UPDATE: DECK OF CARDS

Ten of diamonds (#20) - Taha Yassin Ramadan al-Jizrawi, Iraqi Vice President.

In the news: Playing card maker dealing Dean hand.

INVENTOR JOHN ERICSSON

Today I saw an interesting documentary on John Ericsson. For more information, go to the following sites:

National Inventors Hall of Fame - Propelling Steam Vessels, Screw Propeller, Patent #588.
John Ericsson Society of New York.
Post by Steven Den Beste @ USS Clueless.

UPDATE 08/21/03: Read Dianne Durante's essay (portable document format).

"SMART-BOMB" TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS OF COMMUNIST CHINA?

Read the article, 'Smart-bomb' technology moving to China. I have been working with raw materials for many years and therefore interested in this kind of news story. I think the information in the article should be "hot stuff" to the Bush administration.

UPDATE: DECK OF CARDS

Seven of spades (#29) - Mahmud Dhiyab al-Ahmad. The former Iraqi Minister of Interior had already been reported as captured... Maybe it was his double they caught a month ago?!

SCHWARZENEGGER FOR GOVERNOR?

To my readers in California: Will you vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger? In one way it is a testimony on how bad the situation is in the state of California, if you can't get worthy candidates [via California Insider Weblog] to vote on and it gives the opportunity for a guy like Arnold to show up on the scene.

I have been fascinated by odd characters in politics for some time. Theoretically I would probably vote for a guy like Jesse "the body" Ventura, but I must say that I don't think that a third party candidate is really an option. A "reform" of politics is well needed, but it will take a long time and it should be based on sound ideas in metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. For an example of strange ideas floating around, check out the latest campaign by the "hippies of the right." The only way to go, according to my view, is to come up with a good Republican candidate. [Via BusinessPundit.] I thought that Steve Forbes was a pretty good choice in 1996, but later on he joined the "faith-based" crowd of the religious right.

So, maybe Arnold is the way to go? I don't think so, not after reading a profile on BBC news. Here is an excerpt from the article, Schwarzenegger and the American dream:

"Recently he said: "In the beginning I was selfish. It was all about, 'How do I build Arnold? How can I win the most Mr Universe and Mr Olympic contests? How can I get into the movies and get into business?' "I was thinking about myself... As I've grew up, got older, maybe wiser, I think your life is judged not by how much you have taken but by how much you give back.""

To me, he sounds like a compassionate conservative with altruistic ideals. What do you think?

For an interesting comparison between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mike Mentzer, read John Little's article, A Question Of Character: The Objectivist Versus The Machiavellian.

"HAWKS" VERSUS "DOVES"

Will the "hawks" have a stronger position if Powell "'prepares to quit'"? Read Mark Da Cunha's post, Powell's Paper Tiger Show Will Not Run a Second Season.

The "hawks" should grab the opportunity and put the heat on the "axis of evil" - Iran and North Korea. Read the articles, Khomeini grandson attacks 'religious dictators' and How to Defeat North Korea. [Via About The War.]

MORE BOOKS

I had to add Ann Coulter's book, Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism, to my wish list at Amazon.com after reading Harry Binswanger's book review.

Hat tip to Elizabeth for the following book recommendation: Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism by Dore Gold.

I read a review (by Allan Gotthelf on HBL, 05/26/03) on the following books by Margaret Doody: Aristotle Detective, Aristotle and Poetic Justice, and Aristotle and the Secrets of Life. I have added these books to my wish list at Amazon.co.uk.

BACK TO SCHOOL

I am going back to school (part time) this fall. I will study "international project co-ordination." I will write more about my studies on my other blog.

I have added a new product to the EGO online store. Check out the journal.

EGO FAQ

I have redesigned the blog a bit. I moved the Fagan Finder searchbox and a link to the KartOO search engine to the Resources category.

I have added BusinessPundit to the Blog category.

I have added a FAQ section to the About category. I look forward to your comments and questions.

UPDATE: DECK OF CARDS

This is not an actual update of the "Iraqi Most Wanted" list, but I guess that the United States Central Command will publish a news release in the near future...

Chip Joyce, editor of About The War.com, predicts that Saddam Hussein will be captured or killed by August 15. You could put your own bet on the "Saddam Hussein Conclusion" @ TradeSports.com. Talking about gambling, check out Boomshock's post "Iraq's Most Wanted Poker Update" and Dr. Weevil's Ba�ath Poker.

In the news:
At Funeral for Hussein Sons, a Call for 'Death to America'.
U.S. Troops Hunt Saddam as Tribesmen Bury His Sons.
Another 'Saddam' Tape Airs.
Hot on Saddam's Trail.
U.S. Troops Raid Suspected Saddam Loyalists in Iraq.

For more up-to-date news, go to the Command Post.