Ahoy, Maties!
By now I'm sure that you've seen mention of the scurvy pirate attack of a cruise liner off the coast of Somalia. Since I've been sent several a link to articles about the story, I thought I'd provide comment on a couple of them. First of all, we have the report from The [London] Sunday Times, which gives some detail about just how rich these particular travellers were:
[The Seabourn Spirit] offers the height of luxury, with huge suites, marble bathrooms and more than one crew member to each passenger. Cruises aboard the liner cost from £6,100 for a 16-day sail to £18,270 for an epic 46-day voyage.
In case you were wondering, that's US $10,627.83 for 16 days, based on current rates at press time, or $664.24 per day. Of course, I might consider such pricing schemes if I could have more than one crew member at my continuous disposal.
Also from the Times we learn that (in addition to evasive action):
The liner used a sonic blaster to foil the pirates. Developed by American forces to deter small boats from attacking warships, the non-lethal weapon sends out high-powered air vibrations that blow assailants off their feet. The equipment, about the size of a satellite dish, is rigged to the side of the ship.
Clearly that is the coolest boating accessory you could easily disguise for a weekend jaunt on the lake.
Perhaps it was because I first read this article that I felt so informed when I came across MSNBC analyst and former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt's commentary piece, but I'd like to highlight some editorial foolishness for a moment.
Way down in paragraph 700 or so, after he's attempted to invoke memories of Black Hawk Down, al-Qaida and the WTC bombings, among other terror attacks, he drops this nugget:
Those responsible for planning the routes to be traveled by transport vessels and cruise ships will now have to rethink the ports of call to which they are willing to go, and what defense measures can be deployed beyond fire hoses, electrified fences around the decks of merchant ships, and trying to outrun pirate speed boats willing to do just about anything to stop the targeted ship.
I have two words for you, sir: SONIC BLASTER. My favorite part comes at the very end when, after what I could almost give credit for being a soundly reasoned article overall, there is this foolishly scribed jewel of a sentence:
In our post 9/11 world, the otherwise lighthearted phrase "Ahoy maties" has taken on a whole new meaning.
I challenge you all, dear readers, to come up with some suggested new meanings for this otherwise lighthearted phrase.