Weaver95: i'd like to know who complained.

Somebody with nothing better to do.

Weaver95: Pocket Ninja: So what exactly does it mean to be "commanding officer" of a ship that's more or less permanently anchored? Is he actually a naval officer? Is this sort of position looked at as respectable, a serious step on the career ladder? Or is it some sort of punishment, the command equivalent of latrine scrubbing? What if he decided he wanted to sail the ship out into the Atlantic...could he do that? Or is he basically just a museum director with a military title?

it's considered quite an honor to serve on 'old ironsides'. the requirements to get a berth there are fairly high, and that's just for the regular sailors. The tour of duty itself is somewhere between honor guard and a recruiting duty post.

It's the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy. Like Weaver said, it's an Honor Guard-type post, roughly equivalent to the Soldiers who guard The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

Commanding either garrison is the best the career of any Army (Tomb) or Navy (USS Constitution) can get without getting a General or Admiral's star.

I Said: Weaver95: i'd like to know who complained.

Same here. It's been doing the same thing in the same place for over 200 years, and you move there and think you have the right to change it? F*ck you.

It wasn't an issue for the 100+ years that Charlestown was poor and working class, but since it's been gentrified (including the former Charlestown Navy Yard, site of fancy new condos), the newcomers have raised a fuss.

F*ck 'em, I say - Old Ironsides got there first.

Theaetetus: That may not matter. See Spur Industries v. Del Webb Development.

You cite a decsion between two private individuals.

The ship is a commissioned naval vessel.

Theaetetus: Interesting... I don't know many other people who would praise that decision.

A Fark attorney who plays both roles in a conversation.

How quaint.

If I were the Captain, I'd fire the guns towards their houses...just once to prove a point, but I'd load 'em with extra powder.

King Something: Weaver95: i'd like to know who complained.

Somebody with nothing better to do.

You just described every single person over the age of 65 in the greater Boston area.

Perhaps they should bring er around and fire inland instead.

I built a 3' model of that ship when I was a teenager. Still sits on my dresser.

I Said: Weaver95: i'd like to know who complained.

Same here. It's been doing the same thing in the same place for over 200 years, and you move there and think you have the right to change it? F*ck you.

ThrnPhl: So what exactly does it mean to be "commanding officer" of a ship that's more or less permanently anchored?

http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/CDRCooperBio.html

He is a weapons officer, its undergoing repair work now, so he is managing a restoration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution

There is stuff there about other modern commanders.

Sometimes you have to stop and ask...why are we doing this tradition again?

Sure it's been going on since the 18th century but for all we know it's also been driving everyone nuts since the 18th century.

WTF point does it really serve to fire these guns?


And note: Ex-Navy here. I'm well aware of the significance of the Constitution.

OldManDownDRoad: Theaetetus: AlwaysRightBoy: Theaetetus: ... they live in brick condos. You need grape, you fools!

Only if they have quarterdecks in their condos!

Quarterdeck, balcony with a gas grill and sliding glass doors... same thing.

Solid shot for the brick work, a whiff of grape for the gawkers on the patios.

/Marine SEAL sharpshooters topside for the stragglers

FTFY FTW

Beautiful ship. Let her keep firing. Unless they're firing in the middle of the night, not sure what the problem is. If they're up at the ass-crack of dawn, so should the neighbors.

I actually saw the Constitution a few months back. The best part was watching my 6'8" brother trying to move about on the lower decks.

People in Vermont are complaining that the F-35 might come to the Air Guard here. People who live near the airport, which has been here for longer than they have. People who moved in knowing we have a large Air Guard wing here. Same people that protested the Burlington International Air Show.

Hippies just suck.

Treygreen13:
It only drives ye nuts when you put the ship's wheel on your penis.

Arrr...

Sin_City_Superhero: The ship is docked in the city's Charlestown neighborhood, which in recent years has been developed with high-end condominiums.

Well there's your problem.

Bring back pressgangs, and I think we can solve the problem.

"Who's that blasting off a shot?"
"Who's that blasting off a shot?"
"Who's that blasting off a shot?" cried the fair young maiden

"It's just the shot that wrecked your twat" said Barnacle Bill the Sailor

Zulu_as_Kono:
F*ck 'em, I say - Old Ironsides got there first.

Thunderpipes: People in Vermont are complaining that the F-35 might come to the Air Guard here. People who live near the airport, which has been here for longer than they have. People who moved in knowing we have a large Air Guard wing here. Same people that protested the Burlington International Air Show.

Hippies just suck.

People in Idaho put together a website to promote getting the F-35's here. They are even putting the info on lottery tickets to get the word out to poor people

TFA: Cooper said he turned down the invitation, and instead sent a letter saying he had no intention of changing the ceremony...

Way to keep an open mind. You could have at least discussed the matter before dismissing their requests out-of-hand.

Sending a letter asking for a moment of your time is the most civil possible approach to the situation, and you scorned it. Don't be surprised if the next letter is wrapped around a bottle filled with flammable liquid -- your boat is made of wood, you know.

/no, I don't think he should give in
//yes, listening to them would be a waste of time
///but doing so is the only way to promote this type of good behavior

Right lads, now, I know there's not a faint heart among you, and I know you're as anxious as I am to get into close action. But we must bring them right up beside us before we spring this trap. That will test our nerve, and discipline will count just as much as courage. That condo is a tough nut to crack... more than twice our guns, more than twice our numbers, and they will sell their lives dearly. Topmen, your handling of the sheets to be lubberly and un-navy like. Until the signal calls, you're to spill the wind from our sails, this will bring us almost to a complete stop. Gun crews, you must run out and tie down in double quick time. With the rear wheels removed, you've gained elevation. and without recoil, there'll be no chance for re-load, so gun captains, that gives you one shot from the lardboard battery... one shot only. You'll fire for her mainmast. Much will depend on your accuracy... however... even crippled, she will still be dangerous, like a wounded beast. Captain Howard and the marines will sweep their weather deck with swivel gun and musket fire from the tops. They'll try and even the odds for us before we board. They mean to take us as a prize.