Dvorak News Blog

The Bank of North Dakota — State Owned — Is Very Profitable

By Uncle Dave Saturday March 28, 2009

The article is an interview with the bank’s president who, I fully realize, conservatives will have a hard time hearing from considering to them he is Satan’s socialist henchman, but given what Godly, unbridled capitalism has done for us lately…

How the Nation’s Only State-Owned Bank Became the Envy of Wall Street

The Bank of North Dakota is the only state-owned bank in America—what Republicans might call an idiosyncratic bastion of socialism. It also earned a record profit last year even as its private-sector corollaries lost billions. To be sure, it owes some of its unusual success to North Dakota’s well-insulated economy, which is heavy on agricultural staples and light on housing speculation. But that hasn’t stopped out-of-state politicos from beating a path to chilly Bismarck in search of advice. Could opening state-owned banks across America get us out of the financial crisis? It certainly might help, says Ellen Brown, author of the book, Web of Debt, who writes that the Bank of North Dakota, with its $4 billion under management, has avoided the credit freeze by “creating its own credit, leading the nation in establishing state economic sovereignty.”

Bad Cop Beatdown of the Week

By McCullough Saturday March 28, 2009

29 Comments

After a beat down in an elevator, Joshua Daniel Ortiz ended up with his nose broken and facing a charge of battering a Fort Lauderdale police officer.

The 22-year-old Sunrise man was surprised and delighted to learn Wednesday that Broward prosecutors were dropping the case against him after reviewing an elevator surveillance video showing three officers aggressively rush and beat Ortiz to the ground. Once the Dec. 5 video surfaced, it altered the course of the case. It contradicted police reports that Ortiz provoked and attacked Officers Derek Lade, Stefan Silver and Steve Smith.

“They were just sitting there watching my life go down the drain with those charges,” Ortiz said Wednesday. “I’ve been going crazy thinking my life is over. It’s barely started and it’s over.”The looming legal charges delayed Ortiz’s enrollment in college classes, he said. Police first charged Ortiz with felony battery on a law enforcement officer. But after seeing the video obtained by Ortiz’s defense attorney, Stephen Melnick, prosecutors downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor resisting charge. Upon further review, prosecutors dropped the case entirely.

Yes Officer….there are surveillance cameras in banks!!!! I know that’s hard for some of you to comprehend. But when you feel the overwhelming urge to beat the snot out of someone, use your head and do it in a back alleyway like the good old days.

Thank you for Your Service to the Country…Now Please Pay Your Hospital Bill on Your Way out

By McCullough Saturday March 28, 2009

26 Comments

(CNN) — Erik Roberts, an Army sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, underwent his 13th surgery recently to save his right leg from amputation. Imagine his shock when he got a bill for $3,000 for his treatment. “I just thought it was bull—- that I’m getting billed for being wounded in Iraq doing my job. I always put the mission first, and now that I was wounded in Iraq, they’re sending me bills,” he said.

“I put my life on the line and I was wounded in combat, and I came back and they’re not going to take care of my medical bills?” It’s a level of outrage shared by his mother, as well as the doctor who performed the surgery. “It’s hard to understand why we’re not taking care of guys like Erik whose injuries are clearly related to their service. They deserve the best care of anybody,” said Dr. William Obremskey, an Air Force veteran and surgeon at Vanderbilt Orthopaedics in Nashville, Tennessee.

“For him to be responsible for $3,000, I think, is a little ridiculous or is uncalled for, particularly in this situation.”

His mother, Robin Roberts, put it more succinctly: “Why should any soldier pay one penny of a medical bill from injuries that occurred while they were fighting in a war? That’s what really frustrates me.” The Department of Veterans Affairs has now decided to pay his bill, but only after prodding from a U.S. senator who got involved after CNN brought it to his attention. He retired from the Army in October 2007, because of his war injuries, and enrolled in college last fall at Youngstown State University, majoring in finance and minoring in economics.

But in December, he says, a golf ball-sized lump appeared on his wounded leg. He says he went to a Veterans Affairs hospital and was told not to worry about it.

Pick-up that Split!

By hhopper Saturday March 28, 2009

15 Comments

Pic of the Day Dept. — World’s Biggest Comb-over

By hhopper Saturday March 28, 2009

6 Comments

Amazing Flexibility

By hhopper Saturday March 28, 2009

14 Comments

If you have problems viewing the clip go here to see it.

Dumbest crook in Pennsylvania

By Eideard Saturday March 28, 2009

10 Comments

Different copper – but, you get the idea

Jerome Blanchett took a loaded handgun into the Holiday Inn-Harrisburg East on Friday, passing dozens of unmarked police cars in the parking lot and a sign at the hotel’s entrance welcoming 300 officers to the Pennsylvania Narcotic Officers’ Association conference, police said.

Nevertheless, the 19-year-old Harrisburg man went into the men’s room and waited to rob the next person who walked through the door, police said.

Unfortunately for Blanchett, that person was John Comparetto, a retired New York City Police Department lieutenant. “He chose to rob a cop in a place where there were 300 cops,” Comparetto said afterward. “He’s not very bright…”

Blanchett demanded money, and Comparetto handed over $138, police said. Blanchett took Comparetto’s cell phone, told him to drop his pants and threatened to kill him if he tried to follow him, police said.

Seconds after Blanchett left the bathroom, Comparetto pulled a handgun from his ankle holster and went after his attacker, he said. Their guns drawn, he and other officers took Blanchett into custody as he was trying to get into a taxi outside the hotel…

“I knew I could take away the gun, but I hurt my back a few years ago,” Comparetto said. “I’m too old to be fighting people. So I made an assessment that I would cooperate and worry about this afterward.”

“This should make all Pennsylvania news as the dumbest criminal in Pennsylvania.”

This clown qualifies as one of the dumbest crooks in the country.

NYC Principal In Hot Water Over ‘Buddhist Chants’ and Hate List

By John C Dvorak Saturday March 28, 2009

13 Comments

NYC Principal In Hot Water Over ‘Buddhist Chants’ – wcbstv.com — Geez, does a day go by without more and more weird stories like this? The principal is a former ballet dancer turned administrator.

Philip Scharper is under investigation by the city’s Department of Education for potentially crossing the line between church and state with Buddhism.

“He has tried to recruit staff members to be part of his faith and he has also hired a couple of people from his temple,” parent Tracy Shelton said.

The Department of Education is taking the allegations very seriously. Among them — that Principal Scharper handed out Buddhist chant cards while on school property.

The complaint, filed by someone at the school, said Scharper also led “Buddhist chants” against teachers on a “hate list.”

Journal tells Pope to retract ignorant statements

By Eideard Saturday March 28, 2009

54 Comments

The medical journal the Lancet has accused Pope Benedict XVI of distorting scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine following his remarks about condom use and HIV.

The attack — which also said that the pope did not know what he was talking about and had put millions of lives at risk — followed his statement last week during a visit to Africa that the use of condoms increased HIV infection rates. This was later amended by the Vatican, which said that condom use merely increased the risk of transmission.

The pope’s remarks, made to journalists on a flight to Cameroon at the start of his visit, overshadowed his trip and provoked condemnation from health and aid agencies, as well as protests from the UN and the governments of Germany, France and Belgium.

Today’s Lancet editorial said the Pope’s statement was “outrageous and wildly inaccurate“. It added: “By saying that condoms exacerbate the problem of HIV/Aids, the pope has publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine.

Amazing Base Jumping Video

By Uncle Dave Saturday March 28, 2009

11 Comments

Click pic to watch the video

Found by Gary, The Dangerous Infidel

High Five Or Hug In School? Manditory Disciplinary Action For You!

By Uncle Dave Saturday March 28, 2009

17 Comments

Expulsion? Ha! Life in prison!

So, what if someone hands another a book and their hands accidentally touch? Does brushing against someone in a crowded hallway while both are rushing to class count?

A Connecticut middle school principal has laid down the law: You put your hands on someone — anyone — in any way, you’re going to pay.

A violent incident that put one student in the hospital has officials at the Milford school implementing a “no touching” policy, according to a letter written by the school’s principal.
[…]
Students and parents are outraged. They said the new policy means no high-fives and hugs, as well as horseplay of any kind. The consequences could be dire, Williams warned in the letter.

“Potential consequences and disciplinary action may include parent conferences, detention, suspension and/or a request for expulsion from school,” Williams wrote.

With all the crap kids have to put up with these days from schools and overreaching laws, I’m betting a good field to go into for the future would be psychiatry. And this all stems from the fact that one kid kicked another one in the nuts. Gee, that’s never happened before.

Girl, 14, arrested after posting nude pics of herself on Myspace

By John C Dvorak Friday March 27, 2009

75 Comments

Girl, 14, arrested after posting nude pics of herself on Myspace | KOMO News — Apparently the concept of exhibitionist is lost on these idiots. So this girl is a sexual predator? A threat to society?

Conundrum of the day. A 14-year-old girl gets naked and stands in front of a mirror. Is she looking at child porn? Should she be arrested for that too? The worst case scenario for this girl is that she is grounded by her Mom, not charged with a felony and ruined. What is wrong with these people? Where is the common sense in this country?

A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com – charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.

The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail. Legal experts, though, could not recall another case of a child porn charge resulting from a teen’s posting to a social networking site.

MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off a state task force, which alerted the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.

The office investigated and discovered the Clifton resident had posted the “very explicit” photos of herself, sheriff’s spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.

“We consider this case a wake-up call to parents,” Maer said. The girl posted the photos because “she wanted her boyfriend to see them,” he said.

Investigators are looking at individuals who “knowingly” committed a crime, he said, declining to comment further because the case is still being investigated.

The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother’s custody.

If convicted of the distribution charge, she would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram. She also could face up to 17 years in jail, though such a stiff sentence is unlikely.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children should be looking for “missing” and “exploited” children rather than persecute this naive show-off and ruin her life and the family’s life. Good work. This trivializes and marginalizes real sex crimes!

Found by Aric Mackey.

ASTONISHING CDC FINDINGS! People trip over pets! Their solution: Don’t Do It!!!

By Uncle Dave Friday March 27, 2009

17 Comments

“Beware of the dog” might need to take on a new meaning when it comes to injuries. It turns out that dogs and cats — but dogs especially — are involved in 1% of the 8 million falls that send people to emergency rooms nationwide.

That may seem to be a small number, it still means that every day about 240 people go to emergency rooms nationwide for injuries from falls involving dogs and cats, according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report.

Falls are dangerous.

I never could have guessed that unless a study like this told me. So, which are more tripable, dogs or cats?

Eighty-eight percent of owners tripped over dogs but only 11.7% tripped over their cats. No information about which dog breed were involved in these accidents was available.

But what about ferrets? Goldfish? Monkeys??? No data? I smell a federal grant money opportunity! Ain’t nothin’ like taxpayer money being spent wisely for important research!

In other CDC news, turns out that seemingly groundbreaking report on the relation between beer pong and herpes was a hoax. Whew!