Today is Tuesday, July 5, the 186th day of 2005. There are 179 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On July 5, 1865, William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.
On this date:
In 1811, Venezuela became the first South American country to declare independence from Spain.
In 1830, the French occupied the North African city of Algiers.
In 1935, President Roosevelt signed the National Labor Relations Act, which provided for a National Labor Relations Board, and authorized labor to organize for the purpose of collective bargaining.
In 1940, during World War II, Britain and the Vichy government in France broke diplomatic relations.
In 1946, the bikini made its debut during an outdoor fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris.
In 1947, Larry Doby signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first black player in the American League.
In 1954, Elvis Presley's first commercial recording session took place at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn.; the song he recorded was "That's All Right (Mama)."
In 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeated Jimmy Connors.
In 1975, the Cape Verde Islands officially became independent after 500 years of Portuguese rule.
In 1991, a worldwide financial scandal erupted as regulators in eight countries shut down the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.
Ten years ago: More than 100 Grateful Dead fans were injured when a deck on which they were gathered collapsed at a campground near Wentzville, Mo.
Five years ago: At the United Nations, President Clinton signed an international agreement to ban the forcible recruitment of youths as soldiers in armed conflict, and a companion accord to protect children from being forced into slavery, prostitution and pornography. The U.N. Security Council imposed a diamond ban on Sierra Leone's rebels in a bid to strangle their ability to finance a civil war.
One year ago: In a stinging rebuke, Mexican President Vicente Fox's chief of staff, Alfonso Durazo, resigned.
Today's Birthdays: Actress Katherine Helmond is 71. Actress Shirley Knight is 69. Singer-musician Robbie Robertson is 62. Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 57. Rock star Huey Lewis is 55. Baseball pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage is 54. Country musician Charles Ventre (River Road) is 53. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 46. Actress Edie Falco ("The Sopranos") is 42. Rapper RZA is 36. Rhythm-and-blues singer Joe is 32. Rock musician Bengt Lagerberg (The Cardigans) is 32. Actor Dale Godboldo is 30. Rapper Bizarre (D12) is 27. Rock singer Jason Wade (Lifehouse) is 25.
Thought for Today: "The real drawback to 'the simple life' is that it is not simple. If you are living it, you positively can do nothing else. There is not time." — Katharine Fullerton Gerould, American writer (1879-1944).