I saw the film adaptation of this with Tom Hanks a couple of months ago. It was a really tense gripping film that described the hijacking of an American container ship by Somali pirates. It did a good job of also trying to explain the two sides of the story - although it did become a bit of a recruiting vehicle for the US navy toward the end.
I've now read the book account and that is just as interesting. It has lots of background detail of how Phillips became a captain, and I found that fascinating. The description of the hijack is equally good, how he prepared the crew beforehand, how quick thinking he had to be to stall and disrupt the pirates.
A really good read, and an eye opener into the merchant sailor world - something we all rely on but few people realise the threats they face.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Book read: Red Machine: The Players' Stories by Simon Hughes
A book with an interview per chapter of players from the 1960s-1980s in the Liverpool team.
If you followed football at that time, particularly the period in the 1980s where Liverpool were the team to beat then it is a really nostalgic look back at the times and allows lots of comparisons with how the game has changed.
The profile of football was so much lower then, and consequently the game was much less commercialised. The success of Liverpool toward the late 1980s was just the beginning of that revolution.
Although it did not seem amateurish at the time, a lot of the training, medical treatment was pretty basic. Liverpool had a simple philosophy, where they excelled was in buying players that would fit well into a team.
A really good read, and a nice piece of football history.
If you followed football at that time, particularly the period in the 1980s where Liverpool were the team to beat then it is a really nostalgic look back at the times and allows lots of comparisons with how the game has changed.
The profile of football was so much lower then, and consequently the game was much less commercialised. The success of Liverpool toward the late 1980s was just the beginning of that revolution.
Although it did not seem amateurish at the time, a lot of the training, medical treatment was pretty basic. Liverpool had a simple philosophy, where they excelled was in buying players that would fit well into a team.
A really good read, and a nice piece of football history.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Twitter Economics
The Twitter flotation got a lot of press this week.
They floated at $26 a share, with 505 million shares in circulation leading to a market cap of $13.1 bn.
There was lots of interest in the shares and they rose above $50, and now stand at $41. That's a market cap of around $20 bn.
It's a very popular service, I can't deny that - and it has tentacles into all media outlets - as they have been suckers for feeling the need for a presence on it. Especially individuals of media who feel the need to self promote (despite the obvious danger of an ill judged tweet ending your career).
But this service has never made a profit, has yet to work out an advertising strategy - and could easily be replaced by a newer more trendy upstart.
I was dubious about Facebook - this is just crazy...
They floated at $26 a share, with 505 million shares in circulation leading to a market cap of $13.1 bn.
There was lots of interest in the shares and they rose above $50, and now stand at $41. That's a market cap of around $20 bn.
It's a very popular service, I can't deny that - and it has tentacles into all media outlets - as they have been suckers for feeling the need for a presence on it. Especially individuals of media who feel the need to self promote (despite the obvious danger of an ill judged tweet ending your career).
But this service has never made a profit, has yet to work out an advertising strategy - and could easily be replaced by a newer more trendy upstart.
I was dubious about Facebook - this is just crazy...
Facebook Economics IV
It has been a long time since I've looked at these shares, and the madness of the Twitter float has made me look back - I was pretty downbeat on them. Give Facebook their due, it looks like they are working out how to advertise to mobile/small screen users.
So how about the shares?
There are 2.43 billion shared in circulation.
$47.53 dollars per share, $115.50 bn market capitilsation
$38 dollars at floatation, indicating $92.34 bn value.
So an overall increase of $23.16 bn, a 25% rise in value.
Steady progress I say, and compared to Twitter this almost looks like a sensible business now...
So how about the shares?
There are 2.43 billion shared in circulation.
$47.53 dollars per share, $115.50 bn market capitilsation
$38 dollars at floatation, indicating $92.34 bn value.
So an overall increase of $23.16 bn, a 25% rise in value.
Steady progress I say, and compared to Twitter this almost looks like a sensible business now...
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Social Media Sign Up
I've always shunned social media, I suppose not for any deep ideological reason - but just the inevitable consequences of a free service needing to ride on the back of the data you provide to earn money from advertising. It creates a race-to-zero pressure to always be "innovating" (read taking liberties with your personal information) on the provider.
Of course if social media were "pay-for" I would not use it either, and I know it is up to the user how much information they are prepared to divulge.
But now as a consiencious objector of sorts I face a new threat. I use the e-mail of a well known provider who also happens to offer a social media element. But now almost every time I login it feels like there is a new "trick" to try and get me to accidentally sign up to their service. Obviously as a user I'd like a button that says "not now, not ever" - but there is no way the provider would offer that, they lose an oppourtunity to catch me out.
I'm wondering how long I can hold out for...
Of course if social media were "pay-for" I would not use it either, and I know it is up to the user how much information they are prepared to divulge.
But now as a consiencious objector of sorts I face a new threat. I use the e-mail of a well known provider who also happens to offer a social media element. But now almost every time I login it feels like there is a new "trick" to try and get me to accidentally sign up to their service. Obviously as a user I'd like a button that says "not now, not ever" - but there is no way the provider would offer that, they lose an oppourtunity to catch me out.
I'm wondering how long I can hold out for...
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Film: Elisabeth directed by Shekhar Kapur
A film from 1998 about the reign of Elisabeth the first. It has historical backdrop of the Spanish Armada, but most of the film focuses around Elisabeth her lack of marriage and court intrigue.
It makes for a good film overall, a few liberties with history as always with Hollywood - you want to believe the speech delivered on horseback to rouse the troops was authentic, but surely not...
It makes for a good film overall, a few liberties with history as always with Hollywood - you want to believe the speech delivered on horseback to rouse the troops was authentic, but surely not...
Film: Rush directed by Ron Howard
When I first heard of this film about the 1976 Formula 1 championship battle between Hunt and Lauda I knew I would be interested in seeing in, then when I heard it was directed by Ron Howard I knew it was essential viewing.
I was not disappointed, despite being relatively low budget this portrays life in Formula 1, the danger, the glamour, and the two very different characters of playboy Hunt and technocrat Lauda.
Despite all the horrific things concerning Lauda's near death the film still has plenty of room of humour and describing the world title that year. Hunt is portrayed somewhat one dimensionally to contrast well with Lauda - but that can be forgiven as it is film and not documentary.
I was not disappointed, despite being relatively low budget this portrays life in Formula 1, the danger, the glamour, and the two very different characters of playboy Hunt and technocrat Lauda.
Despite all the horrific things concerning Lauda's near death the film still has plenty of room of humour and describing the world title that year. Hunt is portrayed somewhat one dimensionally to contrast well with Lauda - but that can be forgiven as it is film and not documentary.
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