COFFEE BREAK...

I think it is time for me to have a coffee break. I will give a short review on some different brands of espresso coffee in a few days. In the meantime, check out: Mostly Italian Coffee and The espresso guide.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

From Ananova: "1773 The Boston Tea Party took place. Samuel Adams and 150 "Sons of Liberty" protested against British taxes on tea and other goods."

Related: my post, SEATTLE ESPRESSO PARTY?

NO GORE IN '04

I am glad to hear that my post, AL GORE IN 2004?, will not turn into reality! Maybe Gore should continue his "career" as an actor?!

X-MAS

How do you celebrate X-mas? Read Casey Fahy's post (scroll down to 12-2-02). If you want to help Santa, check out my wish list. Thanks!

SEARCH...

I am thinking of adding a search engine so my readers could search my blog. If you have any suggestions or comments on search engines (e.g. PicoSearch), please comment on this post or send me an email.

HAVE YOU BEEN "GOOGLED"?

Read The World According to Google by Steven Levy. Do you think that Google's latest feature, "Froogle", will be a smash hit?

FINAL COUNTDOWN?

How many terrorists have been checked and taken off the list? How many are still on the "high-value target list"?

"NUKE 'EM"

Should we sit and wait for Iran to finish building their nuclear plant? I don't think Iran need nuclear power for electricity, it must be for some other purpose... ATTACK IRAN NOW!

TECHNORATI AND POPDEX

I have added two more sites to the Resources category: Technorati and Popdex. If you are interested in tracking links and Google ranking, you could create a watchlist on Technorati. The name "Popdex" stands for "popularity index."

WARBLOG

Adam Pasick has a story on how the "blogosphere" could play an important role in the media coverage of the forthcoming war with Iraq. [Via InstaPundit.] I think that the warbloggers will have some impact on how the news reporters, journalists, etc. will conduct their business. I see that the blogging community is taking a big role in highlighting what's going on in Iran. [Via Damian Penny.] For more on the developments in Iran, read this post @ "Rantburg."

CAPITALIST "PIG"

I am thinking of buying Jonathan Hoenig's book, Greed is Good: The Capitalist Pig Guide to Investing.
Related: see my update of my post, RADICAL FOR CAPITALISM. I have added one more article to the media coverage section.

SNAPSHOT

Jennifer Lee's article, What is the world searching for?, describes how Google Zeitgeist takes a snapshot of today's trends and events in the world. [Via Tempus.]

Walmart is taking the third place of "Top 10 Gaining Queries, Week Ending December 2." Do you have a clue why that's the case?

BLOGS ON THE "ROLL"...

I have added the following blogs:

* James Lileks - a great columnist. Read his post on anti-Semitic views in America.

* Damian Penny - "Damn" Canadian. Read his take on the problem with the Saudis.

* Tim Blair - Journalist from "down under." Read his post, "International Buy Something Day." Tim: I bought a box of cigarillos (SEK 68) and attended a party with Italian wine and food (SEK 250). The next day, I walked for capitalism.

* Charles Johnson - the "anti-idiotarian." Read his post, Muslims Divided Over Saudi Aid.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN

Time is up for the ayatollahs in Iran. I hope that the "Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran" will have successful demonstrations. [Via InstaPundit.] Here is one of SMCCDI's slogans: "Long Live Freedom! Established be Secularism!" I could only say "Amen" to that! Freedom fighters in Iran: More power to you!

This evening I had an interesting discussion at a pizzeria in my neighborhood. The owner is from Iran. He fled the country more than 20 years ago. He believes that Reza Pahlavi will be a good leader for Iran, sometime in the future. Read the article, Son of late shah sees 'golden opportunity' for change in Iran. [Via Davood Jafarzade Fard.]

And yes, the pizza tasted great! I must have had a much more more pleasant experience than James Lileks.

PROPAGANDA TV

I saw an interview with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz on Swedish television. Tariq Aziz had no problem in spreading Iraqi propaganda. He openly admitted that Iraq is supporting the Palestinian "suicide bombers." You have to tell me if Ted Koppel's interview turned out to be another propaganda show for Tariq Aziz...

ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES' WEB SITE BLOCKED IN SAUDI ARABIA

I have received an update from the Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Check out their Empirical Analysis of Internet Filtering in China and Documentation of Internet Filtering in Saudi Arabia.

RADICAL FOR CAPITALISM

I walked for capitalism in Gothenburg on December 1. I think it was good timing to have it in early December as an antidote to the stupid "Buy Nothing Day." This was the second time I joined a demonstration. Last time (I think it was 1984) it was against socialism and the regulated economy. The goal this time was to spread a positive message and show why capitalism is both a moral and a practical system. Some anti-capitalists from the "Attac(k)" organization distributed flyers with their propaganda. A more aggressive mob of about 10 people tried to infiltrate the demonstration and interrupt our peaceful walk. They didn't care about our right to freedom of speech. The good thing was that the police took care of the problem. A local politician gave a speech after we have finished the walk. It was pretty ok in the beginning but ended in party slogans. It had been better to invite a strong individual like Oriana Fallaci. Read her article, Fiorentini, esprimiamo il nostro sdegno ("Fiorentini, we express our disdain" - translated from Italian).

Overall, I think it was worth the time to attend the event. My hope is that some of the participants and others who have read about the event will be interested in reading the Bernstein Declaration and studying the six "official" thinkers for the Prodos' Celebrate Capitalism� campaign.

Media coverage:

In English:
Capitalists of the world, unite! On Sunday, to be precise. Financial Times, 11/28/02.
TAKING A TOUR OF CAPITALIST BATH. The Bath Chronicle, 12/02/02.

In Swedish:
Kapitalism f�r frihet och v�lst�nd. V�sterviks Tidningen, 12/03/02.
Isvindar runt kapitalister. Dagens Nyheter, 12/02/02.
Motdemonstranter omh�ndertogs.
�stg�ta Correspondenten, 12/01/02.
Fyra marscher f�r kapitalism. Svenska Dagbladet, 12/01/02.
Lugn kapitalistdag utlovas. Dagens Nyheter, 12/01/02.
Kapitalismen ger oss v�lst�nd. G�teborgs-Posten, 11/30/02.
Kapitalister p� marsch. Svenska Dagbladet, 12/02/02.

UPDATE 12/07/02:

In Norwegian:
Helg med delte meninger. Studvest, 12/04/02. [Via Tomm Arntsen, FSO mailing list.]

WEB SEARCH TOOL

I have added Alexa web search tool to the Resources category.

BUSH & THE SAUDIS

Read Mark Steyn's article, Bush and the Saudi princess. [Via InstaPundit.] Here is a quote:

"It would be nice if George W. Bond would kick over the cocktails and lob a grenade into Oilfingers refinery, but instead he and the sheikhs are still teasing each other."

I am now in the mood to watch the latest Bond movie!

For more articles by Mark Steyn, go to his web site. [Via Mark Wickens.]