Dec. 7 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, with devastating results, despite an official warning by US officials, on November 27, that an attack might be imminent. 1993: Dept. of Energy discloses US had conducted over 200 secret nuclear weapons tests.

Dec. 8 1980: Singer John Lennon assassinated by a mentally ill fan, New York City. 1987: Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Washington, D.C., and sign an agreement calling for the dismantling of all 1,752 US and 859 Soviet missiles with a 300-3,400 mile (short) range.

Dec. 9 1994: Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders resigns after her masturbation comments are criticized by jerk offs.

Dec. 10 1898: In France, the Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War and granting the US its first overseas empire. Spain cedes the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the US. The US granted the Philippines its independence in 1948, but retains the other two "territories."

Dec. 11 1961: Pres. Kennedy sends 425 US air cavalry helicopter units to Vietnam; first US helicopters and army personnel involved in that war.

Dec. 12 1098: First Crusaders capture and plunder for God, Mara, Syria. 1776: Continental Congress, fearing a British attack on Philadelphia is imminent, votes dictatorial powers to George Washington and flees to Baltimore.

Dec. 13 1652: Dutch navigator Abel Tasman "discovers" the South Pacific island group later known as New Zealand. While attempting to land, several of Tasman's crew are killed by warriors from the native Maori people, who interpret the Europeans' exchange of trumpet signals as a prelude to battle. And right they were.

Dec. 14 1972: Pres. Nixon authorizes Christmas bombing of Hanoi. 1985: Mobilization for Animals declares "World Week for Companion Animals" to highlight the plight of homeless animals.

Dec. 15 1890: Sioux Chief Sitting Bull (Tatanka Iyotake) murdered, Standing Rock, South Dakota, as he stepped from his cabin to submit to arrest as the alleged "power" behind the outlawed Ghost Dance Movement--a Messianic religion which preached that all Indians would soon be free. 1986: CIA director William Casey suffers a cerebral seizure, at work, before he can answer questions about Iran-Contra Affair.

Dec. 16 1990: Populist priest Jean Aristide elected President of Haiti despite extensive US assistance to his opposition.

Dec. 17 1963: US Congress passes first Clean Air Act. 1998: British/US air strikes renewed against Iraq.

Dec. 18 1917: Prohibition begins. 1969: Britain becomes one of the last countries in Western Europe to abolish capital punishment.

Dec. 19 1776: Thomas Paine publishes his first "American Crisis" essay. 1946: Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh launches war against French occupiers. 1998: Pres. Clinton impeached. It sucked.

Dec. 20 1835: Cherokee Indians forced to cede their Georgia lands and cross the Mississippi River when gold was discovered on their territory. The evacuation was carried out, during the winter of 1838-9, by federal troops commanded by General Winfield Scott. Along the way, 10% of the tribe was wiped out by disease, fatigue, and exposure. The march hence known as the "Trail of Tears."