Is this story compelling because it deals with an 11 year old boy a couple hundred years ago?  Or is it that it's an 11 year old cracker? 

Ha, can always count on you, Krav, for some interesting perspective. I don't know, there's a lot there to be compelled by. An 11 year old boy so enraptured by these pirates he demands to join them...it's a fantasy come to life, no? Not to mention the crew that searched the deep to find a piece of him...a message from him?...from so long ago. Just a cool story...hell if I heard this as a kid I would have been enthralled by so many aspects of it.

If one wants to read about preteens enlisted into a life of crime, violence and early death they could surely get some more reliable accounts through the ongoing violence in Africa.

Yeah, well...I'm sure that's accurate but I was posting this story to allow a moment to think of how large and wondrous life can be and not to dwell on the cruelty of humanity which can sink us at any moment...besides I think a lot of people may have stopped reading anything I post because it's all too much in that general direction...you know like "oh, it's fuckin', Reg, again with another of his long and depressing rants."

I think I've tried to mix it up a bit lately with a little talk about books, music, even jumped into the whole 9/11 conspiracy thing...I'm trying, dude. Maybe I'm even boring in that regard too though...fuck, I'm listening to Captain Beefheart from the 70's...I'm gonna start posting like Mr. Bear next...everything I write going forward may be a haiku of some sort.

And if it's historical perspective you want, you probably wouldn't have much difficulty finding archeological digs that have revealed child warriors with caved in skulls or obvious battle damage to their skeletons.

How's your ear necklace these days? Has it grown any?

edit:

It occurred to me right after posting the two lines above how they would make perfect Beefheart lyrics...ahh...David, can you squeeze those into anything to irritate your dingo with?