RELAXING CAT

Morris the cat is taking a nap in a comfy chair.



I am relaxing after a great interview with Scott Holleran. The podcast will be up on Solid Vox next week.

NEW AMERICAN TEA PARTY

Have you attended a tea party lately? It is interesting to see some placards with text messages ("Atlas Shrugs, Atlas is Shrugging") that are referring to Ayn Rand's book, Atlas Shrugged. Here is an excerpt from Robert Tracinski's article, The Ayn Rand Factor In the Santelli Revolt. [Via Randex.]

In defending his stance against the bailouts, Rick Santelli referred to himself as an "Ayn Rander"—a reference to the great 20th-century novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand, who is most famous for her ideological defense of laissez-faire capitalism. Similar references seem to be lurking behind nearly every expression of resistance to big government. Rush Limbaugh—whose coining of the term "porkulus" helped galvanize the right's resistance to the so-called "stimulus" bill—has frequently recommended Ayn Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged in recent months, as has conservative talk show host Glenn Beck. (RealClearMarkets, February 27, 2009.)

GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT

Google has now changed the widget under the section "EGO followers" to their own Friend Connect. Talking about Google, check out their new blog, Google Social Web Blog. [Via ReadWriteWeb.]

Related: My post, BLOGS I FOLLOW.

SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE

Here is an excerpt from Michael T. Hull's story, Hawaii Small Business Advocate Leaves U.S. Small Business Administration [Via Randex.]:

There are over 27 million small businesses in this country. During these economic times, they will produce 100% of the net new jobs in the economy. We need to continue to be vigilant to ensure that policymakers understand the importance of small business to the economy and continue to hold out hope that we go more in the direction of creating a Galt’s Gulch (from Atlas Shrugged) rather than the opposite. (Hawaii Reporter, February 25, 2009.)

Related: My post, TIME TO GO ON STRIKE?

INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT HOLLERAN

Stay tuned for the start of a new series of podcast interviews on Solid Vox. I will interview Scott Holleran on Friday, February 27, at 2 PM Pacific Time (Los Angeles) / 11 PM Central European Time (Gothenburg, Sweden) / 9 AM Melbourne time, Saturday.

Please feel free to send me questions for Scott Holleran and suggestions for future guests.

MIDWEEK 9 POST

I will try to stick to a regular posting schedule by designating every day with a specific topic / theme / category. I want to do this in order to get some guidance and support for my blogging. But I have to "warn" you that the publishing of posts will still be pretty flexible due the situation on a particular day.

I will start to send entries to the Objectivist Roundup again. I will continue to participate in the Friday Ark with photos of Morris the cat and sending yummy stuff to the Carnival of the Recipes. Yesterday was Pancake Day in America and here in Sweden you eat something called "semla".


Real Lent food: Semla and a cup of tea.

Talking about tea, read Roger Kimball's post, My favorite American, on Rick Santelli.

EGO ON POSTEROUS

I have created an account on Posterous. [Hat tip to: RizzoTees.] I will test it out together with Tumblr and then probably start using one of the sites as my new start & homepage. I will look into to use Scrapplet later on in the future.

In the news:

• Posterous Challenges Tumblr With New Bookmarklet - ReadWriteWeb.
• Posterous’ dead simple blogging gets dead simple bookmarklet - VentureBeat.
• Posterous Makes Sharing Anything Drop-Dead Simple - Mashable.

STIMULUS PLAN AND TAX PAYERS CARTOON

Economic Recovery Explained...

STARBUCKS VERSUS STARCUPS

I wonder if Starbucks is preparing to enter the Swedish market in the near future? The company has started a lawsuit against a local coffee place in Gothenburg, Sweden, called Starcups. Our meeting place for entrepreneurs and business minded individuals, Blue Chip Café & Business Center, was located close to Starcups.

In the news: Starbucks sues to shutter Gothenburg's Starcups café - The Local.

In its lawsuit, Starbucks alleges that its name and Starcups “sound nearly identical” and that the logo Najafpour has chosen for his café is strikingly similar to the Starbucks trademark.

The choice of the Starcups name as well as Najafpour's decision to have a round, green Starcups logo can hardly be a coincidence, Starbucks claims. (The Local, February 23, 2009.)

POLITICUS SHIITAKE

This is shiitake!

• I know a person who has been fighting against the Swedish Migration Board's irrational and immoral decision for many years. It is a death "sentence" if they throw out this individual out of the country and send the person back to the "homeland"... We have been in contact with media, politicians and others in order to raise awareness of this case. The person has had a small business operation for a long time and has created work for several Swedish citizens.

• Wine & liquor monopoly - one of Sweden's sacred cows: Financial Times & The Local.

• Europe takes the lead in regulation of financial institutions - Macroaxis blog. My latest reply on Twitter.

Please give me your examples of today's politics.

Related: My post, IMMIGRATION POLICY, WINE FREEDOM WEBLOG and MARK CUBAN AND INSIDER TRADING.