Stephen: Jack, how is it that you can remember all this true direction against compass direction business? Truly, it escapes me.Jack: Shall I tell you again then, Stephen?
Stephen: Again? If you please.
Jack: There's a mnemonic device, you see. Simply remember Timid Virgins Make Dull Company, Add Whiskey. Thus, True direction corrected for Variation equals Magnetic direction corrected for Deviation equals Compass direction. Then you Add Whiskey: Add Westerly deviations and variations. You could, if you wish, subtract Easterlies but that would make the phrase far less amusing. Add whiskey to timid virgins. Oh ha ha!
Stephen: Yes well. Never a dull moment with you, is there Jack?
Jack: Ha ha ha!
Ahoy, Pauline! And never miss a chance to post a little Aubrey-Maturin (and a Rusty-Bettany photo too). Well played, Pirate Queen.
ReplyDeleteAhoy, Timmy! Well, technically the mnemonic device in question probably didn't turn up until later in the 19th century but hey, fan fiction allows for a bit of wiggle room. Oh ha ha ha!
ReplyDeleteOne learns something new every day.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, did you hear about Hugo Chavez exhuming Simon Bolivar's body? Apparently, the old boy is still pursuing the "Bolivar was poisoned" crotchet you posted about awhile back.
I have the feeling that by the time this all plays out, that doctor who floated this theory will have a lot to answer for.
Ahoy, Undine and thank you for the update. I had not heard about Chavez plowing forward with his theory. Though it is disappointing, it's not surprising. We'll see what turns up (I'm guessing that no matter what actually comes to light, Chavez will tell the world Bolivar was poisoned...)
ReplyDelete