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Saturday, July 12, 2008

JULY 12TH

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Today is Saturday, July 12, the 194th day of 2008. There are 172 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
  • One hundred years ago, on July 12, 1908, comedian Milton Berle was born Mendel Berlinger in New York City.
On this date:
  • In 1543, England's King Henry VIII married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr.
  • In 1690, forces led by William of Orange defeated the army of James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland.
  • In 1812, United States forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (However, Hull retreated shortly thereafter to Detroit.)
  • In 1817, naturalist-author Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Mass.
  • In 1862, Congress authorized the Medal of Honor.
  • In 1948, the Democratic National Convention opened in Philadelphia.
  • In 1977, President Carter defended Supreme Court decisions limiting government payments for poor women's abortions, saying, "There are many things in life that are not fair."
  • In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale announced he'd chosen U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major-party ticket.
  • In 1988, Democratic presidential candidate Michael S. Dukakis tapped Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas as his running mate.
  • In 1993, some 200 people were killed when an earthquake measuring magnitude 7.8 struck northern Japan and triggered a tsunami.
Ten years ago:
  • In Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, three young brothers who had been asleep in their beds burned to death in a sectarian attack.
  • France beat Brazil 3-0 for its first World Cup soccer championship.
Five years ago:
  • Wrapping up a five-day tour of Africa, President Bush said he would not allow terrorists to use the continent as a base "to threaten the world."
  • The USS Ronald Reagan, the first carrier named for a living president, was commissioned in Norfolk, Va.
  • Jazz great Benny Carter died at age 95.
One year ago:
  • A Bush administration assessment said Iraq had achieved only limited military and political progress toward a democratic society; Iraqi leaders responded by insisting they were making progress.
  • The House of Representatives voted to withdraw U.S. troops by spring 2008 despite a veto threat from President Bush.
  • British soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria (of Spice Girls fame), arrived in Los Angeles to begin their new lives in the United States.
Today's Birthdays:
  • Artist Andrew Wyeth is 91.
  • Movie director Monte Hellman is 76.
  • Pianist Van Cliburn is 74.
  • Comedian Bill Cosby is 71.
  • Singer-musician Christine McVie is 65.
  • Actress Denise Nicholas is 64.
  • Singer-songwriter Butch Hancock is 63.
  • Fitness guru Richard Simmons is 60.
  • Actor Jay Thomas is 60.
  • Singer Walter Egan is 60.
  • Writer-producer Brian Grazer is 57.
  • Actress Cheryl Ladd is 57.
  • Country singer Julie Miller is 52.
  • Gospel singer Sandi Patty is 52.
  • Actress Mel Harris is 52.
  • Actor Buddy Foster is 51.
  • Rock guitarist Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) is 46.
  • Actress Judi Evans is 44.
  • Rock singer Robin Wilson is 43.
  • Actress Lisa Nicole Carson is 39.
  • Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 37.
  • Country singer Shannon Lawson is 35.
  • Rapper Magoo is 35.
  • Actress Anna Friel is 32.
  • Rhythm-and-blues singer Tracie Spencer is 32.
  • Actor Steve Howey is 31.
  • Actor Topher Grace is 30.
  • Actress Michelle Rodriguez is 30.
  • Actor Erik Per Sullivan is 17.
Thought for Today:
"I'd rather be a 'could-be' if I cannot be an 'are'; because a 'could-be' is a 'maybe' who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a 'has-been' than a 'might-have-been,' by far; for a 'might-have-been' has never been, but a 'has' was once an 'are.'"
Milton Berle, American comedian (1908-2002)


"Let's all be careful out there!"