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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   2879 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for July 24, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I am done with The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. My main advice for those who find themselves shipwrecked while in the 18thc. Royal Navy:

  • Do not sink off of Western Patagonia. It's cold, rocky, the weather sucks, and you'll be praying for random birds to kill in order to stay alive. Shackleton and his crew shipwrecked in Antarctica, admittedly with smaller crew and more modern supplies, but they basically could live indefinitely off of seals while floating on big blocks of ice. Sail South, crash there.
  • What are you doing? Immediately salvage anything useful on the ship as soon as possible. Salvage the ship. Take every board and every canvas.
  • Do not scare or aggravate any natives who show up no matter how savage they appear.
  • Do keep meticulous logs of your voyage and any subsequent shipwreck no matter rank or position. This will help legitimize unforeseen but necessary actions in the future up to and including marooning your former captain.
  • Do not surrender yourself to the Spanish if you are free black man. They will enslave you.

Also, I find it very odd how many smart people I know don’t reread good books or rewatch good films or tv shows.

There are lots of books I want to reread because it has been long enough to justify it and there are all the books I haven't read yet. I try to balance it.

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