JULY 29TH

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Today is Tuesday, July 29, the 211th day of 2008. There are 155 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

• Fifty years ago, on July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which created NASA.

On this date:

• In 1588, the English attacked the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines, resulting in an English victory.
• In 1890, artist Vincent van Gogh, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.
• In 1900, Italian King Humbert I was assassinated by an anarchist; he was succeeded by his son, Victor Emmanuel III.
• In 1914, transcontinental telephone service began with the first test phone conversation between New York and San Francisco.
• In 1948, Britain's King George VI opened the Olympic Games in London.
• In 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established.
• In 1957, Jack Paar made his debut as host of NBC's "Tonight Show."
• In 1967, an accidental rocket launch aboard the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 servicemen.
• In 1968, the Vatican issued an encyclical in which Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Catholic Church's opposition to artificial means of contraception.
• In 1981, Britain's Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. (However, the couple divorced in 1996.)

Ten years ago:

• President Clinton reached an agreement with Kenneth Starr to provide grand jury testimony via closed-circuit television in the Monica Lewinsky case.
• Jerome Robbins, one of modern ballet's master choreographers and one of Broadway's major innovators, died in New York at age 79.

Five years ago:

• President Bush refused to release a congressional report on possible links between Saudi Arabian officials and the Sept. 11 hijackers, saying disclosure "would help the enemy" by revealing intelligence sources and methods.
• Boston's Bill Mueller became the first player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a game and connected for three homers in a 14-7 win at Texas.

One year ago:

• British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived at Camp David in Maryland for a private dinner as well as meetings with President Bush.
• Tens of thousands of Iraqis celebrated after Iraq beat three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1-0 to take the Asian Cup.
• Alberto Contador of Spain won the doping-scarred Tour de France.
• Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn took their place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
• TV talk show host and newsman Tom Snyder died in San Francisco at age 71.
• French actor Michel Serrault died in Honfleur, France, at age 79.

Today's Birthdays:

• Comedian Professor Irwin Corey is 94.
• Actor Robert Horton is 84.
• Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, R-Kan., is 76.
• Actor Robert Fuller is 74.
• Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole, R-N.C., is 72.
• Actor David Warner is 67.
• Rock musician Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon) is 62.
• Marilyn Tucker Quayle, wife of former Vice President Dan Quayle, is 59.
• Actor Mike Starr is 58.
• Documentary maker Ken Burns is 55.
• Style guru Tim Gunn (TV: "Project Runway") is 55.
• Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 55.
• Rock singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 55.
• Actress Alexandra Paul is 45.
• Country singer Martina McBride is 42.
• Rock musician Chris Gorman is 41.
• Actor Rodney Allen Rippy is 40.
• Actor Wil Wheaton is 36.
• Rhythm-and-blues singer Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) is 35.
• Actor Stephen Dorff is 35.
• Actor Josh Radnor is 34.
• Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse is 31.
• Actress Allison Mack is 26.

Thought for Today:

"Man must rise above the Earth — to the top of the atmosphere and beyond — for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives."
Socrates, Greek philosopher (469 B.C.E.-399 B.C.E.).

"Let's all be careful out there!"