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Why Are The Somali Pirates So Successful?

ruunyo — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:52:31 +0000

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting serious. Even the supply of video games for the Christmas season may be in danger. Should this happen, more attention may well be paid to the problem.

On 15 November 2008, Somali pirates captured their biggest prize thus far, a very large Saudi owned oil tanker.

The attack on the Sirius Star, three times the size of a US aircraft carrier and capable of carrying 2m barrels of crude oil, is the most audacious in recent times. It took place 450 nautical miles south-east of Mombasa, Kenya more than twice as far out to sea as other recent attacks on shipping.
The tanker is apparently now near the Somali "town of Eyl, which has become a haven for pirates." A representative of the U.K. Seafarers' Union commented,

"This has come as a massive shock. It's the biggest ship that's ever been taken, and it's a long way away from the area which up until now has been regarded as the dangerous region, where the previous attacks have been," he said. "Tankers of this size are usually safe from attacks. It's a worrying escalation."
In September, Somali pirates attacked a U.S. Navy supply ship. Warning shots were fired, and the pirates ran away (OK, sped away in their speed boats). Somali pirates recently took command of a Ukrainian cargo vessel bringing military equipment to Kenya. It was "crammed with $30 million worth of grenade launchers, piles of ammunition, even battle tanks." They were able to capture the ship two hundred miles off shore by "surrounding" it with three speedboats.

Meanwhile the U.S. Fifth Fleet is "evaluating" the situation, as acts of piracy escalate — despite the concerted efforts of several countries, including the United States and Russia. According to a Navy Lieutenant, spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, the Navy is very concerned about this sort of thing. Nevertheless, the rules of engagement must, of course, be determined through international consensus before much more can be done.

Surely, the combined Naval forces of the U.S., Russia and a host of other countries could bring this mess to a screeching halt if they really desired to do so, if the consequences of doing so were acceptable, and if the necessary resources were available. However, such seems not to be the case.

Who, besides the Somali pirates, is serious about this? Why were mere warning shots fired by the U.S. Navy in defense of its supply ship? Have too much time and effort been devoted to "evaluating the situation," and too little to making the piracy stop? The pirates have a lucrative business going and are unlikely to cease and desist as a gesture of good will. Their business is certainly more profitable than that of the Big Three auto makers.

Why Are The Somali Pirates So Successful?

ruunyo — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:52:15 +0000

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting serious. Even the supply of video games for the Christmas season may be in danger. Should this happen, more attention may well be paid to the problem.

On 15 November 2008, Somali pirates captured their biggest prize thus far, a very large Saudi owned oil tanker.

Google Image Search Now Trying Text Ads Instead Of Image Ads

Silver — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:31:09 +0000

When Google started officially placing ads on Google Image search, they used banner or image ads. I am now seeing reports that Google is going towards a text ad format.

Michael Gray noticed, as did the folks at AccuraCast.com that Google is now placing three text ads in Google Image Search. In the past, Google placed one image or banner ad in the image search results, either at the top or at the bottom.

Getting Personal - Advent Calendar

Romana — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:13:35 +0000

Choose from over 1500 unique gift ideas including Birthday Gifts, Christmas Gifts and Personalised Gifts - Fast UK Delivery on all Gifts.

http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk

How Christmas Works

Romana — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:09:02 +0000

"The first harbingers of Christmas arrive in October when jarring sales and decorations follow fast on the heels of summer. But by December, Christmas's true heralds are out: twinkling lights lining streets, the smell of balsam and spice cookies wafting through the house and visits from friends and relatives. The season's spirit drives people to the mall, to the kitchen, to midnight mass and to festive gatherings."

http://www.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm

Advent Calender "Chip": Programs

Romana — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:25:18 +0000

You' ll still get to open one little door each day, but instead of sweets you'll get software programs.

http://www.chip.de/artikel/Download-Adventskalender-2008_33781926.html

All Things Christmas: For Those Who Share The Spirit Of Xmas ...

Romana — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:16:35 +0000

Christmas cards, clipart, crafts, decorations, Xmas recipes, shopping, christmas songs, stories, traditions and more.

Boston: Big Pictures

Romana — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:41:14 +0000

Camels are seen early morning on a beach in the Marina area of Dubai October 16, 2008. (REUTERS/Steve Crisp)
Images from beyond Boston and around the world.

Chritmas Gifts for your loved ones in India

infibeam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:01:35 +0000

Christmas is indeed a time for revelry. It is that time of the year when members of the family spend time together making merry. Christmas decorations and Christmas tree are integral part of the festivities. This Christmas think of innovative Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones.

Give Elite Touch to Your Personalized Gifts with Picsquare.com

infibeam — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:41:26 +0000

Personalizing the gift is a really great way to show that you really care and that you put effort into choosing the gift. Give Surprise to your loved one with unique personalized gifts through Picsquare.com

Perez Hilton Must Be Stopped

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:51:57 +0000

This article is part of the Open Web Awards, an open, international contest for the best websites and services.

Do you want PerezHilton.com to be crowned the top celebrity gossip site of 2008? If not, you need to vote for one of the other contenders in the Open Web Awards “Celebrities and Gossip” category. The top 3 nominees will proceed to the finals next week.

For both fans and critics of Perez’s unique style (above), here are your choices in this category:

No more embarrassment: Non-nude body scanner to undergo tests this week in Germany

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:48:36 +0000

Last week’s attacks in India have reminded us all of the keen danger that terrorism poses. But one tool that was to be employed at airports to combat terrorism, those body scanners that sometimes reveal a person’s, well, person, came under criticism. Fighting terror (inasmuch as you can fight it) is great and all, but should people literally be exposed in the process? The Germans say no, and are developing a body scanner that, while it does its job (detecting weapons and so forth), doesn’t show off your nude body to the leering airport screeners.

FRIEND FEED

Pumpkin111 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:37:19 +0000

FRIEND RSS

The ultimate guide to testing your website

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:43:48 +0000

How to conduct 'guerilla testing' to perfect usability

After so many shoddy sites, pop-up windows and forced registrations, the truth is that if people don't find your website easy to use, they won't come back. Worse, they'll tell their friends just how clueless you are.

The answer is, of course, to design everything around the needs of your users. We've known this for years, but there's still resistance to even the most basic usability testing.

NUDE Magazine's Annual Photography Contest Includes Cash Prizes

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:40:44 +0000

Carrie Leigh's NUDE Magazines second annual fine art photography contest now includes cash prizes for the winners and runner ups in each category as well as a much coveted feature exhibit in the Summer's Issue. According to Billy Durham, an editor at NUDE, "Publisher Carrie Leigh has decided to give back to the photographers and models that have made NUDE so successful." Durham adds, "With the world's economy in such turmoil and NUDE doing so well Ms. Leigh has decided that this would be a way of helping out those in the artistic community who have the desire to exhibit their work."

NameCheap Free Domain Names and Hosting Christmas Giveaway on Twitter

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:35:52 +0000

Domain name registrar NameCheap.com has decided to add some social media to their marketing mix and also spread some holiday cheer by giving away domains and hosting. From December 1st through December 25th, NameCheap will be giving away $17,000 worth of domain names and hosting packages. The giveaway involves an hourly trivia contest that the company will be holding at Twitter.com. The hourly trivia contest requires any one wishing to participate sign up for a Twitter account, follow Namecheap and be the first to answer the questions. For more information on the contest check out the Namecheap site.

James Boyle's "The Public Domain" -- a brilliant copyfighter's latest book, from a law prof who writes like a comedian

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:33:52 +0000

Jamie Boyle, of the Duke Center for the Public Domain, has a new book out, The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind. Boyle ranks with Lessig, Benkler and Zittrain as one of the most articulate, thoughtful, funny and passionate thinkers in the global fight for free speech, open access, and a humane and sane policy on patents, trademarks and copyrights. A legal scholar who can do schtick like a stand-up comedian, Boyle is entertaining as well as informative.

I've got a copy on its way to me, but while I'm waiting, I'm delighted to discover that Jamie talked his publisher, Yale University Press, into offering the book as a free, CC-licensed download. And right there, in the preface, I'm hooked:

How To Use Public Domain Files Intelligently - Part 2

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:31:09 +0000

In this article, we will consider how to use your public domain
content and put it on a website.

If you already have a website, find related public domain
content to simply copy and paste to your site and create dozens
of brand new pages!

If your site is about dogs, get content about dogs. Dog tips,
temperament, training, toys, etc. And put it on different pages
on your site.

If you don’t have a website, find content that you would like to
build a website out of and get going. Let’s explore this further
today.

What’s your website going to be about? Public speaking?
Gardening? Children? Well, what’s the content of your public
domain file? Create a website on the theme you choose. It can be
anything. Your own niche. Perhaps something you enjoy like
cooking. Or even something you know nothing about like
astronomy! That’s the beauty of public domain. All the content
you need is already there for you to simply copy and paste. That
gives your website value. More people would be interested to
visit your site.

3 Ways Make Money Blogging With Your Computer

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:28:01 +0000

If you have started a blog, and want to take it to the next level by creating an income with it, there are some steps you can take to become successful. In this article let's take a look at a few ways you can make money blogging using your computer.

Blogging is becoming the mainstream with many computer users. This is a great way to offer your expertise and keep an updated log of information you want to present to others.

1. If you are interested in how to make money blogging you can start with Google Adsense. This is a pay per click service so the advertiser only pays if their ad is clicked on and the blog owner makes a portion of the profit.

Porn makers unleash file-sharing lawyers too

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:25:59 +0000

Unsuspecting elderly couple accused of pirating porn

As if the notorious anti-piracy lawsuits being wielded like weapons by the music industry weren't bad enough, we now have the same tactic being used by a much darker force – the porn barons.

One of the highest profile cases involves a British couple in their 60s who have been hit with a demand for the odd sum of £503 for allegedly downloading a gay porn film.

14 sizzling sales tips from an eBay PowerSeller

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:23:30 +0000

Whether you're a seasoned PowerSeller or a keen self-starter, selling on eBay can be a gripping, if at times frustrating, pursuit. Making serious profit is rarely achieved overnight, and it pays new sellers to do their homework before jumping in.

Much has changed at eBay during 2008. To name just a few, there's been the advent of the Best Match feature plus changes to Buy It Now formats and Feedback. And all have compelled even the most erudite sellers to revisit the drawing board. Here are 14 tips sellers of all levels should (re)consider before hitting the relist button.

Three Reasons Why Netbooks Just Aren’t Good Enough

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:20:36 +0000

The debate about Netbooks, which are very small and very cheap laptop devices, is beginning to heat up. The category is only about a year old but sales are expected to top 5 million this year.

Lots of people think Netbooks are the next big volume market because they allow people who previously couldn’t afford computers to own one. People got so bullish on the devices that sales projections reached 50 million units by 2012.

I’ve had a chance to test many of the units, though, and I can say that the promise is much bigger than the payoff. Perhaps that’s why Intel is rethinking whether the devices are as great as everyone’s expectations.

3 Ways To Give Away Content Online (And Still Make Money)

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:13:28 +0000

There was a great billboard that the agency I used to work for in Sydney several years ago had created for the launch of Virgin Mobile in Australia. At the time, the other telcos were starting to charge for every feature, so the billboard promoted Virgin's new offering with the declaration - "Voicemail is like sex, you shouldn't have to pay for it." Today, that joke/truth could be equally applied to how people feel about online content. In the age of peer to peer music sharing and ease of cutting and pasting, getting people to actually pay for content is a tough challenge.

There are, however, three models that I've seen used on various sites that do work. To be clear, I'm not talking about monetizing content. There are lots of ways to fund content creation through selling advertising or capturing profile data for a sales cycle. This post is about getting some to pay directly for content that you're creating. In fact, having this arrangement means that you can be more selective about the advertising you accept, or choose to forego it altogether. So here they are:

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:09:56 +0000

This list was compiled from the Top 10 Tools list shared by over 220 learning professionals worldwide at the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: tools learning)

10,000 iPhone Apps

Silver — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:39:55 +0000

148Apps, which tracks and reviews iPhone Apps, says 10,000 applications have now been released on the iPhone App store (the site is named after the fact that you can add up to 148 applications to an iPhone or iPod touch).

A tribute page shows a mini icon for every application. And it also gives some interesting data. About 24% of apps are free; 35% cost $.99. The average cost is $3.12, including free apps. About 34% are games or entertainment, and there are 49 weather related apps for the iPhone despite the fact that a weather app is built in.