Swords into plowshares...

and alimony payments into rocket launchers and then, via some minor piracy and blackmail, into hard cash... sometimes life is better than any Hollywood comedy could ever be. Via the Financial Post comes this heart-rending story of the Somali divorcee who got lucky with her payout from the ransom for Spanish fishermen:

Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.

"I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation," she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.

"I am really happy and lucky. I have made $75,000 in only 38 days since I joined the 'company'."

You can pay with a rocket launcher in lieu of alimony? Who knew? The numbers seem pretty compelling, and you can get in on the act in cash, kind, or with your own life at risk:

One wealthy former pirate named Mohammed took Reuters around the small facility and said it had proved to be an important way for the pirates to win support from the local community for their operations, despite the dangers involved.

"Four months ago, during the monsoon rains, we decided to set up this stock exchange. We started with 15 'maritime companies' and now we are hosting 72. Ten of them have so far been successful at hijacking," Mohammed said.

"The shares are open to all and everybody can take part, whether personally at sea or on land by providing cash, weapons or useful materials ... we've made piracy a community activity."

I particularly like the bit about "community activity"...