A Short History of the Modern Calendar

Well if everyone else is going...

Iran, I ran so far away

Looks like the saber rattling which turned to a war drum has gotten louder as Iran rejected a U.S. warning against blocking oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Fars news agency quoted Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami as saying Iran can carry out its own "defensive strategies." 

Tehran threatened earlier this week to block the entrance to the Persian Gulf if the West imposes sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports. Such a move by the West would add to several rounds of sanctions already imposed on Iran over its controversial nuclear program.


Read more

The only winner here would be China.

How to STOP SOPA

Marsha Blackburn needs to go.

So does Debbie Wasserman Schultz. 

How come? One's a conservative and one is a liberal. Hey Cap - make up your mind, right? See, both Marsha Blackburn and Debbie Wasserman Schults, the head of the Democratic National Committee and a Congresswoman from Florida, are cosponsors of the Stop Online Piracy Act.

In case you've missed this one (which seems designed) the Act intends to stop online piracy. The way the Act goes about doing this is, in large part, allowing incompetent Eric "Fast and Furious" Holder to take control of the internet and shut down websites he doesn't like. It is a totalitarian response from a bipartisan coalition of Congresspersons who don't even know what the internet is, let alone how it works.

In a committee hearing on SOPA, co-sponsor Mel Watts (D-NC) was really open about it saying, “I’m not a nerd” before proceeding to admit he understood nothing about the law, how the internet worked, or pretty much anything else related to it. Your government in action, folks.

The legislation originated with Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX). As Neil Stevens explained in detail here the legislation will wreck terrible havoc on the internet. There is an alternative called the OPEN Act, which stands for Online Protection & ENforcement of Digital Trade Act. The OPEN Act accomplishes what SOPA intends to accomplish without handing Eric Holder the power to shut down websites that make him unhappy. Another big difference is that SOPA is backed by Hollywood and the OPEN Act is backed by people who actually, you know, know how to use the internet.

What's odd here, is that the typically gridlocked Congress actually has the left and right - so the only course of action here is for the left and right 'real people' defeat anyone who supports this crap in the primaries. ANYONE, every single person named as a sponsor on H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Erick Erickson had a pretty good idea:

Everyone on the left and right who is interested, should pledge $10.00 per candidate, or $321.00. If that’s too much, just pledge $10.00.
A fund should be created and the left should go out and find candidates to take on the Democrat sponsors. The right should go out and find candidates to take on the Republican sponsors. Heck, maybe Act Blue would let us on the right come by and we can all use their pre-existing platform.

The money should then be used to fund the primary challenges against the incumbent sponsors of SOPA. Let the right vet and direct the funding on the right so no one thinks the left is trying to pick the challenger and vice-versa on the left.

This might mean some allies are taken out. It might mean we take out Marsha Blackburn on the right and Debbie Wasserman Schultz on the left.

But sometimes a fight is that important. Killing SOPA is that important. Letting the Attorney General of the United States shut down the internet as he wants, whether it be Eric Holder or a future John Ashcroft, should scare the mess out of every American.

Congress has proven it does not understand the internet. Perhaps they will understand brute strength against them at the ballot box.


If members of Congress do not pull their name from co-sponsorship of SOPA, the left and right should pledge to defeat each and every one of them.

Jor-El

Here's the story of a dear father we know
and his sacrifice made such a long time ago

Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el
Gone is the father of Kal-el

In a Krypton town was a boy child's birth
But impending doom made him a Saviour to Earth

Jor-el knew Krypton's end was drawing near,
Which brings up the question. How did Supes end up here?

Jor-el looked it up on Google Sky
and he said Earth has nice folks, even though they can't fly.

Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el
Gone is the father of Kal-el

He put his son in comfy big rock
Then he stood with his wife and they told him good luck

He gave his life that his one son might live
who saves us quite often, what a nice gift to give

Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el Jor-el
Gone is the father of Kal-el

~Lyrics by Michelle Osorio

A Scene at Town Hall

Loudoun County Virginia Court House lawn in Leesburg, Va.

Crazy Pastafarians must have been upset with that lack of separation of church and state? Yep.
ABC report found here. Read on.

Louis CK makes a case against DRM and SOPA

In case I hadn't mentioned it...

Comedian Louis CK has just "stupidly" spent $250,000 dollars of his own money to self produce a show called "Live at the Beacon Theater" and made it available for download for $5.  "Stupidly" because he didn't protect it with DRM, and anybody who wants to can get it for free.  I suggest you visit the link. And then read his comments about what has happened.

SOPA loses a supporter

Under extreme pressure - meaning dollars - Go Daddy No Longer Supports SOPA

After Wikipedia pulled ALL their pages, and Reddit basically started a boycott - which means hundreds upon thousands of users were about to put their businesses and home pages elsewhere... Go Daddy seems to have figured this one out. And the Reddit community is full of IT folks, and people who have the power to actually do something about it...

For example, a typical comment on Reddit, "Godaddy needs to be the example of SOPA: you support it then we won't support you. If it passes we are not going to just sit around and give up." ~ Gibsonium''

The reality here is that Go Daddy no longer supports losing customers.

The Times, they are a Change-in!

Homecoming Kiss: 2011

VJ Day 1945 

Here's the story:

Looking at Things

Kim Jong-un, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, visits Mokran Video Company in Pyongyang Photo: Reuters North Korea: Continuing his father's legacy of inspecting things; issuing military orders.

Kim Jong-un 'Issued First Military Order Before Father's Death Was Announced' -- The Telegraph Kim Jong-un, North Korea's new leader, issued his first military order just before his father's death was announced, suggesting he already has control of the armed forces, according to a report. Jong-un ordered all units to halt field exercises and training and return to their bases.

Oh, good. I was worried that maybe the nonsense of North Korea was going to just disappear overnight and we were going to be able to put up advertising there and build casinos there next week.

Brit Converts to Gridiron

This one fits right into the Blaspheme's scheme -- and I better use up as much cut'n'paste time as I have before I'm shut down by SOPA. So here's a story for faithful Blasphemes Readers....


Gerard Baker, a native of the UK, grew up playing and watching two different sports called football, or what Americans refer to as soccer and rugby. But since that time, his passion for the sports of his homeland has petered out in favor of the American game, AKA Gridiron. Why? Baker explains:

"It’s none of the usual explanations: lots of scoring being better than endless nil-nil draws—I’ve been to cricket matches in which 1,000 runs were scored and you could hardly call them riveting. It’s not the hoopla or the sport-as-family-entertainment thing either which soccer fans accustomed to English hooliganism are supposed to appreciate. (Have you ever been to an Eagles game?) 

Baseball fans will have to forgive me here, but the answer, I think, is that football is the quintessential American sport. It’s no accident it hasn’t really caught on elsewhere (the annual NFL game in London notwithstanding) whereas baseball and basketball have at least a claim to a global following and participation. 

In its energy and complexity, football captures the spirit of America better than any other cultural creation on this continent, and I don’t mean because it features long breaks in which advertisers get to sell beer and treatments for erectile dysfunction. It sits at the intersection of pioneering aggression and impossibly complex strategic planning. It is a collision of Hobbes and Locke; violent, primal force tempered by the most complex set of rules, regulations, procedures and systems ever conceived in an athletic framework.

Soccer is called the beautiful game. But football is chess, played with real pieces that try to knock each other’s brains out. It doesn’t get any more beautiful than that."

Link -via Ace of Spades HQ | Photo: AP

Your Blasphemes Chanukah

Here's your Chanukah Ham. Yum Yum. Non-Koshery goodness.

SOPA on HOLDA

SOPA hearing delayed until the new year as petition signatures top 25k

Hearings in the US House of Representatives to finish markup on the Stop Online Piracy Act (or SOPA) were slated to resume tomorrow, but it looks like things will now remain at a standstill until next year. The holiday break has now pushed the committee hearing back to a yet-to-be-rescheduled date, with nothing more specific than "early next year" being promised at the moment....

Reality Distortion Machine

Gingrich Collapses in Iowa as Ron Paul Surges to the Front

Two Leaders

Two leaders, worlds apart... Kim Jong Il put his interests ahead of North Korea's. Czech leader Vaclav Havel put democracy first. Vaclav Havel will be missed... Jong Il, yeah, not so much.

Sunday Comics; Week in Review 12/18/2011

Well, if you're reading this, you made it to the end of the week. The Solstice is almost upon us, and we have a limited time to get the electric Jesus majestic inflatable manger scene with a photo electric timer at the Home Cheapo. Stocks are limited. Time is of the essence.

Earlier this week, I predicted a Ron Paul Win in Iowa. Amazingly, the panel on the McLaughlin Group agreed with me. The sticking point was that they believed that a Paul win would be good for Romney, and not for Paul. I disagree. I think since Paul is the only one talking about real issues and real problems - that people want a leader, not a haircut. I hope that I'm not wrong.

Meantime, conservative radio host Mark Steyn said that Newt isn't a conservative. And went on to say that he's a totalitarian. In the benign sense, of course. It seems the GOP soup de-jour is getting cold. Well, with awesome quotes and flip flops by the Newt - "I'll ignore any Supreme Court ruling I disagree with..." he's just a regular Washington wank... more on that in a minute.

The Iraq War officially ended. Not with a parade. Not with a signing ceremony. But with a whimper. Obama and Biden didn't push for a base there (but they did open one in Australia?) and the long term vacuum without a US presence is about to start a new chapter there. I don't want to agree with anything John McCain says, but I think he may be right... we'll have to go back. The Kurds are about to break off, the Iranians are the wolves at the door, and the powder keg of the 'Civil War' that was busted up by 4,483 American lives is bound to reignite without American bodies separating the two factions. Was it an unjust war? Was it worth a trillion dollars? Should we not have over reacted to Saddam's possible threat against American and Western interests - well, that debate was over the day we crossed the boarder 9 years ago. What the lasting legacy will be, and which should, and will, rest solely on Mr. Obama's shoulders - and that depends on how it all ends. Ask the Cambodian people how it worked out when the US simply got up and left? How's Vietnam doing? Conversely - last checked - Germany and Japan became superpower members of the G8. Ultimately though, it's up to the Iraqi people now.

Meantime, in Washington, they're at it again - trying to prevent an imminent shutdown. They're stapling little minor things, such as the US Military can detain American Citizens indefinitely without trial, and are also working on tiny little things such as the ending of the internet as we know it. If you're not aware of the SOPA, allow me to fill you in - In a sense, all your porn and such as me linking news articles on this here blog would be criminal. "If someone sends a service provider a notice claiming infringement on the site under this bill, the first thing every lawyer will tell them is "quick, take voluntary action to cut them off, so you get immunity."  Funny, as Americans were told that we were in Iraq and Afghanistan we were fighting for democracy and freedom. I guess they took the fight there so they wouldn't have to bother fighting for it here?

What's funny about that, more ironic, really - is that "The Protester" has become Time Magazine's man of the year. I guess Steve Jobs was getting too cold already? Maybe the "Protector" was just too corny. The Predator Drone wasn't available for the photo shoot since it was captured in Iran.

Howard Stern is on tap to be a judge on America's Got Talent. That may have been bigger news about 10 years ago.

“A great voice falls silent. A great heart stops.
Christopher Hitchens, April 13, 1949-December 15, 2011.”

SOPA NOT OVA

FYI: SOPA was NOT postponed to 2012. The Committee members who support SOPA quietly changed the hearing date to the 21st. Oh, yeah? I guess they were trying to trick the American people into thinking it was over for the year, eh? Dirty Pool. Want to fight back? Let them know it isn't over, and we're paying attention.

Saturday Morning Catrons: A Krampus Story

This stop motion Krampus short, created by producer Michael Steed, visual effects producer Adam Lupsha and writer Anthony Bourdain for Bourdain’s Travel Channel series, No Reservations, was pulled from broadcast this week due to the recent Penn State scandal. Luckily Zero Point Zero Productions put it on You Tube for all to enjoy:

of course, that's only because the Venture Brothers unwittingly released the Krampus from the Pope's purgatory in their last Christmas special:

Irony Dies

Exactly 220 years to the date after the Bill of Rights was ratified, the US Senate today voted 86 to 13 in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, allowing the indefinite detention and torture of Americans. 

Christopher Hitchens - The Best of

Christopher Hitchens has died. 1949-2011

Government Assumptions

Freedom is not simply the right of intellectuals to circulate their merchandise. It is, above all, the right of ordinary people to find elbow room for themselves and a refuge from the rampaging presumptions of their “betters.”  -Thomas Sowell

Surprise, Mary!

St. Matthew in the City Angelican church of Auckland just erected this copy-less billboard for the holiday season.

Ron Paul to Take Iowa

I'm expecting a Paul win in Iowa, followed immediately by the victory being laughed off the corporate media screen the same way Huckabee was when he took Iowa in '08.

From Public Policy Poling: "There has been some major movement in the Republican Presidential race in Iowa over the last week, with what was a 9 point lead for Newt Gingrich now all the way down to a single point. Gingrich is at 22% to 21% for Paul with Mitt Romney at 16%, Michele Bachmann at 11%, Rick Perry at 9%, Rick Santorum at 8%, Jon Huntsman at 5%, and Gary Johnson at 1%."

These items are not being discussed, or at least are being teed up to be laughed off by the establishment. Karl Rove was overheard saying he expects that Ron Paul will, "likely over perform in Iowa." What, because of his good organization and grass root support? Excuse me, Karl, but isn't that what wins elections?

Then it'll be about New Hampshire.

The New Rasmussen poll, shows Paul up 5 points to 18% link, 3rd behind Romney at 33%. Ron Paul might (will) close in on Romney by the time the Iowa caucuses are running.

It will then be harder for the media to simply laugh it off, or create some fluff piece on the evening news, "Who Is this Ron Paul Guy?" You know, the one where they run to the mall and interview some morons who don't know where they parked their car, let alone who's running in the GOP Primary.

It's the double standard of Iowa doesn't mean anything.... or everything.... if you're Barack Obama.

Grilled Cheesus

This Kickstarter project has reached its goal and Grilled Cheesus sandwich presses will be rolling out to investors and consumers alike.

It took me awhile to see it... like one of those Magic Eye Pictures.

Mixed Messages

I'm confused. Why is a Westboro hate-monger also promoting Glee?

Fear the Future?

 Are you beginning to fear the possibility of the Gingrich Administration?

Well, that makes me feel a little better. Although, I have to say not completely.

Reflections from a GOP Mudpuddle

After realizing that I was watching an actual GOP debate, and not the longest SNL skit in the history of the program - I was surprised how little I really understood how these candidates stacked up against each other. I took the hit, I stayed with it, so that I could give you, my two readers, the opinions and conclusions I have come up with for the GOP hopefuls.

First off, the general theme, and the subtext of the entire Republican platform is "Taking America Back" the part that's only most of the banner. The part that was cut off is, "Taking America Back, not forward." And that's better explained by a look at the candidates...

Mitt Romney: He's Al Gore and George Bush rolled into one candidate. He's got the same daddy issues that Al and George had, and he's been genetically designed to win the Presidency - right down to the rehearsed stutter. He's very complex, without looking complex - how can you with that Reed Richard's haircut? He's kind of the Häagen-Dazs of the Republican Party. He looks great, but it's a phony made made up name and product. And there's some glaring issues that the red state voters can't seem to get over - socialized medicine passed while he was governor of Massachusetts and his religion isn't the right brand of Jesus. Republicans prefer Dairy Queen or Baskin Robins 31 Flavors. Oh, and he's still married to his wife - which is so 20th century.

Newt Gingrich: He's the Retro Candidate for a party that wants to go backwards. He wants to go so far back, he's a history professor. But his knowledge of the past seems a tad fuzzy, and leaves out important parts, like the day after Israel was created, and when he sat down with Nancy Pelosi in favor of cap-and-trade, and a few hundred other things that he hopes everyone else doesn't remember. And for people who can't remember, he's more than willing to open his mouth and say something to offend and piss folks off. That's fine, and even a requirement. if you're running for VICE President... not so much if you're the front runner. And in this race, that's had a shelf life of gallon of gas station milk.

Ron Paul: Is considered the "crazy" and "fringe" candidate because he's talking about REAL issues and solutions to actual problems that the other candidates are either a) not aware of or b) are completely ignoring on purpose. Ron Paul doesn't follow the narrative of "going backward" -- he's telling the truth and the other candidates are standing there with their fingers in their ears wondering why so many people are listening to him. They even wondered that on stage last night.

Rick Perry: Jesus's best friend, Rick Perry is George Bush, but with out the poise, nuance and intelligence. Friend in Jesus but not His message - apparently his brand of Christianity skips over Mathew 25.35 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Rick Perry guts social programs, and executes retarded people... in fact, I don't think Rick's heard many of the quotes in Mathew. Golden rule, don't judge lest ye be judged...? 


Rick Santorum: If the GOP race was a game show, he would have been the first guy to get knocked out. He would have missed the first 'gimme' question, or would have failed the physical challenge.

Michelle Bachmann: "What they said, but I'm the girl." She fired a couple zingers at "Newt Romney" last night, but capped it by saying "WIN" too much. WIN - I kept remembering it was Gerald Ford's answer to stagflation.

Herman Cain: "Hey, if John Edwards could father children on the campaign trail, while cheating on his wife who was dying of cancer - I'll get along scott free. I mean, the media wouldn't dare attack a strong African Male.... would they?" I suppose he's finally figured out that only applies to Democrats. He's officially out now, and not on stage last night.

John Huntsman: John McCain of 2011 Republican Race. The GOP tried moderate last time. How'd that work out for them?  How's it working for John right now? The only people who like John Huntsman are Democrats. Let's repeat that, if Democrats are the only supporters you have - you're not going to be invited on stage.

Sunday Comics

Ah the week that was. Here's a quick overview. Iranians are at it, still. The Room Temperature War continues.

 Somehow Donald Trump is relevant?

Blago gone-o. Hanging out in the Governor's Wing.

 Russian elections... yeah, I'm sure it's all legit.

And then there's the weakest of luke warm repair jobs... The Euro. "You use all the glue, on purpose!"

And then there's this little gem from XKCD... a layer of seething hate bubbled out of me with this revelation. It'll keep me warm through the Solstice. Then it's back to burbon.

Saturday Morning Cartoon

For the past two years, SVA grad Ross Bollinger has been animating his own web series, Pencilmation, out of Charlottesville, Virginia. These modest little stick-figure films have gained a following for their humor and simplicity. Here’s a sample:

War on Religion

Apparently Mythbusters is going for a second attack

Think Unsexy Thoughts

An unnamed Islamic cleric based in Europe has issued a ban on women touching fruits and vegetables resembling the male sexual organ to avoid "sexual thoughts".

The cleric whose diktat featured in an article on el-Senousa, a religious publication. The cleric has said that women should not even get close to bananas or cucumbers. "If women wish to eat these food items, a third party, preferably a male related to them such as their a father or husband, should cut the items into small pieces and serve," the cleric dictated. 

According to the cleric, bananas and cucumbers "resemble the male penis" and therefore could arouse women or "make them think of sex." The cleric also added carrots and zucchini to the list of forbidden foods for women.

Cumquats could not be reached for comment.

Did the U.S. Senate Commit Treason by Passing NDAA?

"The US Senate accomplished the unthinkable–with the nearly unanimous passage of the National Defense Authorization Bill of 2012–they committed treason. Written and planned in secret by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the newly minted NDAA contains three sections which collectively sanctions indefinite detention of alleged terrorists or ‘terrorist sympathizers’–anywhere in the world including the US– and designates the military the duty to arrest, imprison and interrogate without benefit of counsel,’ accused civilians here on Main Street." From Jeanine Molloff via Silenced No More:
Read More

Now, here's what's relevant... YOU MAY ALREADY BE A TERRORIST! Here is the whole document from homeland security (this is a link to the document on their site).

The short list to see if you are a potential terrorist includes if you are a member of or associated with the following: the aboveground, alternative media, anarchist extremist, animal rights extremist, antiabortion extremists, anti-immigration extremist, anti-technology extremist, Aryan prison gang member, black block, black nationalist, black power, black separatists, Christian Identity - or "God's Chosen People", Cuban Independence, white power, Racial Nordic Mysticism (no, really) ... well, let's put it this way - if you joined the PTA or have ever looked at the internet, you might be already be labeled as a terrorist -- and if the Senate gets its way, you can go to jail, bypassing the Constitution, and be held indefinitely.

How's your day going?

Book now for your lake view spot at the lovely new internment camp.

Iran shows off 'downed' US stealth drone

Surrounded in Death to America flags... Iran triumphantly displayed one of America’s most advanced intelligence-gathering aircraft after a spy drone crashed on its territory, leading Russia and China to ask to inspect its technology. If the Iranian's downed it, how come it seems intact? And, like the U-2 before it, why the hell didn't it have a self destruct button? Luckily Cap'n Garry Powers wasn't stuck inside it this time, eh? The Room Temperature War continues

Big Think: Atheist Guide to 2012

Penn Jillette rates the various candidates for the U.S. Presidency from the perspective of an atheist.

ILLINOIS: Over By Dere; Special Report

Former lead character, the disgraced Governor Rod "The Hair" Blagojevich, was sentenced to 14 years in prison by US District Court Judge James Zagel.

After the show gave the popular character two trials, The Blago was found guilty of various corruption charges back at the end of last June's season cliff hanger.

Today, he finally expressed remorse for his crimes, telling the court that he made "terrible mistakes" and the he is "terribly sorry."

Then he tried to sway the judge with sympathy, mentioned that his daughters have a unique surname -- people will know who their father is and what he did.

Apparently, he didn't think of that when everyone around him was being indicted and his phones were being tapped?

With prison sentence, which is double what his predecessor, from Season 12, Republican George H. Ryan received, Blagojevich will ALSO have to pay a $20,000 fine. He will report to prison on February 16, in which is sure to be a fantastically humiliating and hilarious episode of the ongoing soap opera comedy drama.

Blagojevich is the fourth Illinois Governor to be written off the show by being sentenced to prison. He joins Democrats Otto Kerner and Dan Walker, and of course "Evil Santa Claus" George Ryan.

You'd think the people of Illinois would demand a better show?

Keep the Christ in Christmas? Okay... but...

Is it mildly ironic that Ford was a carpenter before he was a successful actor?

"He was then hired to build cabinets at the home of director George Lucas, who subsequently cast him in a pivotal supporting role for his film American Graffiti (1973)"

Remember Pearl Harbor

The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.


Eighteen months earlier, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had transferred the United States Fleet to Pearl Harbor as a presumed deterrent to Japanese agression. The Japanese military, deeply engaged in the seemingly endless war it had started against China in mid-1937, badly needed oil and other raw materials. Commercial access to these was gradually curtailed as the conquests continued. In July 1941 the Western powers effectively halted trade with Japan. From then on, as the desperate Japanese schemed to seize the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia, a Pacific war was virtually inevitable.


By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials (and they were well-informed, they believed, through an ability to read Japan's diplomatic codes) fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east, as well.
The U.S. Fleet's Pearl Harbor base was reachable by an aircraft carrier force, and the Japanese Navy secretly sent one across the Pacific with greater aerial striking power than had ever been seen on the World's oceans. Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. Soon after, Japanese planes eliminated much of the American air force in the Philippines, and a Japanese Army was ashore in Malaya.


These great Japanese successes, achieved without prior diplomatic formalities, shocked and enraged the previously divided American people into a level of purposeful unity hardly seen before or since. For the next five months, until the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, Japan's far-reaching offensives proceeded untroubled by fruitful opposition. American and Allied morale suffered accordingly. Under normal political circumstances, an accomodation might have been considered.


However, the memory of the "sneak attack" on Pearl Harbor fueled a determination to fight on. Once the Battle of Midway in early June 1942 had eliminated much of Japan's striking power, that same memory stoked a relentless war to reverse her conquests and remove her, and her German and Italian allies, as future threats to World peace.


Cut N' Pasted from Naval History and Command

What the Hell?

So, a priest actually spills the beans on National Television? No doubt he'll be spirited away by the Pope's Swiss Guard before the end of the night.

Hey Smart Guy...

Did you know...

Between 1998 and 2006, 43 percent of all members of Congress took lobbying jobs after leaving Congress, landing positions with an average annual salary of $2 million.

Pakistan to US Drones: GTFO

Don't worry, Pakistan’s decision to evict the United States from a Predator-drone launching base will have little impact on the CIA’s ability to strike terrorists in the country’s austere tribal areas because the U.S. built backup bases in Afghanistan.

The official told The Washington Times that the U.S. military and CIA built the launching strips in Afghanistan in anticipation of the day when Pakistan wanted U.S. forces out of the Shamsi facility run by Pakistan’s intelligence service. Shamsi is widely understood to be the base of operations for the covert CIA drone war on terrorists in Pakistan’s lawless border areas with Afghanistan.


Read more

Putting Christ Back into Christmas

Someone googled "Putting Christ back into Christmas" -- this is the picture that came up.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

My Bloody Lad - Dead Walter - WIZZprod° from WIZZprod° on Vimeo.

My Bloody Lad was produced as part of a summer training program at Paris based production house WIZZ, between July and August 2011, by Cyril Chauvin, William Dousse, Thibaud Petitpas and Pierre Rutz (collectively known as deadWALTER) – all first year students at the Ecole des Gobelins.

Instant Christmas

The drudgery of decorating for the holiday's got you down? Can't be bothered to dig out the heirloom decorations jammed into the farthest, dirtiest corner of the attic? Maybe you're just too busy?

But you still want to participate and show off your love of the deity to your nosy neighbors? We've got a solution for you!

Inflatable Christmas Decorations! That's right, friends, now for a limited time offer, you can show off your spirit by blowing up this tasteful Inflatable Wreath! As an added bonus, it can be used as a flotation device*!

But wait, there's more! There's an Inflatable Christmas Tree too!

Hang on, still not done! When you blow up the fruitcake, you will have achieved the coveted holiday euphoria (probably due to lack of oxygen).

Now you and your loved ones can sit by the VHS or DVD of the Yule Log and have yourselves a very little instant Christmas too!

Yes, this is real, and you can purchase here: Link

*cannot actually be used as a flotation device.

Camp Victory Closed

U.S. Hands Over Camp Victory To Iraq Government

Departing: U.S. soldiers leave Al Faw palace at Camp Victory, after one of several planned ceremonies to mark the end of American military presence in Iraq

In pictures: Camp Victory handover -- BBC

Science Makes BOLD Progress! Good News, Everyone!

Researchers Study Possible Alternative to AIDS Vaccine

Oh, to think of a day when there's no more AIDS! Didn't think it was possible, and I always fantasized about some massive "AIDS DAY" orgy when the scourge of AIDS was finally eradicated! If you couldn't get laid on that day, you must really have some issues. To think that human trials may start soon? And that's not the end of today's great big news --

Genetic genocide: Genetically altered mosquito warriors could wipe out humanity's biggest killer

As if in the War in the Pacific Theater, suddenly there's hope and success in killing off the most annoying little pest on the planet. According to the article - Mosquitoes have killed more than half the humans that ever lived! Well slap a Hitler mustache on that little sucker! 

Now, since this IS Blasphemes you're reading - I must make a few observations as I get off the chair yelling and hollering just how great these scientists are - and how they should be worshiped on red carpets and on covers of magazines... 

First off, these two items happening simultaneously are good for Africa. Suddenly if malaria and Dengue fever are kept in check, and AIDS is eradicated like small pox - you'll have a stable place for humanity to thrive, finally, in Africa. Now, follow me a second here -- suddenly China isn't the cheapest place for human labor. Africa would be. Instead of exploiting resources - they'd open up as a market for purchasing manufactured goods, as well as making them. 

Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, said Beijing had shown “strong interest” in proposals to set up manufacturing bases to help African countries achieve high growth paths similar to Asian ones.

"Help?", no, outsource! What's China going to do when they can't compete? They're going to do exactly what the States did - outsource to cheaper labor elsewhere.

Now there's also another issue to bring up - the unintended consequences. We're already at 7 Billion people. You take out the diseases that mosquitoes carry... you're going to take a very large chain link out of the natural cycle of life. Not just fish that eat the larve, but all the animals and humans that would have otherwise died because of a little vampire leaving a virus as a thank you note.

What do you think's going to happen?

I say good riddance to bad viruses! I'll take my chances with the zombies and plagues.

Room Temperature War Update

Report: Mysterious blast in Iran's Isfahan damaged key nuclear site 

London Times quotes Israel intelligence officials as saying that satellite images show this week's reported blast in Isfahan was 'no accident.' MORE

If retired Major-General Giora Eiland gloats any harder, he'll ignite a hot war.

Also, in Iran... The 11 "students" detained for storming the British Embassy and diplomatic compounds in Tehran this week, have been released a day after they were arrested for storming and ransacking the embassy and British diplomatic compounds. There was no immediate explanation for the release, but under Iranian law, damaging property carries a prison term of up to three years. It could, however, indicate the 11 have high-level protection from circles within the Iranian establishment? Hmmm?