TERRORISTS IN DENMARK AND SWEDEN

In the news:

• More arrests over Denmark 'plot' - BBC.
• Swede "planned suicide attack" - The Local.

Related: My post, TERRORIST GROUPS IN SWEDEN.

STOP THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION?

I got an email from John Stephenson of Stop The ACLU. He wanted to have a link exchange. I must admit that I don't know much about the American Civil Liberties Union, so you are more than welcome to comment on this post. Should they be demonized?

Here is an excerpt from Thomas A. Bowden's article, Blacklists Are Not Censorship.

The honorary Oscar given to Elia Kazan has generated renewed sympathy for the writers, directors, and actors whose membership in the Communist Party -- revealed in the 1940s and 1950s by courageous witnesses such as Kazan -- landed them on movie studio blacklists.

Such blacklists, it is said, are a form of "private censorship" that deprives people of their right to speak freely, on pain of losing their employability. "Censorship" -- the American Civil Liberties Union declares -- "can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups." But by this reasoning, private individuals who simply choose not to patronize their enemies are engaging in essentially the same wrongful activity as are governments that imprison their citizens for expressing unpopular ideas. (Capitalism Magazine, CapMag.com, 03/20/99.)

GOOD LIFE WEEKEND 43

Delirium Café has opened in Gothenburg! I have to go there in the near future... Maybe I should test Delirium Nocturnum. What's your favorite beer?

BUREAUCRAT BUSTERS: NEW FLIGHT TAX

This week's bureaucrat is the environmentalist who proposed a new flight tax. Michael O'Leary of Ryanair is not happy with the proposal. Here is an excerpt from the article, Ryanair slams Swedish environment tax plans.

The tax would not stop Ryanair from flying to Sweden, but the company said that when it came to expansion of routes, other European destinations would be prioritised.

"This tax will prevent people with normal incomes from flying and means that fewer tourists will choose to fly to and from Sweden," said Michael O'Leary. (TheLocal.se, 10/26/05.)

I guess I have to have another EGO donation drive next time I am flying to a conference in London...

HALLOWEEN WITH BLACK CATS, PUMPKINS AND DEVILED EGGS

How will you celebrate Halloween? You could find Halloween parties here in Sweden, but you don't see so much of trick-or-treat activities. All Saints' Day is listed in the calendar on November 1, but it is not marked as a red-letter day.

I recommend that you read my post, HALLOWEEN PUMPKINS, for more information about this controversial holiday.

Morris has already got rid of his new collar, so we had to put on a new one... I wonder if he has been in a catfight. Watermark will host a special national cat holiday edition of the Carnival of the Cats on October 31.



Talking about carnivals, check out the Carnival of the Recipes #63: Tricks, Treats & Eats at Everything And Nothing. Deviled egg, anyone?

Trick or Treat?

CROSTINI WITH MORTADELLA AND PAPRIKA

Here is a simple Italian starter dish:

Crostini with Mortadella and Paprika



Ingredients:

• Crostini toasted bread
• Mortadella
• Paprika slices
• Lemon extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Put mortadella on the crostini bread.
2. Add a slice of paprika. In this case Hungarian Édesalma (apple) paprika.
3. Sprinkle some drops of lemon virgin olive oil.

Serve with a glass of wine.

MORRIS, MARZIPAN AND ALUMINUM FOIL

I ate a tasty marzipan candy from Hungary and then I created a aluminum foil ball. Here is Morris in action!


Ready, steady, go!


Eyes on the ball.


"Cat on the mat..."


This photo session was "sponsored" by Szamos Marcipán Kft....

Check out Friday Ark #58 at the Modulator for more animal pictures.

BUSY WEEK

I have had a very busy week so far, so I haven't been able to blog as much as I wanted. Please stay tuned for posts on small business venture, marketing, headhunters, KPMG and project management, catblogging, carnival of recipes, and chile / paprika plants, etc...

Here is an excerpt from Wayne Hurlbert's post, Reading other blogs: Take a blog reading break.

I would suggest taking some time away from blog reading each week. Take at least two days per week as non-blog days, when you read no other blogs. You can post your thoughts and ideas on your own blog, but limit your outside blog reading during that time. Use the time normally spent reading blogs on other activities.

You don't have to read every blog on your blogroll or RSS feed subscriptions every single day. Take a blog reading break, and examine other pursuits, both online and in the offline world.

Don't let that stop you from visiting this blog every day, however.

I won't tell anyone that you visited on your day off from blog reading. (BlogBusinessWorld.blogspot.com, 10/22/05.)

In the meantime, please welcome Quent Cordair Fine Art back as an advertiser! The ad image is of the painting, Julie's Red Shoes by Perrin Sparks. Did you attend the grand re-opening of the gallery on October 13?

AHMADINEJAD WANTS ISRAEL DESTROYED

In the news: Iran Leader Calls for Israel's Destruction - ABC News.

"There is no doubt that the new wave (of attacks) in Palestine will wipe off this stigma (Israel) from the face of the Islamic world," Ahmadinejad told students Wednesday during a Tehran conference called "The World without Zionism." (ABCnews.go.com, 10/26/05.)

Scott Holleran of the Concord Crier has the following comment:

CRIER COMMENT: this is a declaration of war, one of many in a long series of such statements -- but, now, having been left alone by the West, Iran may have the means to deliver a deadly blow to the West's young ally. (ConcordCrier.com, 10/26/05.)

Is the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps preparing for action on Qods Day? Go to Regime Change Iran for more information.

Related: My post, MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD AND THE ATOMIC BOMB.

UPDATE 10/28/05:

Here is an excerpt from Mary Jordan and Karl Vick's article, World Leaders Condemn Iranian's Call to Wipe Israel 'Off the Map'.

Virulent anti-Israel sentiment remains strong in the hard-line circles from which Ahmadinejad emerged to win the presidential election in June. "Israel Should Be Wiped Off the Map" was the slogan draped on a Shahab-3 ballistic missile during a military parade in Tehran a month ago. Six of the missiles, which, with a 1,250 mile range, could reach Israel, were the high point of the parade. "We Will Trample America Under Our Feet," read another banner. (WashingtonPost.com, 10/28/05.)

Another news item is that the mullahs have banned foreign films in Iran.

A committee of Islamic clerics in Iran, led by the country's new hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this week banned foreign films in an effort to wipe out what they called "corrupt Western culture".

Elements that were specifically named as affronts to the government's vision of Iran's Muslim culture included alcohol and drugs, secularists, liberals, anarchists and feminists. (Guardian.co.uk, 10/26/05.)

For more comments on the situation in Iran, read the following posts:

• Waking the Dead at the UN by Roger L. Simon.
• The People of Iran Speak by Pamela of Atlas Shrugs.

Ahmadinejad's Final Solution


UPDATE 10/30/05:

Gary Metz of Regime Change Iran sent me an email on the "World Without Zionism" poster.


Image source.

From his post, Why Haven't We Seen This?

If you follow the news you may have seen this picture, of Iran's President Ahmadinejad speaking at the "World Without Zionism" conference where he spoke of wiping "Israel off the map."
But in this photo you can only see a portion of the graphic. The rest of the graphic speaks a thousand words. (RegimeChangeIran.com, 10/29/05.)

If you search on "World Without Zionism," you will find the Union for Islamic Associations of Students, a.k.a Student Movement ("Zionot.ir"). For a background, go to GlobalSecurity.org and read The Zionist Entity and Iran.

In the news:

• Iran’s President reiterates defiant tone against West, Israel - Iran Focus.
• Iran's zealot in chief does Bush a favour - Sunday Times.
• Arab press torn on Ahmadinejad call - BBC.

EGO PORTAL

When I heard about the bidding for America Online's web portal (AOL), my initial reaction was similar to the first paragraph of Dawn C. Chmielewski's article, AOL is the belle of the ball again.

Did I miss something?

One day, America Online is this Internet anachronism, stuck in a bygone dial-up era when the world has gone broadband. Now suddenly it's this tech stud muffin being pursued by Google, Comcast Microsoft and Yahoo. They're all reportedly vying for a minority stake in AOL that could go for $5 billion. (MercuryNews.com, 10/20/05.)

Joe Lauria gives the main reasons for MSN, Yahoo, and Google's interest in AOL:

Although AOL is losing 2m subscribers a year, it still has 20m customers and it is an amazingly profitable Time Warner unit, raking in more than a billion dollars in profit in 2004. (TheBusinessOnline.com, 10/23/05.)

In order to become even more attractive for potential buyers, AOL is downsizing.

So, how do you think will win the battle of the portals?

It is highly convenient for Time Warner, the world's biggest media company, that its struggling web portal, AOL, is suddenly at the receiving end of competing bids from all three of the other internet giants. Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, was the first to start haggling, via its portal, MSN. Then Google, the world's most popular search engine and nowadays Microsoft's archest arch-enemy, came running, with Comcast, America's biggest cable company, as a prospective co-bidder. And now Yahoo!, the biggest web portal and determined runner-up to Google in internet search, has also entered the bidding. (Economist.com, 10/20/05.)

Don't you think a network of blogs could become a site portal or "super kickstart page" in the future? By the way: Do you remember Pointcast's push-technology?

FREE TRADE MARCH IN BOLIVIA

Is the demonstration in Bolivia a positive sign of free trade influences in the Andean Community? [Editor's comment to Glenn Reynolds: Yes, people are walking for capitalism in America. You could join the celebration of International Capitalism Day on June 4, 2006.]

BOLIVIANS MARCH IN THE STREETS FOR FREE TRADE: If only we could get people to turn out for that here. (InstaPundit.com, 10/23/05.)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ABBA

In the news: ABBA tune voted Eurovision's best ever.

Swedish pop group ABBA's catchy "Waterloo " hit that won the European Song Contest 31 years ago has been voted the best song in the event's history by viewers across the continent. (CNN.com, 10/22/05.)

[Editor's comment: I wonder if the French voters organized a Waterloo campaign...]

Related: My post, EUROVISION SONG CONTEST, GREENJOLLY AND CHE GUEVARA.

BLOGOSPHERE FAMILY TREE

Commissar of the Politburo Diktat is compiling a family tree of the blogosphere in his post, Who's Your Daddy? I added BlogTree to the Resources category in August 2002. [Editor's comment: I don't know if this service is defunct at the moment. I get this message: "Bandwidth Limit Exceeded."] Here is an excerpt from my post, ANNUAL BLOG REPORT.

I want to highlight a few bloggers:

Fredrik Norman: You have been a great inspiration with your well designed blog with great content. You are my "blog parent".
John Cox & Allen Forkum: Thanks for your editorial cartoons. They have caught a great attention. I enjoy your book, Black & White World, very much!
Mårten Barck @ Watch: Thanks for promoting my new blog, Lukeion, in a great way. I am honored to be on your list of the Site of the week.
Michael Moynihan @ the Politburo: Thanks for defending America. Sweden and the rest of the countries in Europe, are in need of supporters like you. (EGO, 05/07/03.)

Who is your blog father / mother? [Editor's comment: I wonder if I have any blog children out there...]

LAUREN HUTTON AND FEMALE BEAUTY

In the news: Lauren Hutton Poses Nude at 61.

"I want them (women) not to be ashamed of who they are when they're in bed," Hutton told "Good Morning America. "Society has told us to be ashamed." The entire upcoming issue of Big magazine, "Lauren Hutton: The Beautiful Persists," is dedicated to Hutton's career and includes eight pages of nude photos. (ABCnews.go.com, 10/21/05.)

Talking about female beauty, have you seen the new blogad by Body in Mind? Become a member and see 30 photos of Nika. One of my favorite model at Body in Mind is Michelle Marsh.

NEIL FRENCH AND ADVERTISING

In the news: Advertising chief loses job over French maid and sexist insults - Telegraph.

He said yesterday that his speech had been taken out of context and accused Miss Vonk of "getting her knickers in a twist". (Telegraph.co.uk, 10/22/05.)

Neil French says he has suffered "death by blog."

Talking about blog advertising, I look forward to start with Pajamas Media ads... I have used Chitika's eMiniMall for about a month, and it has generated a positive amount of clicks so far. You could sign up with them by clicking on this link.

I am playing around with different keywords for the CrispAds. [Editor's comment: You are welcome to comment on the ads. I can't see many of ads due to some kind of configuration problem.]

BOOK TIPS

When I clicked on the book on Mike Mentzer I found a link to Gary Bannister's book, In Arthur's Shadow: Daily Musings on Exercise, a Tribute to Arthur Jones. Here is an quote from the publisher:

Not a 'how to' book, the format is a series of anecdotes - daily musings - that unveils the character and integrity of one of the few, if not the only genius in the field of exercise. At the same time, it highlights the author’s experience with those viewpoints.

Arthur Jones was eccentric, opinionated and "outraged" by the ignorance, myth and fraud that engulfed his fields of choice. A master communicator, he hit audiences like a sledgehammer. Few escaped unscathed. (Cork Hill Press.)

Amazon's suggested reading material ("You may also be interested in these items...") is a great way of finding new books to read. Another great example of personalized information is Findory. I found out about Jung Chang and Jon Halliday's book, Mao: The Unknown Story, via this news link.

BOOK OF THE MOMENT: THE WISDOM OF MIKE MENTZER

Morris has been wondering what has happened with the October's Book of the Month...



This Book of the Month will be renamed the Book of the Moment due to today's date. It could be the case that I keep the book as next month's pick too. And now, without further ado, here is the book:



I received John R. Little's book, The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer, in the mail this week, and I have started to read the first part (Art and Philosophy) of the book. Here is an excerpt from chapter 2, A Question of Character: The Objectivist Versus the Machiavellian. [Editor's note: You could read an article version (dated 06/22/02) of the chapter on Mike Mentzer's site.]

If you choose to hold character building as an important part of your "body" building, you'll come to realize that character is formed by the choices you make; how you choose to think and act holds significant (and often enduring) import. It is the power of choice and the power inherent in your choices that serve to mold you, your life, your character, and your legacy. Act with character, and time will be your eloquence. (Page 32.)

Part II is titled Bodybuilding Science, Part III History, and Part IV Understanding Heavy Duty.

INQUISITOR SEARCH ENGINE

Look, a new search engine! [Via the Modulator.]

CASSAVA THAI DIP SAUCE

Here is a recipe I got from my friend, Christer Sjöback.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons fish sauce.
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice.
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped.
• 3 chile pepper fruits, chopped

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Serve together with cassava / yuca chips.

MORRIS IS SMELLING THE FLOWERS

For more animal pictures, check out Friday Ark #57 at the Modulator.

VISIT FROM AMERICA

Raissa from Virginia paid a visit to Gothenburg.



In the background you could see a statue (Poseidon) by Carl Milles.

TECH TUESDAY: GADGETS

This week's Tech Tuesday will be a combo with Monday's Open Thread Post. Please feel free to leave a comment with your favorite gadget / gizmo / widget ... I have to get a new mobile phone and a laptop computer for my company sometime in the future. You are more than welcome to give me tips and suggestions on comparison sites and online shopping directories.

In the news: Power boosts for future gadgets - BBC.

ANTHEM FOUNDATION FOR OBJECTIVIST SCHOLARSHIP

John P. McCaskey has informed me that you could send contributions to the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship via PayPal. Send your donations to: "contributions AT anthemfoundation DOT org". For more information about the foundation, read the "Overview of ARI Goals and Programs."

GOOD LIFE WEEKEND 41

What did you do on Sunday afternoon? I had high tea with a friend at Soho in Gothenburg. Mmm, yummy scones with jam and cream cheese.

MORRIS IS ROUND AND ABOUT

Morris is shaped as a circle...


MORRIS
Originally uploaded by Lyceum.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Here is an excerpt from an article (Free ideas) in the Economist.

The call for a new approach was made forcefully this week in a statement called the Adelphi Charter, issued by a group of prominent legal scholars, artists, scientists and experts from around the world. The Adelphi group are a varied crew ranging from Gilberto Gil, the Brazilian culture minister (and pop star) to Sir John Sulston, a Nobel-winning scientist who helped decode the human genome, and James Boyle, a law professor at Duke University. They believe that the intellectual-property system is starting to lean so far in favour of private enrichment that it no longer serves the public interest. (Economist.com, 10/13/05.)

I have asked the question before, but I ask it again: What's the definition of "public interest"?

I have a business idea that I want to protect in one way or another. I am looking forward to the second lecture of the Venture Cup business plan competition, called "intellectual property rights and strategy" on November 3. Awapatent and Vinge are two of the partners, supporting the cup.

BUREAUCRAT BUSTERS: SWEDISH BUILDING WORKERS' UNION

As I promised last week, here is another example of bureaucracy: Laval un Partneri Leaves Swedish Site.

Under the pressure from the Swedish labor unions, Latvian building company Laval un partneri abandoned the building site in Sweden.

The Swedish labor unions had staged a blockade of the company's building site on the outskirts of Stockholm for three months over wages paid to workers hired in Latvia. The building company insists that the wages are fair and are regulated by the Latvian labor agreement. And admittedly, the company provides a substantial compensation according to the Latvian standards.
The labor unions, however, insist that the company must pay wages permissible in Sweden (AllAboutLatvia.com, 02/14/05.)

In the news:

• EU to fight Sweden over Latvian builders - The Local.
• Union anger over EU attack on wages - EUPolitix.

The EU commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, has been attacked by the leftists and the labor unions. Here is a excerpt from an article in The Sunday Times.

"When he attacks one of the most successful labour models in Europe, that is very serious," warned Thomas Oestros, the country's industry minister. (TimesOnline.co.uk, 10/16/05.)

Laval built the Embassy of Switzerland in Stockholm in 2003.

COLLECTIVISTS IN TOLEDO, OHIO

I am sorry to see national socialists and other collectivists marching around and rioting in my former home state Ohio. Anna (A Rose By Any Other Name) has commented on the situation in Toledo. WTOL News has a video of the disturbance. [Via The Java Report.]

Related: My post, RE-GROUPING OF COLLECTIVISTS.

UPDATE 10/16/05:

Synergetic Racism


In the news: What Triggered the Toledo Riots? - Time.

CHILE PEPPER EBOOK

It could be fun to create an e-book on chile peppers sometime in the future. It is interesting to see that people find my blog by searching on "chile pepper poppers" and other similar keywords. If you have tips on how to publish an electronic book, you are welcome to send me an email or comment on this post.

WHAT MUPPET ARE YOU?

You are Gonzo the Great.
You love everyone, and still you get shot out of a
cannon on a regular basis. Oh, and you are
completely insane and have a strange
fascination for chickens.

ALSO KNOWN AS:
The Great Gonzo, Gonzo the Great, Just Plain Weird
SPECIES:
Whatever

HOBBIES:
Tapdancing blindfolded on tapioca while balancing a
piano on his nose, backwards, five times fast.

FAVORITE MOVIE:
"From Here to Eternity...with no brakes."

FAVORITE TV SHOW:
"Touched By An Anvil"

QUOTE:
"No parachute? Wow! This is so cool!"


What Muppet are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


[Editor's comment: I thought I would become the Swedish Chef with my background, but I ended up as Gonzo. Via She Who Will Be Obeyed!]

BACON AND HAM TOAST

Here is an old time favorite, bacon & ham toast:

Ingredients:

• Bacon strips
• Ham slices
• Egg white
• Worcestershire sauce, teaspoon
• Tabasco sauce, as many drops as you need...
• Dijon mustard, teaspoon
• Chile pepper flakes
• Tomato slices
  
• Cheese
• Two slices of toast bread

Directions:

1. Put the egg white, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce in a bowl and stir it together.
2. Spread the sauce mixture on two slices of bread.
3. Put ham slices, bacon strips, and tomato slices on the bread.
4. Sprinkle chile pepper flakes.
5. Add the cheese and then put the other slice of bread on top of everything.
6. Put the sandwich in the toaster grill.

MORRIS HAS A NEW COLLAR

Can you see that Morris has a new collar? We have removed the bell...



For more animal pictures, check out Friday Ark #56 at the Modulator.

EGOIST INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COORDINATOR

My company name is now registered and I have received a VAT (value-added tax) #.

Do you have any suggestions for a logotype for Egoist International Business Coordinator? [Editor's note: How about thinking in the terms of an antidote to Naomi Klein's No Logo?]

I have to add company information on my website and update my profile at career and business networks, e.g., Shortcut (in Sweden) and LinkedIn.

COX AND FORKUM ON TIA RADIO

Will you listen to Robert Tracinski's interview with John Cox & Allen Forkum?

Please stay tuned for my follow-up interview on EGO talk radio / podcasting show sometime in the future...

QUAKE: GAME OVER FOR BIN LADEN?

Is Osama bin Laden killed in the quake, or is this news only a play for the gallery? John "Scott" Redd (National Counterterrorism Center) thinks that the "U.S. is making progress on terrorism." Are the helicopters hitting the targets, or is it only an illusion?

Sensitive War


Related: My post, HOLY SHI(I)T(E).

MIDWEEK 41 SAMPLER

I haven't had time doing so much blogrolling this week, so my suggestion is that your read Gus Van Horn's post, Stroll through the 'Roll on 10-9-05, and click on the links.

UNICEF IS KILLING THE SMURFS

Did you play with the Smurfs as a kid? I had a small collection of these blue creatures made of PVC. The Unicef is now bombing the Smurf village in a video. [Via Andrew Sullivan.]

Technorati tag: smurf.

TECH TUESDAY: DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER

Do you have a digital audio player? It would be a bit cool to a have player by the old brand Commodore... Jens Nylander, founder of Jens of Sweden, should have participated at the Entrepreneurship Day 2005 in Gothenburg, but my business partner told me that he didn't show up. Could it have something to do with the bankruptcy of his company? He has set up a new company with the name "JoS" and relocated the business to Switzerland.

For more on portable media players, read my post, TUESDAY IS TECH DAY.

CARNIVAL OF THE CAPITALISTS AT BUSINESSPUNDIT

The Carnival of the Capitalists is celebrating its second anniversary.

CELEBRATE COLUMBUS DAY

Laurence Simon is celebrating his birthday on Columbus Day in a strange way...

Here is an excerpt from Michael Berliner's article, Man's Best Came With Columbus.

Did Columbus "discover" America? Yes, in every important respect. This does not mean that no human eye had been cast on America before Columbus arrived. It does mean that Columbus brought America to the attention of the civilized world, i.e., the developing scientific civilizations of Western Europe. The result, ultimately, was the United States of America. It was Columbus's discovery for Western Europe that led to the influx of ideas and people on which this nation was founded and on which it still rests. The opening of America brought the ideas and achievements of Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, and the thousands of thinkers, writers, and inventors who followed. What they replaced was a way of life dominated by fatalism, passivity, superstition, and magic. (TIADaily.com, September 1992.)

Here is a quote by Thomas Bowden, author of The Enemies of Christopher Columbus.

On one level, Columbus Day honors the explorer himself, for his many virtues. Columbus was a man of independent mind, who steadfastly pursued his bold plan for a westward voyage to the Indies despite powerful opposition--a man of courage, who set sail upon a trackless ocean with no assurance that he would ever reach land--a man of pride, who sought recognition and reward for his achievements.

We need not evade or excuse Columbus's flaws--his religious zealotry, his enslavement and oppression of natives--to recognize that he made history by finding new territory for a civilization that would soon show mankind how to overcome forever the age-old scourges of slavery, war, and forced religious conversion.

On a deeper level, therefore, Columbus Day celebrates the rational core of Western civilization, which flourished in the New World like a potbound plant liberated from its confining shell, demonstrating to the world what greatness is possible to man at his best. (AmericanChronicle.com, Columbus Day: The Cure for 9/11, 10/06/05.)

The Enemies of Christopher Columbus


Thank you Christopher Columbus!

Related: My post, EATING SHARK AT COLUMBUS RESTAURANT.

EAT A HAM SANDWICH FOR AL QAEDA DAY

I didn't remember to eat a ham sandwich today, but I hope I made up for it this evening... I ate spare ribs!

Related: My post, PETA DAY: BIG TASTY MEATY BURGER.

OPEN THREAD POST: POLAND IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

What's your take on the election in Poland? Is the country is going in the right direction? It looks at least a bit brighter than the situation in Norway and Germany...

THE EUROPEAN OBJECTIVISTS NETWORK

Adam J. Smith of iCon 2005 has created the European Objectivists' Network.




Click to join European_Objectivists_Network

GOOD LIFE WEEKEND 40

I have to order John Little's book, The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer, and then hit back to the gym again... I started about three years ago, but stopped for different reasons. Anders Lundgren's successful achievement has been a great inspiration for setting up a training goal again.

Have you been at the Oktoberfest? Have you heard about the idea of Living 5 to 9? [Via Adrants.]

MORRIS IS MISSING THE CARNIVAL OF CATS

Hmmm, Morris is missing the deadline of another cat carnival... [Editor's note to founder of the carnival, Laurence Simon: Happy birthday!]


Is Morris sleeping at his post?

BUREAUCRACY VERSUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Could it be that my business venture is going down the drain before it is even started? I thought it shouldn't be any problem with the registration of my sole trader company, so I ordered my business cards. [Editor's note: By the way: Here is an interesting article on how to get a logotype.] It has been around two weeks since I sent the application forms to the Swedish Companies Registration Office and to the Swedish IRS. I called them up and got the information that they had not processed my applications. The SCRO had not accepted my choice of company name (EGO International Business Coordinator) because they thought it was too similar to another company with the word ego in the name. I have faxed them a list of new alternatives:

1. Egoist International Business Coordinator
2. International Business Coordinator
3. Lindeskog International Business Coordinator
4. Martin Lindeskog Sole Trader
5. EGOIBC

The bureaucrats at the tax agency didn't have any answer why they haven't done anything with my application for F-tax certificate and VAT registration. I have done a job for a customer, but I can't issue an invoice before I have a F-tax certificate...

Maybe I am not the right type of entrepreneur? I have a nagging feeling that I am lost in Douglas Adams's game, Bureaucracy, and I am being attacked by civil servants shouting: "Yes, Minister!" I hope this nightmare will end soon... I will take the opportunity to vent a bit and start a new feature called "Bureaucrat Busters." Andy Clarkson of the Charlotte Capitalist gave me inspiration with his post, It's The Spending Stupid.

The first edition of the Bureaucrat Busters is covering the bureaucrat at the Migration Board who used half of his time at the office surfing around on the internet, looking at porn sites. How much do you think the tax payers are paying for this kind of service? $350 million per year! My solution is to open up the borders and let people immigrate and migrate in a free way, as long as they are not a threat to other individuals.

I want to end the post in a positive way by linking to a list of business plan competitions around the world. The list is compiled by MIT $50K Entrepreneurship Competition. I will tell you more about my participation in the Venture Cup later on.

OPEN THREAD POST: BLOGGER STARTS BUSINESS

I grabbed the title from Wayne Hurlbert of Blog Business World. Here is an excerpt from his post, Blogger starts business.

With the assistance of business blogs and the blogging community, Martin Lindeskog is certain to be a highly successful business entrepreneur. (BlogBusinessWorld.blogspot.com, 10/02/05.)

Thanks to Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends for her supportive comment!

Congratulations, Martin, on taking the entrepreneurial plunge! I guarantee it will be fast, furious -- and fun.

Be sure to let all your friends in the blogosphere know how we can help.

Best,
Anita

I want to learn more about intellectual property rights, patents, and how to "secure" and keep your idea in "safe place." My idea will be applicable on the North American market, but I will start up the venture in Scandinavia due to the historical background and tradition of the business concept. This activity is not existing in great scale in North America... yet. Later on I want to get in contact with companies in the cardmaking, gift shop, and time management area. I am interested in getting advice on how to find partners, investors and venture capitalists for this project. Do you recommend to write a non-disclosure agreement if you want to discuss the ideas with potential business partners?

I have to chew and digest Robert May's post, Entrepreneurship: Don't Drink the Kool-Aid.

SLOW BOAT TO CHINA

The East Indiaman Götheborg (Swedish 18th century sailing vessel embarks on historical journey to China) is on its way to China...

PRODOS INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW BERNSTEIN

Listen to Prodos's interview with Andrew Bernstein.

GOOD LIFE INSTEAD OF CHURCH SUNDAY

I want to add a new feature called the Good Life on Sundays. Instead of a chat with the Church Lady, you will read about the good things in life. I want to highlight human achievements similar to the column in The Intellectual Activist Daily and the good section at the Forum for Ayn Rand Fans.

Today's goodies are a happy bossa nova music concert and new photos of my paprika and chile pepper plants.



For more good stuff, check out the Good Life section in the left column.

MORRIS THE COMPUTER CAT

Morris jumped up on the desk and started to walk on the keyboard.



[Editor's comment: I wonder what happened with BlogPet...]

It is hard work to type, so you have to take a rest...

EGO SMALL BUSINESS

I have been criticizing the tax situation in Sweden for a long time, and I have pointed out how we should simplify the system and strive for a free market economy here in the northern Europe. In an article on investment taxes in the Economist, you get the notion that the Swedish enterprises are pretty well off, compared with businesses in other countries.

Sweden, a bastion of egalitarianism where the state claims around 60% of GDP, is surprisingly friendly to capitalists. (Economist.com, 09/22/05.)

The article cites a study on the "effective" tax rate on capital made by a Canadian think-tank called C.D. Howe Institute. Here is the PDF version of The 2005 Tax Competitiveness Report: Unleashing the Canadian Tiger. Sweden has a tax revenue of 50.8% of GDP and the United States has 25.4%. The corporate income tax rate is 39.2% in the U.S. and 28% in Sweden.

I am interested in continuing the discussion on The Small Business Climate in Different Countries. Could you fill me in on situation of Canada's booming west?

I have become a member of the Entrepreneurial Class. I sent the papers to the Swedish Companies Registration Office a week ago. I will call my one-man business (sole trader) for EGO International Business Coordinator. Here is a list of examples of business activities I will conduct:

• Glass products from Hungary to the Scandinavian motor vehicle aftermarket.
• Web site design by programmers in Hungary.
• Different kinds of consulting projects.
• Market activities for educational and other non-for profit organizations.
• Meeting points and social networks on the Internet (cyberspace) and in "RL" (meatspace).

I will participate in a business plan competition called Venture Cup, and I am thinking of attending the Entrepreneurship Day.

It is now October 1st, so you are more than welcome to send me suggestions and tips on the Book of the Month. It would be interesting to receive titles focusing on small business, entrepreneurship, and project management.

THE OBJECTIVE STANDARD

I look forward to the premier issue of The Objective Standard. [Hat tip to B-Å.H.]