Paradise Driver: 11/16/08

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).