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Sunday, November 16, 2008

NOVEMBER 16TH



Today is Sunday, Nov. 16, the 321st day of 2008.
There are 45 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

  • On Nov. 16, 1908, conductor Arturo Toscanini made his debut with the New York Metropolitan Opera as he led a performance of Verdi's "Aida."

On this date:

  • In 1776, British troops captured Fort Washington in New York during the American Revolution.
  • In 1885, Canadian rebel leader Louis Riel was executed for high treason.
  • In 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state of the union.
  • In 1917, Georges Clemenceau again became prime minister of France.
  • In 1933, the United States and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations.
  • In 1959, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music" opened on Broadway.
  • In 1961, House Speaker Samuel T. Rayburn died in Bonham, Texas, having served as speaker since 1940 except for two terms.
  • In 1966, Dr. Samuel H. Sheppard was acquitted in his second trial of murdering his pregnant wife, Marilyn, in 1954.
  • In 1973, Skylab 4, carrying a crew of three astronauts, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on an 84-day mission.
  • In 1982, an agreement was announced in the 57th day of a strike by National Football League players.

Ten years ago:
  • The Supreme Court ruled that union members can file discrimination lawsuits against employers even when labor contracts require arbitration.
  • House Democrats re-elected Dick Gephardt as their leader.

Five years ago:
  • Serbs failed for the third time in a year to elect a president because of low voter turnout.
  • Bettina Goislard, a French United Nations worker, was shot and killed in Afghanistan.

One year ago:
  • Senate Republicans blocked a $50 billion bill by Democrats that would have paid for several months of combat but also would have ordered troop withdrawals from Iraq to begin within 30 days.
  • Marchers surrounded the Justice Department headquarters to demand federal intervention in the Jena Six case in Louisiana and stepped-up enforcement of hate crimes.
  • Poland's new prime minister, Donald Tusk, formally took office along with a team of former anti-communist dissidents.

Today's Birthdays:
  • Actor Clu Gulager is 80.
  • Blues musician Hubert Sumlin is 77.
  • Journalist Elizabeth Drew is 73.
  • Blues musician W.C. Clark is 69.
  • Actor Steve Railsback is 63.
  • Actor David Leisure is 58.
  • Actress Marg Helgenberger is 50.
  • Rock musician Mani is 46.
  • Country singer-musician Keith Burns (Trick Pony) is 45.
  • Former tennis player Zina Garrison is 45.
  • Former baseball player Dwight Gooden is 44.
  • Jazz singer Diana Krall is 44.
  • Actor Harry Lennix is 44.
  • Rock musician Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) is 42.
  • Actress Lisa Bonet is 41.
  • Actress Tammy Lauren is 40.
  • Rhythm-and-blues singer Bryan Abrams (Color Me Badd) is 39.
  • Actress Martha Plimpton is 38.
  • Actress Missi Pyle is 36.
  • Olympic gold medal figure skater Oksana Baiul is 31.
  • Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal is 31.
  • Pop singer Trevor Penick is 29.
  • Actress Kimberly J. Brown is 24.
  • Actor Noah Gray-Cabey ("Heroes") is 13.

Thought for Today:
"History is a combination of reality and lies. The reality of History becomes a lie. The unreality of the fable becomes the truth."
Jean Cocteau, French author, director, poet (1889-1963).



"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE 8-321






















"Let's all be careful out there!"