pirates

The number of privately owned commercial ships in the US flag fleet is dropping rapidly. Some are in domestic (Jones Act) trade and others in U.S. government work. Not to many ships under U.S. flag are left operating in international trade and those left are in competition with foreign flag ships. Now, throw a few pirates in and you have one of today’s top news stories.

My better half’s  father was a Captain for (CSX) Sealand (before the last few ownership changes) of one big arse ship! At the time his ship was one of the largest container ships around.  A tour of it was like strolling through a large building and the bow was awe inspiring to me anyways. It brings on those could have been thoughts front and center around here.

A Captain held hostage hits a nerve in this family. I hope to heck that the resolution to this situation comes fast and Captain Richard Phillips is freed safely and unharmed.

The other part of me that runs loose in my brain – hopes that after the Captain and the crew of the .Maersk Alabama are safe the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge blows the freakn pirates to H double toothpicks. Somali pirates have staged more than 60 attacks on the high seas this year. Come on now! Apparently many of the pirates use GPS and satellite phones while attacking from smaller faster speedboats in coordination with a larger ship. I say blast the F’ing mother ship to smithereens.

Since I am in such a good mood and am on a roll – the man (for lack of a better word) who was holding his wife and three children hostage on a freeway – thank you for releasing them. Since your stupid and messed up standoff has shut down Interstate 80 initially in both directions and now the westbound lanes are still closed  –

WOW YOU SURRENDERED YEAH – because I was gonna say who gives a rats arse if you kill yourself? I guess law enforcement officers did – shuck and darn I so wanted to wish good riddance and save some tax dollars.

Now that I have show that I can be a cold hearted big B I will end this rant.