Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Balk at Mission

A bomb sniffing dog has doubts about his missionIn the latest disturbing trend on the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan and here at home, once loyal dogs trained as bomb-sniffers have been going rogue.  Some have refused to sniff.  Others have taken a more activist approach, strapping bombs to themselves and blowing up handlers.  Still others abandon all pretense to dignity, chasing cars or their tails.

“I don’t know what’s going on” said one dog trainer.  “They used to love sniffing out bombs.  But lately they just don’t enjoy it. It’s almost like they’d rather be eating bacon or sniffing other dogs at the dog walk.”

One dog, named “Ralph” by his handlers went on a barking rampage before setting off explosives attached to his body.  Fortunately for code-breakers, the barking was caught on tape:

Ruff.  Ruff….ruff ruff ruff ruff……..ruff.  Growl.  Ruff.  Ruff.  Ruff…..ruff…..ruff….ruff.  Growl.  Bark!  Ruff.  Ruff.  Ruff….ruff ruff ruff………ruff.  Growl.  Ruff.  Ruff.

The tape was immediately sent to a special code-breaking division at the Department of Defense known as “Parsing the Ruffs.”

“If you notice there is a rapid fire sequence of ruffs.  Then a pause.  Then a growl” said a code-breaker.  “This can only mean one thing.  The dogs have turned against us.  It is the time of the rise of the animals. I have dreaded this moment my entire life.  Or, perhaps the dog just wanted some bacon.  But I’m pretty sure it’s about the rise of the animals.”

The rise of the animals appears to be not just limited to dogs.  One suburban couple tells of a strange encounter:

My wife is a good cook and has a delicious Chilean Sea Bass recipe.  We were eating it when I looked over at my fish tank and the fish had held up a sign that said “You’re eating my cousin!”  They then jumped out of the fish tank, walked over to me and bitch-slapped my wife and I with their gills.  My wife was so distraught she left me for a man with more money.  Though I think that may have been unrelated.  I’m afraid of fish now.  I’ve barricaded myself in the bedroom and I’m waiting until the zombies eat me. 

An apartment-dweller in Queens, New York writes:

The other day I noticed my cat online buying ginsu knives.  This surprised me because I didn’t know my cat could use a computer.  I asked her why she was buying knives and she said “meow.”  I think that is an insult in cat language.  She also has a blog dedicated to overthrowing humans.  And another one about the New York Yankees.  I’m a Met fan so I was more worried about the Yankee blog.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates when asked about Pentagon contingency plans in case of a rise of the animals told reporters, “We have none.  I urge all Americans to remain calm and wait for the zombies to eat them.”

A spokesman for the zombies denies any interest in eating humans.

 “Any such speculation is just pure racism on the part of living people.”

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Obama Touts "Autumn of Recovery"

Worldwide sensation and heart throb Barack ObamaHitting the campaign trail in the weeks before the midterm elections, President Obama has a new message for the public.

“This is the autumn of recovery” Obama told cheering supporters.   “The Republicans don’t want you to know about the good economic news.   My policies are responsible for this.”

As the Secret Service patrolled the crowd, looking for those who oppose the President, aides handed out portable fans to the crowd in case anyone felt faint.

“Because of my stimulus plan, the unemployment rate has risen to ten percent.  Without the stimulus the unemployment rate would have remained at seven percent.  You see, that’s an increase.  I take full responsibility for that.”

Someone in the crowd reminded the President that unemployment rates are supposed to go down.  The President glared at the man  and accused him of playing politics.

“You see.  This man comes here with his talking points. He’s a Republican plant.”

As the crowd booed the man President Obama asked him what college he went to.  The man answered that he went to a state university.

“A state university? Well, I guess that makes you an expert on the economy” the President sarcastically answered.  “Unlike you, I’ve been to Harvard.  That makes me an expert.”

After the man was taken away by Secret Service agents, President Obama then went on to talk about his signature health care overhaul.

“The Republicans also don’t want you to know that everyone now has access to cheaper health care.”

A man identifying himself as a small business owner told the President that his premiums have actually gone up since the health care overhaul.

“What is it with the Republicans?” the President responded.  “They aren’t interested in debate.  All they have is their petty politics.  I won the election.  I won.  I’m the President.  The Republicans treat me like a dog!”

The President ended the rally by reminding people that “our unsupportable debt will not bankrupt this country for at least ten years.  If I hadn’t signed the stimulus we’d be bankrupt in 20 years, thanks to George Bush.  You see, again my policies have moved things up.”

As the President left the stage, the Secret Service handed out bread to those in attendance, “courtesy of the Emperor.  I mean the President.”

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The Manhattan Infidel's Guide to Avoiding a Speeding Ticket

Don’t panic.  Troopers are just like us only they carry guns and can kill us.It’s happened to all of us.  At some point in your life you will be pulled over by a policeman and given a speeding ticket.  This will lead to a fine and points on your license.  Both of these you naturally want to avoid.  As part of my continuing series that provides life advice to my readers I now present the Manhattan Infidel’s guide to avoiding a speeding ticket.

The first instinct most people have when pulled over is to try and grovel your way out of a ticket.  This is absolutely the wrong thing to do.  Groveling arouses nothing but contempt in the state trooper’s heart.  This is naturally a tense moment as the trooper does not know if you are dangerous.  Try light-hearted banter to diffuse the situation.  I find saying something along these lines is very effective:

  1.  My taxes pay your salary chump.  Let me go and I won’t fire you.
  2. You’re lucky.  Usually I don’t wear pants when I’m driving.
  3. The bloodstains in the back seat?  You should check out the trunk.  Some prostitutes just don’t want to die.
  4. Would you like to see my penis?

Some people however don’t have the personality for banter.  This is nothing to be ashamed of.  If you are one of these people an effective tactic is to feign ignorance and hope you gain the trooper’s sympathy.  When the trooper asks you if you know how fast you were driving you can always respond:

  1. How the hell should I know how fast I was going?  You try taking this much acid and focusing on the speedometer!
  2. I apologize if my excessive speed violated local ordinances.  I’m from New Jersey you see and back home we are allowed to drive 100 miles per hour.
  3. Would you like to see my penis?

One thing I’ve used on a number of occasions is when pulled over I pretend I am from Eastern Europe.  Have an English phrase book with you and when the trooper asks to see your license put on your best accent and say one of the following:

  1.  I am from Albania.  I have cheese for Mexico. 
  2. My anus is very like a whale.  I am not KGB. We have fun.  Yes?
  3. My Eastern European penis is friendly for you.

And there you have it readers.  Just follow my advice and you are virtually guaranteed to get out of a speeding ticket.  It always worked for me (well, before my driver’s license was taken away).

I guess it wasn’t a good idea to get tanked up, drive my SUV into a police station and ask them if they have Sarah Connor.

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Anniversary of 9/11 Proves Controversial

Ground Zero - Americans need discipline!Ceremonies marking the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks were held at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.  As bagpipes played the names of all the victims were read aloud.  A prayer was said.  Then Mayor Bloomberg stepped to the podium and began his remarks.

“If the attacks on that day have proven anything it is that human life is frail” the Mayor said. “Which is why it is incumbent upon the government to guide its citizens to a healthy lifestyle.”

The Mayor then pulled an item out from his pocket.

This is a human bone.  Specifically a fragment of a femur that was discovered recently during renovations on the roof of a building across from Ground Zero. But this is not just any human bone.  Extensive DNA testing has proven that this fragment of a femur belonged to Mohammed Atta.

At the mention of Atta’s name the crowd became restless and started to boo.

Shut up people.  Just shut up!  Your Mayor is addressing you.  Yes this femur belongs to Mohammed Atta but you know what is most remarkable about it? The DNA testing showed a low sodium content in this bone.  This proves that Islam is a religion of peace and a religion of healthy dietary choices.  We as Americans can learn a lot from Mohammed Atta.  Clearly he led a disciplined life.  His rejection of sodium gluttony was just one of many admirable personality traits.  And that is why I am taking this opportunity to declare war on salt.  It is the greatest enemy facing New Yorkers today.  Henceforth I am decreeing that all citizens must undergo mandatory sodium testing.  Those found to have unhealthy levels in their system will have their diets strictly monitored.

The Mayor concluded his speech by announcing that City employees will be moving among the crowd and swabbing the inside of everyone’s mouth for DNA.

“It’s for your own good” the Mayor said.

He also announced that the Freedom Tower will be renamed the “Mohammed Atta Healthy Lifestyle Choices Tower.”

The crowd then rioted.

A spokesman for the Mayor blamed the riots on “backward thinking racists who oppose the religion of peace and who were probably all hopped up on some sort of crazy sodium high.”

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Jim Phelp’s Spy Tapes Remastered

Jim Phelps listens to a self-destructing tape

Jim Phelps listens to a self-destructing tape

After three years of painstaking remastering using the latest technology, the tapes sent to Impossible Missions agent Jim Phelps have been declassified and are now available to the general public.

“It took us longer than expected” said the technician in charge of the project.  “Most of the tapes had been doused in acid, burned, blown up, thrown into deep water, crushed or cut into small fragments, tossed into the air and put back together to make a collage on the Sgt. Pepper album.  Keep in mind this was over 40 years ago so the tapes were in pretty bad shape.”

The remastered tapes reveal quite a few surprises.  The enhanced audio shows that Phelps actually misheard a number of his missions.

“It turns out a lot of the time he didn’t have to travel behind the Iron Curtain to depose a dictator.  Most of the assignments were run-of-the-mill, such as picking up the Director’s children from daycare or picking up his suits from the cleaners.  I don’t fault Phelps.  The technology at the time was pretty bad and it was easy to mishear things.”

Among the surprises, the oft-repeated phrase “if you or any of your I.M. Force are caught or killed the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions” was never actually said.  The cleaned up and remastered tapes reveal that the correct wording was “submit  form 27D-15 in triplicate for each agent captured or killed.  As always health benefits terminate the moment of capture.”

Also coming as a shock to technicians was that the phrase “this tape will self-destruct in five seconds.  Good luck Jim” when played backwards sounded like “Paul is dead.  Miss him.  Miss him.”

The remastered tapes will be available on iTunes in October and are expected to be a big seller with the 40ish nerd demographic.

No word on whether Agent Phelps will be held responsible for all the foreign dictators he killed when he should have been picking up the Director’s suits.

When reached at his home in Boca Raton Florida where he lives in retirement with his domestic partner Rollin Hand, Phelps responded, “Do you like gladiator movies?”

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International Panel on Climate Change Feels the Heat

Rajenda Pachuari laments how hot Mexico is.From Cancun, Mexico where the U.N. is holding its latest climate change summit, Rajenda Pachauri, head of the IPCC, wiped the sweat from his brow.

“It’s hot here in Mexico” he told assembled reporters. “Hot hot hot!  If the fact that Cancun is sweltering through a heat wave doesn’t prove the validity of man-made global warming what does?”

As Mr. Pachauri spoke to reporters, several scientists from the IPCC applied sunscreen to their noses in hopes of warding off blisters.

Reeling from criticism that the IPPC’s last report on climate change was filled with fraud and inaccuracy, most notably the claim that glaciers retreated from North America 20,000 years ago because of “the white man“, the conference was designed to show that the organization is still relevant.

The science of man-made global warming has been proven.  It is incontrovertible.  The debate is over.  Those who disagree with us are ideologically-driven fools. Fools I tell you! From the moment man first set foot on Earth aboard space ships from Mars they have had a negative effect on the climate of our dear Mother Earth.  The extinction of the dinosaur?  Caused by the martian-man. Ice ages?  Everyone knows that glaciers advance and retreat depending on how high or low the ancient man set his thermostat.  Despite all this evidence people still doubt our findings?  They still insist on driving cars?  I was talking about this with some other scientists as we flew down here.  Sometimes I doubt the inherent intelligence of the martian-man.

As IPCC assistants fanned him, Mr. Pachauri ended his statement on a note of defiance.

“If it weren’t for the fact that I have a painful sunburn I’d personally beat up all those who doubt our findings.”

He then announced that the next IPCC meeting will be held in Quito, Ecuador, near the equator.

“I just hope the conference center has air conditioning. It’s hard to talk about the dangers of greenhouse gas emission when you are sweating like a pig.”

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Yankees Lose; Disappoint Holiday Crowd

“90 percent of this game is half mental” ~ Yogi Berra

Yankee Stadium - deep in the heart of the beautiful Bronx

It was a bad weekend of  baseball.  Sunday I went to see minor league baseball.  The Staten Island Yankees lost to the Vermont Lake Monsters 7-4.  And today, on a clear, beautiful late summer afternoon, a holiday no less, the Yankees lost to the Baltimore Orioles  4-3.

I blame God.

As I took my seat I was greeted by the horrible sight of A.J. Burnett warming up in the bullpen.  Immediately I knew. I knew.

Like having a blind man pierce your testicles, today’s game would be very very painful.

Before the game the Yankees continuously announced the greatest “hip hop” concert ever, to be held at  Yankee Stadium starring the “two greatest living hip hop artists, Jay-Z and Emimen.

***Breaking News***

Jay-Z and Emimen have both been shot dead.

***Breaking News***

Well, so much for the world’s greatest living Hip Hop artists. Nature of the business I suppose.

Before the game the Yankees also had a ceremony at home plate to promote their efforts to end Lupus.  One in 500 women will have Lupus.  Wow.  Who knew Mission Impossible star Peter Lupus got around that much.  Must be the hair. Peter Lupus - must be the hair

On a personal note a bumble bee continually plagued me and the rest of the people sitting in the bleachers.  The bumble bee was, fortunately, cornered and beaten savagely by Yankee Stadium security.  Serves the bee right for trying to get into seats he didn’t pay for. Punk!

But onto the game.

A.J. Burnett actually pitched decently despite losing the game, pitching seven innings and giving up four runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out five.

The Orioles started Brian Matusz (10-13. 5.15 ERA)  and as with all  crappy pitchers the Yankees could not solve him.  Note to opposing managers:  If you want to beat the Yankees, give us your worst pitchers.

Derek “Rapidly aging but who cares – I have Minka Kelly” led off the game with a double. That would be the Yankees last hit until AROD hit a game-tying home run into the left-field bleachers in the fourth. (The Orioles having scored a run in the third.)

The Yankees tied it up in the sixth when AROD, barely missing his second home run  hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Nick Swisher.  Mark Teixeira then scored on a Robinson Cano single.  3-3 after six.

But alas Baltimore scored the game winning run in the top of the seventh.

As as consequence I have ordered the Air Force to carpet bomb Baltimore.  No one will miss it.

Notes on the game:

Today AROD drove in his 100th run for the 13th season in a row.  He celebrated by having Jeter inject him with HGH.  Strictly platonic you know.

Nick Johnson Injury Watch:

Surprising no one, the Yankees have announced the end of the Nick  Johnson era as Johnson had to undergo season-ending wrist surgery.  During the operation a freak electrical spark ignited the operating room resulting in a massive explosion killing everyone. All that was left of Johnson, besides his guts on the wall, was his extended middle finger.  The Yankees and Steiner Sports have announced that the  middle finger will be sold as “authentic Yankee memorabilia.” So if you have 5000 dollars, bid up.

Recommended reading material:

James Madison, a Biography by Ralph Ketcham.

Reader mail:

D.B. of Philadelphia writes, “I just did some acid man and I’m scared.

D.B. you have nothing to be scared of.  Except the Phillies chances of reaching the postseason of course.

S.J. of Manhattan writes, “I am white, and I am proud.”  

Umm. You should stop smoking that stuff.

A.P. of Poughkeepsie, New York writes, “I recently shot, stabbed and decapitated a client.  But he didn’t pay me before I killed him. Can I charge his widow?”

I don’t see why not.  Business is business.

Thomas Aquinas writes, “As regards the individual nature, woman is defective and misbegotten, for the active power of the male seed tends to the production of a perfect likeness in the masculine sex; while the production of a woman comes from defect in the active power.”

Wow.  Talk about bitter. Somebody got screwed by their divorce lawyer.

Anyway, my record stands at a nothing to write home about 10-8.  My next game is Monday September 20th against the Yankee killing Toronto Blue Jays.

Go Yankees!

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President Van Buren: My Opponents are Racists!

The Whigs hate Dutch people!With less than eight weeks until the presidential election of 1840 and trailing in the polls to the Whig challenger William Henry Harrison, President Martin Van Buren has accused his opponents of being motivated by racism.

With the United States mired in its worst recession in 20 years many pundits are predicting an easy Whig triumph.  However not wanting to concede the election, President Van Buren has mounted an offensive against the Whigs.

“The Whig party is the exclusive domain of Americans of English ancestry.  Look at my opponent’s last name:  Harrison!” he said during a campaign rally.   “They are a noninclusive party.  Only the Democratic party is all inclusive.  Only the Democrats are open to all white men of Northern European origin.”

The Whigs dismissed Van Buren’s argument as that of a desperate politician who knows he is going to lose and lose badly.

“Look at what the Democrats have done to our economy” said Whig Henry Clay.  “Under the Democrats our debt has become unsupportable. Our economy is shrinking. Our dollar is dropping. And this President does nothing.”

The Democrats countered by distributing pamphlets touting their accomplishments and membership.

As opposed to the Whigs, the Democrats come from all over Northern Europe.  We are a gorgeous mosaic of Dutch, Belgians, Danish, Luxembourgians, Swedish, Norwegians, Prussians, Russians, Swiss and yes, even the French.  Where do the Whigs come from?  England and Scotland!   A party with such a monolithic ethnic makeup cannot be sensitive to the needs of all Americans.

The Whigs dismissed the pamphlets as “propaganda unworthy of our Republic. This is the mark of a desperate politician.  He wants to shift the focus off of his record and end all debate by calling his opponents racist.”

President Van Buren for his part has said that his opponents better get used to having him around.

“I’m Dutch.  I’m proud and I’m beautiful.”

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An Exclusive Interview with the Gulf Oil Spill

How ya doin?  I’m the Gulf Oil SpillRecently I was lucky enough to snag an interview with one of the decades most fascinating personalities and one that everyone wants to interview:  the Gulf Oil Spill himself.

MI:  Thank you for meeting with me.  Let’s start out with some basic questions.  How old are you?

GOS:  I’m about 65 million years old.  Give or take a million.

MI:  Wow.  You don’t look a day over 55 million.

GOS:  Thank you.  It pays to be an inert gas sometimes.

MIWhy the oil spill?  Why now?

GOS:  It all boils down to trying something new.  Sure I’m an abundant reservoir of oil but what I really want to do is direct.  I figured the oil spill would be a good way of promoting myself.  You know, getting my name out there. 

MIIt seems to have worked.  Any message to the fishermen in the Gulf whose livelihood you put in jeopardy?

GOS:  I do feel badly about that.  But, you can’t make an omelet without cracking a few eggs.

MI:  You mentioned wanting to break into show business. Have you heard from anyone? 

GOS:  Funny you should mention that.  Yes.  I have heard from a few people.  I have my contacts.  Did you know that Larry King and I are about the same age?

MI: You’re shitting me?

GOS: No, I kid you not. We started out together as microbial deposits and sea sludge.  But Larry wanted to do his own thing.  He said “I’m going on land.  I’m going to evolve and get my own talk show.  Maybe get married seven or eight times.”

MI:  Have you heard from anyone else?

GOS:  Oliver Stone wants to direct a story about my life.  The theme will be “Gulf Oil Spill victim of Jews and Dick Cheney.”   I can’t say I agree with his politics.  But he is a good film maker.  Almost as good as Rob Zombie.

MI:  That he is.  Anybody else contact you?

GOS:  Strangely enough the New York Mets contacted me.  They saw how powerful I was gushing out of the ocean floor and they think I may be the answer to their offensive woes.  But I turned them down. I’m a Cardinals fan actually. And I’d done PEDs. I know they test for that now.

MI:  I don’t want to take much longer of your time but what is next?  What are your immediate plans?

GOS:  I’m a big Saints fan.  Go Drew Brees.  He’s my man so I’m gonna chill out until football season starts.  Maybe start a pottery club.  I like fondue and antiquing.

MI:  Well I thank you for talking to me.

GOS:  No problem, Manhattan Infidel.  You’re my favorite blog not dedicated to Carrie Underwood.

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Ku Klux Klan to Erect Cross at Church it Bombed

The Ku Klux Klan builds bridgesThe Ku Klux Klan announced today that it has bought property next to the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, which it bombed in 1963 to build a 13-story “cross of bridge-building.

The projected cross has generated intense partisan controversy.  Many opponents say that building the cross so close to the site of the bombing would be insensitive to the memory of the victims of the attack.

“I can’t believe they would even think of doing this” said a local black pastor.  “Are they crazy?  This isn’t about building bridges.  They want to put a cross up at the site of one of their victories.”

However, the Grand Dragon of the local Klan disputes this and argues that those who oppose the cross are violating cherished American principles.

Whatever happened to freedom of religion in this country?  I thought we were guaranteed that.  The people who oppose this cross are ignorant.  And they are racists.  Where is the funding to the opposition of the cross coming from?  Can anyone tell me that?  They should be investigated.  The right-wing Republicans are behind it I bet. This is not a cross of victory.  It’ll be an outreach center.  We’ll have books on the Klan, water fountains for hot days (separate white and colored of course), pamphlets warning of the dangers of miscegenation and a shooting range. 

Despite the Klan’s appeal to reason and American values opposition to the cross has grown among the intolerant.  Protesters took to the street carrying signs denouncing the proposed 13-story cross.

As tensioned escalated the Governor of Alabama suggested that the Klan move their cross to a different location, out of respect for the feelings of others.

“No one is denying the Klan the important bedrock American right to freedom of religion.  But perhaps a different location would help diffuse tension.”

The Mayor of Birmingham entered the fray on the side of the Klan.

“That we should even be debating this is ridiculous.  Some people just need to shut up.”

Meanwhile the Grand Dragon reiterated his reasons for building the cross.

“Life is all about building bridges” he said before leaving on a fund-raising tour.

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3 Comments