Dvorak News Blog

Ladies, Carrying More Than Two Condoms Means You’re Obviously A Prostitute

By Uncle Dave Saturday January 9, 2010

Our nation’s capital. Just as with Congress and the White House, forward thinking is a hallmark of municipal thinking.

Think you might get lucky tonight? Well, if you’re in D.C., don’t bring more than two condoms in your purse, or you could be arrested as a prostitute.

In D.C., police can declare “Prostitution Free Zones” where officers can pick up (I mean, arrest) anyone suspected of sex work. And they’ve been accused of using carrying three or more condoms as proof of intent to sell sex — rather than intent to spend the weekend getting jiggy with a guy.

But as RH Reality Check points out, the real danger of this law falls to people who actually are sex workers. It pushes them to abandon safe sex techniques, putting their own health at risk as well as that of the general population. Add to this the fear of arrest or harassment that keeps sex workers from seeking health care, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Would You Vote For A Talk Show Host For Congress Or President?

By Uncle Dave Saturday January 9, 2010

33 Comments

Al Franken (who was a gabber on Air America for a while) has worked out exceptionally well in Congress. Would Rush?

Ed Schultz for Senate? Lou Dobbs for president? Maybe Glenn Beck as Sarah Palin’s vice presidential running mate?

It’s been a heady few months for talk show hosts who like to think of themselves not just opining about what’s wrong with Washington or their state capital but being able to do something about it. And with the 2010 election cycle just getting underway, there’s likely to be much more speculation about talkers becoming candidates.

After all, the popularity of those who take calls and help Americans vent has never been greater. Talk show stars are household names, their books automatic bestsellers, their political pronouncements capable of launching tens of thousands of emails and phone calls, and even massive protest marches. And the once-bright line between media and politics has all but vanished, while activists on both the left and right are frustrated with their parties’ elected leaders.

Plus, flirting with a possible campaign can’t hurt the ratings.

45% would replace Congress with names drawn randomly from the telephone book

By Jacob Galt Friday January 8, 2010

56 Comments

At least according to Rasmussen:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of likely U.S. voters now think a group of people selected at random from the phone book would do a better job addressing the nation’s problems than the current Congress. That’s up 12 points from October 2008, just before the last congressional elections. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree, and another 19% are not sure.

White or yellow pages?

The magic number 30

By Jacob Galt Friday January 8, 2010

12 Comments

We recently posted an item about 30 being the ‘standard’ number of dead, etc in government announcements. A 2001 article explains this:

Perhaps no single number more fully embodies the essence of the rhythmic fluctuations which characterize human affairs than that of the number 30. Its significance to the realms of finance, economics, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and religion is integral to a full comprehension of each field, and almost mystical in its import.

In economics and socio-political affairs the number 30 also takes on a special importance. Major periods of economic growth and technological progress tend to occur in 30 year cycles. A definite 30-year cycle can be recognized in U.S. economic history going back as far as 1864, the end of a major economic depression in the U.S. (a period which culminated in the War Between the States). The next 30-year cycle bottom occurred in 1894, which marked a period of rapid innovation and the transition between an agrarian economy and an industrial one. The next 30-year cycle bottom occurred in 1924, which led to the explosive economic growth of the “Roaring ’20s” and culminating in the Great Crash of 1929. The subsequent bottoms in the 30-year cycle came in 1954 and 1984, with the next 30-year cycle bottom due in 2014.

You gotta take a look at the article.

Relax, State of the Union won’t interfere with Lost premiere

By Jacob Galt Friday January 8, 2010

24 Comments

No joke — I was worried about this:

Fans of the television show “Lost,” have no fear. The White House does not plan to schedule President Obama’s first State of the Union address on the same night as the premiere of the popular ABC series.

“I don’t foresee a scenario in which millions of people that would hope to finally get some conclusion in ‘Lost’ are preempted by the president,” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday.

The season premiere of “Lost” is currently scheduled for Feb. 2. Gibbs said the White House will “soon” announce the date for the State of the Union address.

Is It This Easy to Pull Straight Nude Pics From Airport Scanners?

By Jacob Galt Friday January 8, 2010

47 Comments

This, in fact,is easily done with Photoshop using the “invert” adjustment, you then add color:

The Drudge Report has an image of a woman from an airport scanner up right now. It’s scandalous enough as is, but it’s shockingly easy to make it look even more like a normal nude photograph.

Reader Sigfried discovered that by simply inverting the image in Photoshop, you restore the photo to a more realistic tint. Of course, we’re not sure where this image came from or if it’s an accurate example of what these machines produce. But if so, let me just deliver a message to all you airport security workers out there: I just got out of a cold pool, I swear.

If these whole-body scanners are implemented, how many celeb pictures are mysteriously going to show up on the web? Oh, and if you’re interested in the non-censured photo, click here.

Update: a commenter, Two to the head, gives a great idea:

Hey, they could FUND the TSA by selling nude photos to TMZ. Save tax dollars for more important things like highways to nowhere.

Best FAILS Of 2009

By Uncle Dave Friday January 8, 2010

8 Comments

An exceptional compilation of examples of why the Darwin Awards were created, although, AFAIK, these asshats couldn’t even win one of those since they’re still alive and among us. So, be careful out there.

NSFW. Many are not for the squeamish.

Watch iPhone Movies Without Using Your Hands — The As-Seen-On-TV-Hat Hat

By Uncle Dave Friday January 8, 2010

24 Comments

A true miracle of modern technology, if you’ve never encountered modern technology before, of course. Make sure to click on the pic above to experience the company’s awe inspiring video and to acquire a hat for yourself, if you dare.

Here’s Gizmodo’s take on it:

The As-Seen-on-TV Hat (I swear to God, that’s the actual name of the product) comes in a variety of colors and patterns and in both baseball-cap-style and visor. I went for the camo visor, because I’m a pretty stylish guy. Along the sides of the bill, there’s a nylon guard to block out ambient light, and for your viewing pleasure, there’s a magnifying glass hanging down midway along the bill. You insert your iPhone (or whatever other video-playing device you want) into a flap, where it sits at the end of the bill.

Here’s how bad this product is: Not only does it ask you to stuff your iPhone into a pocket at the end of a camouflage visor, iPhones don’t even fit in the pocket. Neither did my Droid, although the iPod Touch fits okay.

Oh, and it comes with a weird semicircular flap of nylon with a velcro strip that I cannot for the life of me figure out how it attaches. It’s really embarrassing; that flap makes me feel like I’m too dumb to use the dumbest product I’ve ever seen.

Jesus On A Bruise PLUS Crosses In Potatoes

By Uncle Dave Friday January 8, 2010

21 Comments

A religious experience double header!

Click pic to read about Jesus on a bruise

Click pic to read about crosses in potatoes

While you’re pondering the holyosity of it all, read this.

Satellite Photo Shows The U.K. Covered in Snow and Ice

By Gasparrini Friday January 8, 2010

59 Comments

Source: University of Dundee. (Credit: NEODAAS/University of Dundee)

Video – If Air Travel Worked Like Health Care

By Gasparrini Friday January 8, 2010

33 Comments

No Agenda. We Talk About Heroin and New York City and….

By John C Dvorak Friday January 8, 2010

8 Comments

This Episode’s Executive Producer: Timothy Tillman

Associate Executive Producers: Daniel Eckert, Todd Symmons and Gregg Birch

Listen to show by clicking ►

Direct link to show.
Show notes here.
Donate to show here OR here.

Man has Car Impounded for a Month After his Mechanic is Caught Speeding

By honeyman Thursday January 7, 2010

28 Comments

A PERTH doctor will have to go without his prized $200,000 Lamborghini for four weeks after it was seized by police who say they caught his mechanic driving it 70 km/h over the limit.

The mechanic was allegedly clocked driving the luxury sports car at more than 160 km/h in a 90 km/h zone in Perth’s east on Wednesday.

Dr Patrick Nugawela had left his car in the care of the garage where the mechanic worked.

Under Western Australia’s anti-hoon laws, police can impound a car breaking the speed limit by more than 60 km/h, even if it is not the property of the driver.

The 2006 yellow Lamborghini Gallardo will be impounded for 28 days.

Dr Nugawela has hit out at the rejection of his application to have his car released, saying he had been persecuted for an alleged offence in which he played no part.

Hardly seems fair. I see a flaw in these ‘anti-hoon’ laws. For those uninitiated into the mysteries of Aussie patois, a ‘hoon’ is a reckless speeding driver.