Today is Saturday, May 14, the 134th day of 2005. There are 231 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
Fifty years ago, on May 14, 1955, representatives from eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, formed the Warsaw Pact in Poland. (The Pact was dissolved in July 1991.)
On this date:
In 1643, Louis XIV became King of France at age four upon the death of his father, Louis XIII.
In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory left St. Louis.
In 1904, the first Olympic games to be held in the United States opened in St. Louis, as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
In 1942, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was established.
In 1948 (according to the current-era calendar), the independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv.
In 1964, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev joined United Arab Republic President Gamel Abdel Nasser in setting off charges, diverting the Nile River from the site of the Aswan High Dam project.
In 1973, the United States launched Skylab 1, its first manned space station.
In 1975, U.S. forces raided the Cambodian island of Koh Tang and recaptured the American merchant ship “Mayaguez.” All 40 crew members were released safely by Cambodia, but some 40 U.S. servicemen were killed in the military operation.
In 1980, 25 years ago, President Carter inaugurated the Health and Human Services Department.
In 1998, singer-actor Frank Sinatra died at a Los Angeles hospital at age 82.
Ten years ago: Myrlie Evers-Williams was sworn in to head the NAACP, pledging to lead the civil rights group away from its recent troubles and restore it as a political and social force.
Five years ago: Tens of thousands of mothers rallied in Washington to demand strict control of handguns. Former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi died in Tokyo at age 62.
One year ago: Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper published a front-page apology after photographs purportedly showing British forces abusing Iraqi prisoners turned out to be fake. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to step in and block gay marriages in Massachusetts. A South Korean court reinstated impeached President Roh Moo-hyun. Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik married Australian commoner Mary Donaldson. Actress Anna Lee died at age 91.
Today’s Birthdays: Opera singer Patrice Munsel is 80. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is 63. Rock singer-musician Jack Bruce (Cream) is 62. Movie producer George Lucas is 61. Actress Meg Foster is 57. Actress Season Hubley is 54. Rock singer David Byrne is 53. Movie director Robert Zemeckis is 53. Actor Tim Roth is 44. Rock singer Ian Astbury (The Cult) is 43. Rock musician C.C./Cecil DeVille is 43. Rock musician Mike Inez (Alice In Chains) is 39. Fabrice Morvan (ex-Milli Vanilli) is 39. R&B singer Raphael Saadiq is 39. Actress Cate Blanchett is 36. Singer Danny Wood (New Kids on the Block) is 36. Movie writer-director Sofia Coppola is 34. Singer Natalie Appleton (All Saints) is 32. Singer Shanice is 32. Rock musician Henry Garza (Los Lonely Boys) is 27. Actress Amber Tamblyn is 22.
Thought for Today: “It is the dull man who is always sure, and the sure man who is always dull.” — H.L. Mencken, American author and journalist (1880-1956).