September 20, 2007

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I realize this is 24 hours too late, but on any day of the year, the International Chamber of Commerce’s Weekly Piracy Report is the best reminder that for all our iPhones and gizmos, the world is still much the same as it was 300 years ago. An excerpt from this week’s report:

Five robbers, in two motor boats, armed with guns and knives boarded an anchored chemical tanker from the bow using ropes and hooks. Duty crew spotted the robbers and raised the alarm. The robbers broke the padlock on the forward store and stole ship’s stores and escaped. Bonny signal station was called many times but did not respond. Master requested for additional guards from agents.

Note: Armed theft is a serious crime and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, or whatever. But that somehow doesn’t mitigate the vision of a crew of peg-legged, one-eyed, ‘do-ragged blaggards scaling the side of a sailboat with knives in their teeth, threatening to make some scurvy sea dogs walk a plank. (Clearly I saw this on Read/Write Web.)