HAPPY NEW YEAR AND
WELCOME TO AMERICAN ADMIRALTY BOOKS!
Barque: ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLT II, Named for the Oceanographer
Photo by Hans Georg Schroder
MONDAY JANUARY 1, 2013
NEW TO OUR SITE? WONDER WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT? CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR AN ENTERTAINING VIDEO EXPLANATION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFw32RRJY98:
If you want more detail after the video click on the INTRODUCTION page in the right hand margin.
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THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PERFORMED BY"MADISON RISING":
Click on the link below the flag to get your day off to the right start!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8C7i9kdEf8
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IN THE NEWS OF LATE: 
THE NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH A REMINDER THAT WE ARE LIVING THE ANCIENT CHINESE CURSE "MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES."
In the Strait of Hormuz Iran continues to threaten to disrupt this vital passage between the seas so important to the oil supplies of the west. In the South China Sea and the East China Sea the dragon becomes more aggressive by the day. The American media and the American government seem to be almost unaware of the fact that an important military ally, important trade partner, and a nation we are bound to by defense treaty Japan has its Coast Guard squared off with the government ships of our largest creditor, China. Below we link you to news stories that indicate that China is starting to militarize their Coast Guard functions and center them in a service that is increasingly military, a service now about to receive two destroyers. The situation is hot and getting hotter. On any given morning we could awake to find that Japan and China are exchanging shots between war ships in disputed seas. Our own nation then, and our navy face a Hobson's choice. While all this is going on the donkey and the elephant continue to struggle with the dreaded "Fiscal Cliff". Defense budgets continue to decline and the various politically correct forces of "jointness" assure that the Navy gets as much in the way of cuts as all of the other armed forces though what we most need at the moment is a larger navy.
Chinese warship harassed Phl boats off Kalayaan’
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/01/01/892056/chinese-warship-harassed-phl-boats-kalayaan
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In the Strait of Hormuz Iran continues to threaten to disrupt this vital passage between the seas so important to the oil supplies of the west. In the South China Sea and the East China Sea the dragon becomes more aggressive by the day. The American media and the American government seem to be almost unaware of the fact that an important military ally, important trade partner, and a nation we are bound to by defense treaty Japan has its Coast Guard squared off with the government ships of our largest creditor, China. Below we link you to news stories that indicate that China is starting to militarize their Coast Guard functions and center them in a service that is increasingly military, a service now about to receive two destroyers. The situation is hot and getting hotter. On any given morning we could awake to find that Japan and China are exchanging shots between war ships in disputed seas. Our own nation then, and our navy face a Hobson's choice. While all this is going on the donkey and the elephant continue to struggle with the dreaded "Fiscal Cliff". Defense budgets continue to decline and the various politically correct forces of "jointness" assure that the Navy gets as much in the way of cuts as all of the other armed forces though what we most need at the moment is a larger navy.
Chinese warship harassed Phl boats off Kalayaan’
By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) | January 1, 2013
MANILA, Philippines - A Chinese amphibious warship twice harassed a four-boat convoy of Kalayaan town while delivering food and other household supplies to the inhabitants of Pag-Asa Island last Oct. 27, according to the mayor of the island town.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon, who recently returned to mainland Palawan from the island town, said a silver gray warship with bow No. 995 directly sailed towards and crossed the path of M/T Queen Seagull, a 200-ton vessel owned and operated by the local government of Kalayaan island town in the Spratlys.
The vessel, a cargo and supply ship, is being used to haul supplies from mainland Palawan to the civilian residents in Pag-Asa island, the seat of the Kalayaan island municipality that comprises the country’s seven regime of islands and two reefs in the hotly-contested region.
Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon, who recently returned to mainland Palawan from the island town, said a silver gray warship with bow No. 995 directly sailed towards and crossed the path of M/T Queen Seagull, a 200-ton vessel owned and operated by the local government of Kalayaan island town in the Spratlys.
The vessel, a cargo and supply ship, is being used to haul supplies from mainland Palawan to the civilian residents in Pag-Asa island, the seat of the Kalayaan island municipality that comprises the country’s seven regime of islands and two reefs in the hotly-contested region.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/01/01/892056/chinese-warship-harassed-phl-boats-kalayaan
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Iran claims to test-fire missiles near crucial Strait of Hormuz
December 31, 2012
Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's navy said Monday it test-fired a range of weapons during ongoing maneuvers near the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
IRNA quoted Adm. Amir Rastgari, spokesman for the exercise, as saying the Iranian-made air defense system Raad, or Thunder, was among the weapons tested, along with various torpedoes and underwater and surface-to-surface rockets as well as anti-ship missiles. The Islamic Republic said it also deployed domestically-made hovercraft during the operation.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/iran-tests-weapons-near-strait-of-hormuz/story-fn3dxix6-1226545898671Associated Press
IRNA quoted Adm. Amir Rastgari, spokesman for the exercise, as saying the Iranian-made air defense system Raad, or Thunder, was among the weapons tested, along with various torpedoes and underwater and surface-to-surface rockets as well as anti-ship missiles. The Islamic Republic said it also deployed domestically-made hovercraft during the operation.
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China adds destroyers for surveillance
(AFP) / 31 December 2012
China has transferred two destroyers and nine other ex-navy vessels to its maritime surveillance fleet, reports said Monday.
This move is to beef up its position in bitter territorial rows with Japan and other neighbours.
Beijing renovated the ships and transferred them to surveillance operations to “alleviate the insufficiency of vessels used to protect maritime interests”, said a report on Tencent, one of China’s major news portals.
China is embroiled in a maritime dispute with Japan that has seen tensions between the two Asian giants, the world’s second- and third-largest economies, at times reach fever pitch.
It is also engaged in a simmering row with its southern neighbours over its claim to vast swathes of the South China Sea.
Beijing renovated the ships and transferred them to surveillance operations to “alleviate the insufficiency of vessels used to protect maritime interests”, said a report on Tencent, one of China’s major news portals.
China is embroiled in a maritime dispute with Japan that has seen tensions between the two Asian giants, the world’s second- and third-largest economies, at times reach fever pitch.
It is also engaged in a simmering row with its southern neighbours over its claim to vast swathes of the South China Sea.
Editor's Note: Over the weekend we carried a story of a Chinese general officer making public pronouncements suggesting that China needs a military Coast Guard. One day later the news of the transfer of destroyers to the Ocean Surveillance Service reaches us. An armed "Coast Guard" frankly in our opinion has been part of the Chinese "naval establishment" for some time now.
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Editor's note: Welcome to the new year. It looks like the lawlessness at sea will continue for 2013.
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IN THE NEWS:
Russia Sends Landing Ships to Syria:
Report By AFP
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A Russian warship carrying a marine unit has left its Black Sea port for Syria amid preparations for a possible evacuation of nationals living and working in the strife-torn country, news reports said on Sunday.
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CHANGES IN PROGRESS, YOU MAY NOTICE:
You may notice that the posts for January 2012 are no longer available on the right hand column of blogs or posts by date. They are still here if you are looking for something specific from January 2012. We have already moved them to the temporary archive located in the Index Section which you may click on at the bottom of the special interest pages or sections listed on the right. Once in the Index and Location Aids section simply scroll down until you find the January 2012 posts. The 2012 posts will be moving to the archive about one month at a time. We are able to keep only 12 months of material available for instant retrieval filed by month on the home page.
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A Major Change Coming:
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We have learned that typical advertisement blocking applications in common use perceive our book cover icons as advertisements and block them. If you are viewing us through such software you may read a book review in any of our sections and perceive indications that a point of retail purchase or more information on a title is only a click away but then there is nothing to click on. For the time being our site is best viewed with advertising software turned off.
We don't carry banners or pop ups. The only straight forward advertisements are between postings and these are few and far between. But this is a site that sell books as well as reviewing them, and we do offer retail on line shopping in the Fishing, Surfing, and Diving sections. Unfortunately typical advertising blocking soft ware simply makes these features, that many visitors enter here for, invisible. Much of this site is visible on most any internet access device regardless of the various filters involved. We are working on improving reception all the time. But reception will probably always be best by viewing us in Google Chrome with advertising blocker programming turned off. We do not carry pop ups, streaming ads, or banners across any part of the text you are trying to read.
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IN THE BLOG SPACE TODAY:
More Naval Humor
IN THE BLOG SPACE YESTERDAY:
REPTILES ON ICE, THE ADVENTURES OF CHINA'S M/V SNOW DRAGON ALONG OUR ARCTIC COAST.
CHINA THINKING OF CREATING A MILITARY COAST GUARD
IN THE BLOG SPACE OVER THE WEEK END
We have temporarily removed the weekend station Identification and Notice board so that if you missed the weekend posts you need only scroll down.
A Little More Naval Humor
HOW FAR WILL THE DRAGON SWIM? CHINA's LONG DISTANCE FISHING FLEET IS STIRRING UP TROUBLE.
WHALE EATING JAPANESE, THE JAPANESE HAVE EMBARKED ON YET ANOTHER WHALING SEASON
NAMAZU ON THE FISHING AND WHALING STORIES OF THE DAY, A VERY SHORT PITHY COMMENT
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HANG IN THERE WORLD NAMAZU IS COMING LATER IN THE WEEK AND WILL EXPLAIN ALL
NAMAZU, Giant Japanese Catfish Former Demigod and Now Coastal environmental Analyst
As the New Year opens we face ever worsening challenges in the South China and East China Seas, and in the Strait of Hormuz as China tries to appropriate the commons and even the territory of its neighbors. Off of Somalia and in the Strait of Malacca piracy runs rampant. In Louisiana another ancient political scam has been revealed where elected officials, and now their heirs, have ripped off the revenues that should have flowed to the public treasury from the State's offshore "commons" . Are we at war over the ocean commons? Just what is the Ocean Commons anyway. Hang in there America. Later this week Namazu will explain all.
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MORE NAVAL HUMOR MASTER CHIEF AND 3 LIEUTENANTS
One day, a Master Chief went to the Officer's Club with his Captain to eat lunch. When they entered the main dining room, they found the place was crowded. They did notice three Lieutenants sitting at a table with two empty chairs, so the Captain asked them if they could join them. They promptly invited them to join them. They ordered lunch and joined them in conversation as they ate. At one point, the Master Chief mentioned he had observed characteristics about many officers from which he could determine the sources of their commissioning. The Lieutenants were eager to hear about this and asked if he could tell how each of them had been commissioned.
The Master Chief turned to the Lieutenant on his left and said he went through ROTC. The Lieutenant confirmed that was correct and asked how he had noted this. The Master Chief replied that the Lieutenant, through his conversation, seemed to have a strong academic background but limited military experience.
The Master Chief then told the Lt on his right that he had gone through OCS with previous enlisted service. The Lieutenant confirmed this was correct and also asked how he had determined this. The Master Chief said, again through his conversation, that the Lieutenant seemed to have a firm military background and a lot of common sense.
The Lieutenant across the table from the Master Chief asked if he had determined his source of commission. The Master Chief replied that the Lieutenant had graduated from the United States Naval Academy . The Lieutenant stated that was correct and asked if he had noticed his high level of intelligence, precise military bearing, or other superior qualities acquired at the United States Naval Academy . The Master Chief replied that it was none of these that led to his determination. He had simply observed the Lieutenant's class ring while he was picking his nose.
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