Especially for Chris Wells.
In naval folklore there is a tale that every ship is built containing a single, commemorative "golden rivet"— an idea doubtless adapted from the golden spike that was temporarily driven at the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. The rivet's location is allegedly different for each ship and undisclosed, known only to the crew. Of course no such thing exists: gold is too malleable to use for a rivet. Like many urban legends, the "golden rivet" is perpetuated for the amusement of "old salts" at the expense of the gullible.
Most often the myth is used as a practical joke or snipe hunt played on junior sailors, exploiting their naivete and natural curiosity with their new surroundings. The prank consists of informing a new sailor of the existence of the "golden rivet" and encouraging him to look for it. After scouring the entire ship without success, it eventually dawns on the junior that he has been the butt of a joke.
In a crueller version of the gag, a senior sailor calls attention to the rivet somewhere in the deck plating, then as the junior bends over to look at it, he is given a kick in the backside. Sometimes the snipe hunt is dispensed with altogether, with the senior sailor merely pointing to a spot on the deck and inviting the junior examine it. When pointed out to female guests (especially attractive ones), the point is simply to get the target to bend over.
In the same way that sending an aprentice for a rubber hammer or striped paint
the "golden rivet" gag can be seen as a fairly harmless form of initiation.
Other steel structures said to contain a golden rivet include the Forth Rail Bridge and the Empire State Building.
Another version of "The Golden Rivet" tells of a highly dubious practice involving young recruits and the ship's cook. The recruit would be told of the existence of a golden rivet which, he would be told, was always the last rivet to be fitted into the ship. This rivet could be seen if the lad leaned out through the galley porthole. As soon as he did so, the ship's cook would lower the porthole cover, pull down the unfortunate boy's trousers and violate him.
There is no evidence that this practice was real but the story of "showing someone the Golden Rivet" remains a traditional naval myth among mariners.
Thanet Councillor Jo Gideon shortlisted for Conservative candidate for Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
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Local councillor Jo Gideon has been shortlisted in the selection of the
Conservative candidate for the new Police and Crime Commissioner role in
Kent. Jo...
3 hours ago
13 comments:
Mike when we lifted the mainmast stub out of a topsail schooner there was indeed a gold sovereign underneath it, which the rigger passed on to the captain and went back when the replacement mast was stepped. So not all of this folklore is myth.
A "lucky" Spurs shirt was sealed in the Emirates stadium during the building.
Seems to be working.
Ah Mike,
Thank you, although I dont seem to get the promised mention; and you duck the difficult question....
I am interested in your assertion that this years budget contains elements of councillors pet projects. Perhaps you could enlighten us all?
Still waiting for the Golden Rivet story promised above as well....
Perhaps a reference to screwing the electorate, Councillor Wells?
See wit is alive and kicking then, 10;22. How do you think up your gems?
Speaking of gems, don't you just love Moores's reference to "sodomy" in his boyish little dig at this post from Councillor Harrison? Who the **** uses that word nowadays apart from religious nutters? It says much about Moores's self-proclaimed "diversity awareness", or perhaps he is semaphoring (to keep with the naval theme) an invitation...?
Perhaps the religious nutters are not quite as nutty as he who risks the wrath of God.
You have to believe in god to be scared of any wrath he/she might therefore have.
It makes it doubly bad if you don't believe and he turns out to be real after all. Imagine the shock that awaits you.
I think I can live with the fantasy of believers, thank you. They make me smile.
Simon needs to come out
I thought this blog was about a Mr Worrow?
You're obviously both - Anons of 23 and 24 January - a couple of prats.
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