Captain Sage's Log-

Unlocking Blackbeard's Secrets

2010-06-02T17:47:00.000-04:00

The year was 1717. Europeans were settling the American colonies along the Atlantic seaboard, with port cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Charleston flourishing. Merchant ships ferried goods, such as linens, weapons and food, between Europe and the colonies, and between the northern and southern colonies. Slave ships delivered thousands of slaves from Africa to the Caribbean and the southern colonies to work in sugar and tobacco plantations. Meanwhile, countless ruthless pirates roamed the shipping waters, plundering and commandeering ships, ports and tons of merchandise.

Indeed, with so many valuables being traded across the Atlantic and a lack of a strong colonial government, the American coast became a hotspot for piracy, with the early 1700s marking a “Golden Age of Piracy.” The inlets and sounds of North Carolina’s Outer Banks in particular became a haven for many pirates and outlaws, perhaps none more famous — or infamous — than Blackbeard.
More Here

Talkin' Pirate on Facebook

2010-05-26T22:10:00.000-04:00

I may be late to the party on this, but I found out about a way to display your Facebook pages in pirate speak. It's simple: scroll down to bottom, in tiny blue letters, it says "English US"...click that, then choose "English Pirate"

That's pretty funny!

Book: Blackbeard and crew born in Carolinas

2009-04-06T13:11:00.002-04:00

BATH -- In a pirate-worthy broadside on conventional history, a Raleigh author claims that Blackbeard and many of his henchmen weren't rogue Englishmen, but sons of North Carolina landowners.

Most historical accounts contend that the notorious pirate known as Edward Teach or Thatch was from Bristol, England. But Kevin P. Duffus said his review of archives and genealogical research indicates that Blackbeard was probably Edward Beard, son of a landowner in Bath in Beaufort County.

"There's never going to be a smoking gun to determine who he really was," Duffus said of the pirate. "My version is a lot more plausible than what's been foisted upon us for nearly three centuries."
More Here.

Blackbeard the Pirate's Sword and Booty Discovered

2009-04-06T11:57:00.004-04:00

Blackbeard's beloved ship Queen Anne's Revenge sank off the coast of North Carolina in the 18th Century, and now researchers have recovered a sword handle and some gold stashed aboard.

The sword guard you see to the left would have rested between the blade and the grip, and an x-ray revealed a little hole bored in it where you might hang a tassel - sort of the pirate sword equivalent of a cell phone charm.

Roy Mette Sings Pirate Songs

2008-07-11T15:15:00.005-04:00

A little bit Sean Connery, a little bit Roger Moore, handsome, kind, generous, sweet: these are just some of the words never used to describe Roy Mette.

So what is he? He is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who has been performing since the mid ‘70s. He plays solo or in bands; covers blues, rock and folk and has a jolly good time doing it!

Roy has released 8 full length CD’s to date, the most recent, 12 Bars & the Blues, on the Blues Matters record label to whom he is signed. His next CD, Plugged, will also be released on the Blues Matters label.

Here's the songlist from his Pirates! album:

Port Royal
Calico Jack Rackham
Anne Bonny
Captain William Kidd
Bartholomew Roberts - Black Bart
Black Beard - Whispers In the Darkness
Israel Hands
Paradise Island
Mary Read
Jean Lafitte
Tortuga
The Articles of Black Bart & His Crew
Charles Vane
Captain Cooper / Captain Scarfield
Polly The Parrot of the Caribbean

Welcome to the Official World Grits Festival Headquarters

2008-02-21T21:04:00.005-05:00

World Grits Festival: "The History of the World Grits Festival
In late 1985, the store manager of the St. George S.C. Piggly Wiggly Supermarket, Bill Hunter, was giving a broker of a large Grits company an order for grits. The broker made a remark that his company sure shipped a lot of grits into St. George, considering how small the town was and its meager population (around 2,000 at the time). A week or two later another broker from another major grits company made a similar remark about the large quantity of grits shipped into this small town. The manager spoke with the two owners of the Piggly Wiggly, John Walters and George Axson. They all agreed that if it proved to be true that we did consume a disproportionately large amount of grits that they would do some research to find out just how much we did eat."

dodoblog: Blenheim Ginger Ale

2008-02-05T00:50:00.000-05:00

dodoblog: Blenheim Ginger Ale: "Oh this is so incredibly delicious.

It stings, it burns and it uplifts.

Brewed in South Carolina since 1903,

it's a classic true to its roots.

I praise the blessed land
that also brought us James Brown.

Blenheim Old #3 Hot for me, baby!"
...Now that's some great prose! Cheers!

Blenheim Ginger Ale from Pure Water (?)

2008-02-05T00:31:00.000-05:00

Blenheim Ginger Ale on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Does anyone notice something different lately on their Blenheim Ginger Ale bottles? it doesn't refer to spring water now, it says 'pure water'. I think maybe last year or 2006, they switched to Dillon's water supply. I don't know the reasons, but it severs Blenheim from its roots in a very real way.

keepMEcurrent.com -

2007-09-17T20:12:00.000-04:00

the Shipbuilding Odyssey program: "KENNEBUNK (Sep 15, 2007): On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Shipbuilding Odyssey program will return to the Brick Store Museum, located at 117 Main St. in Kennebunk. Kids, parents and grandparents are invited to take part in this intergenerational, family-oriented, one-day event that explores the shipbuilding heritage of the Kennebunks. Begin the day hearing about life in the Kennebunks' many 19th-century shipyards and what it took to build the vessels that eventually sailed trade routes spanning the globe. Create your very own Kennebunk-built ship and sing sea shanties."

PirateToyParty.com-

2007-09-17T20:06:00.000-04:00

PirateToyParty.com - Pirates of the Caribbean 3: Flying Dutchman: "This fully buildable playset has four new figures including a color-change Davy jones, Admiral Norrington, Bootstrap Bill and cursed crewman. Features glow-in-the dark details, two launching cannons, real fabric sails, opening deck panels and play access to the captain's cabin. 235 pieces. Measures 30'L x 8'D x 23'H when built."

Outer Banks Pirate Festival

2007-09-17T19:56:00.000-04:00

The Outer Banks Sentinel: "Kitty Hawk Kites' second annual Outer Banks Pirate Festival will be held Sept. 17-22. Special fun-filled events are planned on the Outer Banks every day throughout the week. All week at Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, residents and visitors will find a selection of pirate gear (including t-shirts), flags and gifts to help celebrate this Outer Banks tradition."

Top 10 Tailgating Tips for the Ultimate Gameday BBQ

2007-09-17T19:51:00.000-04:00

Top 10 Tailgating Tips: "ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the time of year when football fans take over every stadium parking lot in America, bringing tailgate parties filled with as much spirit and excitement as the first drive of the season opener. That's why Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill wants to help fans everywhere stay in the game this season with tips for the best tailgate barbeques."

Fall Color Forecast

2007-09-17T19:37:00.000-04:00

Fall Color: "Though some biologists have cast potentially gloomy predictions for a dampened leaf season, tourism officials remain upbeat about the months ahead. Judy Donaghy, executive director of the High Country Host, and Mac Forehand, director of the Boone Convention and Visitors Bureau, both say visitors often come to the area in the fall no matter the leaf forecasts. They also note that while some areas may be drier and less spectucular than in an average year, the mountains are not one biological region and that splendid color can often be found at varying elevations"

FunPirateShirts.com -

2007-09-17T18:42:00.000-04:00

Pirates of the Caribbean Women's Never Trust a Pirate Jack Sparrow Screen Tee:A perfect image of Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp's character, from the blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean graces this t-shirt, as he stares at his onlookers and warns "Never Trust a Pirate". Text is in Hot Pink old english font and has a reflective sheen.

BuyPirateWeapons.com -

2007-09-17T18:36:00.000-04:00

Pirate* of Caribbean Cutlass Sword* w/Skull CrossbonesSure it is called a replica, because who would admit making weapons for modern-day buccaneers? I received this neat cutlass as a gift. I found it to be very solidly constructed, and believe me if needed this item would take (and give) punishment. The 440 Stainless Steel blade on mine arrived semi-sharp, and for clarification these steels can definitely TAKE and HOLD an edge. In fact the 440 steels will hold an edge better than some current Spanish steels...

from Buy Pirate Stuff.com-

2007-09-17T18:25:00.000-04:00

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Two-Disc Limited Edition)Just when he's needed most, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), that witty and wily charmer of a pirate, is trapped on a sea of sand in Davy Jones' Locker. In an increasingly shaky alliance, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) begin a desperate quest to find and rescue him. Captain Jack's the last of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court who must come together united in one last stand to preserve the freedom-loving pirates' way of life.

BuyPirateJewelry.com

2007-09-17T18:15:00.000-04:00

Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow Ring Replica The moment Captain Jack Sparrow sailed into our consciousness in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Search for the Black Pearl, the dashing daredevil captured not just ships and treasures but also our imaginations. Bold, clever and as swift with a quip as with his sword, jaunty Jack has become a symbol of independence, cleverness and courage. Johnny Depp's personal style also influenced the character Captain Jack Sparrow as well. His own ring, worn to the set one day, looked so perfect for Jack's character that it was quickly adopted as part of the flamboyant pirate's costume. Master Replicas is proud to offer this special replica of Jack Sparrow's ring as part of the Walt Disney Showcase Collection...

Bellingham woman restores 200-year-old pirate flag

2007-09-17T18:07:00.000-04:00

www.bellinghamherald.com: "It was truly the luck of the draw that brought Bonnijo Chervenock to her pirate flag and allowed her to save a rare piece of maritime history. As a second-year student at the Textile Conservation Centre in England’s Winchester School of Art, one of the class tests was to pick out an envelope that contained a description of a textile that needed repair. She opened her envelope and happily discovered that her assignment was a crumbling pirate flag that dated to the late 1700s...."

The Pirate of Panther Bay

2007-09-17T18:02:00.000-04:00

PantherBay.com: "The Pirate of Panther Bay Isabella never thought her first command would be in jeopardy so soon. But pirates expect results, and she wasn't delivering. If she could just get rid of her albatross, the dashing Spaniard seized from her first price; she should have killed him. But, she couldn't have known his very presence was about to send her life into a maelstrom of mutiny, imprisonment, and revenge."

Buy a cow cupcake, support a farmer

2007-09-17T17:50:00.000-04:00

Nibbles: Buy a cow cupcake, support a farmer: "Taste a ginger brew- Sewickley's Village Candy, which specializes in offbeat sweet things including glass-bottled pop, will host a soft drink tasting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, spotlighting more than 15 ginger brews. They include Cock 'n Bull Ginger, Ed & Pete's Spicy Ginger from Rhode Island, Blenheim Extra Hot (created in 1903 by a doctor in South Carolina) and Jamaica's Finest from Natrona Bottling. It's free but you must e-mail villagecandy@verizon.net to register (put 'ginger' in the subject line)."

The Sea Shanty.net

2007-06-13T20:37:00.000-04:00

Sea Shanties are the work songs of the sea that helped sailors synchronize their hard and repetitive tasks, so they could labor more efficiently and safely. Singing a sea shanty provided several benefits: a diversion for the mind, avoiding boredom, lightening the burden of mundane tasks, and expression of sailors' views which would otherwise not be tolerated.

"Shanties were labour songs sung by sailors of the merchant service only while at work, and never by way of recreation. Moreover—at least, in the nineteenth century—they were never used aboard men-o'-war, where all orders were carried out in silence to the pipe of the bo'sun's whistle....
Sea Shanty Types & Examples / Sea Shanty Lyrics & Sheet Music
Sea Shanty Terms / Sea Shanty Links / Sea Shanty Festivals
Shanty Performers / Sea Shanty Store

DownloadFreeMP3sNow.com

2007-05-18T08:04:00.000-04:00

DownloadFreeMP3sNow.com is a fine review site for those interested in the MP3 download phenomenon. With the competition ramping up from the recent Amazon MP3 changes, hordes of people will be seeking out the best place to download free MP3's, movies, and more.
If you're new to downloading music, it isn't very complicated. It's been made very easy for you to follow the steps to get you going fast. There's always great customer support to help you if you have a question or get stuck. You can have help from a real person that is willing and able to help answer any software or downloading question you might have.
All of the most popular music and movies are featured. Over six million songs and movies are on the network! You will be able to find almost every kind of music or movie you can think of. We have not yet seen a music or movie genre that does not exist on the network.

START DOWNLOADING NOW!

What were pirate codes?

2007-04-18T14:53:00.000-04:00

The pirate code grew out of the experience of most pirates in previous naval or merchant service under harsh conditions and even harsher men as commanders, which left an indelible impression and desire to create a more secure and equitable environment aboard ship....

Pirate Code of Conduct

In the second half of the 17th century, buccaneers began operating under a set of rules called the Chasse-Partie, or Charter Party, which for a season even held legal weight in the Jamaican court system. This code of conduct later grew into the Articles of Agreement (pirate's code), which basically explained the standard operating procedures for all pirates involved...
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Mary Read

2007-04-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

Mary Read was born in London and was the child of an affair like her friend and fellow pirate Anne Bonny. Mary's mother hid the news from relatives, dressed Mary up as the boy, and so continued to receive money that was given for the son's upbringing.
After tiring of serving as a footboy to a wealthy French woman, she spent time as a cabin boy on a warship before eventually fighting as a dragoon, where she met her future husband during the War of Spanish Succession....
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Pirates in North Carolina, Pirates in South Carolina

2007-04-18T14:26:00.000-04:00

The tale of Pirates in the Carolinas is strongly linked to Bath Town to the north and Charles Town to the south. Miles apart on the map and even farther apart in their relationship with the Brethren of the Coast, they tell a contrasting story of love and hate, profit and loss, peace and war.
Founded on the banks of the Ashley and Cooper rivers in the 1600's, Charles Town was a major port city in a state that only rarely had a governor who welcomed pirates or their trade, although it was known that men of that sort mingled with the locals during or after their career....
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Pirate Restaurant, Pirates Restaurants

2007-04-18T14:21:00.000-04:00

We have a great list of pirate theme restaurants to help people find a spot for a great meal and piratey atmosphere.

Queen Anne's Revenge Steak and Seafood Restaurant
Address: 160 Fairchild Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29492
Telephone: (843)216-6868 Website

I've eaten there recently, and the food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. The display of authentic pirate artifacts is truly amazing and not to be missed. From the website: "...the only restaurant of its kind dedicated to the authentic history of piracy along the Carolina."

Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

'Calico' Jack Rackham

2007-04-18T14:15:00.000-04:00

"Calico" Jack Rackham is remembered more for his favorite clothing and his female crewmembers than for his mediocre accomplishments as a pirate. His nickname is for the cheap and brightly colored cotton clothes he was fond of.
One of the first references to him finds him as quartermaster for Charles Vane's operation out of New Providence, Bahamas in 1718. Late that year, Vane fired on a French vessel that he then discovered was a warship. Although he felt discretion and retreat was the better part of valor, his crew disagreed, and the next day he was sent off after Rackham was elected captain.
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Stede Bonnet the Pirate

2007-04-18T14:11:00.000-04:00

Interesting Facts-
- known as the 'gentleman pirate' - loved books so much he brought his library on board - Bonnet's escape from prison was while dressed as a woman. -The only known pirate to have bought his flagship outright...

Stede Bonnet was born to a wealthy English family perhaps around the mid-1680's. He grew up well educated and may have served as a major in the King's Guards during the war with Spain before retiring to Barbados as the owner of a sugar plantation.
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Pirate Games, Pirate Flash Games

2007-04-18T14:02:00.000-04:00

These pirate games are hand-picked by pirates to be the best free online ones around. We have a pirate treasure game with Legos that is kinda hard but fun. There's also more than one challenging pirate ship game. Any pirate game you pick will be a blast! Don't forget, we also sell pirate costumes and pirate toys. If you don't see what you like here, you can find it at BuyPirateStuff.com.

Old Port Royal, Pirate City

2007-04-18T13:55:00.000-04:00

Just south of Cuba on the southern coast of Jamaica, Port Royal was founded by the British, who after gaining control of the island from the Spanish in 1655, began fortifying the settlement next to the deep harbor which eventually would hold as many as 500 ships.
Out of fear of Spanish invasion, buccaneers were drawn away from nearby Tortuga to help discourage attack, and after peace with Spain in 1660, those same buccaneers easily acquired letters of marque to plunder their merchant ships.
Read more at The Pirate's Realm.

Jack Sparrow Shop

2007-03-08T00:09:00.000-05:00

Captain Jack says to saunter over to his new shop and pilfer your guts out, even if they're not black or weasly. There's Jack Sparrow clothes and costumes, Jack Sparrow books, even Captain Jack's sword, compass, and gun! Sweet.

Cool New Sites

2007-03-04T16:52:00.000-05:00

That ol' Captain Sage has been working hard while ashore, and he's got two new sites for your viewing pleasure. TreasureHuntingShop.com offers you everything you need to hunt your treasure:

We want to be your favorite shop for treasure hunting equipment and accessories. Our metal detectors are organized by brand, and accessories include tools to help get your treasure from the ground. Every purchase is backed by the power of Amazon. You can always find great deals, and whatever you buy will help you find your own treasure!

PirateFestivals.com, as the name might suggest, aims to be a database of all legitimate pirate festivals:

Pirate Festivals have grown in popularity and number in recent years. Many Renaissance Faires and Festivals have pirate-themed weekends or events. Most festivals offer activities, crafts, and other fun stuff for children, who will cherish the memory of talking to a real pirate. Historical characters or places are featured in several pirate festivals, so you can combine your visit with a trip to the local beaches or rivers.

Check these sites out and get your fill of the Captain's piratey goodness.

POTC Online Game Coming

2007-02-04T15:16:00.000-05:00

Keep to the Code - The Official Fan site of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Movies!: "NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- January 31, 2007

Disney Online today announced details surrounding the launch of Pirates of the Caribbean Online, the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) based on the popular film franchise. Scheduled to launch in spring 2007, Pirates of the Caribbean Online will allow players to set sail on their own adventure and interact with Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann and other characters made popular in the movie franchise, as they embark on exciting quests in search of treasure and their own notoriety."
Pirates of the Caribbean

PiratePalooza.com :AVAG CO BEPSIG

2007-02-04T15:07:00.000-05:00

from PiratePalooza.com: "This is a warning for aspiring pirates intent on purchasing a bag full of plastic novelty coins. Be aware that the brand of plastic coins bearing the legend “AVAG CO BEPSIG” are enchanted. That’s right, enchanted….

At our very first PiratePalooza I made the mistake of buying just such a bag of Avag Co Bepsig coins and made a fair show of giving them out whenever possible. Yet, when I returned to port I found that I still had a good many of the coins in me purse. Over the course of the year I continued to find more of the coins. Some in my bed, some in the settee, some in the stern of my autocarriage. Every time I found an Avag Co Bepsig coin I returned it to me leather coinpurse, full in the knowledge that I had them collected, each and every one...."
Pirates

King of Pirates hangs his shingle

2007-01-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

Having recently settled down in Bath, NC, Blackbeard the Pirate has opened up a small shop, from which he aims to sell what he calls, "surplus goods."
Being appropriately named, "The Blackbeard Shop" (We dare not question his business sense), it boasts a wide selection of goods which all appear to have him as their theme. The inventory includes Blackbeard books, Blackbeard flags, movies about Blackbeard, and even Blackbeard art prints. The owner informed me in hushed tones that all inquiries regarding shipments of rum, plate, and contraband should be directed to the rear of the establishment.
The shop is well-organized, brightly lit, and conveniently located. The reporter was told that all local businesses need only purchase one item per month to avoid unfortunate mishaps.
Blackbeard
Blackbeard Shop

More New Websites

2007-01-07T22:39:00.000-05:00

The pirate drones at the Pirate's Realm keep cranking out the sites. Come visit ModelShipsandMore.com, the best site for ship models and model-making supplies. You can find all sorts of models at reasonable prices , whether you're a beginner or advanced.
While you're sailing the cyberseas, have a go at the hardware over at BuyPirateWeapons.com. They have a great collection of pirate guns and cutlasses, and you can snag some Pirates of the Caribbean Jewelry, too.
model ships / pirate gun / pirate sword

Golden Goodness Restored?

2006-12-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

"Several weeks ago, I received an email stating that Blenheim bottlers had not produced a any ginger ale in months. My own phone call confirmed the statement, and I was told there was no timeline known for restoring production (?!?).
It seems that a broken part had to be manufactured, and there was curiously little motivation to fix the situation with any haste.
Much to my relief, an email this past week informed me that indeed, the bottlers were back at work. The customer was informed that the delivery would take a little longer, because they were at only 30% of normal bottling capacity. They received their order in two weeks.
I have not been able to get through on the phone to determine their current state, but at this point, any news is good news.
I was surprised to find out this weekend that several of my cousins had never even heard of Blenheim, but one taste produced several converts to the best darn soft drink in the world."

Blenny

Ginger Ale / Blenheim Ginger Ale

New Websites

2006-11-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

There's a couple of new websites in the Pirate's Realm universe. The first is PirateToyParty.com, where you can get the best pirate toys and grab some supplies for your next pirate party. (That's coming up soon, isn't it?) The selection of toys is great; the prices are attractive, and every purchase helps Captain Sage in his quest to bring you more piratey goodness.
The other site is for you landlubbers out there. Mountain View Journal is about Captain Sage's early years at higher altitudes and his love for the Appalachians. Give it a visit and get a snapshot of the other side of the Captain who's torn betwixt sea level and mountain top.

New pirate-themed reality elimination show

2006-11-07T19:54:00.000-05:00

Reality TV World:(By Steve Rogers, 11/06/2006)

Apparently one season of Survivor: Pearl Islands wasn't enough for CBS and Survivor producer Mark Burnett. Three years after the broadcast of the seventh pirate-themed Survivor edition that introduced pillaging, mutiny, and a poorly received Pirates of the Caribbean-like 'ghost tribe' twist to reality viewers, CBS has confirmed that it has ordered a new untitled Mark Burnett 'pirate-themed reality adventure' show.

Charcoal grillers victims of discrimination, short-sightedness

2006-11-07T19:51:00.000-05:00

Burlington Free Press.com | (By Ed Shamy):

Memo to the nice men and women who order merchandise for northern Vermont groceries: We are not all wimps. Got that?
Now get on the horn, call your supplier and tell them you want weekly shipments of 20-pound bags of charcoal briquettes until May.
There remains in Vermont a healthy population of year-round charcoal barbecuers. As immediate past president of Briquets 52, a political action committee dedicated to grilling outdoors over real charcoal every weekend of the year, I know I speak for thousands of concerned grillmasters. That may be an exaggeration. I'm the only member of Briquets 52 that I know of.....
Barbecue

What's Hot!: Pirates to plunder Sawyer?

2006-10-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

Press-Telegram:(Article Launched:10/17/2006 12:00:00 AM PDT)
JACK SPARROW'S ISLAND: There have been so many rumors regarding the possible/probable move by our dear, dear friends at Disneyland to transform Tom Sawyer's Island into a Pirates of the Caribbean hideaway that we are now walking around treating it as gospel....
Tom Sawyer
Pirates

Barbecue fire damages house

2006-10-02T15:47:00.000-04:00

from dailybulletin.com-

CHINO HILLS - "A home was damaged after a fire erupted in a barbecue pit early Sunday morning.
Personnel from the Chino Valley Fire District responded to a structure fire call in the 5800 block of Ridge Gate Drive at 1:16 a.m., said Capt. Rich Higgins.
By the time firefighters arrived, the homeowner had extinguished the fire. Firefighters, however, stayed to make sure all the embers were out, Higgins said.
The fire began from grease buildup in a built-in barbecue unit, he said. The fire eventually ate through a hose that leads to the barbecue's propane tank, which caused the fire to spread rapidly....."

1) I always thought a built-in would be a great place for a wood fire. At any rate, you can see how dangerous propane is. Dude, heat the inside of your house with it, not the outside, or your barbecue pit.
2) From the "It's a little late for that." department: CLEAN YOUR BARBECUE!
3) While I'm glad no one was hurt, the most important fact was omitted: Did you save the meat?
barbecue
Grill Maintenance

South Carolina A to Z and mountains to sea

2006-09-19T12:03:00.000-04:00

New Book! South Carolina A to Z and mountains to sea: "‘THE PEOPLE’S BOOK’

But what about here and now? Will you read the South Carolina Encyclopedia and finally understand South Carolina?
Clark says, “The encyclopedia shows the tremendous richness, the longevity of South Carolina, how far back it goes, how important it has been.”
Akers says, “It’s a comprehensive story of South Carolina told by those who love South Carolina. Walter likes to say, ‘It’s the people’s book.’”
Edgar himself says, “This is South Carolina from the mountains to the sea. It’s designed for everybody’s use.”
Downey laughs at the very idea. “South Carolina is a mystery wrapped in an enigma,” he says.
Served with mustard barbecue (page 48), a side of okra (page 681), a swig of Blenheim ginger ale (page 80) on a rain porch (page 771)."
SC / South Carolina / Blenheim Ginger Ale

My new baby....

2006-09-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

I bought a new Brinkmann heavy duty vertical charcoal/wood smoker the other day to replace my ancient Brinkmann bullet-style one. It was a sharp end-of-season deal at the local Wal-Mart. In spite of chomping at the bit to use it right out of the box, I had to spend several hours curing it according to directions.
The grills, water pan, and charcoal pan all slide out the huge access door without tipping, so access is much better than reaching down inside a tube. The construction is study, and the thermometer seems very accurate.
My first use was this past Saturday with a rack of ribs. As some may know, I have used sand in the water pan, so it's a 'set it and forget it' kind of thing. I added thermal mass with a pan of lava rocks over the coals, and this made the temperature almost rock solid even after opening the smoker to add fuel. I used a mix of mostly hickory wood with a little mesquite and apple added to my 50/50 mix of charcoal briquettes and lump charcoal.
They came out smoky, flavorful, and certainly done enough, but not tender. I made a rookie temperature mistake that I will adjust upward next time. This fall, the smell of decaying leaves in my neighborhood will be augmented with the addictive aroma of hickory and smoking meat. This and football make it my favorite time of year.

BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Talk like a pirate...or else!

2006-09-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

It's a little over a week until that one event that inspires more folk to act like a pirate than any other, recent Pirates of the Caribbean movies excepted. Talk like a Pirate Day (which is always on September 19th) has grown in recent years to include parties, songs, and even ringtones. I'm sure the creators, John Baur and Mark Summers, had no idea it would create such a stir.
My own contribution to pirate-speak comes through the word drivelswigger, which I created with my tongue in my pirate cheek on my new website several years ago to have a fun way to track the indexing of my content. Despite claims to the contrary, it's only a joke intended to keep you from getting too serious about all this pirate stuff.
More than two full weeks removed from Labor Day, you need a frivolous holiday on which to wear an eye patch, shoot cannons, and yell, "Arrrr!" and "Avast!!". There's no better time to release your inner pirate.
Talk Like a Pirate

Sonny's BBQ

2006-09-03T17:11:00.000-04:00

Sonny's BBQ: I recently ate at a great BBQ joint in Concord, NC (Go, NASCAR!) called Sonny's BBQ. My wife pushed me to have all-you-can-eat ribs for the first time. I was always hesitant before, thinking I could not justify mass consumption. I can say it was well worth it! The ribs had great smoke ring, flavor, and sauces to accompany. Hoo-wee!

"Today, Sonny's is the largest Bar-B-Q chain in America with more than 150 restaurants operating in nine Southeastern states: Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
And Sonny's is still growing. Thanks to the vision of Sonny and Lucille Tillman, Sonny's is well on its way to becoming one of the premier restaurants, of any type, in the country. Their dreams continue today. After almost 40 years, it's still about 'Feel Good Bar-B-Q'."
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Poll: Triangle divided on who has best barbecue

2006-08-24T14:39:00.000-04:00

Poll: Triangle divided on who has best barbecue:: "The Triangle Business Journal's latest weekly nonscientific poll elicited a split decision from 764 participants over which Triangle establishment serves the best Eastern North Carolina barbecue.

From Aug. 16 through Aug. 22, our readers were asked, 'Who serves the best Eastern North Carolina barbecue in the Triangle?'

Nearly a third of all voters, or 222 participants, selected 'other' as their answer, voicing strong support for a number of Triangle barbecue houses not included...

Here's a funny anonymous comment:
"There is no such thing as good Eastern North Carolina barbecue. Bring on the Memphis or Texas [barbecue] with the thick, yummy sauce."

I second that motion.
BBQ / Barbecue

Lost Pirates Found!

2006-08-20T16:13:00.000-04:00

"Pirates of the Carolinas" used to be a family attraction at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC. A couple of years ago, I was disappointed to find it had closed. Burroughs and Chapin left no info about what had happened. Had pirates been outlawed? Was there no interest in pirates mixed with pizza, a pirate gift shop, and an arcade?
An even older Myrtle Beach attraction is closing after more than fifty years, the Pavillion. I had the chance to grab a few pictures in the park a few weeks ago, before they officially opened for the day. Toward the back of the park, I saw a familiar looking display of pirates and skeletons. Avast! It was the old 'Pirates of the Carolinas', reconstituted into 'Treasure Hunt'! The same facade, the same admiral, the same ride. It was exciting to rediscover these pirates, but sad to think this will be gone at the end of September..or will it?

Pirates / Pirates of the Carolinas

"Leave her, Johnny" - Sea Shanties

2006-08-15T11:23:00.000-04:00

"Leave her, Johnny" - Sea Shanties: "Shanties are songs of the sea that were used mostly in work situations on board. Their synchronization of the workers' hard and repetitive tasks helped them to toil more efficiently and safely. Other benefits of music and singing in the naval environment included...."
Pirates / Shanty / Shanties

The Captain's goin' ArrrSS

2006-08-13T19:38:00.001-04:00

This old salt doesn't sail with the winds of change as quickly as some, but the time has come for me to dive into RSS with all the dispensing of orange chicklets.
Yes, it's true, my Captain's log here has had a feed of sorts for some time, but I just now figured out how to inform folks. I'm nought but a humble pirate; techie stuff comes hard to me at times.
My site The Pirate's Realm now has a feed, for all you blokes what look for updates and fresh content, and want it to come to you.
Now, all you web geeks don't go lookin' for ol' Sage to come and read the stuff to you....make SOME effort, or I'll have your guts for garters. Arrrr!!

Barbecue Redemption.

2006-08-02T11:05:00.000-04:00

The anxiety and dread are behind me. I can now say I have eaten the worst barbecue ever. I went to a local joint called Pig-N-Out the other day. It was the last business in a long, sweaty line that had no A/C on that 97-degree day.

Even in my road-weary condition, I noticed the inside was dark and eerily quiet. I know now that there are good reasons why some restaurants are nearly empty even at mealtimes. I oredered the rib plate, expecting some concoction of pork, smoke, and spice, but what I got what a mystery wrapped inside a riddle inside some beef-flavored mess.

The pig logo should have been replaced with Batman's Joker or the Riddler. Why were the ribs so soggy? Why was the only flavor besides meat an overpowering Texas Pete? (sorry, TL Gardner) How hard did you have to work to transform beef ribs into peppery, meat-flavored chwewing gum?

Out of six huge ribs, (I use the term in the academic sense) I only found three bites I could swallow. The sides of beans and potato salad and fries and hush puppies were really good, though. The ribs went home with me, for I had vowed that that beast would not have given his life in vain. I would redeem the ribs.

I placed the meat in question in a ziploc bag with liquid smoke, KC Masterpiece sauce, garlic powder, and fresh cracked pepper to marinade overnight in the fridge. The next morning, they spent three hours in foil in a 325 degree toaster oven...what? Smoke them outside? The heck you say! It was 97 degrees again. I am not about to cook myself trying to smoke meat in a heat wave. Even the toaster oven was placed in the garage.

Anyway, the ribs were delicious come suppertime: tender, sweet, smoky (cheated), spicy ribs. It's true, they were beef. The meat was too much, the grain too long, the color too dark for them to be pork. It was against my heritage to indulge in beef and not pork ribs, but they were great nonetheless.

The bigger lesson here is that if you want at least good-tasting ribs in Winston Salem, NC, stay away from any establishment that calls itself a barbecue joint. I have learned the hard way; not any one of them are worth it.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Wild Blenheim Ride

2006-07-22T09:02:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Blenheim, SC and South of the Border on the first leg of summer vacation. Out of my love for Blenheim Ginger Ale, had intended to visit both the original bottling plant (said to be an operating museum) and the current newer plant (where visits were encouraged in the brochure.)
Blenheim was even smaller and more off the beaten path than I imagined, but quaint. The plant looked like it had been empty for a while. The only store had many cases of Blenheim for sale, and the owners were giving out vintage Blenheim t-shirts to the tourists.
South of the Border had more kitsch than the billboards could convey. It was like a city made from the world's largest 'goofy golf' mini-golf course. Between the official Blenheim Ginger Ale brochure and the employees, it's a wonder I found the bottling plant at all. I eventually did discover it behind a truck stop, but was repelled at the gate by "No Visitors" on the sign.
Oh well, at least I have a t-shirt and a couple of six-packs for my effort.
Ginger Ale / blenheim ginger ale

200PirateWords.com

2006-07-03T21:50:00.000-04:00

Welcome to 200PirateWords.com: "Pirate Talk...Avast! Argh! and Shiver me timbers! are more than just funny ways to talk like a pirate, they are part of a pop culture phenomenon. It started before Pirates of the Caribbean taught us to say, "Savvy?" Finding real pirate ships like the Whydah and Queen Anne's Revenge helped remind us that pirates were real, and perhaps they reminded us how much fun it can be to act like and talk like a pirate.

Pirates are big business. A simple word can bring you more of it.

When you buy a word link on 200PirateWords.com, it belongs to you alone. For a reasonable price, you are picking a good word or phrase to hyperlink to your web site. Consider it a tool to use for inexpensive advertising, more traffic, and more qualified visitors."
Pirates
Pirates of the Caribbean

PiggyRibs.com

2006-06-30T12:46:00.004-04:00

Captain Sage decided that while he's on a roll, he should make a new website about the best barbecue there is: PiggyRibs.com.

"No matter where you are on the barbecue rib spectrum, we want you to find something at Piggy Ribs to make ribs more enjoyable, to bring great ribs more within your reach. Try a new rub. Use a different wood. Experiment with another sauce. Turn down the heat. Try a new restaurant. Buy a better smoker. Whatever you find, use it to take you further along in your pilgrimage toward greater ribs.

Why Ribs?

At Piggy Ribs, we believe the memories, hunger, and passion make preparing and eating barbecue enjoyable. In spite of the price of meat and the time involved to do it right, barbecuing should be fun. Eating messy food with your hands should still give a childlike thrill, and nothing is better suited for it than barbecue ribs that have handles built right into them. So dig in, and get sauce or grease or pig from ear to ear. Whether it's because you paid for it, prepared it yourself, or travelled a long way to have it, you deserve to enjoy it."

BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

The Pirate's Realm - Three Years

2006-06-22T09:13:00.001-04:00

The number one website about pirates is celebrating three years today. The Pirate's Realm was created by yours truly out of a growing fascination with the historical and archeological aspects of maritime piracy. As a measure of exploding growth, last month (May) brought 2.5 million hits and over 1 million pageviews.
Captain Sage has had many fine adventures in the past three years... entertaining students, assisting researchers, adding great content like pirate games, making friends, and plundering some internet booty.
His most recent addition is selling pirate flags, which are growing in popularity with pirates in general. His most popular topics are pirate ships and pirate talk, followed by Blackbeard.
Visit the Pirate's Realm today and see why it's number one for piratey goodness.
Pirates / Pirates of the Caribbean

BBQ Lore

2006-06-10T10:02:00.000-04:00

Barbicoa -: "Beginnings of BBQ

Barbecue is said to originate in the caribbean, but the term Barbecue is derived from the French word Barbicoa. Barbicoa is said to mean, “the stick with four legs and many sticks of wood on top to place the cooking meat”. The process is explained as placing meat on green wooden sticks, which were named barbacoa, over an open fire. The Taino tribe, which was one of many Arawak tribes, say that the word Barbecue comes from the their language. The words Ba, Ra, Bi, and Cu, are separate words in the Tiano language and when put together mean, “The beginning place of the sacred fire” and that “Tiano Barabicoa” means, “stick stand with four legs and many sticks of wood on top to place the cooking meat”.

European settlers acquired this technique despite nearly wiping out the Tiano people. In its modified form, it is now one of the major styles of cooking in the United States."
Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs / BBQ

Electric Redux

2006-06-02T00:16:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day weekend was BBQ time by law, so out comes the electric enigma for another go. This time was pork ribs... low and slow (in theory, anyway). I didn't look forward to lotsa time out in the sun, no matter how good the ribs would taste. After I clamped down on the socket real good with my Robo Grips (Thanks, Craftsman), I noticed the element was touching the bottom reflector pan. Moving it up to give a 3/4 inch space put me in business. I only had to use medium setting to get ideal heat all afternoon. The soaked hickory and mesquite slowly smoldered next to my lump charcoal, and at suppertime, I had the best ribs I ever made yet.
Heck, I even used Kingsford the next day to grill steaks and veggie kebabs.
Sweeeeeeeet.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

It's Electric

2006-05-21T10:11:00.000-04:00

I worked with heat and meat again yesterday, if you can allow salmon and chicken to be in the meat category just this once. In my ongoing conflict of 'low and slow' versus 'I don't know', I gave in to my delusion of convenience once more and used an (I'm ashamed) electric smoker. The I don't know part of the equation is probably from some defect in the heating element.
My folks bought me a Char Broil electric smoker last year, after I successfully used theirs for a pork shoulder. I had some trepidation at first, because the words, 'smoke' and 'electric' are not regularly used together in a positive light: shorted-out hair driers, bread on the toaster element, lightning hitting a house... Nevertheless, I would not look a gift grill in the mouth.
My personal setup on the grill in question is a custom route: no water, high heat setting, and wood and lump charcoal next to the element. Again, it may be an element defect, but I found that water seems to take too long to heat up, and the high heat is necessary just to get by.
I am used to having a brick chisel jammed in under the heater control just to keep the circuit on long enough for ideal heat. Yesterday, that tactic failed, and I had to prop up the control with a piece of wood (ironic?) just to keep the thing on. I eventually received a smoked salmon and four barbecue chicken breasts for my effort, but gosh, was it ever work.
I figure I'll get around to ordering a replacement control part, or perhaps I'll use a hair dryer and an oil drum next time.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Dumb and Dumber

2006-05-03T10:15:00.000-04:00

US frees alleged Somali pirates: "Nairobi - A group of alleged Somali pirates, captured by the American navy in March, has been freed and returned to Somalia after the United States declined to prosecute them, said a US official on Tuesday.
The official said 10 of the 12 suspected pirates detained on March 18 were handed over to the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and repatriated at the weekend."

This is patterned after the "Get Paid to Fish" business scam, where you supposedly receive taxpayer dollars to fish all day and throw back everything you catch. Three words: Stupid. Ditto. Ditto.

Flying in...

2006-04-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

I may barbecue or (egad!) grill this weekend. When I think of my first few spring BBQ quests, I remember how the flies come "out of the vinylwork" to hang around the back porch where the smoker is working. They are usually seen resting on the mower, chairs, door frame, and anything near the meat in question. I figure they're pretty tired from their flight.

I live a few miles north of Lexington, NC (God love 'em), which fancies itself as a barbecue capital. I don't want to open the old wound of how an entire city can get pickled by vinegar trying to pass itself off as sauce, but let's say I'm not the biggest fan of watery barbecue. It's OK in a pinch, but I have to be pinched fairly hard.

I reckon once these flies get a whiff of the smoke and 'sauce' as it wafts down US 52, they arise from their pickled stupor, ride the slipstream of a northbound semi, and come to the smell-a-rama on my back porch.

They're all weary from the journey, so they sit and revive themselves on the aroma. It's at this point that I realize even the smallest of creatures can 'see the light' and escape the clutches of vinegarism. Then, I let them inside, where my cat can eat smoked flies.
BBQ / barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Pork Queen, how I love you!

2006-04-23T14:16:00.000-04:00

from Walk This Way: "A GMLc reader in Pinopolis sent us a clip from Reader's Digest... a publication we don't read, so we appreciate the reader's interest. RD has made a list of '5 Not-So-Beautiful Beauty Pageants' in the United States.

1) Miss Gothic Massachusetts. GMLc thought goth had both peaked and died in the late '80s. Where have we been? According to its Web site, Miss Goth Mass. is an annual search 'for the darkest and most morbidly morose beauties of New England. From Rhode Island to Maine these Funereal Fantasies will strut their Sadistic Stuff.'
2) Miss Drumstick. Contestants in Arkansas are judged from the thighs down.
3) Pork Princess. And Pork Queen. In Iowa, this is an agricultural, not legislative, occasion.
4) Mr./Ms. Armpit. After The Washington Post named it 'the armpit of America' in 2001, Battle Mountain, Nev., started an annual Festival in the Pit.
5) Miss Hell Hole Swamp. Jamestown, S.C. Pre-Hell Hole is scheduled for April 28-29, with baby beauty pageants. The festival will officially open April 30 with the Miss Hell Hole pageant and continue through May 5, 6 and 7 with food, bands, horseshoes, parades, model trains, arts and crafts, arm wrestling, talent shows, etc."

Pork Queen....would they assess her beauty strictly on her shoulders, ribs, and um, the area equated to a pork butt?
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

The Calgary Sun - U.S. will secure Somalia waters

2006-04-18T09:36:00.000-04:00

The Calgary Sun - U.S. will secure Somalia waters: "BAIDOA, Somalia -- Somalia has granted the U.S. navy permission to patrol its coastal waters in an effort to combat piracy off the lawless Horn of Africa country, the prime minister said.
Ali Mohamed Gedi told legislators Sunday the U.S. also would help the transitional government set up a coast guard to secure the 3,000-km coastline."
So, let me get this straight. Some noodleheads in Washington (including the president) were willing to turn control of our ports over to a Muslim nation with ties to terrorism (redundant), and now a Muslim nation where our soldiers have been killed in recent years wants us to secure their coast against pirates?
Where did the US get the terrible habit of kissing up to our enemies? May God have mercy on us; we have lost our senses.
Pirates / Pirates of the Caribbean

Revenge of the Seagull

2006-04-11T15:51:00.000-04:00

I have some really fond memories of my times in Charleston. One of the more humorous ones is of an incident at the Battery in White Point Gardens when I was fourteen.

I had tagged along with my older brother and his friend who was visiting from out of town, and we wound up eating a sack lunch at the Battery after visiting the museum. It was a beautiful day, and I was enjoying one of the few times of peace with my brother. Our conversation had turned to the seagulls, which we termed 'flying rats' for their apparent diet of anything they could swallow.

Others in the park were throwing bits of bread for the seagulls to snatch up on the wing. After joining in with the perimeters of our sandwiches, we thought we would try small pieces of apple. They too, were well-received (and no doubt a good source of fiber). After I demonstrated how trained the birds were to swoop down even when an empty hand is thrust skyward, I said they were stupid, and would probably even eat my apple core.

With three apple cores now before us, it was put upon me as the youngest to try this out. I suppose if the core landed on the ground, my brother and friend could not be accused of littering. As the subject approached, I heaved my core fairly high, so he would have an extra second to respond. Sure enough, he caught the apple core square in his beak and flew away.

We all had a laugh and commented on the stupid birds, wondering aloud what he would possibly do with such a large object. A second later, it was very clear. The seagull had circled the boundary of the park, taken aim, released, and hit me on the top of my head with my own apple core.

I should have written in a nature journal: 1) Seagulls will not eat quite everything. 2) Seagulls understand insults. 3) Seagulls have excellent aim.
Charleston, SC / South Carolina / Lowcountry

The way you tell it

2006-04-09T13:03:00.000-04:00

Walk this way....: "The new guy in the cellblock is feeling pretty lousy. Then he hears somebody yell out, '41!' And everybody else in the block laughs uproariously. Somebody else says '28!'

More laughs.

New guys asks his cellmate, 'What's going on?' Cellmate says, 'We don't hear any new jokes in here, so we just tell the same ones over and over. Every joke has a number, so we don't have to listen to the same tired old words.'

So new guy thinks this is pretty neat. He calls out a number at random: '14!' Nobody laughs. He says, '39!' Not a peep.

The cellmate takes him aside and says, 'Look, kid. It's not so much the joke. It's the way you tell it that makes it funny.'"

Pig Saves Life of BBQ Baron

2006-04-09T12:51:00.000-04:00

Pig Saves Life of BBQ Baron - The BBQ Report: "After serving millions of them up to his patrons over the last 70 years, two pigs went from providing Melvin Bessinger’s livelihood to saving his life. Bessinger, the longtime South Carolina bar-b-que magnate and co-founder of the highly successful Melvin’s Bar-B-Que chain, recently found himself in need of heart valve replacement surgery. Ironically, the valves doctors use these days are taken from farm-raised pigs."
This man truly has BBQ in his heart...
Do you realize that, though I am a blogger rookie, I managed to go from ridiculous to sublime in only two posts?
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

BBQ Blog - Barbecue linked to cancer

2006-04-04T21:36:00.000-04:00

BBQ Blog - : "I've read similar articles in the past referencing similar health issues associated with eating overcooked meat, but most of them reference 'eating meat that is charred' and methods of cooking that I associate more closely with grilling than with slow-cooked barbecue."
I agree. Just because something is slow-cooked for several or many hours doesn't make it overcooked. The best way (some say the only way) to make true barbecue is slowly, with indirect heat. The lesson: "Grilling over flame will eventually kill you. You might just as well eat charcoal."... or something like that.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Victory in Tripoli: How America's War with the Barbary Pirates...

2006-03-31T12:15:00.000-05:00

Victory in Tripoli: "At the dawn of a new century, a newly elected U.S. president was forced to confront an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim terrorists sworn to carry out jihad against all Western powers. As timely and familiar as these events may seem, they occurred more than two centuries ago."
Pirates / Pirates of the Caribbean

WIStv.com Columbia, SC: Summerville cat survives 80-foot fall from tree

2006-03-28T10:42:00.000-05:00

Summerville cat survives 80-foot fall from tree: "(Summerville-AP) March 21, 2006 - Piper the cat may have used up a life or two but was unharmed after falling nearly 80 feet from a tree.She had been in the tree for eight days when a rescuer started up to save her Monday.But a scared Piper crept away until the limb underneath her snapped. She fell 80 feet, twisting and turning in the air before slamming onto the ground.
It looked like a catastrophe, but Piper wasn't even dazed, scampering off before her owner Rodney Colvin could catch her.Piper was found a few minutes later under a vehicle. Her owner says she had no broken bones and was only a little dehydrated."

Uh, they forgot to mention the cat now resembles a fur-covered pancake 18 inches across....When I was little and worried about my cat being stuck up a tree, my dad would 'console' me by saying it would come down, "You never saw a cat skeleton in a tree, did you?" >>>Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook

The Truth about BBQ Sauce

2006-03-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

The Truth about BBQ Sauce: "Because the nations first European arrivals lived on the East Coast of America, that part of the country is credited with spawning the original barbecue sauce styles.

First and foremost, there are the various Carolina barbecue sauces. The most widely known are East Carolina, Piedmont, and South Carolina varieties. East Carolina barbecue sauce consists of vinegar, salt, black pepper, and crushed or ground cayenne peppers. Its a very simple sauce that penetrates the meat nicely for a deep flavor. Piedmont barbecue sauce only varies from East Carolina in that it often includes molasses or Worcestershire sauce and thus clings to the meat more. South Carolina sauce is entirely different, using a mustard base instead, producing a much tangier and sharp flavor."

I personally prefer a thicker, tomato/ molasses-based sauce with the right blend of sweet, smoke, spice, and savor... but that's another story.
BBQ / Barbecue / Barbecue Ribs

Great joke from 'Walk this way' -Charleston,SC blog

2006-03-23T11:06:00.000-05:00

Walk this way....: "Tonight's joke is from Read My Lips-
There were two good ol' boys from the South who love to fish, and they wanted to do some ice fishing. They'd heard about it up in Canada, so they took off up there.
They stopped just before they got to the lake at a little bait shop to get all their tackle.

The clerk advised them that the lake was frozen nicely and to be sure to get an ice pick. They added the item to their order and took off.
In about two hours, one of them was back at the shop and said, 'We're gonna need a dozen ice picks.'
This perplexed the clerk, but a sale was a sale, so he sold the man what he'd asked for.
In about an hour, the same fellow returned and said, 'We're gonna need all the ice picks you've got.'
The clerk couldn't hold back his questions this time and asked, 'How's the fishing going out there anyway?'
'Not very well at all. We ain't even got the boat in the water yet.'"
Charleston, SC / South Carolina

BBQ Blog - On a BBQ Mission

2006-03-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

BBQ Blog - Barbecue, Barbeque, Bar-be-que, Bar-b-que... : "If you've always had a desire to purchase a 'real' bbq cooker, whether it's a Lang, Klose, Backwoods, Stumps, or one of the various styles of pellet cookers on the market; bite the bullet and do it. If you've always had a dream of owning your own restaurant, or to start a catering company...develop some goals, write a plan, tie them to a definitive time schedule, and get started on your journey.

It's time to get off the porch and get fired-up about bbq. Don't let it pass you buy. It's fun. It's challenging, but perhaps most of all, your abilities to learn new things and to meet interesting new people will surprise you.

But, when you really get down to it and boil it down to the brass tacks perhaps the most compelling reason is that there's really and truly nothing stopping you.

All things are possible." >>>BBQ USA
BBQ / barbecue / barbecue ribs

Blackbeard and Blenheim Ginger Ale

2006-03-23T00:09:00.000-05:00

Blackbeard's Realm - Blackbeard and Blenheim Ginger Ale: Hey matey, ol' Blackbeard has gleaned a few pearls of wisdom over his 325 years, so you need to listen up. There's enough misinformation about yours truly out there to sink a Man-O-War, and nothing puts crabs in me breeches quicker than the 'Rum and Gunpowder' rumours. Don't go thinkin' I never emptied a few tankards of fermented molasses every once in a while...you think I survived this long drinkin' the water?"
Ginger Ale
Blenheim Ginger Ale
Pirates
Pirates of the Caribbean
Blackbeard

Saint Pat's and Pirates

2006-03-22T23:49:00.000-05:00

No, they don't have anything to do with each other, (unless he converted a few in the 4th century!), but it has a nice ring to it.
Happy (belated) St. Pat's from someone with more than a bit of Celtic blood in him.

I have no idea what wearin' green and parades have to do with St. Patty whatsoever. The Irish are a proud lot, and that makes for great parades. Green is a fine color; lots of living things like it. I have heard that the dying St. Pat bid his friends not to mourn his death, but to have a bit to drink, and rejoice. I do drink beer, but it's all non-alcoholic, as in the terrific Guiness Kaliber.
I've read enough of St. Pat's life to say he was a tremendous follower of Christ. I'm sure there's bits of myth and legend here and there, but without the framework of an extraordinary life, what could you hang them on?
I know of one famous pirate who most likely wound up in the land of Erin: Henry Every. Check him out here.
Pirates
Pirates of the Caribbean

Avast! Ahoy! Arrrgggg!

2006-03-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

I watched the new Blackbeard movie on National Geographic channel the other night. Very good.
Mr. Purefoy did an excellent job portraying the king of pirates, if I do blog so, myself. Blackbeard emailed me the next day and said he gave it an Arrrr rating, which I suppose is pretty sweet.
I have a great site all about Mr. Blackbeard that you can see here.

Fair Winds,
Captain Sage
Pirates
Pirates of the Caribbean