Saturday, June 6, 2009

6 June: A Very Long Day, But No Summer Solstice

The Associated Press 25 mins ago Today is Saturday, June 6, the 157th day of 2009. There are 208 days left in the year. Other AP. A/V. UPI Almanac. Today's Highlight in History: On June 6, 1944, the "D-Day" invasion of Europe took place during World War II as Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.A British bomber crew member describes the approach during the D-Day assault. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower broadcasts a D-Day message to Allied troops. On this date: In 1799, American orator Patrick Henry died in Charlotte County, Va. In 1809, Sweden adopted a new constitution. In 1844, the Young Men's Christian Association was founded in London. In 1872, feminist Susan B. Anthony was fined for voting in an election in Rochester, N.Y. She refused to pay the fine and the judge allowed her to go free. In 1918, American Marines suffered heavy casualties as they launched their eventually successful counteroffensive against German troops in the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood in France. In 1925, Walter Percy Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corp. In 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission was established. In 1966, black activist James Meredith, who in 1962 became the first African-American to attend the University of Mississippi, was wounded by a sniper as he walked along a Mississippi highway to encourage black voter registration. In 1968, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, a day after he was shot by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan. In 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes. [You stupid fucking jerks. — Ed.] In 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon to drive Palestine Liberation Organization fighters out of the country. (The Israelis withdrew in June 1985.) In 1985, authorities in Brazil exhumed a body later identified as that of Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who conducted medical experiments on inmates at Auschwitz during World War II. In 1989, burial services were held for Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Washington state Democrat Tom Foley succeeded Jim Wright as House speaker. Ten years ago: The space shuttle Discovery returned from a 10-day mission that included a visit to the international space station. In tennis, Andre Agassi won the French Open, defeating Andrei Medvedev 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, while in golf, Juli Inkster shot a final-round 1-under 71 for a 16-under 272 total to win the U.S. Women's Open.
Five years ago: World leaders, including President George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac, put aside their differences to commemorate the D-Day invasion that broke Nazi Germany's grip on continental Europe. Unseeded Gaston Gaudio upset Guillermo Coria 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8-6 to win the French Open.
One year ago: The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 394.64 points to 12,209.81, its worst loss in more than a year. Crude futures made their biggest single-day jump ever, soaring nearly $11 for the day to $138.54 a barrel.
Today's Birthdays: Actress Billie Whitelaw is 77. Civil rights activist Roy Innis is 75. Singer-songwriter Gary "U.S." Bonds is 70. Country singer Joe Stampley is 66. Actor Robert Englund is 60. Folk singer Holly Near is 60. Singer Dwight Twilley is 58. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein is 55. Comedian Sandra Bernhard is 54. Tennis player Bjorn Borg is 53. Actress Amanda Pays is 50. Comedian Colin Quinn is 50. Record producer Jimmy Jam is 50. Rock musician Steve Vai is 49. Rock singer-musician Tom Araya (Slayer) is 48. Actor Jason Isaacs is 46. Rock musician Sean Yseult (White Zombie) is 43. Actor Max Casella is 42. Actor Paul Giamatti is 42. R&B singer Damion Hall (Guy) is 41. Rock musician Bardi Martin is 40. Rock musician James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn) is 39. TV correspondent Natalie Morales is 37. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 36. Rapper-rocker Uncle Kracker is 35. Actress Sonya Walger is 35.
Today in Entertainment History Associated Press - On June 6, 1933, the first drive-in movie theater opened, in Camden, N.J. In 1960, Tony Williams left The Platters for a solo career. Williams was the lead singer on The Platters' hits "Only You," "The Great Pretender" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." In 1962, The Beatles auditioned for producer George Martin at EMI Records in London. He signed them to a contract the following month. In 1968, the Rolling Stones recorded "Sympathy for the Devil."In 1969, Rod Stewart signed a solo recording contract with Mercury Records. He had previously sung for the Jeff Beck Group. In 1971, the "Ed Sullivan Show" was canceled after 23 years. It was TV's longest-running variety show. In 1977, Stevie Wonder delivered an unannounced lecture to a class at UCLA studying the record industry. In 1990, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., declared that 2 Live Crew's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" was obscene. Two days later, a record store owner was charged for selling the hit rap album. In 1999, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" was named best revival, "Side Man" won best play, & "Fosse" was awarded best musical at the Tony Awards. In 2004, "Avenue Q" won best musical at the Tony Awards, while "I Am My Own Wife" was named best play; Phylicia Rashad, who starred in a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," became the first black actress to win a Tony for a leading dramatic role.
In 2008, Bob Anderson, who played young George Bailey (James Stewart) in "It's a Wonderful Life," died in Palm Springs, Calif., at age 75. Thought for Today: "To be successful, grow to the point where one completely forgets himself; that is, to lose himself in a great cause." — Booker T. Washington, American educator (1856-1915).

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