Frigates vs. Pirates: Different Sea, Same Result

The young US Navy won renown battling pirates in the Mediterranean 200 years ago, and continued that tradition today off Somalia, this time without spotting them a frigate.

My favorite part of the article, quoting British pirate expert "Jolly"* Roger Middleton:

[Pirates] might not always make rational decisions, and they often attack things that are bigger than they should... It's also quite possible that they don't have a full understanding of the targets they are attacking. Perhaps they just see a big ship they think is a worth a lot of money.

Considering the $64 million unit construction cost and the theoretical ransom the capture of such a ship might entail, they weren't entirely incorrect, although they overlooked the part about the guns, highly-trained crews etc.

*You KNOW that's what they call him.

Election Night Special

Sweden has sent two members of the Piracy Party to the European Parliament, perhaps not the best idea given the whole Viking heritage thing.

And in England the ruling Labour Party is in such dire straits that two of its candidates finished behind a representative of the Monster Raving Loony Party. Sadly, however, the MRLP candidate placed far behind the Conservative ("Other Loony") candidate.

Post title, of course, from this classic:

Shiver Me Yada Yada Yada

A nearly belated Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day to all and sundry! I am delighted to see that JJV cleverly referenced the newest of the September High Holidays in his post below.

My scientifically determined pirate name is Mad Davy Rackham. Obviously. Arr!

The above text translates as follows:

A nearly belated Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day t' all and sundry! I be delighted t' see that JJV cleverly referenced t' newest o' t' September High Holidays in his post below. Me scientifically determined pirate name be Mad Davy Rackham. Obviously. Arr!

I was disappointed to see that JJV was not referenced as a "scurvy dog" but as that is used for the other 364 days of the year I am not too concerned.