The Manta.com website includes a database of over 63 million U.S. and foreign companies. That database info is provided by Dunn & Bradstreet (D&B). Manta.com will provide preliminary information on each of these millions of companies for free. If you want more “in-depth” info, there’s a fee.
But since this article is about “funny” stuff, and paying fees isn’t fun, let’s run a few free searches and see what we can find. You might be surprised.
For example, if you type “Government of the United States” into the Manta.com search engine, you’ll be whisked to a list of “7,666 matching US companies”.
The first “company” on the list is:
“Government of the United States (US Government) HQ
“the u.s. Capitol Washington DC”
The “HQ” stands for “headquarters”.
If you scroll down the list of other companies below the “Government of the United States,” you’ll find “branches” like “Executive Office of the United States Government” (6 entries), “United States Department of the Air Force (US Government),” “The Navy United States Department of (US Government Naval Reserves),” and “United States Court of Appeals For The 11th Circuit United States Courthouse”.
Apparently, the Navy, Air Force and Courts are “companies”.
That’s kinda “funny,” doncha think?
If you click on the “Government of the United States HQ” link, you’ll see another website page with some fairly detailed—and possibly bewildering—information.
For example, you’ll see that this “Government of the United States” has its address at:
“the u.s. capitol
“Washington, DC 20515-0001”
Its phone number is “(202) 224-3121”. Business Hours are “24/7”.
You can click the “map” link and see a graphic indicating that this “Government” is located on “Capitol Hill” (same place as Congress) in Washington DC.
None of that seems particularly surprising (other than the idea that our “Government” might be a “company” and/or a conglomerate of “companies”). But the Manta.com report does begin to seem a little strange under the heading “About Government Of The United States” where we read: “government, owner archbishop deric r. mccloud of basilica shrine michigan and 4th ne street washington,dc”.
Say whut? Does that abbreviated text really indicate that the owner of the “Government Of The United States” is an archbishop named Deric R. McCloud? Who could be dumb enough to think (or even mistakenly write) that the “Government of the United States” was owned by an archbishop?
A: Apparently, Dunn & Bradstreet was dumb enough.

And just in case you think we can’t be talking about the “Government of the United States,” take a gander at the “Additional Information” heading and you’ll read (as of August 6th, A.D. 2010):
“all recipients [sic] of federal funds that have any kind of criminal case or felony federal, state, local or served time in prison federal, state, benefits terminate 7/26/10 by Barack Obama administration.”
The reference to “barack obama” shows that this entry for “Government of the United States HQ” does, indeed, describe the very same “Government of the United States” that we all so love and admire. (Don’t forget that this “Government” and all its various “branches” are being reported by D&B to be individual, private companies.)
It’s also curious that D&B describes the “Government of the United States” as a company and “HQ” over a number of other “branches” (like the Army, Navy, Air Force and courts) that are also deemed to be “companies”.
Somethin’ funny’s goin’ on here.
• If you’re up for even more funny stuff, enter “Nancy Pelosi” into the Manta.com search engine. You’ll be taken to a list of “2 matching U.S. companies”:
1) “United States House of Representatives (Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi) BRANCH” at her San Francisco address; and
2) “Representative Nancy Pelosi (Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi) BRANCH” at her Washington DC address.
Click the #1 link, look for the heading “About United States House of Representatives,” and you’ll read:
“United States House Of Representatives is a private company categorized under Legislative Bodies, National and located in San Francisco, CA . . . .”
Whut th’ . . . ?!
The US House of Representative is “a private company”?! And it’s “located in San Francisco, CA” (the home of the Speaker of the House)?
More?
Look under the heading “United States House of Representatives Business Information” and you’ll read:
“United States House Of Representatives also does business as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.”
The House of Representatives not only “does business” but does so “as Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi”? Is “Nancy Pelosi” something like a trademark, alter ego or registered agent for the “private company” we call the “House of Representatives”? Is she the CEO and/or D/B/A for the House of Representatives, Inc.?
Incidentally, the 2009 edition of Manta.com’s report on Nancy Pelosi (that I recorded and saved) declared that the US House of Representatives was “also traded as Nancy Pelosi”.
Also traded as?! What does that mean? Are we talking about packages of bubble gum that include government “trading cards” featuring photos of the House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi? Or is the House of Representatives and/or Nancy Pelosi some sort of stock? If so, who’s buying, who’s selling? Who owns that “company”?
 
-----------------------
 
OOPS! “Government of the United States” listed on Dunn & Bradstreet as a Private Corporation.

-----------------------------------------
 
US Treasury Dept Batf,

Bureau Of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Wichita Field Office
301 N Main Street # 225
Wichita, KS 67202-4802 map
Wichita, KS Metro Area Phone: (316) 269-6229 Website: View Details

About US Treasury Dept Batf

Is this your company? Claim This Profile
US Treasury Dept Batf is a private company categorized under Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Government and located in Wichita, KS. Register for free to see additional information such as annual revenue and employment figures.
 
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Statutory Rule 1997 No. 339

The Social Security (United States of America) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

© Crown Copyright 1997

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STATUTORY RULES OF NORTHERN IRELAND

1997 No. 339

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (United States of America) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997
Made 22nd July 1997
Coming into operation 1st September 1997


In exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 155(1) and (2) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992[1] and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I hereby make the following Order:

Citation, commencement and interpretation
1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Social Security (United States of America) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 and shall come into operation on 1st September 1997.

(2) In this Order—
(a) "the Agreement" means the Agreement on Social Security between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America;
(b) "the Administrative Agreement" means the Administrative Agreement for the implementation of the Agreement,which were signed at London on behalf of those Governments[2] on the 13th February 1984.

Modification of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act and the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act and amendment of the Social Security (United States of America) Order
2. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992[3] and the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 shall be modified and the Social Security (United States of America) Order (Northern Ireland) 1984[4] ("the principal Order") shall be amended so as to give effect to the Agreement, set out in Schedule 1 to the principal Order, as modified by the Supplementary Agreement set out in Schedule 1 to this Order and to the Administrative Agreement, set out in Schedule 2 to the principal Order, as modified by the Supplementary Administrative Agreement[5] set out in Schedule 2 to this Order, so far as the same relate to Northern Ireland.

Amendment of Order
3. In the Schedule to the Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order (Northern Ireland) 1988[6] and in Schedules 2 and 3 to the Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order (Northern Ireland) 1995[7] the entry relating to the Social Security (United States of America) Order (Northern Ireland) 1984 shall be omitted.



Marjorie Mowlam

One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State

Dated this 22nd day of July 1997.
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