en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/207093 Comments by Christiaan Conover http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/17/kindle-for-android/#IDComment75926989 Freakin' awesome. I've been waiting for this to happen. I'm finally going to take the plunge into eBooks now that I can get them on my Droid. Tue, 18 May 2010 05:18:27 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/17/kindle-for-android/#IDComment75926989 http://ucgblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/uscg-guardians-make-it-through-navy.html#IDComment19285141 Excellent news. Thanks for the update! Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:51:51 +0000 http://ucgblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/uscg-guardians-make-it-through-navy.html#IDComment19285141 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18776785 I agree with PSCYoungquist - convoys, while perhaps not the most popular option, are the best immediate solution until longer term removal of the pirates takes hold. There's currently no active deterrent for the pirates to stop hijacking. However, if when you move toward a cluster of ships you see a bunch of heavily armed warships surrounding them, ready and able to kill you if you come too close to the convoy, you're not likely to get near that group of ships. That would be a much more effective use of the existing military assets already in those waters. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:47:59 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18776785 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18757124 This is true, though it's mostly MSC. However, putting firearms on board merchant ships creates an entirely new set of nightmares. First, do all merchant ships get armed, or only U.S. flagged ships? Who is the regulating body? What are the ROE? Who pays for the training, and how extensive does it have to be? Consider that military personnel who handle maritime security threats, particularly hijackings, receive months, often years, of intensive training. The expense in time, money, and manpower to implement this would be immense. Additionally, many countries do not allow firearms to be brought into their nation on board ships, and will either disallow a ship from entering a port, or confiscate all weapons on board upon arrival in the port. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:36:34 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18757124 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18756404 I am glad that nobody here has suggested arming the mariners themselves on board merchant vessels. Mass Maritime seems to think that this is the answer, when in fact this would create countless more problems than solutions. Luckily, nobody in any position of authority seems to be biting at that idea. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:16:57 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18756404 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18756305 There are two issues with that logic. First off, about 25,000 vessels transit these waters every year, and the vast majority of them get by without incident. When a ship does get hijacked that falls into the category of "private company that can afford security" it ends up being cheaper for the company to pay the ransom and continue on, rather than paying for a full-time armed security force on board. It's not economically intelligent for these private corporations to fund private security on their ships. Second, one of the major reasons that we maintain a Navy, especially in peace time, is for the protection of the merchant fleet. In fact, this was the only reason we kept an active Navy in the early years of this country's existence following the Revolution. Certainly the economic downturn affects the available budget for these sorts of operations, but I'm inclined to think that this would be a well-justified use of Defense dollars. Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:14:27 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/admiral-allen-on-worlds-piracy-threat.html#IDComment18756305 http://www.maritalk.com/2009/04/12/capt-richard-phillips-rescued-pirates-killed-in-custody/#IDComment18666706 I got my information from CNN, taken from the TV broadcast during initial reports. I had heard the revised information late last night, so I'll be updating/revising this post this morning. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:07:43 +0000 http://www.maritalk.com/2009/04/12/capt-richard-phillips-rescued-pirates-killed-in-custody/#IDComment18666706 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/#IDComment18453076 The size and space (or lack there of) inside these boats is not readily apparent from photographs. If the lifeboat from the Maersk Alabama is the same size as the ones on the T.S. Kennedy then they have capacity for 76 people on board, meaning rations, seating, etc. Therefore, while it is in no way comfortable, the captain and pirates are well-provisioned inside that boat for now. Thu, 9 Apr 2009 20:18:15 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-lifeboat-faq/#IDComment18453076 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-live-blogging/#IDComment18451998 Valid point, I hadn't considered that. Hopefully Capt. Murphy & Maersk are in agreement on disclosure, though as you said, the information that has been shared definitely creates a security hazard. Thu, 9 Apr 2009 19:51:05 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-live-blogging/#IDComment18451998 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-live-blogging/#IDComment18401281 Very unfortunate situation. Capt. Murphy was very busy today, fielding questions from the media. His office is within feet of many of my classes, so there was a lot of commotion during class today. Hopefully everyhing ends well for the crew, and for the Murphy family. Thu, 9 Apr 2009 02:24:19 +0000 http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/maersk-alabama-live-blogging/#IDComment18401281 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/risk-assessment-theres-app-for-that.html#IDComment18340152 Interesting...now we just need one for the computer. Wed, 8 Apr 2009 03:11:02 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/risk-assessment-theres-app-for-that.html#IDComment18340152 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/forecasters-predict-6-atlantic.html#IDComment18332441 Even though I know they cause serious damage and are a major problem, if we are unfortunate enough to get hit with one I hope my unit gets deployed. I'd like to get that experience. Wed, 8 Apr 2009 01:54:57 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/forecasters-predict-6-atlantic.html#IDComment18332441 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/coast-guard-image-your-safety-in.html#IDComment18080409 Excellent photo. Nice find! Fri, 3 Apr 2009 12:00:26 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2009/04/coast-guard-image-your-safety-in.html#IDComment18080409 http://www.christiaanconover.com/2009/03/11/handgun-training-for-mma-cadets/#IDComment16887481 For discussion: should the unlicensed personnel (OS's, AB's) be required to have weapons training as well? Since merchant vessels have relatively small crews, should they be trained to be included in part of the security plan? Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:29:59 +0000 http://www.christiaanconover.com/2009/03/11/handgun-training-for-mma-cadets/#IDComment16887481 http://www.ryanerickson.com/2009/03/finally-grandcentral-er-google-voice-is.html#IDComment16839918 Sounds good, thanks! Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:49:10 +0000 http://www.ryanerickson.com/2009/03/finally-grandcentral-er-google-voice-is.html#IDComment16839918 http://www.ryanerickson.com/2009/03/finally-grandcentral-er-google-voice-is.html#IDComment16835678 Do you get any invites to give to people, the way they gave beta users invites in GMail? If so, wanna toss one my way? :D It looks wicked cool, I'm psyched to try it out. Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:36:06 +0000 http://www.ryanerickson.com/2009/03/finally-grandcentral-er-google-voice-is.html#IDComment16835678 http://www.christiaanconover.com/2008/12/27/sea-term-2009-the-voyage-route/#IDComment13245838 I actually am not at the Coast Guard Academy. I go to Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and I'm a Reservist (for now). I plan to go to OCS after graduation, and go active duty. You had quite the combination of CCs! I remember BMC Ruchser and BM1 Vedder quite clearly, but I don't really know who AETC Pena or OS1 Ricketts are since I didn't really ever see them. Chief Ruchser had the company on the main deck of Healy while we were on the 01 deck. Since we were the senior company in the building and his company was brand new, he would come up to our deck all the time telling us how we were supposed to train his company on watchstanding and the like, in the way that only Chief Ruchser can. It sounds like you ended up with a pretty good assignment! Good luck, and thanks for the comment. Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:44:28 +0000 http://www.christiaanconover.com/2008/12/27/sea-term-2009-the-voyage-route/#IDComment13245838 http://blog.brightkite.com/2008/07/10/check-in-anywhere-on-earth-with-spot-gps-tracker/#IDComment12626612 Is there any support for the tracking feature of SPOT? Can I set it up to update Brightkite every time it automatically posts a position update, the way it handles updates with FireEagle? Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:58:44 +0000 http://blog.brightkite.com/2008/07/10/check-in-anywhere-on-earth-with-spot-gps-tracker/#IDComment12626612 http://www.cgblog.org/2008/12/nyt-omits-coast-guard-reserve.html#IDComment12594464 I may just write that letter. What a shame that the paper of record can make such a large oversight. Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:50:03 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2008/12/nyt-omits-coast-guard-reserve.html#IDComment12594464 http://www.cgblog.org/2008/12/whats-your-vector-victor.html#IDComment12460768 That's wicked cool! Although I have to say, I wouldn't be thrilled about being there another week. Probably worth it, though. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:51:25 +0000 http://www.cgblog.org/2008/12/whats-your-vector-victor.html#IDComment12460768