01/03/2013 Station Identification and Notice Board

 WELCOME TO AMERICAN ADMIRALTY BOOKS!

Barque:  ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLT II, Named for the Oceanographer
Photo by Hans Georg Schroder

THURSDAY JANUARY 02, 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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YEAR END REPORT TO READERS (CONTINUED): 

THE NEWS SERVICE WILL CHANGE:

 In our first year of operation we have learned a few things about our news service. First we have learned that there is a demand for more than just a reading room with links to the various existing maritime news services and periodicals. Second we have learned that an awful lot of very important maritime issues never get the attention of the general media or even some of the maritime trade journals. We did not start out with a news staff and still can't afford one but we are determined to improve our news service. In 2012 we did establish a headline service in addition to our "reading room" of links to the maritime on line trade journals and news sources. We also have a retained headline service maintaining links to news stories of importance back about twelve months. We will try to do better in 2013. late in 2012 we added a daily piracy report and we are looking for features to add and better ways of presentation. If the money ever becomes available we will try to assemble a news staff. meanwhile in addition to maintaining our NEWS SERVICE section we will continue to try to alert you to very important maritime stories right here in the station Identification/notice board. Watch for changes in 2013. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------IN THE BLOG SPACE TODAY:

NAMAZU, Former Japanese Demigod, Rock Album Cover Model, Analyst

NAMAZU EXPLAINS THE MARITIME COMMONS:

 Today Namazu explains the vocabulary and legal theory of the maritime "commons" a concept hated by "Thug States" and under enforced by the international community of nations. The giant catfish gives a real tour de force of the issue in today's blog space. Yesterday we carried the article below illustrative of the problem Namazu addresses today. This catfish has got it covered, he should be a key adviser to the President and Congress.

HOW FAR WILL TH E DRAGON SWIM? CHINA'S NAVAL EXPANSION AND AGGRESSIVE MOVES ON THE TERRITORIAL SEAS OF ITS NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING NATIONS LINKED TO TH E UNITED STATES LIKE THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN CONTINUES AS OUR NUMBER ONE MARITIME WAR AND PEACE ISSUE TO MONITOR IN 2013. WE MAY WELL HAVE TO FIGHT IRAN IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ FIRST, BUT A FIGHT WITH CHINA PITS US AND OUR STRONGEST PACIFIC ALLIES AGAINST OUR LARGEST CREDITOR AND MAJOR SUPPLY SOURCE. SUCH A WAR CAN'T POSSIBLY DO ANYONE ANY GOOD WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF ALLOWING THE UNITED STATES TO REPUDIATE ITS DEBT TO CHINA WITHOUT REAL CONSEQUENCE TO ITS INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING. NO ONE EXPECTS A NATION AT WAR TO FUND ITS ENEMY.  BUT THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY TROUBLESOME POTENTIAL CONTEST OF ARMS. BOTH SIDES ARE NUCLEAR POWERS, THE UNITED STATES HAS NEVER SIGNED THE NO FIRST USE AGREEMENT, AND THE WORD OF CHINA CAN NOT BE TRUSTED. THE DRAGON IS PLAYING A VERY DANGEROUS GAME. ONE FALSE STEP COULD SPELL RUIN FOR THREE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMIES OR REDUCTION TO ASHES. THE NATIONAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO OFFER ONLY SPORADIC AND UN- ASTUTE COVERAGE OF THE RELATED INCIDENTS. WE WILL CONTINUE IN 2013 TO MAKE THIS A MAJOR FOCUS OF OUR NEWS SERVICE UNTIL THE MAJOR MEDIA WAKES UP. AS OF THE START OF 2013 THE DRAGON IS SWIMMING FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC SHORES OF ALASKA, ACROSS THE PACIFIC AND BEYOND. BUT TO ITS NEARBY NEIGHBORS IT NOT A CURIOSITY BUT A REAL THREAT. WE ARE BOUND TO SOME OF THOSE NEIGHBORS BY FORMAL DEFENSE TREATY AND TO THE DRAGON BY VAST TRADE AND DEBT.

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IN THE BLOG SPACE YESTERDAY
 Merchant Marine Interest : Disclosures of defects and Protection of Informants. We urge every professional mariner reader to read this essay and print it out. This is knowledge that you need instantly in the event of an unannounced Coast Guard visit.
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