Pirates stick to ransom demand; standoff at 7 days

The headline just made my laugh. Pirates? Really? Apparently the pirates have a spokesman too. Damn they're really moving up in the world.

Pirates stick to ransom demand; standoff at 7 days - International Herald Tribune (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/01/africa/AF-Somalia-Piracy.php)

On a side note I googled pirates in google images and look what comes up LOL

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/wteach/more%20more/bush_pirate.jpg

Crazy, I know - but they're still out there. NG did a big article about modern day pirates last year:
Malacca Strait Pirates - National Geographic Magazine (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/10/malacca-strait-pirates/pirates-text)

Apparently these Somali pirates are no joke, they made 84 million last year in ransom money. I was listening to an interview with one of the pirates couple of weeks ago and they seem principled as far as pirates go. He said the following which made me laugh like a mofo:

1. Once we take over a ship no pirate is allowed to point the gun directly at hostage. If a pirate points a gun at the captured crew members he forfeits 2/3 of his mission pay.
2. Once they capture a ship, they empty its fuel tank and use that fuel for other pirating missions. This means that organizations wanting their ship back have to bring fuel to take their ship back or bring a towing ship.
3. All negotiation is done in English, once the ransom is paid the exchange point must be at sea.
4. We never capture ships at the exchange point evolved in the rescue. It's just not good business. If we see them tomorrow, however, that's a different story.
5. This operation is big, we have investors just like companies traded on the stock market.
6. We're big time ballers in Somalia. We got the nice houses, nice everything. We're blinging to the max.
7. We constantly invest in ships and weapons. We recently bought a new ship with torpedoes.

LOL a pirate code huh? Who knew?

We're blinging to the max.

Are they accepting applications?

Thats funny but this time I think they have pit off more then they can chew. Those weapons are not going any where and the US will see to that. Its now either give up the ship or go down with the ship.

LOL a pirate code huh? Who knew?

We're blinging to the max.

Are they accepting applications?

LOL...Do your speak Somali or are you willing to learn? They could use a language specialist I am sure.

LOL...Do your speak Somali or are you willing to learn? They could use a language specialist I am sure.

I'll order myself up some Rosetta Stone right now

LOL...Do your speak Somali or are you willing to learn? They could use a language specialist I am sure.
Don't rule him out they did also say they did their negotiations in English.

Is one of their demands a new cast iron grill with a tow hitch so you can drag it around VA on the weekends? Does the captain have a secret technique for making pulled pork extra juicy? Is he a fan of one of the greatest multi-dimensional players in the history of the NFL?

Is one of their demands a new cast iron grill with a tow hitch so you can drag it around VA on the weekends? Does the captain have a secret technique for making pulled pork extra juicy? Is he a fan of one of the greatest multi-dimensional players in the history of the NFL?
I see what you did there... and I LOL'd.