is it possible that there isn't already a thread on this, or that it's not being discussed somewhere else already? if there is, I couldn't find it. so what's up with Captain Schettino?? is this guy for real? his name has to be synonymous with cowardice at this point. according to Captain Schettino, haha, ain't it funny how that happened?? he just tripped, and next thing you know, he's in the life boat! he tripped right into the life boat! and when the coast guard ordered him back unto the vessel to oversee the evacuation, he claimed it was too dark!!!
I, for one, find it astonishing that an Italian would attempt to go to ground without justification and then complain to the authorities!
Listening to the Coast Guard try to get that guy back on board - stunning stuff really. You can hear the exasperation in their voices, exhorting, cajoling, begging, threatening, anything to get the captain where he belonged to help direct rescue efforts.
Italian Judge: "Waita minito, you a say you a trip and a fell in to a lifeboatta?" Captain Schettino: "Dattsa my story anna Imma stickina to it!"
That captain has a future in politics, with a story like that. On the positive side, they say cruises will be a lot cheaper to book this year.
I have to hand it to the headline writers at the NY Post. They had a photo of the guy and above him, in a huge all-caps header, CHICKEN OF THE SEA
nice. I have to find that cover online. I think the NY Post is the best when it comes to back page stuff. as a NY Jets fan, they've had some memorable back covers relating to the Jets.
The coastguard dude was awesome. This Schettino guy sounds like he went into captaining ships on the basis that it was a nice easy job, not expecting that shit happens on the seas. He apparently took an unauthorised detour to go past an island as a favour to his head chef, who was born there. Fantastic excuse though. "I fell into a lifeboat".
I know I shouldn't laugh, but the whole story is just soooo Italian, it cracks me up no end. wrecking a massive ship just to great the family, and then pulling a Berlusconi.
you have to figure, telling chicks he was a "captain" probably got him a lot of 'tang. perhaps second only to fighter pilots and navy seals. he was like, what?? go down with my ship???? that wasn't in my job description!
You have to admit though, the captain has a sweet mullet! I mean look at that rich dark curly plumage!
He must have kept that hairstyle as a shock absorber, to prepare for the likely event that he would be thrown off a ship and must land head-first into a lifeboat.
This is probably a good time to book a cruise if you've been wanting to go. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-carnival-impact-idUSTRE80H1HA20120118
I understand that you're just joking around at this captain's expense -- and deservedly so. But in all seriousness, I don't think anyone becomes a ship captain on the basis that it's a nice easy job. At least in the U.S., the requirements to captain a ship that large would've required several years of schooling, passing various certification tests, and many years of on-the-job-training at sea working your way up the ladder.
no doubt. he probably started growing that mullet when he first entered the merchant marine academy - or Italy's equivalent, and has been growing it ever since. the plumage of the mullet directly corresponds to the number of years he has spend perfecting his craft. until recently, courage was not one of the job requirements I guess.
Good lord. A violinist on the ship, Sandor Feher from Hungary, was seen on the deck by the lifeboats helping to put lifejackets on several children. He then said he was going back to his cabin to try to get his violin, and died there. *cries* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/costa-concordia-victim-sandor-feher-hungary_n_1213387.html
It seems Germans and Italians have different ideas on whom to compare this capitano to: (I'm guilty as charged, too: )
I guess that depends on which Italians you are listening to. from what I read the non-Berlusconi press was comparing the captain to Berlusconi, i.e. blissfully steering Italy close to the abyss, turning too late and then getting off without doing anything useful. and they compare the coastguard who gave the captain that classic dressing down to the new Italian government which tells the Italians to get on with it and pay their honest taxes.
It looks like he did ok. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-of-blonde-on-the-bridge-of-doomed-liner.html