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22 May 2011 15:36

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Culture: Latest “Pirates of the Carribean”: Big in the U.S., bigger worldwide

  • $90 million opening for Johnny Depp’s latest meal ticket
  • $46M the amount the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” made in its opening weekend
  • $135M the amount “Dead Man’s Chest” opened at — the most successful of the franchise
  • $114M the amount “At World’s’ End” opened at; it had a bigger foreign gross than the first two source
  • » Look beyond the U.S.: While it wasn’t a super-impressive opening weekend compared to other “Pirates of the Carrribean” movies, worldwide it’s a juggernaut — earning over $256 million this weekend alone, which is the largest foreign weekend ever. Also of note: It’s still the largest domestic opening weekend of the year so far, which we credit to Michael Bolton being a major cinephile.
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Feb 2011 09:44

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World: U.S. takes on Somali pirates, loses hostages in process

  • As (U.S. forces) responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors. Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages ultimately died of their wounds.
  • A statement from U.S. Central Command • Revealing that, during a U.S. Navy rescue effort to save the four Americans on the yacht Quest, the Somali pirates on board killed the Americans. After getting on the ship, the soldiers engaged in a battle with U.S. forces, with two pirates died and 13 others were captured. The remains of two others were found on board. An awful end to a scary story. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Feb 2011 16:54

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World: Somali pirates have more than enough hostages to fill a Starbucks

  • 30 ships are currently being held by Somali pirates
  • 660 people are being held for ransom as we type
  • four U.S. citizens were captured on Friday source
  • » The latest incident: The people currently being held for hostage in the waters around Somalia were on a yacht called Quest, and included a couple known for traveling the world via yacht and handing out bibles to anyone who would take them on their journeys. If Americans get involved with this, they could damage the Somali’s business model of pilfering money from shipping and insurance companies. Because the U.S. won’t put up with this crap.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Feb 2011 13:26

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U.S.: Judge throws the book at pirate from Maersk Alabama hijack

  • 34 years in jail for Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, Somalian former pirate source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Nov 2010 10:33

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World: Rachel & Paul Chandler: Huge ransom needed to set them free

  • 387 days pirates held Paul and Rachel Chandler hostage source
  • » It wasn’t cheap to set them free: Why did it take so long to get them free? Well, there were some ransom issues. First the pirates asked for £4 million in ransom, around $6.45 million dollars. The amount was too much, but they still wanted something. A later ransom, for around £350,000 ($565,000) was intercepted by intermediaries who wanted a cut of the action. Finally, a third ransom, also in the hundreds of thousands range, was accepted, and the Chandlers were let go – but not after being separated and physically abused by their captors.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Apr 2010 12:02

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U.S., World: Here’s a photo of the Navy blowing up another pirate skiff

AMERICA, #(&@ YEAH! This image proves what we suggested yesterday: Pirates shouldn’t screw with the U.S. Navy, because the U.S. Navy will win. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Apr 2010 10:49

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World: Pirates apparently aren’t aware that the U.S. Navy is powerful

  • cause A bunch of suspected pirates attempted to attack the U.S. Navy ship, the USS Nicholas, which was in the Indian Ocean. You know, a powerful U.S. Navy ship with a massive crew.
  • effect The crew returned fire, chased after the suspected pirates’ skiff, sank it, arrested them, went to the mothership and arrested THOSE suspected pirates. In all, five stupid people were arrested. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

31 Jan 2010 11:32

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World: Brits captured by Somalian pirates: We desperately need help

  • The pirates want $7 million. The British government won’t pay. Despite pleading from Paul and Rachel Chandler, they’re still not getting any help. Part of it is a longstanding British policy not to play nice with pirates. As a result, they’ve been captured since October. “Please help us, these people are not treating us well,” Rachel Chandler said in a video filmed by AFP. “I’m old, I’m 56 and my husband is 60 years old. We need to be together because we have not much time left.” Yikes. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Nov 2009 09:34

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U.S., World: Like an elephant, a ship captured by Somali pirates never forgets

  • Due to Maersk Alabama following maritime industry’s best practices such as embarking security teams, the ship was able to prevent being successfully attacked by pirates. This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take pro-active action to prevent being attacked.
  • Central Command director Vice Adm. Bill Gortney • Exclaiming his pure joy that the Maersk Alabama didn’t get ganked by Somali pirates a second time. The difference this time? The ship had a security staff that could create ear-piercing sounds. And guns. Can’t forget the guns. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Oct 2009 20:25

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World: Anyone got a lot of money sitting around to give to some pirates?

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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