Dvorak News Blog

Mexico revamps borders staff

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

Mexico has replaced all 700 of its customs inspectors with agents newly trained to detect contraband, from guns and drugs to TVs and other big-ticket appliances smuggled to avoid import duties.

The shake-up — part of a broader effort to root out corruption and improve vigilance at Mexican ports with new technology — doubled the size of Mexico’s customs inspection force.

The inspectors at all 49 of Mexico’s customs points were replaced with 1,400 better-educated agents who have undergone background checks and months of training, Tax Administration Service spokesman Pedro Canabal said Sunday.

Meanwhile, the US is in trillions in debt, 17% real unemployment, the dollar is going down, and Obama is sightseeing.

While country on crisis, Obama sightseeing with family

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

51 Comments

“Pretty nice, eh,” Obama said Sunday as the family took in the breathtaking view from the Grand Canyon’s Hopi Point under a magnificent blue sky and overlooking a 5,000-foot drop to the Colorado River. “Last time I was here was when I was 11 years old.” Asked by a ranger if it looked the same, he said, “It does!”

With the wonders of his country at his disposal, Obama did things that might seem a little out of his comfort zone. It’s safe to say that this Hawaiian-born president has spent more time on beaches and in cities than he has in the mountains of the West.

Update:I heard your comments, I’ll try to back up on these types of stories, I just think it is quite amusing that these politicians aren’t working.

I know Bush was on vacation all the time, but that doesn’t mean that Obama sucks too.

Does Fox need Obama in office for good ratings?

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

46 Comments

Judging by the escalating boos and catcalls, squirting lighter fluid on burning coals would have been wiser. Beck is a hero to many people who are not buying the Age of Obama, and so is Fox. The network was already on pace for its best ratings year even before the health care debate sent viewership jumping during a traditionally slow month for news.

Fox’s viewership is up 11 percent over last year, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN and MSNBC, which benefited from interest in the campaign last year, are down. O’Reilly, who already had cable news’ most popular show, Beck and Sean Hannity lead the way.

“Who’s that going to help?” O’Reilly said. “Us, that’s who. Our ratings are already soaring because we don’t denigrate the protesters, the way a lot of other TV news organizations do. They’re dying. We’re on fire.”

The US population is generally center-to-right and they are basically the only ones criticizing the government, so this is expected.

I consider myself a pro-liberty conservative, but Fox’s hosts are just nut-cases that contradict themselves.

No Agenda #122 – Now Available On Cage Match

By KD Martin Sunday August 16, 2009

8 Comments

Click image to go to No Agenda.

John and Adam discuss the news of the day from an international perspective

Queue / cue / Q the closing credits — We hope you enjoy the show!

No Agenda Archive

Running time: approx. 90 mins.

Swine flu readiness urged as US students return to school

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

10 Comments

With nearly 500 US deaths from swine flu, the top American health official on Sunday urged educators and parents to take measures to prevent and address the A(H1N1) virus.

“Hopefully, we will engage schools as good vaccination partners. We anticipate having school-based vaccination clinics as soon as they’re available and getting kids the protection that they need.”

US news reports this month said the US government was planning for a worst-case scenario in which up to 40 percent of the American workforce could be affected by swine flu — either directly contracting the virus or having to stay home to look after an affected relative.

1976 – 1 death; 500 cases of Guillain-Barre and 25 confirmed deaths

2009 – 1,462 deaths; just do the math

British swimming pools are imposing Muslim dress codes

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

42 Comments

Under the rules, swimmers – including non-Muslims – are barred from entering the pool in normal swimming attire. Instead they are told that they must comply with the “modest” code of dress required by Islamic custom, with women covered from the neck to the ankles and men, who swim separately, covered from the navel to the knees.

At Loxford School in Ilford, east London, a local Muslim group organises weekly sessions for Muslim men, with the warning that “it is compulsory for the body to be covered between the navel and the knees. “Anyone not adhering to the dress code or rules within the pool will not be allowed to swim”.

Discrimination against Muslims or Catholics or Jews isn’t OK, but against non-Muslims, go for it.

Man who ‘threatened to blow up the White House’ is tasered by police after eight-hour stand-off

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

15 Comments

A man suspected of making threats against the White House was pulled from his car Thursday after an hours-long standoff in the parking lot of the Federal Building in West Los Angeles.

The man had refused to leave his red Volkswagen Beetle and withstood four rounds of chemical agents tossed inside the car after police broke a rear window. About an hour later, officers shot out the drivers window with a bean bag gun and pulled him out.

This story is so funny and weird, you have to keep reading it. By the way, this was mentioned on the latest episode of No Agenda.

THUNDER BOLT – 100 meters in 9.58 second – The New World Record

By Eideard Sunday August 16, 2009

15 Comments

Click on photo for story

Selling my first Provisional Patent

By Marc Perkel Sunday August 16, 2009

47 Comments

I am trying my hand at selling inventions. I came up with a simple idea and filed a provisional patent on it. The idea is a bicycle safety light that solar charges and comes on by itself when it is both nighttime and it senses the bike is in motion. The device would be installed on the top of the middle frame; no charging of batteries, no turning on or turning off.

I’m looking for information about how to market ideas. I come up with ideas all the time and am looking to make a little extra $$$ on it.

White House ready to drop public option

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

55 Comments

President Barack Obama’s administration signaled on Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run health insurance as part of his ambitious health care proposal.

Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives. Such a concession is likely to enrage his liberal supporters but could deliver Obama a much-needed win on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

A government-run public option to health care, even being a far-left idea, have worked in many countries and could work in the US, but it seems that the Obama Team is going to drop the plan altogether.

Papal blessing sought to halt the melting of the Aletsch glacier

By Eideard Sunday August 16, 2009

24 Comments

Dayife/Getty Images user by permission

We’re under the Cone of Silence. Now, how much do we charge?

The mayor of Fiesch, Switzerland, says he is confident Pope Benedict XVI will give his blessing regarding the ongoing melting of the Aletsch glacier.

Fiesch Mayor Herbert Volken said while area residents since 1678 had been concerned with advancements by the Aletsch glacier, now residents are seeking Vatican assistance as the Alps’ largest glacier is slowly melting away, Swissinfo reported Friday.

“In his Easter message this year the head of the Catholic Church addressed the issue of climate change. It’s a burning global issue,” Volken said.

The Rev. Pascal Venetz, a priest in Fiesch, will make a formal request to the Vatican for the pope’s support.

“We should pray that our glacier does not melt any further, but instead grows, and that the most important thing in life, water, remains well preserved,” Venetz said.

Should do about as much good as the Pope asking the governor of Texas to commute a death sentence.

UPDATE: Apple To Detect When You Inflict “Consumer Abuse Events” On Their Products

By Uncle Dave Sunday August 16, 2009

27 Comments

Apple has investigated a system where portable devices like iPods and iPhones would detect and store into memory “consumer abuse events” such as exposure to extreme cold, heat or moisture in void of warranty, a new patent application reveals.

The invention, entitled “Consumer Abuse Detection System and Method,” was discovered by AppleInsider in a new patent application disclosure this week. Apple originally filed for the patent on Feb. 1, 2008. The concept aims to detect issues, like a dropped iPhone, that might void the warranty on the device.
[…]
“The system may include an interface by which a diagnostic device may access the memory to analyze the records and determine whether a consumer abuse event occurred, when the event occurred, and, in some embodiments, what type of abuse event occurred,” the patent reads. “By providing the capability to quickly and easily detect whether consumer abuse occurred in an electronic device, a vendor or manufacturer diagnosing a returned product may be able to better determine whether or not to initiate a product return under a warranty policy.”

In addition to warranty protection, the abuse detection circuitry could be used to disable the electronic device if an issue is detected, potentially reducing the risk of damage to the device. The system would aim protect a myriad of parts on devices, including the screen, processor, memory, and potentially inserted devices like SD or CompactFlash cards.

Will there be an iOuch program to snitch on you? Imagine the day your iPhone yells, “Don’t even THINK of doing that to me!” and “No warranty work for you!”

UPDATE: Ice-T may not be getting his laptop fixed.

Is Dave Winer the biggest innovator of the web?

By Jacob Galt Sunday August 16, 2009

26 Comments

I don’t want to bore you guys or suck up to him, but I am amazed that no one points this out.

1. He invented RSS.

2. He, along with Adam Curry, pioneered podcasting.

3. He knew people would love Twitter in 2001.

4. He was one of the first bloggers around.

5. He is a visionary in journalism.

6. He pioneered the concept of editing pages without messing up with the code.

Yet, he sucks at webdesign. Don’t have to link to anything here, just look at the websites above. I think he does this on purpose to emphasize the technology behind his sites.

I also laugh at the people who criticize him and say that RSS is dead. If it is dead, stop using it! It is the backend of thousands of web applications and it enables cool new innovative products. Twitter is cool and all of that, but it is completely limited and controlled by a single company. Plus, RSSCloud and PubSubHubBub is coming.

Anyway, what do you guys think about him?

The Computer Madoff Used To Make Off With Millions

By Uncle Dave Sunday August 16, 2009

13 Comments

An ancient IBM AS/400 was crucial to US investment swindler Bernard Madoff’s cunning Ponzi scam whereby he made off with huge wodges of other people’s cash.

According to a new book, “Too Good to Be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff”, author Erin Arvedlund claims that Madoff could not have managed his elaborate fraud without his old clunker of a mid-range computer system.

The IBM AS/400 was used by him and select other employees to print out fake account statements. What they would do was punch in fake trades on the IBM AS/400 and enter share prices that would square with his consistent but imaginary returns on the billions that customers entrusted to his firm.

Central to the scam was that “no one touched” the computer but Madoff. But that would have been a safe bet as no one would want to get their paws on an ancient AS/400 unless they were a real enthusiast.

Here’s some interesting insights into Madoff’s computer.

Gates Foundation Bailing Out Of Health Care & Pharma Investments

By Uncle Dave Sunday August 16, 2009

27 Comments

This can’t be a good sign.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest private philanthropy fund, sold off almost all of its pharmaceutical, biotechnology and health-care investments in the quarter ended June 30, according to a regulatory filing published Friday.

The Seattle-based charity endowment, set up by Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and his wife, sold its total holding of 2.5 million shares in health-care giant Johnson & Johnson in the quarter, according to the filing.

The foundation also sold millions of shares in major drug makers, including 14.9 million shares in Schering-Plough Corp., almost 1 million shares in Eli Lilly & Co., 8.1 million shares in Merck & Co. and 3.7 million shares in Wyeth, over the same time period. The foundation no longer holds shares in any of those companies.
[…]
The foundation’s decision to drastically reduce its exposure to health-related stocks is striking, as many of its charity grants have been disbursed to address developing country health issues. Its move comes against the background of anxiety among drugmakers and healthcare insurance firms about the potential impact of the Obama administration’s proposed overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, which could put pressure on prescription drug prices.