It's hard for journalists to reach the roving band of Somali pirates that's been capturing booty on the high seas, even though they have a PR person. A frustrated BBC journalist who couldn't get through to them via telephone ("They usually picked up the phone but put it down again when I said I was from the BBC") gave in to her kid's nagging and let her call the pirates. The number was "under P for pirates" in her phone, naturally. The kid got through, and the conversation went well:
"Hello. Please can I talk to the pirates," said my daughter in her obviously childish voice.
I could hear someone replying and a bizarre conversation ensued which eventually ended when my daughter collapsed in giggles.
This was a breakthrough. Dialogue had been established.
