but even a donation of a single dollar helps. And if every Bilgemunky.com visitor contributed just a little bit, it would really add up - please help if you can.

-- 4/19/06 --

Pirate News:

- Just caught word of another pirate video game on the horizone - The Black Buccaneer is going to be available for both the console and the PC, and will feature all sorts of fun piratey things; voodoo, swashbuckling, and - as you can see by the picture - gorgeous buxom she-pirates! The primary site is in German - you might prefer the english site.

-- 4/15/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

Bilgemunky T-Shirts now available in girl-cut Baby Dolls! Pictures coming soon, but you can buy them now! Also don't forget to check out the regular style Bilgemunky Shirts, now available in sizes Small through X-Large!

- Linked Pirates Magazine and Rob Ossian's Pirate's Cove

Pirate News:

- Yes, America has the Republicans, Democrats, Green and Libertarians, but Sweden has a Pirate Party!

- Disney is working on a Pirates of the Caribbean Console game, and you can read about (and view screenshots) here and here. They are also working on an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) where you can make your own pirate persona, and interact with other actual players online. You can learn about that game here.

-- 4/10/06 --

Pirate News:

- Front Porch Classics, the creators of the brilliant pirate game Dread Pirate, have two more pirate games in the works. They were kind enough to give us a sneak preview:

League of Pirates:
From the world of Dread Pirate - Front Porch Classics' highly successful and award wining Coffee Table Game - comes League of Pirates, a fast paced game of cut throat action. In this game players compete to place the best pirates onto their respective ships. Players can "recruit", "press gang" or even "raid" for the pirates they need. Game comes with over 40 unique and beautifully illustrated pirate coins suitable for collecting. A two player game for ages eight and up. Estimated retail price is $20.00 to $25.00.

Discovery Edition Dread Pirate: Buccaneer's Revenge
In this rousing game of cut throat action we've taken the best elements of the highly successful Dread Pirate game and thrown in some new twists. Each player now partakes in specific missions which help them collect booty and navigate the treacherous seas. Action cards introduce a whole new series of pirate engagements and adventure. For 2 to 4 players. Estimated retail price is $20.00 to $25.00.

- In other news, Pirate's World Themepark (now defunct) seems to be having a reunion on April 15. Strange but true.

-- 3/28/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

A double broadside of reviews!
- Normally I try to keep reviews in batches of three. But this time I have six items on the plate, all of them well worth checking out! We start with a new line of hats from one of my favorite vendors, Captain Jack's Pirate Hats. Next up we have some of Quicksilver's fine pirate grogware, followed by piratey soap from Dress Like a Pirate. Looking for some quality buckle shoes to complete your outfit? Flying Canoe Traders has got ya covered. And if you're in the mood from some fun new pirate drinking songs, then head over to the Budd Bay Buccaneers. But if you're just in the mood for some pirate drinking, Pusser's Blue Label Rum should serve nicely!
And that's it.

-- 3/19/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Bilgemunky.com T-shirts are now available in Small and Medium sizes. Also plenty of Large and X-Large in stock! Check them out!

-- 3/11/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Posted a fantastic new piece of Bilgemunky fanart from Pirate Petee:

Pirate News:

If you have the means, I highly recommend checking out the International Cane Spirits Festival in Florida later this month. It's three full days of rum from around the world, which means that for one weekend Ybor City will be as close to heaven as any of us are likely to get for a while.

-- 2/9/06 --

Pirate News:

The MacKay, of Captain Jack's Pirate Hats, has snagged himself a sneak preview of the indie pirate film, Pirates of the Great Salt Lake. He was kind enough to send Bilgemunky.com a full report, which you can read for yourself!

-- 2/7/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Posted a review of a fantastic new item from Captain Jack's Pirate Hats - it's only the coolest hatstand ever.
- Reviewed Ron Pampero Anniversario, a fine Venezuelan rum that I enjoyed immensely.
- Reviewed a new CD from Bounding Main. Lost at Sea is a terrific album full of some of the best maritime music I've heard in a long while.
- Linked The Art of the Age of Sail - a company that makes some absolutely gorgeous ship models, hosts a splending nautical lingo database, and were also gracious enough to allow me usage of one of their model images in the creation of the new Bilgemunky.com design.

-- 2/5/06 --

Pirate News:

Yes, even your I-Pod can dress like a pirate. I found this little gem at Ebay.

-- 2/1/06 --

Pirate News:

Yar!Radio is on the air! This would be the official online radiostation of Pirate of the Burning Sea, so aside from great music, you'll also get all sorts of news about what's going on inside the world of virtual pirates. And stay tuned, because Bilgemunky.com has already taken several meetings with the DJs and producers of Yar!Radio, and I can assure you that all sorts of piratey goodness is in the works! Check here for details as they form!

-- 1/29/06 --

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

You may have noticed that things look a little different around here. The new layout, while certainly the most immediately obvious change, is hopefully only the beginning. At Bilgemunky.com, we're always striving to give you better access to your daily fix of pirate news, reviews, and commentary. Unfortunately, while the reviews have been fairly steady, the news and commentary have felt a little neglected. Hopefully this will be remedied, starting with this new format of news. We'll give it a try, and see how it works :)
Yar.

Pirate News:

I've been sitting excitedly on this piece of news for far too long, waiting for my source to give me the green light - stay tuned for Pirates of the Great Salt Lakes! It's an independent film about modern day pirates. You can read more about it at SFIndie.com, and check out the official website at piratesofthegreatsaltlake.com. And (!!!) you can also check out the photos below, which to my knowledge have yet to be published anywhere else!

Check out this cool image of the new Davy Jones action figure, fresh from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest!

This image was blatantly stolen from Necaonline.com, where you can learn more.

1/10/06

- Check out some fantastic images of Davey Jones' ship from the next two Pirates of the Caribbean movies!

- The official site for Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest is LIVE!!!

Bilgemunky.com Updates:

- Reviewed the fine historical book Victory in Tripoli, the rum Coronation Khukri XXX Rum from Nepal, and a wonderful pair of slops from Flying Canoe Traders.
- Also posted an update to my review of Pyrat Cask 23.
- Linked Pyracy - the Pirate Reenactors Website.

For older news, visit the Bilgemunky News Archives
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