Christmas List 2009

   Christmas always sneaks up on me and suddenly I have to dredge the depths of my mind for some material thing I actually want. Last year I couldn't come up with anything and just asked for donations to be made in support of the San Diego harbour seal rookery (which some people want to turn (back) into a children's beach).

   Well this year I've come up with something that wouldn't even cost you money. You see, being a pirate isn't as easy as it used to be back in those easy early days of internet buccaneership. I've tried this whole bittorrent thing but don't seem to have much luck, and nothing's on limewire anymore. As such, there are a number of songs I would really like to have on my computer but I simply can't find them .. at least not for free, and I refuse to support the RIAA on principal.

   So if you have skillz at finding songs on the internet, if you could find me the following buried treasure for christmas I would very greatly appreciate it.


( Songs I Can't Find )

Books
   Not that I expect any of you to go out and get me something real but if only as a note to self here are some notes on books I think sound interesting:

• Patrick O'brian's historical fiction about the royal navy during the napoleonic wars
  
• Walter Scott's Rob Roy or Waverley (historical fiction set during 18th century Scottish rebellions)
  
• Hail, Colombia! - I forget who wrote it but it's about the actual Lady Washington. I got to page 238 reading it during the brief moments I wasn't doing something else on the boat, would rather like to finish.
  
• George Leonardos' historical fiction about the end of the Byzantine Empire
  
• Dark North by Gillian Bradshaw, set in Roman Britian in 208 AD
  
• And.. any other historical fiction set during times of political turmoil in the premodern history of Europe. Suggestions welcome.

Unrelated Picture of the Day

View from the deck of the Lady Washington at 02:49 in Aberdeen


The Best of LJ Idol Season 6?
   Having been gone almost the entirety of the season thus far, I haven't really gotten to read any entries other than those of my closest friends. I'd be interested in hearing about any particularly good entries I may have missed.