The March of Time-Life, Inc.

Today is Friday, November 23rd, the 327th day of 2007. There are 38 days left in the year.
[Dull fucking day, as far as history goes. — Ed.] On this date:
In 1804, the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce, was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.
In 1889, the first jukebox was installed at the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco.
In 1903, singer Enrico Caruso made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, appearing in "Rigoletto."
In 1936, LIFE, the photojournalism magazine created by Henry R. Luce, was first published.
In 1943, during World War II, US forces seized control of Tarawa and Makin atolls from the Japanese.
In 1945, most US wartime rationing of foods, including meat and butter, was set to expire by day's end.
In 1963, President Johnson proclaimed November 25th a day of national mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy.
In 1971, the People's Republic of China was seated in the U.N. Security Council.
In 1980, some 2,600 people were killed by a series of earthquakes that devastated southern Italy.
In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the waves off Comoros Islands, killing about two-thirds of the 175 people on board.
Ten years ago: Iowa mother of septuplets Bobbi McCaughey left the hospital and returned home while her seven babies stayed behind in intensive care. Artillery shells fired by Lebanese guerrillas accidentally struck a village near the Israeli border, killing eight Lebanese.
Five years ago: President Bush visited Vilnius, Lithuania, and Bucharest, Romania, where he vowed to defend hard-won freedoms behind the former Iron Curtain. [Heck of a job, Bushie. — Ed.] Miss World organizers moved the beauty pageant from Abuja, Nigeria, to London after about 100 people died in violence triggered by a newspaper's suggestion that the Islamic prophet Muhammad would have liked the event.
One year ago: Former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko died in London from radiation poisoning after making a deathbed statement blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin. Car bombs and mortar rounds struck a Shiite slum in Baghdad, killing 215 people. Death claimed Broadway librettist Betty Comden at age 89; jazz vocalist Anita O'Day at age 87; and French actor Philippe Noiret at age 76.

Today's Birthdays: Broadway composer Jerry Bock is 79. [No other even slightly interesting birthdays today. Jerry's is interesting only because of the next item. — Ed.]
In 1959, the musical "Fiorello!," with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, opened on Broadway. It was based on the story of New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.
In 1964, the BBC banned the Rolling Stones from its airwaves after the band arrived late for two radio shows.
In 1974, singer-musician Gary Wright left the band Spooky Tooth for a solo career. He went on to have success with "Dream Weaver." [Suck Fest. — Ed.]
In 1976, Jerry Lee Lewis was arrested outside of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis. Authorities said he was brandishing a pistol and was demanding to see Presley. Lewis was charged with public intoxication and possession of a weapon.
In 1983, actress Mary Tyler Moore married cardiologist Dr. Robert Levine in New York.
In 1989, Paul McCartney began his first North American tour in more than a dozen years, playing the first of several shows in the Los Angeles area.
In 1992, country legend Roy Acuff died in Nashville at age 89. He had joined the Grand Ole Opry in the 1930's and appeared regularly up until several months before he died.
In 1995, director Louis Malle died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, of complications from lymphoma. He was 63. He's known for films like "Pretty Baby" and "My Dinner with Andre."
Also on that day, singer Junior Walker of Junior Walker and the All-Stars died of cancer in Battle Creek, Michigan.
In 1996, Bob Hope set a record for the longest continuous contract in the history of radio and television when his last TV special aired. Hope had been with NBC for 60 years.
Also in 1996, actor Woody Harrelson and eight other environmental activists were arrested after scaling the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco as a protest to save redwood trees in Northern California. They were accused of tying up traffic for hours.