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From: Mary Minnich< >
Subject: [FOLKLORE-L] Today in History - May 21st
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 06:15:38 -0400


Today is Friday, May 21st, the 141st day of 1999.
There are 224 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:
On May 21st, 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his "Spirit of St. Louis"
near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic
Ocean.

On this date:
In 1542, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto died while searching for gold
along the Mississippi River.

In 1832, the first Democratic National Convention got under way, in
Baltimore.

In 1840, New Zealand was declared a British colony.

In 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a "thrill killing"
committed by Nathan Leopold Junior and Richard Loeb, two students at the
University of Chicago.

In 1956, the United States exploded the first airborne hydrogen bomb over
Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.

In 1959, the musical "Gypsy," inspired by the life of stripper Gypsy Rose
Lee, opened on Broadway.

In 1968, the nuclear-powered US submarine "Scorpion,' with 99 men aboard,
was last heard from. (The remains of the sub were later found on the ocean
floor 400 miles southwest of the Azores.)

In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of
voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone
(mahs-KOH'-nee) and Supervisor Harvey Milk.

In 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during
national elections by a suicide bomber.

Ten years ago: Thousands of native Chinese marched in Hong Kong, Paris,
Tokyo and scores of other cities in a worldwide show of support for the
pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing.

Five years ago: Israeli commandos swept into Lebanon's eastern mountains and
abducted Mustafa Dirani, a Shiite Muslim guerrilla leader.

One year ago: A gunman opened fire inside Thurston High School in
Springfield, Oregon, killing two students; the suspect, Kip Kinkel, is also
accused of killing his parents a day earlier. In the wake of deadly
anti-government protests, Indonesia President Suharto stepped down after 32
years in power and was succeeded by Vice President B.J. Habibie. Frank and
Shirley Capaci (kah-PA'-see) of Streamwood, Illinois, announced they were
the holders of a winning Powerball ticket worth $195 million.

Today's Birthdays:
Actor Anthony Steel is 79.
Actor Rick Jason is 73.
Actor David Groh is 60.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Ron Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 58.
Musician Bill Champlin (Chicago) is 52.
Singer Leo Sayer is 51.
Actress Carol Potter is 51.
Actor Mr. T is 47.
Music producer Stan Lynch is 44.
Actor Judge Reinhold is 42.
Jazz musician Christian McBride is 27.

Thought for Today:

"Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before,
but in saying exactly what you think yourself."

-- James Stephens, Irish poet and novelist (1882-1950).

(Copyright 1999 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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