DISCLAIMER: Zak's Random News is very random and doesn't cover many things, and not everything may be accurate, because I'm just some guy. Go find a real news source.
Good morning. It’s December 7, 2024, and it’s a Saturday. I slept in all the way to 7:15am, which is quite luxurious for me. Now I’m in my robe, got a cup of Peet’s Sumatra, and I’m ready to see what’s happening in the world. But first, a look back in time.
- It was just before 8am local time — which is the same time as it is now, coincidentally — on December 7, 1941 when the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service struck the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii.
- It was a Sunday, and we were not at all prepared for such an attack with no warning. A total of 2,393 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded at Pearl Harbor on that day.
- It was the deadliest foreign attack against the United States in its history until the September 11 attacks of 2001.
- Within 24 hours, Japan declared war on the United States and the British Empire; the British government declared war on Japan; and the United States Congress declared war on Japan.
- And within a week, Germany and Italy each declared war on the United States, which responded with a declaration of war against Germany and Italy.
- And that is how the US, who had previously been reluctant to be directly involved in the already-ongoing WWII and whose official policy was neutrality, changed forever.
- The following day, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, spoke to a joint session of Congress. That’s the speech known for its famed first line, which opened with Roosevelt saying, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy…”
- So, of course, the USA went all-in on brutal wars on two fronts… Europe/North Africa and the Pacific. The Allies — our side that included the US along with the UK, the Soviet Union, China, Canada, Australia, and others — ended up with over 16,000,000 military dead and over 45,000,000 civilians dead from genocide, massacres, starvation, and disease.
- The Axis — our enemies who included Japan, Germany, Italy, and others — had over 8,000,000 military dead and over 4,000,000 civilians dead.
- And then in 1945, we dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan and that was that. War is fucking awful. There are no redeeming factors about violent conflict that justify it. Never.
- And here we are, 83 years later.
- Pearl Harbor led to the US involvement in WWII, which led to the US and the USSR becoming global superpowers, which led to the Cold War, which led to many of the events and outlooks we still experience today.
- Let’s move on.
- Yesterday, a January 6 defendant taunted a federal judge’s decision to send him immediately to prison for one year for his role in the US Capitol riot, shouting as he was being handcuffed that Dumpy would pardon him.
- Philip Sean Grillo of New York City announced after his sentencing, “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways,” as a US marshal had him remove his belt and tie before handcuffing him inside the courtroom.
- Which is almost certainly true. Senior Judge Royce Lamberth said, “I will do my job as I’m bound by oath to do, and the president will do his. It’s as simple as that.”
- The judge added that the delivery of justice was worth the effort, “no matter the political winds of the day.”
- I agree. Still, it’s pretty sad that we have an incoming President who has pledged to let the people who killed our cops and attacked our country go scot-free.
- When it happens, that will be another day that will live in infamy.
- Moving on.
- The U.S. Naval Academy can continue to use race-conscious admissions policies, a federal judge ruled yesterday. It was a closely watched case that followed last year’s Supreme Court decision rejecting the use of affirmative action in college admissions.
- In U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Senior District Judge Richard D. Bennett ruled that the academy had established that a diverse officer corps is important to national security, and that the academy is a vital pipeline to that corps.
- And of course, the group that brought the case, Students for Fair Admissions, immediately said it would appeal the decision to the appellate court and, if needed, to the Supreme Court.
- If it gets to the Supreme Court, they will likely win, I believe. As a result, the USA will end up with a weakened military. Which, if you think about it, is likely the big-picture goal of the Russians whose propaganda has influenced these racist groups.
- In other news…
- Dumples the Clown is in France. It’s his first overseas trip since being elected in November.
- French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Dumpster to the Elysee Palace today as Dump visited for a meeting ahead of the reopening ceremony for the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
- Speaking to reporters before they met privately, Macron and Dumpy both expressed optimism about the future of their relationship.
- Pffft. They’ll both be gone before you know it… Macron will be booted by France’s far-right, and Dump will not survive for the four years of his second term.
- And there will be other assholes in charge, and life will go on.
- Moving on with news from the International Desk.
- Syrian insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus as part of a rapidly moving offensive that has seen them take over some of Syria's largest cities across the country.
- It was the first time that opposition forces reach the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the region adjacent to the capital following a yearslong siege.
- It came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria on Saturday, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters.
- Why now? Well, Syria's President Bashar Assad appears to be largely on his own. His chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel.
- How does Dumpy feel about Syria? He weighed in today.
- “THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
- Um, okay. Let me translate that for you folks: “We don’t have a financial reason to support Syria or its opposing factions, so we won’t bother.”
- I should note that in a rare occasion of alignment with that prick, I agree that we shouldn’t get involved. There’s no notable good side or bad side here.
- And now, The Weather: “Good Kisses (feat. Metronomy)” by Miso Extra
- From the Sports Desk… taking a look at NFL standings here in week 14 of the NFL season.
- AFC: Chiefs (11-1), Bills (10-2), Steelers (9-3), Chargers (8-4), Texans (8-5), Ravens (8-5), Broncos (8-5).
- NFC: Lions (12-1), Eagles (10-2), Vikings (10-2), Packers (9-4), Commanders (8-5), Seahawks (7-5).
- Who are the absolute worst teams? AFC: Raiders, Jaguars (2-10). NFC: Giants (2-10).
- My team is trash.
- Today in history… Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius (43 BC). The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London, England (1732). Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution (1787). First concert of the New York Philharmonic (1842). The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary (1917). German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa (1932). The Imperial Japanese Navy carries out a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet and its defending Army and Marine air forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1941). Instant replay makes its debut during the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia (1963). Apollo 17, the last Apollo moon mission, is launched (1972). The Galileo spacecraft arrives at Jupiter, a little more than six years after it was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis during Mission STS-34 (1995).
- December 7 is the birthday of composer Bernardo Pasquini (1637), businessman Richard Warren Sears (1863), painter Stuart Davis (1892), actor Eli Wallach (1915), actor Ted Knight (1923), philosopher Noam Chomsky (1928), actress Ellen Burstyn (1932), singer-songwriter/guitarist Harry Chapin (1942), MLB player Johnny Bench (1947), singer-songwriter/guitarist Tom Waits (1949), NBA player Larry Bird (1956), actor C. Thomas Howell (1966), singer-songwriter/guitarist Louise Post (1966), NFL player Terrell Owens (1973), singer-songwriter Damien Rice (1973), and MLB player Yasiel Puig (1990).
Okay then. Time to take a shower and then figure out what’s up for the rest of this lovely Saturday. Enjoy your day.
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