Strange Brew by John Deering for May 01, 2024

It’s the 19th century – harpooning environmental activists was not against the law.

That’s what they invented the harpoon gun for.

Not trouble, target practice.

You’re just promoting violence. End whaling. Ahab should retire.

It’s May Day, May Day for Captain Ahab.

And they’re not very peaceful.

Jam that “pointy thing” in their hull just below the water line.

It’s a panga-demick. ( Hint: check the Galapagos small craft nomenclature. Sure, it’s obscure.)

Next, Ahab discovers ship worms in his peg leg.

Yuck, good way to end up with the clap.

maybe not – Moby might just take care of the GPers for him. The irony would be perfect.

They’re not whalecome here.

Green Peace – good folks.

Ahab’s got three more dicks to worry about.

They do not bring Ishmael to his face.

Ahab gave up harpooning and started playing music with Bob Marley.

Just More blubber-ing

Back then whales were a vital resource. their blubber was rendered down for high quality oil for lamps and lanterns. Other parts were also valuable. The filter feeding mechanism of many whales, baleen, was used like we use plastics now, sperm whales had a forehead full of a high grade lubricant, spemaceti, used right through the 20th Century.

Until Drake began drilling for oil in Pennsylvania in 1859, the other options for lighting stank, literally. Rendered animal fats from lard and tallow or candles from them smoked the user out.