WIRED contributing editor Scott Carney interviewed an ocean-going hijacker for his story on the economics of Somali piracy. [more inside]
posted by gman on Jul 28, 2009 - 21 comments

Reports spread around the internet about an offer by a Russian company to do pirate hunting cruises off the coast of Somalia. The news garners a swarm of comments and outrage, and it looks like we have the beginnings of a snowballing controversy. [more inside]
posted by happyroach on Jun 26, 2009 - 36 comments

The Seasteading Institute (previously) is the brain-child of former Google engineer Patri Friedman , and seeks to set up independent governments in international waters. In April 2009, the institute received $500,000 of seed funding from PayPal founder Peter Thiel. After reading it's revised manifesto, Brad Reed (of Sadly, No) remains unimpressed. [more inside]
posted by The Whelk on May 31, 2009 - 98 comments

Haven't you always secretly wondered what would happen if a ninja accidentally stumbled into, say, Bill and Ted's time traveling Phone Booth and ended up somewhere around 7th century BC, only to come face-to-face with a feisty Spartan? Have you not pondered what would happen if you locked up an Apache with a Gladiator inside some sort of 21st century battle dome? Are you frustrated because you feel like there's nobody doing proper scientific studies to see what would happen when you pit two historically violent warriors that could have never actually met in real life? Worry no more people - I present to you Spike TV's newest offering - Deadliest Warrior! [more inside]
posted by Bageena on May 5, 2009 - 110 comments

The Singing Nerd is a guy who likes to write, play, and record songs about the things that he likes and then post music videos on Youtube. Most of these songs are about nerdy things, such as The Ballad of Catan, a song simply entitled Chess! and a song about Role Playing. But there's also songs about things we can all relate to, like Fast Food Commercials, A Trip To Las Vegas and... um... Pirates?. Hmmm. Anyway, check out the rest of his songs here.
posted by Effigy2000 on Apr 15, 2009 - 7 comments

Thousands of dolphins block Somali pirates
posted by hermitosis on Apr 14, 2009 - 78 comments

Professor Mills Kelly of George Mason University had his History 389 class spend the fall semester on a class project about the intriguing figure of Edward Owens, the "Last American Pirate". They blogged about their research, made videos for YouTube, and gave Owens a Wikipedia entry. The story even got some media attention. There was just one problem: History 389 was a class on historical hoaxes, and Edward Owens was their fictional creation. [more inside]
posted by Horace Rumpole on Jan 4, 2009 - 47 comments

Visit beautiful Puntland! "You can find more or less everything in Puntland: mountains, wide beaches, clean lakes, deep forests, world-class historic monuments, and friendly people." Enjoy a traditional Somali breakfast over the daily paper. If you plan on an extended visit, consider taking a course at good ol' PSU.
posted by JVA on Nov 26, 2008 - 10 comments

Somali pirates have captured a Saudi oil tanker, demanding a $25 million ransom. Somali pirates are well known and active - as of 30 September, 12 vessels remained captive and under negotiation with more than 250 crew being held hostage. But this time they may have gone too far: by capturing a ship of a Muslim nation, the pirates have drawn the ire of Somali Islamist fighters, who have vowed to combat the pirates. The pirates say they're just doing it for the cash, while some report they're living large. Who are Somalia's pirates anyway?
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing on Nov 21, 2008 - 63 comments

Piracy may be on the rise, but it's never really gone away. [more inside]
posted by gman on Nov 17, 2008 - 52 comments

A tense standoff has developed in waters off Somalia over an Iranian merchant ship laden with a mysterious cargo that was hijacked by pirates. Somali pirates suffered skin burns, lost hair and fell gravely ill "within days" of boarding the MV Iran Deyanat. Some of them died.
posted by VicNebulous on Sep 29, 2008 - 96 comments

On September 19th, the Westboro Baptist Church planned a protest outside the National Conference of Editorial Writers, claiming that they were "responsible for the satanic milieu in this evil land" and for assisting the "satanic agendas" of "baby-killers and fags." But September 19th also happened to be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And thus, a group of local residents were inspired to stage an effective, and entertaining, counterprotest.
posted by EmpressCallipygos on Sep 24, 2008 - 31 comments

Who watches The Watchmen? Kevin Smith has, Dave Gibbons has, Alan Moore won't (Gibbons hopes he'll watch the DVD), and if Fox has its way maybe YOU won't either.
posted by Artw on Aug 20, 2008 - 109 comments

Bored with Talk Like A Pirate Day? Investigate the real thing in the Straits of Malacca with National Geographic.
posted by loquacious on Sep 19, 2007 - 7 comments

Ye come seeking adventure and salty old pirates, aye? Sure you've come to the proper place. But keep a weather eye open, mates - and hold on tight, with both hands, if you please! There be squalls ahead, and Davy Jones waiting for them what don't obey!
posted by Katemonkey on Sep 19, 2007 - 48 comments

The Fuzzwich mini-vid widgit lets you build easy little animations.
posted by carsonb on Aug 12, 2007 - 26 comments

Introducing rPhone - Industry insiders at PiratePalooza have the specs on the first iPhone killer.
posted by Burhanistan on Jun 26, 2007 - 43 comments

Pirate myths debunked. Slate's Explainer attacks your favorite pirate stereotypes: walking the plank, saying "arrr." Not a myth: pirate republics. Pirates formed egalitarian mini-states based upon utopian values, a prime reason for their brutal suppression by European authorities.
posted by nasreddin on Jun 5, 2007 - 126 comments

An-arrgh-chy: The Law and Economics of Pirate Organization. [alternate link] To effectively organize their banditry, pirates required mechanisms to prevent internal predation, minimize crew conflict, and maximize piratical profit. [ssrnfilter]
posted by monju_bosatsu on May 30, 2007 - 18 comments

Why do people hate mimes? First you should get to grips with the history then get into a mime version of 9/11. Follow it up with an interpretation of Camus's The Outsider and Daniel Reyes's Mimes of the Caribbean. End your lesson with Mime World.
posted by meech on Apr 3, 2007 - 76 comments

Late Night with Conan O'Brien Bumper Art Site, mostly from HD TV screencaps. [Personal faves: 1, 2, 3.]
posted by myopicman on Feb 22, 2007 - 36 comments

Skyrates, pronounced like "pirates," is a new flash game currently open for beta testing. Designed by a group of seven students at Carnegie Mellon University, the concept was to create an MMORPG that you could simply check on every few hours throughout the day, like you would with your e-mail. The outcome is a simple but enveloping, and somewhat silly game that manages to be addictive as hell while only taking up a few minutes per day. (plus it's free.)
posted by Navelgazer on Dec 15, 2006 - 80 comments

The MPAA has come up with a new way to stop pirating early (PDF), let the scoutmasters drill it into the kids while their brains are still malleable. via
posted by IronLizard on Oct 20, 2006 - 32 comments

Pyrats! In celebration of today being that day, here's a very well-made cartoon short from a group of students from the French animation school Gobelins. Be sure to check out the making of page for character designs, and some great shorts from the crew showing their process.
posted by kosher_jenny on Sep 19, 2006 - 10 comments

Pirates! in an Adventure With The Internet Author Gideon Defoe offers the missing link between ham and piracy in his hilarious Pirates! novels. Feel free to thrill at the marvelously dry NPR interview
posted by drezdn on Jul 5, 2006 - 12 comments

Strippers, monkeys, pirates, and fire, a humorously titled account of the 1692 destruction by tsunami of the pirate city Port Royal.
posted by Astro Zombie on Jun 24, 2006 - 10 comments

Mike Russell's CulturePulp is a rare example of journalism through comics. Driven by a love of obsessive, slightly geeky subcultures, the Portland-based reporter/cartoonist offers probing answers to such vital questions as Are pirates the new ninjas? What would Tom Jones do? How do you feed a penguin? And which donut shop is best-suited for a voodoo-themed wedding
posted by yankeefog on Jan 23, 2006 - 11 comments

Ninjas vs. Pirates: The Movie You asked for it, now see the epic battle in four acts. {qt} [via linkfilter ]
posted by MiltonRandKalman on Jan 9, 2006 - 16 comments

On the Chilean island of Robinson Crusoe, a small GPR-enabled robot named Arturito (google translated page) has apparently just found "The biggest treasure in history..." (estimated at $10 Billion).
posted by numlok on Sep 26, 2005 - 25 comments

What if there were an established international legal precedent for addressing the terrorism problem? Maybe there is. And maybe it involves a plank. Or an eyepatch. Or, like, a hook instead of a hand. [via aldaily]
posted by willpie on Aug 19, 2005 - 19 comments

Avast! Pirates on the prowl in NYC. These folks had the same idea, but different costumes.
posted by Gamblor on Aug 5, 2005 - 10 comments

The world needs more pirates, bei meinem Haken! The world's pirate population is declining. As one could surmise from my previous post, this could be devestating for the environment (but possibly good for the ninja population). Either way, it's not too late to volunteer! (even if you're German)
posted by analogue on Jul 20, 2005 - 21 comments

Governments seize 50 million dollars worth of pirated material on a raid against alleged "net pirates". Hundreds of computers were seized and 4 arrests were made total. The Justice Department “is striking at the top of the copyright piracy supply chain — a distribution chain that provides the vast majority of illegal digital content now available online,” Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said. Anyone who knows how it really works knows that statement is far from the truth.
posted by Dean Keaton on Jun 30, 2005 - 69 comments

Pirates, Global Warming and Intelligent Design. (oh my)
posted by analogue on Jun 23, 2005 - 22 comments

Tired of searching for thinspiration? Why not turn your attention to a new lifestyle choice?
posted by scrim on Apr 13, 2005 - 22 comments

Female pirates.
posted by The Great Big Mulp on Dec 17, 2004 - 17 comments

A True Relation, of the Lives and Deaths of the two moft Famous Englifh Pyrats, Purfer, and Clinton who lived in the Reigne of Queene Elizabeth. From Isle of Tortuga, a freecache-linked geocities site. It has a wealth of primary sources and is refreshingly retro to boot! [mi]
posted by mwhybark on Sep 19, 2004 - 3 comments

Just getting into the spirit of things ready for tomorrow. Again.
posted by ciderwoman on Sep 18, 2004 - 24 comments

Oak Island is one of the greatest treasure hunting mysteries of the last 400 years. The Money Pit as it is called, has stirred up a bevy of questions including how this simple pit has alluded treasure hunters and scientists to this day. Some believe that it might be the location of the Holy Grail, stashed by the Templar Knights. Other's believe that it might be the resting place of Sir Francis Bacon's original plays acreditted to William Shakespear. The most common belief is that The pirate Captain Kidd hid his huge stash of gold deep within the pit which accounts for all of the unusual traps. Regardless of the wild speculation there has been evidence to suggest that there is deffinately something in the pit. But not all agree....
posted by Benway on Jan 15, 2004 - 17 comments

Avast there, me hearties, and listen to some tales of Pirate Utopias! Ar-Harr!!!
posted by carter on Sep 19, 2003 - 2 comments

Tell me, maties... Who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe? Who stole more treasure than he could carry from the Spanish pig-dogs? Aye, the most famous pirate of all, Sir Francis Drake! Some say he even invaded British Colombia with the world's first steam-powered ship...
posted by kaibutsu on Sep 19, 2003 - 6 comments

Avast ye scurvy dogs! Perhaps ye'll be needing a glossary to get you by on this fine Day o' the talkin' o pirates. Perhaps you'll be wanting to know about Wee Jim Hawkins. Mayhap you're looking for something to fly up the mizzenmast or else something to hang on that lanky plank of yours. Or perhaps you'd like something saltier, by way of bad anime. [Arr, Safe for the poop deck]
posted by Ogre Lawless on Sep 19, 2003 - 1 comment

Arrr, snuggled contraband! What truth be there in these pirate legends? They be misheard, says I.
posted by arto on Sep 19, 2003 - 5 comments

Avast, ye scurvy dogs, wi' a good wind, we'll have naught to do but sing 'til we strike land again!
posted by headspace on Sep 19, 2003 - 4 comments

It's OK to Talk Like a Pirate, Just Don't Pirate Words!
from Dan Gillmor and David Weinberger, found via The Boingers, who disabled comments.
posted by wendell on Sep 18, 2003 - 19 comments

Ahhh! 'tis only a week to go until ye land lubbers will be turned! September 19th is Talk Like A Pirate Day tell all ye mates!
posted by sycophant on Sep 11, 2003 - 13 comments

Killing the music Who is the real enemy here? Mefites argue on whether downloading the latest eminem is theft or merely copyright infringement. RIAA says this activity is killing CD sales and wants to slap a lawsuit on everyone with a cable modem. Everyone seems to be missing the real culprit here. [via Ars-technica]
posted by Nauip on Aug 5, 2003 - 128 comments

The Mother of All Maritime Links. Feeling a little landlocked? From "Pirates" (over twenty links) to "Weather & Tides," from plain old "History" to "Music" and beyond, this site is one of the more comprehensive available.
posted by datawrangler on Feb 7, 2003 - 5 comments

The Mystery Pit of Oak Island. In 1795, two boys found a treasure map on Oak Island, on the coast of Nova Scotia; two hundred years, tens of millions of dollars and six lives later, the island is nearly obliterated with holes and excavations, and no one is any richer... The story of Oak Island makes a fine allegory for pursuing phantom riches at the expense of all else, in addition to just making a damn fine story.
posted by jonson on Jan 9, 2003 - 27 comments

Avast, ye MeFi mateys!! I be Red Roger Rackham -- what be ye pirate name?? Nyar!!
posted by PeteyStock on Sep 20, 2002 - 86 comments