Old Weather Forum

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:40 am

Signs of OW Addiction #280: You sometimes get nightmares about the horrible, flower-water logs you have worked on in the past!

Helen J wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 11:54 am Another winner, hanibal - are the horrible ghouls the logkeepers who were guilty of watering down the ink?

AvastMH wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 12:19 pm Oh yes - I totally understand that nightmare - nice one yet again hanibal.

Michael wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 1:25 pm And the logkeepers who suffered from a bad case of the shakes and those with the leaky fountain pens!

Randi wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 2:23 pm So, Francisco Goya has fallen under The Spell of transcribing

jil wrote:Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:45 pm Scary!

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Oct 26, 2019 8:50 am

OW'ers telling tall tales in the Dockside Cafe: "Five course changes in one hour? Pfffff... I once did SIX course changes and two ice mentions in an hour!"

AvastMH wrote:Sat Oct 26, 2019 9:17 am So funny....love the chap wearing his Sou'Wester whilst he brags Next time I transcribe a 'gam' session on the whalers I'll have this scene in my mind - perhaps the girl is Heppingstone's daughter from the Fleetwing

AvastMH wrote:Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:08 pm

Helen J wrote:Sun Oct 27, 2019 12:38 pm

AvastMH wrote:Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:14 pm

But you do get regular sewing updates!

And they are even rarer than locations in the whaling logs!

Bordering on the non-existent then eh Helen?

Hanibal94 wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:04 am

OW'er dresses up as the USS Jamestown for Halloween.

jil wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 8:30 am
Although could be tricky to navigate if it's a windy evening!

Helen J wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 11:27 am What an astonishing picture! I'd love to know what its original title was ....

Michael wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:01 pm Brilliant!!!

Randi wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:13 pm Fantastic find, Hanibal!

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El barco, by Salvador Dali

There is also this one: https://www.salvador-dali.org/en/artwor ... ad-tristan

Caro wrote:Thu Oct 31, 2019 7:44 pm I really like that picture. Thanks Hanibal (and Salvador).

Helen J wrote:Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:33 am Ah, Dali - that makes sense!

Dean wrote:Fri Nov 01, 2019 11:29 pm Hello, Dali!!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:36 pm That is a most amazing picture hanibal. Totally wild
So glad that no-one arrived at my door looking like that

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:05 am

Almost every Saturday, OW'ers flock to the Dockside Gallery to check out Hanibal94's latest post.

Randi wrote:Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:44 pm Excellent, and very true!

Michael wrote:Sat Nov 09, 2019 3:51 pm Real OW'ers would be looking at pictures of ships!

Helen J wrote:Sat Nov 09, 2019 4:28 pm Brilliant, hanibal - and I love their enthusiasm.

AvastMH wrote:Sun Nov 10, 2019 12:45 am There's no moss growing under our feet - we were down at the auctions bright and early to buy the ship paintings - now we're picking up something for the Captain's cabin.

Another excellent posting hanibal

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Nov 16, 2019 9:52 pm

OW'er gets rudely interrupted by Real Life... again.

Dean wrote:Tue Nov 19, 2019 12:25 pm

Helen J wrote:Sun Nov 17, 2019 12:28 pm

Randi wrote:Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:22 pm "Tell me more about those handsome young log keepers that write neatly, spell correctly, and don't water down their ink."

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Those logkeepers are at least as fanciful as the characters in the this picture!

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:33 am

Comparison between different kinds of science: In the background we have the traditional, academic view, with lots of boffins discussing, comparing and peer reviewing.
In the foreground we have the citizen scientists, a more colorful and lively bunch, doing their stuff.
Both kinds have their advantages and disadvantages, but in the end neither one could do without the other.

AvastMH wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 12:36 pm What an astonishing picture, hanibal!

It is on the mark - so funny

Do we get to take turns to wear the crown? Personally, I'd like to be the character with the axe - it will help me to chop up the whaling log books into sections

Randi wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 2:42 pm Good find, Hanibal!

The Council of Trent

... At the lower right of this pictorial chronicle of the event, however, allegorical personifications of the virtues ...

Darned right

Helen J wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 4:03 pm Another great find, and great caption, hanibal - I do think we should take turns wearing the splendid crown.

AvastMH wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 5:44 pm That's a nice idea Helen. I'm happy to give my turn to anyone who's interested. There was a Pope Joan once and she came to a rather sticky end

Helen J wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 6:00 pm I think you should definitely take a turn and change the prevailing view of Popes named Joan!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Nov 23, 2019 6:12 pm Oh - go on then - you've persuaded me Helen

Hanibal94 wrote:Wed Nov 27, 2019 5:10 pm Thanks for the positive comments, everyone!
That last one was really hard - I had it lying around in my list for months before I finally came up with something, so I'm glad to hear you liked it.
While we're at it: I currently have about forty images in my list, and I'm pretty sure I can find more if I have to, so I can (and will) keep this going for quite a while still!

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Nov 30, 2019 9:52 am

Hanibal94 getting some much-deserved rest after a very tiring week, as his good friend Joan looks on sympathetically.

This past week has been pretty full - lot of stuff going on at work in the pre-Christmas rush, and May 1934 on the Northland was quite tough. Lots of tricky handwritten place names.
But now things are looking up, so I should get back to the Northland soon.

Helen J wrote:Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:16 am You are both looking very splendid, in your armour and your wings .... Hope you have a restful weekend, hanibal.

Randi wrote:Sat Nov 30, 2019 4:27 pm Ditto!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:20 pm What a lovely picture Hanibal

I bet you do get that tired, and I will be honored to watch over you sympathetically as you get some rest from the toil of Northland's handwriting!


On a small personal note- it feels safer being part of the heavenly horde than Pope Joan

Randi wrote:Sat Nov 30, 2019 11:43 pm

Helen J wrote:Sun Dec 01, 2019 12:17 pm I have a feeling 'hordes' are more infernal than heavenly - but I sympathise with your preference for being part of the heavenly host rather than being a Pope!

AvastMH wrote:Sun Dec 01, 2019 9:10 pm Ooopssss! Come the day of reckoning and St Peter says "so choose your cloud to join the horde" and then laughs his head off - I'll remember your kind correction Helen.

Helen J wrote:Mon Dec 02, 2019 12:26 pm Happy to help - we all share our specialist knowledge here ....

Randi wrote:Mon Dec 02, 2019 4:53 pm So, would you talk about a host of transcribers?

Helen J wrote:Mon Dec 02, 2019 5:50 pm Undoubtedly! We're definitely heavenly ....

AvastMH wrote:Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:00 pm Any time I can talk about OW I always like to harp on about how great it is...

Helen J wrote:Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:35 pm

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Dec 07, 2019 9:43 am

OW moderator takes a break from transcribing to visit the local Christmas market - but upon finding it too crowded and noisy, changes his mind and decides to go back home to his beloved ships.

Dean wrote:Sat Dec 07, 2019 12:22 pm Outstanding, Good Sir!!!!!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Dec 07, 2019 2:04 pm He was looking for some teeny tiny ships' bells to hang on his Christmas Tree. Best to stick with the real thing - those lovely tones ringing out from the log books

Randi wrote:Sat Dec 07, 2019 2:46 pm

Portrait of Chaliapin by Boris Kustodiev

You don't, usually, freeze fingers and toes doing log books
And those shoes don't look very comfortable.

Helen J wrote:Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:54 pm He does look very pained - going home to OW is definitely the best option.

Caro wrote:Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:54 am



Title: Starry Night X The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Helen J wrote:Fri Dec 13, 2019 6:10 pm Thank you - I especially like the first one.

AvastMH wrote:Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:02 pm Boy that first one played with my mind for a few minutes - I know them both so well...but together...strange but exciting

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 8:41 am









As the brilliant Reuters article on Old Weather is taken up by publications all over the world, many people find themselves interested in joining this "eccentric group of citizen scientists".

jil wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 11:55 am

AvastMH wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:24 pm I'm left speechless Hanibal - I couldn't work our where this one was going to until I got to your caption. And brilliant that you got in the link to the article Andrew has to see this! He says that the folks at Reuters were very taken with the project and article I'm going to chuckle over this one for a jolly long time
Brilliant

Oh yes 'All proto-eccentric citizen scientists welcome here' of course!

Randi wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 3:35 pm Absolutely super!

I guessed the theme about halfway through.

leelaht wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:06 pm Brilliant

Michael wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:27 pm Brilliant job!!!

Just a question though. I love the ladies' hats in the second picture, especially the one on the lady in the middle. Why don't ladies wear those fetching hats any more?

Helen J wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:00 pm You've surpassed yourself, hanibal - brilliant.

On hats, Michael - in my experience, they're tricky to keep on. I'm so glad they're not de rigeur any more.

Thursday Next wrote:Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:50 pm Unfortunately, due to climate change, we now experience more frequent, and stronger, gales - so the hats kept blowing away and we all gave up

Caro wrote:Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:07 pm Great stuff, Hanibal.

Here's one I liked.



Fetching hats ... for weddings only in my case.

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Dec 21, 2019 10:55 am For a dear friend:



OW'ers at Joan's birthday feast, as magnificent as always.

That's the last one for the year - due to vacation, I will be taking a break until January 11th.
Thanks for all the compliments and suggestions - when I first started this, I had no idea it would last so long!

Helen J wrote:Sat Dec 21, 2019 12:29 pm Joan looks quite overcome - and we've obviously all raided our wardrobes for our very best party clothes.

Another great pic, hanibal - have a wonderful break, and I look forward to what you find to delight us all in 2020.

Michael wrote:Sat Dec 21, 2019 4:13 pm I'm impressed, but not surprised, by Joan's apparent modesty.

Enjoy your break, Hanibal! We'll see you in the New Year.

jil wrote:Sat Dec 21, 2019 4:29 pm Some great hats!

Randi wrote:Sat Dec 21, 2019 4:48 pm Great party, Hanibal!

Enjoy your vacation!
You have done a super job keeping this going.

AvastMH wrote:Sun Dec 22, 2019 1:14 am Thank you so much hanibal! It's a great party and it's wonderful to share it with you all. I think I look faint at the thought of working my way through a whole swan But great clothes everyone. We've been through a lot of cloth-of-gold recently. Makes up for the pay rates

Have a lovely break hanibal. I'm really looking forward to next year's selection

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Jan 11, 2020 10:48 am

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these citizen scientists from the swift completion and delivery of their assigned transcriptions.

AvastMH wrote:Sat Jan 11, 2020 1:11 pm Hahaha! Trust me - if I could do the transcription in my sleep I'd do it. Nice one hanibal...especially that the horizon/end of the project is nowhere near at hand by the looks of it

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Jan 18, 2020 10:12 am

Another evening in the Dockside Cafe.

AvastMH wrote:Sat Jan 18, 2020 1:23 pm I'd love to be able to sit down with a nice drink and read the newspaper using one of those batons. They used to early breakfast in one of the cafes in town, and had the broadsheet papers hanging off the wall. It felt very nice. Scrambled eggs on toast, power-house coffee, and a good read of the news - great start to Saturdays

Michael wrote:Sat Jan 18, 2020 2:48 pm Ah, ladies wearing hats!

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Jan 25, 2020 8:39 am

Annual Zooniverse conference, where Zooniverse staff, volunteers and boffins gather to discuss many things.

Inspired by a recent work trip to a big meeting at company HQ, where there was much talk about the achievements of last year and what we want to accomplish this year.
Some interesting stuff, but it was rather tiring.

jil wrote:Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:20 am The audience don't seem to be paying much attention. Probably also true of big work meetings

AvastMH wrote:Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:53 pm I agree with jil Your big meeting sounds entirely traditional hanibal. I'm glad that you did find some interesting stuff
Hanibal your picture persuades me of one thing....not to rush into big meetings

Helen J wrote:Sat Jan 25, 2020 4:03 pm I'm so glad I don't need to go to meetings of that size; I find the much smaller ones I do go to quite tiring enough. Another great find, hanibal.

Dean wrote:Thu Jan 30, 2020 10:42 pm I have learned that in most meeting hours are wasted while minutes are kept.

Michael wrote:Fri Jan 31, 2020 1:09 am Not all meetings are a waste. You have to choose them with care. Many years ago I was offered the chance to be on one of two committees that met monthly.

The first one featured, among the group, two women who hurled Bible verses at each other to make their points, which were always opposed.

The second one featured our priest, the church secretary, who was a close friend, the manager of the two movie theatres and another woman. We opened the meeting, with NO minutes, with about an hour of gossiping and discussing movies while enjoying a glass of wine. We then had a gourmet meal, the priest was an excellent cook, with wine, dessert and tea or coffee. Then, and only then, did we pull out the minutes from the last meeting, make two or three motions that were always passed unanimously after a short but respectful discussion and adjourn until the next month.

Given that choice, guess which committee I chose!

And guess how long I remained on it. (Answer: 16 years.)

Helen J wrote:Fri Jan 31, 2020 12:47 pm Hurling Bible verses is never a good idea; but eating, drinking, gossipping, and sharing enthusiasms, always are. I'm surprised you ever left this committee, Michael!

Michael wrote:Fri Jan 31, 2020 4:11 pm Moving 2800 km away was a factor.

Helen J wrote:Fri Jan 31, 2020 5:19 pm That is rather a long way to go even for such an excellent committee!

AvastMH wrote: What a shame Michael - I bet you missed that meeting! A friend of mine said 'never hold a meeting unless you can write the minutes beforehand' For the circumstances he was quite right

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 10:27 am

Ever since Kevin Wood's suggestion that all us OW'ers are a "madcap crew of digital buccaneers", some of the moderators have started dressing appropriately.

Thanks to Joan for the image and idea!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 2:31 pm Captain of the Digital Buccaneers: "Written in smudged ink, italics, a broken pen nib, and well-watered ink? See my clerk of works me bucco, we can certainly help..."

I like this one hanibal, and thanks for the attribution - very kind . I'm trying to picture how this would have looked in Andrew's article Handsome I'm sure

Randi wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 3:39 pm

Michael wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:22 pm That's why one should never mess with the mods!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:30 pm Mod sitting quietly at home with a notebook..
"OK, So here's the new template for my next Mods uniform. Time to go shopping for...
Hair dye
make-up
4 inch heels
new body...."

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:43 pm Don't forget a whetstone, oil and cleaning cloth (Microfiber, perhaps?) for that pointy sword!

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:02 pm Good ideas hanibal! Better get some boot polish too

Helen J wrote:Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:31 pm Thanks for the collective effort, hanibal and joan - another great one!

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 08, 2020 9:55 am

Veteran OW'er showing the old OW interface (used in phases 1-3) to newbies: "As you can see, this thing is rather outdated and ugly compared to our current spreadsheet-based system, so we are very glad to not be using it anymore!"

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 08, 2020 2:23 pm Whaling phase 1 was so bad that they haven't even recognized it in the dissection theatre.

Nice one hanibal

Randi wrote:Sat Feb 08, 2020 3:33 pm They couldn't get past the initial incision in OW5

Michael wrote:Sat Feb 08, 2020 3:13 pm

I'm really impressed by your ability to find an image and topic every week! Another brilliant one, for sure.

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 15, 2020 9:54 am Thanks for the compliments everyone! I'm amazed I've been able to keep it going so long.

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OW'er having a much-needed strong drink after an encounter with Lieutenant Scrawl while going from Seattle to Alaska.
Note the grubby and worn-out fingers, from entering as many as 50 course changes per day, and the glazed, vacant stare from looking through multiple online maps and place name lists.

AvastMH wrote: Yes - and their scarf is still in place, overcoat on, and cap readily to hand. This perfectly shows the level of addiction we have. You can stop for a restorative drink-and-think and then, with no hesitation, we sail back into the storm of yester-year's handwriting to save tomorrow-year's planet...


Thanks for this one hanibal - I really like it - I'd be happy to look at this for a very long time. Puzzling out what he's seen with that penetrating gaze. Perhaps he's waiting to board the Bear for a summer in the Bering Sea saving all the Arctic Expeditions for that year? Perhaps he's having some Dutch Courage before going to calligraphy classes - he may indeed be Lieutenant Scrawl!

Michael wrote:Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:27 pm Another brilliant one, Hanibal!

That is a great portrait.

Randi wrote:Sat Feb 15, 2020 2:28 pm Particularly good picture and caption!

Helen J wrote:Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:49 am He does look rather haunted - as do we all after long acquaintance with Lt Scrawl ..... Another great find and very apt caption.

leelaht wrote:Sun Feb 16, 2020 11:24 pm Looks resolved and fortified to me.

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 22, 2020 11:16 am

OW moderator reviewing the Little Book of Forum Rules, an essential part of every moderator's toolkit.

jil wrote:Sat Feb 22, 2020 11:22 am At first glance she looks quite sweet but there is a steely look in her eyes that would have you sticking to those rules.

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 22, 2020 2:09 pm I agree jil. It looks like page 96 to me, lots of fine details about dealing with mondegreens. She'll need a cup of tea after that one

Yet another fine one hanibal

Helen J wrote:Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:57 am I think she's saying, 'Now what did I tell you about TWYS?'

Randi wrote:Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:46 pm Hum... With those eyes it might be something about reporting problems with the forum to the PTB

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:57 am

OW moderator announces the release of more logbooks to work on.

Randi wrote:Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:38 pm

Well, more logs are coming up, but not in the immediate future

AvastMH wrote:Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:22 pm I love the illustration! Nice one hanibal
The wolf is looking like it could do with a breather. It will soon feel invigorated when it sees the covers of those new log books.

Helen J wrote:Sun Mar 01, 2020 10:45 am It's a beautiful picture, and, as ever, a very clever caption. I do wonder about the sword slung at the moderator's side - is this to 'encourage' anyone who may not react with the requisite enthusiasm?

Helen J wrote:Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:13 pm

Randi wrote:Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:15 pm The PTB for example....

Hanibal94 wrote:Sat Mar 07, 2020 10:15 am

Addicted OW'er at his workstation: "What do you mean, I should go to bed now? Time and tides wait for no man, and neither do the logbooks!

Thanks to Dean for finding this image!

Michael wrote:Sat Mar 07, 2020 3:06 pm

Been there, done that.

Randi wrote:Sat Mar 07, 2020 3:09 pm Blackbeard!
Well, as long as he follows the forum rules...

AvastMH wrote:Sat Mar 07, 2020 8:08 pm

Michael wrote:Sat Mar 07, 2020 4:53 pm I suppose if he told his logkeeper to write neatly the logkeeper would!

That's a great idea Michael! Should I start a list here and perhaps we can find a way of sending it back to him?

Congratulations Dean and Hanibal -- great image

Helen J wrote:Sun Mar 08, 2020 12:11 pm Another great picture and caption; and yes, let's get Blackbeard on our side (once we've found the Tardis of course).