Gather Weekly: unemployment, piracy stocks, health care

This week's Gather articles (12/1-12/5):

Health care reform

• Senate Dems seek to limit tax deduction on compensation for health insurance executives
• Politics, Lumbergh style: Senate will vote on health care bill amendments this weekend
• Glimmer of bipartisanship: several Dems join GOP in health care bill amendment
• But what about the death panels? AARP backs Dems' health care bill

Web

• Mashable's Pete Cashmore on 10 Web trends to watch in 2010
• Explosive growth of social networks: infographic

Sports

• The Importance of the World Cup 2010 Draw: Preview and Breakdown

Economy

• Is the tide turning for unemployment? Initial jobless claims fell to one-year low last week
• The new green economy: marijuana market booming in Humboldt County, CA
• The 10.2% solution: Obama hosts jobs summit today at White House to address unemployment

Politics & legislation

• Duct tape legislation: House bill will fix deadline glitch in unemployment benefits extension bill
  
• Gay marriage bill defeated in New York state Senate
• Capitol Hill's taxing agenda: Congress ponders tax legislation to end 2009
• Democratic leaders advocate additional unemployment benefits extension
• House to extend unemployment benefits, estate tax break before Xmas; jobs bill delayed until 2010

International

• Somali pirate "stock exchange" lets investors fund, profit from piracy

Books

• Christmas gift ideas: NYT Book Review's 10 Best Books of 2009

Dear Lily,

Lily Allen's been having a hard time recently. Called out for being a hypocrite after she ranted about copyright piracy, then oh-so-gently mocked in this brilliant ditty by Dan Bull:




Hat tip to TBP for the story and vid.

Huzzah!

Pirates!

The ICC's Commercial Crime Services division has a live piracy map which is updated with reports of piracy this year, which are increasing in both number and boldness. Every incident has a pinpointed location and report to go along with it:




This is kind of a strange phenomenon. Modern piracy seems so...anachronistic. But it's big business, especially in the Gulf of Aden. Somalia's status as a failed state means it is an excellent haven for pirates. Other hot spots include the Ivory Coast, East African waters, and the Southeast Asian seas. Don't be surprised to see this grow into a bigger issue over the next six months. I'm talking major international naval coalition-level response.

Modern Piracy

Incredible. $30M? A supertanker? Insane. We might have to have Old Ironsides take to the seas again.