Computer Dealer News: Betting on Saddam: look online to find out if Saddam Hussein's pet dog likes I

If the U.S. invades Iraq before this column hits the streets, readers may miss a juicy online betting opportunity. But if the Americans hold off, some may want to test their luck on an Irish Internet gambling exchange that is offering future wagers on how long Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will hold on to power.

Dublin-based Tradesports (www.tradesports.com), better known for taking bets on soccer, allows clients to place wagers on whether U.S. President George W. Bush will be reelected, who will win the Oscars -- even how much snow will fall in New York.

But the hot wager is just how numbered Saddam's days really are. Recently, the asking price on a contract specifying Saddam will not be Iraqi leader by March 31 was US$40 -- meaning the market thinks Saddam is 40 per cent likely to be out of office at the end of next month. The likelihood of him being booted from office by the end of April was put at 68 per cent, end of May 78 per cent, and the end of June 84 per cent.

Tradesports has reportedly traded more than 20,000 Saddam contracts since late September.

If Saddam's prospects look dim, President Bush's seem distinctly brighter. The contract on Bush being reelected in 2004 puts the odds at 66 per cent. And strangely, he may have Saddam to thank if he is re-relected -- after all, more often than not, the tail does wag the dog.

PC Pets

"Chip" has always been a fairly popular name for pet dogs and a recent move by the Government of Singapore may add relevance to the moniker.

The country said it may implant microchips in pet dogs and cats to make sure they are not abandoned by owners. The rising numbers of stray animals on the island is now becoming a concern, the government said. Around 19,000 dogs and cats are abandoned every year, Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, told parliament. Anyone caught abandoning a pet without "reasonable cause" may face a stiff fine or 12 months in jail, or both, under Singapore's current regulations.

There was no word on whether upgrades would be available for the pet chips, or whether peripherals could be attached via firewire, SCSI or USB interfaces.