Seven Years Of Submarine Blogging
I completely forgot that Saturday was my 7th blogiversary. I guess that should tell me something.
In these seven years, I've posted 2709 times and received over 2.3 million individual visits and over 4.5 million page views. I've sent hundred of people the words to the "Submarine Song" and regained contact with dozens of old shipmates. It's been a good ride.
Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.
posted by Bubblehead at 7:18 PM
30 Comments:
Congrats Joel!
9/19/2011 7:26 PM
I hope you keep it up for a long time to come, thanks
9/19/2011 7:39 PM
So is that boomer heading into the sunrise, or the sunset? It's rather important for the meaning of this post :)
9/19/2011 7:42 PM
I haven't decided yet. I'll let everyone know when I do.
9/19/2011 7:47 PM
"So is that boomer heading into the sunrise, or the sunset?"
There is one clue contained within the picture that will provide you the answer.
Hint: only a submariner will know the answer based on his qualification knowledge of the forward part of the ship.
9/19/2011 8:03 PM
USS LOUISIANA (SSBN 743) summer of 2004, following an afternoon swim call. We weren't heading anywhere except back on patrol...
9/19/2011 8:12 PM
Great job, Joel. Keep it up and God bless.
9/19/2011 8:22 PM
She's heading towards the evening horizon. It's never a complaint to watch a sunset on the missile deck in clear weather. Now where is my life line and cup of coffee?
Congrats on seven years Joel!
9/19/2011 9:08 PM
From a target; Thanks for all the posts, we need all the help we can get. Not that it would do us anygood, but it is nice to know the submariners are all that.
9/19/2011 11:58 PM
That's a GREAT picture. I remember my days on the 743 Gold very well... I miss it! STS1(SS)
9/20/2011 4:41 AM
Joel, your blog is part of my morning routine. Expertly done. Hope it continues.
9/20/2011 5:39 AM
Lots of me-me-me in the above comments, at least as regards what your blog is doing for them. That's all well and good, but my suggestion for you, Joel, is that you do what feels right and best for you. Everything runs its natural course.
People also see and experience what they look for in life. Happy trails are a choice...not a coincidence. We all only have just so much time here, and making the best of it is a constant stream of choices. Enjoy yours to the fullest.
9/20/2011 7:47 AM
Stop trying to overshadow the repeal of DADT! J/k, Congrats!
9/20/2011 8:54 AM
Whoa, NSFW (or NSFK) on the Submarine Song! Granted, I should have known better...
9/20/2011 12:33 PM
RE: "Whoa, NSFW (or NSFK)...I should have known better..." Yep!!!,` (-;
To Joel - a big BZ!
Old chief from the dark ages
Jerry
Submarines once...submarines twice...
9/20/2011 4:07 PM
Sunrise, before 0800. No colors are flying.
9/20/2011 6:24 PM
Negative ghostrider the above poster had it right..... It is the USS Louisiana driving toward the setting sun.
9/20/2011 7:30 PM
You always fly the ensign at sea regardless of time of day!
9/20/2011 8:44 PM
The masthead light is up (the mast between the scopes). Assuming the sub is in the middle of the ocean and had just completed a swim call, and assuming that that is the primary reason the boat surfaced:
-They probably did not surface the night before and so did not raise the masthead light then.
-The sub will not dive prior to sunset (looks to be 30 mins or so before sunset, obviously she's not rigged for dive since someone is topside taking a picture.
So good money that the boat is heading west towards a setting sun.
I don't know about you guys, but I never bothered raising the masthead light until a little before we needed it (conversely, I usually left it up unless there was a reason to lower it). As for the ensign thing...yes, it is supposed to be up 24/7 while underway, but in my experience it was only worried about prior to pulling into port or entering territorial waters.
9/20/2011 9:35 PM
Deleting a spamment.
9/21/2011 7:49 AM
Joel, thanks for all that you have done. Yours is the best sub blog, bar none.
9/21/2011 8:55 PM
Does anyone know the background for the "Submarine Song"?
Was it origin in PacFleet?
None of my buds ever heard it in either fleet and suspect it was either one of those arcane boomer things or a creation of the 80s or 90s.
When did any of you first hear this marvel?
Mad Max
9/22/2011 6:37 AM
...arcane boomer things or a creation of the 80s or 90s
The SSN's out of San Diego in the 70's certainly knew it. The DBF'ers claimed to have brought it to the nuc's and given the amount of crossover in those days, tend to believe that.
Old chief from the dark ages
Jerry
9/22/2011 9:57 AM
It was around in the '70s on the west coast, for sure. Suspect it's much older than that. Could well be a WWII-era thing...it's old.
9/22/2011 10:32 AM
I had never heard of it before reading this blog.
9/22/2011 10:33 AM
Congratulations Joel, you have a great blog and I check it at least 5 times a week. Brings back good and bad memories of my naval submarine career that will turn out to be the core of my life. I like your political commentary as well, my friend -- don't back down on that.
I went to high school and college in SLC Utah and may decide to retire in Boise. Hope to swap some sea stories with you over a couple of brews someday. If you ever come over to Stuttgart, crash at our casa!
9/22/2011 11:00 AM
I don't think many guys even know of the submarine song anymore, I only know of it from going to the Horse and Cow, and I'm not sure too many guys more junior than the current crop of COs had ever heard it when I would reference it.
9/23/2011 5:20 PM
While I'm fairly new to this blog, I have known of it's existence for sometime. As I spend more time on it I find it to be very informative even though I do not understand most nuc talk being a diesel boat sailor.
But I guess that's how most of the nucs felt when the BBS's were mostly smokeboat talk.
Good work Joel. Hope you can continue the good work. A blog like this is certainly needed.
9/25/2011 7:10 AM
Congrats.
10/07/2011 12:22 PM
We weren't heading anywhere except back on patrol.
11/10/2011 10:56 AM
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