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Steven Rogers ^(5,562) South Carolina, USA

Steven Rogers

Somali Pirates Attack the Same U.S. Ship for the Second Time In One Year

Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (3 days 21 hours ago.) Viewed 114 times.

Well, they have done it again!!! The pirates have attacked a U.S. ship again. The funniest part about it is for the second time in seven months they attacked the Muersk Alabama. For those who don't remember, pirates hijacked this ship last April and took the ship's captain, Richard Phillips, hostage. They held him at gunpoint for five days in a lifeboat. Phillips was freed when Navy SEAL sharpshooters killed three of the pirates in a nighttime attack. This just goes to show that these pirates understand one thing, and that's force.

This time, four suspected pirates in a skiff attacked the ship firing with automatic weapons from about 300 yards away. What they weren't expecting was the armed security force that was on board at the time. The pirates were repelled by evasive maneuvers combined with small arms fire and a long-range acoustic device that beams ear-splitting alarm tones. This is congruent with maritime industries "best practices"

This is a great example of how merchant ships can take measures to protect themselves when sailing in treacherous waters.

Although these private security forces are expensive, in the long run they will save the shipping industry money, which can bring down the cost of goods shipped by these companies. Somali pirates were paid 3.3 million dollars on Tuesday for the release of 36 crew members from a Spanish vessel held for more than 6 weeks-showing how lucrative pirating these ships can be.

Amanda Derrick, a spokeswoman for Maersk Line Limited said simply, "The crew and captain are safe. The appropriate security measures were taken. That's the main thing, everyone's safe."

Although the international maritime community is still "solidly against" using armed security personnel on board ships, relying on the ships respective government to provide security, I believe it is obvious what measures must be taken to provide safe passage through these perilous seas.

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Should I Get the New H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccine? Is It Safe?

Posted Friday, November 13, 2009 (9 days 3 hours ago.) Viewed 128 times.

With new advances and increasing availability of the H1N1 Vaccine, several people have asked me if the vaccine is safe. I have looked into this and have come to the conclusion that yes it is safe. I had my doubts at first about some of the initial vaccines but the simple answer as to if the new vaccine is safe is that it is. The new vaccine is made in the same manner as the regular seasonal vaccine. Because of its late emergence last year, there was not time to have the vaccine ready to be administered as normal, which is why there is a separate shot necessary.

Some people worry that they will develop the flu from a flu vaccine. However, the flu shot does not contain a live virus and cannot cause the flu. A second type of flu "vaccine," a nasal spray, does contain a live virus, but the virus has been modified so that it cannot cause the flu. It takes about 10 days for the vaccine to work. If the virus enters your body before the vaccine has had a chance to work, you could get sick -- but the vaccine is not to blame.

No vaccine is 100% safe for everyone. People with allergies to eggs, for example, can't take flu vaccines because eggs are involved in the manufacturing process, and flu vaccines cause mild but common reactions. About one in three people get a sore arm from the shot, some with a little redness or even swelling. Some, 10% to 15% of people, feel tired or get a headache some may even run a low fever. Vaccines can trigger rare but serious reactions, even among people with no apparent allergies or sensitivities. The symptoms of influenza are similar to those caused by many other viruses.

Even when influenza viruses are causing large numbers of people to get sick, other viruses are also causing illnesses. Specific testing, called "RT-PCR test," is needed in order to tell if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. This test is different from rapid flu tests that doctors can do in their offices. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus. Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it.

As with any illness like the flu, there are certain things that you can do to minimalize the risk of getting sick or making others sick. Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. It is recommended that you sneeze into the crook of your arm to help contain any droplets produced that could normally escape through your fingers. Wash your hands often. Wash especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are showing signs of being sick stay at home. If you have a fever you should not return to work until at least 24 hours after your fever returns to normal. This is when you are the most contagious. If you can help it stay away from crowds. Remember not everyone is going to be as cautious as you are. Talk to your doctor and make an informed decision

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Obama Is Turning His Back On US Soldiers in Afghanistan

Posted Thursday, November 12, 2009 (9 days 23 hours ago.) Viewed 10 times.

General Stanley McChrystal wants up to 40,000 more troops as soon as possible. This is Obama's own choice for commanding officer on the ground in Afghanistan. So what's the problem? Obama is spineless. He won't make a decision because he doesn't want to upset anyone on either side. He was given four different plans by four different groups for strategies ranging from sending a few troops to sending lots of troops. They all had provisions for defense against the insurgents while at the same time training Afghan. Security forces. All I might add part of General McChrystal's plan.

So what is the bottom line here? It is that it's time to piss or get off the pot! Have you heard that expression before? In other words, if he will not take action to reinforce the men and women doing the work that he was never prepared to do than he should bring them home. As I've said before Obama has no experience in the needs or ways of the military. If he wants this war fought he should get out of the way of the soldiers that show more courage and resolve in day than Obama has shown in his entire lifetime. This man (if you can call him that) is putting American lives in unnecessary peril while sitting in a comfy chair somewhere ignoring the pleas of those who need help.

Let's put it in perspective. If a man goes in to a public place and starts shooting a gun, even if he is not aiming at anyone, he is guilty of reckless endangerment. If one of those rounds hits someone and kills him or her, even accidentally, he is guilty of manslaughter. What is the difference between this and letting soldiers die because they don't have the reinforcements they need. If he won't give the military the resources they need he should give up and surrender the position and bring our troops home. If he continues to go against the advice of the men and women trained in these situations and won't act to keep Americans safe, then he is breaking the law and should be impeached and put on trial for the lives of every soldier that loses his life due to his neglect. Mr. Obama is a weak willed and cowardly president and our country deserves better.

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Veterans Deserve Our Thanks

Posted Wednesday, November 11, 2009 (10 days 23 hours ago.) Viewed 10 times.

To quote the Rev. Denis Edward O'Brien, U.S. Marine Corps:

"It is the soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,

who serves beneath the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

who allows the protester to burn the flag."

What a touching Quote. Did you take the time though to let the meaning into you heart? What is he really talking about? As a veteran of the USMC, veteran's day is more than a matter of pride and recognition. It is a day to remember those who selflessly decided to give their lives for the freedoms that we all enjoy. These men and women give everything including their own rights and freedom to preserve them for the rest of us. What good would the talent of a writer be without the freedom of expression? The flag symbolizes the American soldier. It is their lifeblood, the whole reason for their very existence. Next time you see an American flag see the many troops that serve what it stands for. Next time you see a veteran, thank them for their service and their willingness to not just live under the flag but live for it. Happy Veteran's Day!

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Free Nude Pics, Free Nude Celebs, and Free Nude Teen Pics

Posted Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (11 days 23 hours ago.) Viewed 449 times.

In today's society, nudity is such a common occurrence that we barely notice anymore. We are becoming callous to behaviors that were taboo just a few years ago. Movies portray sex and nudity so often that what would have been pornographic is now rated R. I know an R rating means restricted, but who are we kidding. When is the last time you saw a ticket teller at a movie theatre counter ID a kid that wanted to buy a ticket? Is this what we want our children growing to believe? What are we teaching our younger generation? It is commonplace to see celebrities nude in movies and almost as common to hear about a Brittany nipple slip or a Lindsay wardrobe "malfunction". These are people that the younger generation look up to, and as kids in every generation do, try to imitate. With stars like Vanessa Hudgens taking nude pictures of herself on her cell phone to send to her co star Zac Effron, how can we expect our children as young as ten or twelve to not try and copy that in their own lives? Parents it is time for action!

These children are our responsibility. It is time we censor what they do and what they are exposed to. I understand why parents want to give cell phones to their children. In a time where sexual predators are everywhere it is natural to want that extra access to their kids, but do they really need all the extras that come with the more popular phones? Do they have phones for their safety and well-being or to make a fashion statement? Children do not need camera phones or "I Phones" to surf the web. Children should be supervised in their activities. Parents have gotten lazy. It is too much trouble for parents to check up on their kids. They think that by making sure that their children are being responsible is somehow intruding on the child's privacy. This is ridiculous! Children should be allowed room to grow and make mistakes because that's how they learn. They also need parents to point them in the right direction. Parents need to check cell phone and Internet usage to see that it is being used responsibly. Parents need to check to see that their kids are going where they say and doing what they say.

I picked my title because these are three of the most searched phrases on the Internet. If you found this page using these terms, think about this before you go. Everything that we do or send on our mobile devices is accessible by other people and therefore public. Do you want to find your daughter, sister, or wife on one of these sites?

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