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Sunday, January 25, 2009

JANUARY 25TH

Today is Sunday, Jan. 25, the 25th day of 2009.
There are 340 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 25, 1759, Scottish poet Robert Burns was born in Alloway.

On this date:

In 1787, Shays's Rebellion suffered a setback when debt-ridden farmers led by Capt. Daniel Shays failed to capture an arsenal at Springfield, Mass.
In 1858, Britain's Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, married Crown Prince Frederick William (the future German Emperor and King of Prussia) at St. James's Palace.
In 1890, the United Mine Workers of America was founded in Columbus, Ohio. Reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) of the New York World completed a round-the-world journey in 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes.
In 1909, the opera "Elektra" by Richard Strauss premiered in Dresden, Germany.
In 1915, Alexander Graham Bell inaugurated U.S. transcontinental telephone service between New York and San Francisco.
In 1947, American gangster Al Capone died in Miami Beach, Fla., at age 48.
In 1959, American Airlines began jet flights between New York and Los Angeles on the Boeing 707.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy held the first presidential news conference carried live on radio and television.
In 1969, Vietnam War peace talks resumed in Paris, with the inclusion of representatives from South Vietnam and the Viet Cong.
In 1971, Charles Manson and three women followers were convicted in Los Angeles of murder and conspiracy in the 1969 slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate.

Ten years ago:

The Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, that the 2000 census could not use statistical sampling to enhance its accuracy.
In Louisville, Ky., a man who'd lost his left hand received the first hand transplant in the United States.
A powerful earthquake rocked Colombia, killing more than 1,000 people.

Five years ago:

NASA's Opportunity rover zipped its first pictures of Mars to Earth, showing a surface smooth and dark red in some places, and strewn with fragmented slabs of light bedrock in others.
Outgoing U.S. weapons inspector David Kay told National Public Radio his inability to find illicit arms in Iraq raised serious questions about U.S. intelligence-gathering.
Mikhail Saakashvili was inaugurated as Georgia's president.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" snared best dramatic film at the Golden Globes; HBO's six-hour adaptation of "Angels in America" won best miniseries or TV movie.

One year ago:

President Bush urged Congress to quickly pass an economic stimulus package void of extraneous spending, saying only quick action would kickstart the sputtering economy.
Democrat Dennis Kucinich abandoned his presidential bid to focus on a tough race for re-election to Congress.

Today's Birthdays:

Journalist-author Edwin Newman is 90.
Actor Gregg Palmer is 82.
The former president of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, is 81.
Actor Dean Jones is 78.
Country singer Claude Gray is 77.
The former president of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino, is 76.
Blues singer Etta James is 71.
Movie director Tobe Hooper is 66.
Actress Leigh Taylor-Young is 64.
Actress Jenifer Lewis is 52.
Actress Dinah Manoff is 51.
Country musician Mike Burch (River Road) is 43.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Kina is 40.
Actress China Kantner is 38.
Actress Ana Ortiz is 38.
Musician Matt Odmark (Jars of Clay) is 35.
Actress Mia Kirshner is 34.
Actress Christine Lakin is 30.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Alicia Keys is 28.

Thought for Today:

"There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing."
Robert Burns, Scottish poet (1759-1796).

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE 9-025

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Saturday, January 24, 2009

JANUARY 24TH

Today is Saturday, Jan. 24, the 24th day of 2009.
There are 341 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

Jan. 24, 1908, is considered the starting date of the Boy Scouts movement in England, under the aegis of Robert Baden-Powell.

On this date:

In 1742, Charles VII was elected Holy Roman Emperor during the War of the Austrian Succession.
In 1848, James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of '49.
In 1924, the Russian city of Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) was renamed Leningrad in honor of the late revolutionary leader. (However, it has since been renamed St. Petersburg.)
In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill concluded a wartime conference in Casablanca, Morocco.
In 1965, Winston Churchill died in London at age 90.
In 1978, a nuclear-powered Soviet satellite, Cosmos 954, plunged through Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated, scattering radioactive debris over parts of northern Canada.
In 1984, Apple Computer began selling its Macintosh PC.
In 1987, gunmen in Lebanon kidnapped educators Alann Steen, Jesse Turner and Robert Polhill and Mitheleshwar Singh (All were eventually released.)
In 1989, confessed serial killer Theodore Bundy was executed in Florida's electric chair.
In 2003, Tom Ridge was sworn in as the first head of the new Department of Homeland Security.

Ten years ago:

House prosecutors interviewed Monica Lewinsky, a move that triggered fresh partisan convulsions in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.
Olympic leaders recommended the expulsions of six International Olympic Committee members in an unprecedented response to the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the games.

Five years ago:

Howard Dean sharply questioned John Kerry's judgment on Iraq as Democratic presidential rivals raced through a final weekend of campaigning before the New Hampshire primary.
NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars, arriving at the Red Planet exactly three weeks after its identical twin's landing.

One year ago:

Congressional leaders announced a deal with the White House on an economic stimulus package that would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200.
French bank Societe Generale announced it had uncovered a 4.9 billion euro ($7.14 billion) fraud by a single futures trader whose scheme of fictitious transactions was discovered as stock markets began to stumble in recent days.
Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned after losing a Senate confidence motion.

Today's Birthdays:

Actor Ernest Borgnine is 92.
Evangelist Oral Roberts is 91.
Actor Jerry Maren ("The Wizard of Oz") is 90.
Actor Marvin Kaplan ("Top Cat") is 82.
Cajun musician Doug Kershaw is 73.
Singer-songwriter Ray Stevens is 70.
Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is 68.
Singer Aaron Neville is 68.
Actor Michael Ontkean is 63.
Actor Daniel Auteuil is 59.
Country singer-songwriter Becky Hobbs is 59.
Comedian Yakov Smirnoff is 58.
Bandleader-musician Jools Holland is 51.
Actress Nastassja Kinski is 50.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Theo Peoples is 48.
Country musician Keech Rainwater (Lonestar) is 46.
Comedian Phil LaMarr is 42.
Olympic gold-medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton is 41.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Sleepy Brown (Society of Soul) is 39.
Actor Matthew Lillard is 39.
Actress Merrilee McCommas is 38.
Actor Ed Helms is 35.
Actress Tatyana Ali is 30.
Actress Mischa Barton is 23.

Thought for Today:

"All men wish to have truth on their side; but few to be on the side of truth."
Richard Whately, British theologian (1787-1863).

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE 9-024

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Friday, January 23, 2009

JANUARY 23RD

Today is Friday, Jan. 23, the 23rd day of 2009.
There are 342 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 23, 1968, North Korea seized the Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo, charging its crew with being on a spying mission. (The crew was released 11 months later.)

On this date:

In 1789, Georgetown University was established in present-day Washington, D.C.
In 1845, Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In 1943, critic Alexander Woollcott suffered a fatal heart attack during a live broadcast of the CBS radio program "People's Platform."
In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In 1964, the 24th amendment to the Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified.
In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War.
In 1989, surrealist artist Salvador Dali died in his native Figueres, Spain, at age 84.
In 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was abducted in Karachi, Pakistan, by a group demanding the return of prisoners from the Afghan campaign; he was later slain.
In 2005, former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson died in Malibu, Calif., at age 79.

Ten years ago:

A federal judge ordered Monica Lewinsky to submit to an interview sought by House prosecutors in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.
During his visit to Mexico, Pope John Paul II urged his flock in the Americas to make the region a "continent of life."

Five years ago:

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld former Gov. George Ryan's powers to commute sentences, keeping 32 spared inmates off death row.
The enduring situation comedy "Friends" filmed its final episode in front of an invitation-only audience.
Bob Keeshan, TV's "Captain Kangaroo," died in Windsor, Vt., at age 76.

One year ago:

Tens of thousands of Palestinians poured into Egypt from Gaza after Palestinian militants used land mines to breach a barrier dividing the border town of Rafah.
French Open winner Michael Chang was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and IMG creator Mark McCormack and Tennis Week magazine founder Eugene Scott were selected posthumously.

Today's Birthdays:

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., is 85.
Actress Jeanne Moreau is 81.
Actress Chita Rivera is 76.
Actor-director Lou Antonio is 75.
Actor Gil Gerard is 66.
Actor Rutger Hauer is 65.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Jerry Lawson (The Persuasions) is 65.
Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., is 62.
Singer Anita Pointer is 61.
Actor Richard Dean Anderson is 59.
Rock musician Bill Cunningham is 59.
Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 56.
Princess Caroline of Monaco is 52.
Singer Anita Baker is 51.
Reggae musician Earl Falconer (UB40) is 50.
Actress Gail O'Grady is 46.
Actress Mariska Hargitay is 45.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Nelson is 38.
Actress Tiffani Thiessen is 35.
Rock musician Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) is 34.

Thought for Today:

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
Proverbs 17:22.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE 9-023

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Thursday, January 22, 2009

JANUARY 22ND

Today is Thursday, Jan. 22, the 22nd day of 2009.
There are 343 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, legalized abortions using a trimester approach.

On this date:

In 1901, Britain's Queen Victoria died at age 81.
In 1905 (New Style calendar), thousands of demonstrating Russian workers were fired on by Imperial army troops in St. Petersburg on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."
In 1909, actress Ann Sothern was born in Valley City, N.D.; U.N. Secretary-General U Thant was born in Pantanaw, Burma.
In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson pleaded for an end to war in Europe, calling for "peace without victory." (By April, however, America also was at war.)
In 1922, Pope Benedict XV died; he was succeeded by Pius XI.
In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy.
In 1959, 12 workers were killed in the Knox Mine Disaster in Port Griffith, Pa., when a mine became flooded with water from the Susquehanna River.
In 1973, former President Lyndon B. Johnson died at age 64.
In 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 to win Super Bowl XVIII, played at Tampa Stadium in Florida. (The game broadcast on CBS-TV featured Apple Computer's famous "1984" ad introducing the Macintosh PC.)
In 1995, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104.

Ten years ago:

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., abruptly called for dismissal of charges against President Bill Clinton to "end this sad and sorry time for our country."
Clinton called for spending $2.8 billion to protect the nation from cyber terrorism and chemical and germ warfare.
Pope John Paul II arrived in Mexico on his first visit in 20 years.

Five years ago:

South Dakota politician Bill Janklow was sentenced to 100 days in jail for an auto accident that killed a motorcyclist.
Enron Corp.'s former top accountant, Richard Causey, surrendered to federal authorities; he pleaded innocent to conspiracy and fraud charges. (Causey later pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.)
Actress-dancer Ann Miller died in Los Angeles at age 81.

One year ago:

Actor Heath Ledger was found dead of an accidental prescription overdose in New York City; he was 28.
Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced by a U.S. federal judge in Miami to 17 years and four months on terrorism conspiracy charges.
Republican Fred Thompson quit the race for the White House after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states.

Today's Birthdays:

Former Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., is 81.
Actress Piper Laurie is 77.
Actor Seymour Cassel is 74.
Author Joseph Wambaugh is 72.
Actor John Hurt is 69.
Singer Steve Perry is 60.
Country singer-musician Teddy Gentry (Alabama) is 57.
Movie director Jim Jarmusch is 56.
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Mike Bossy is 52.
Actress Linda Blair is 50.
Actress Diane Lane is 44.
Actor-rap DJ Jazzy Jeff is 44.
Country singer Regina Nicks (Regina Regina) is 44.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Gay (Shai) is 40.
Actor Gabriel Macht is 37.
Actor Balthazar Getty is 34.
Actor Christopher Kennedy Masterson is 29.
Pop singer Willa Ford is 28.
Actress Beverley Mitchell is 28.
Rock singer-musician Ben Moody is 28.

Thought for Today:

"Advertising has done more to cause the social unrest of the 20th century than any other single factor."
Clare Boothe Luce, American author, politician and diplomat (1903-1987).

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE 9-022

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

JANUARY 21ST

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 21, the 21st day of 2009.
There are 344 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 21, 1793, during the French Revolution, King Louis XVI, condemned for treason, was executed on the guillotine.

On this date:

In 1858, Felix Marma Zuloaga became president of Mexico upon the ouster of Ignacio Comonfort.
In 1861, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and four other Southerners resigned from the U.S. Senate.
In 1915, the first Kiwanis Club was founded, in Detroit.
In 1924, Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin died at age 53.
In 1950, former State Department official Alger Hiss, accused of being part of a Communist spy ring, was found guilty in New York of lying to a grand jury. (Hiss, who always proclaimed his innocence, served less than four years in prison.)
In 1954, the first atomic submarine, the USS Nautilus, was launched at Groton, Conn. (However, the Nautilus did not make its first nuclear-powered run until nearly a year later.)
In 1958, Charles Starkweather, 19, killed three relatives of his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, at her family's home in Lincoln, Neb. (Starkweather and Fugate went on a road trip which resulted in seven more slayings.)
In 1959, Ohio saw widespread flooding caused by heavy rain and melted snow. Movie producer-director Cecil B. DeMille died in Hollywood at age 77. Former child actor Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer was shot and killed during an argument in Mission Hills, Calif.; he was 31.
In 1968, the Battle of Khe Sanh began during the Vietnam War as North Vietnamese forces attacked a U.S. Marine base; the Americans were able to hold their position until the siege was lifted 2 1/2 months later. In Greenland, an American B-52 bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed, killing one crew member and scattering radioactive material.
In 1976, the supersonic Concorde jet was put into service by Britain and France.

Ten years ago:

Former Sen. Dale Bumpers told the Senate impeachment trial of Bill Clinton that the president was guilty of a "terrible moral lapse" but not of conduct warranting or even permitting his removal from office.
Raul Salinas de Gortari, the brother of a former Mexican president, was convicted of masterminding the murder of rival Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu. (The conviction was later overturned.)
Actress Susan Strasberg died in New York at age 61.

Five years ago:

President George W. Bush visited community colleges in Ohio and Arizona, where he highlighted the economy and several new job-training initiatives he'd proposed a day earlier in his State of the Union speech.
The recording industry sued 532 computer users it said were illegally distributing songs over the Internet.

One year ago:

Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama accused each other of repeatedly and deliberately distorting the truth for political gain in a highly personal debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Today's Birthdays: