And as always, the AP page, the AP video, & the Rev. Moon's UPI Almanac.
Today's Highlight in History:
On Feb. 18, 1885, Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was published in the US for the first time (having been published in Canada and England the previous December).
On this date:
In 1516, Mary Tudor, the queen of England popularly known as "Bloody Mary," was born in Greenwich Palace.
In 1546, Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, died in Eisleben.
In 1564, artist Michelangelo died in Rome.
In 1735, the first opera presented in America, "Flora, or Hob in the Well," was performed in present-day Charleston, S.C. [You, of course mean it was performed in what is now present-day Charleston, S. C., don't you, AP? — Ed.]
In 1861, Jefferson Davis was sworn in as the provisional president of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Ala.
In 1930, photographic evidence of Pluto (now designated a "dwarf planet") was discovered by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz.
In 1960, the 8th Winter Olympic Games were formally opened in Squaw Valley, Calif., by Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
In 1970, the "Chicago Seven" defendants were found not-guilty of conspiring to incite riots at the 1968 Democratic national convention; five were convicted of violating the Anti-Riot Act of 1968 (those convictions were later reversed). [Fuck you, AmeriKKKan Justice! — Ed. (Applies to next item as well.)]
In 1972, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's death penalty.
In 1977, the space shuttle Enterprise, sitting atop a Boeing 747, went on its maiden "flight" above the Mojave Desert.
In 1984, Italy and the Vatican signed an accord under which Roman Catholicism ceased to be the state religion of Italy.
In 1988, Anthony M. Kennedy was sworn in as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1998, sportscaster Harry Caray died at age 83.
Ten years ago: The Clinton administration warned Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to choose peace with ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, or face a devastating military strike.
In 2001, auto racing star Dale Earnhardt Sr. died from injuries suffered in a crash at the Daytona 500; he was 49. Veteran FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested, accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years.
Five years ago: Howard Dean's quest for the presidency ended as the Democrat, winless in 17 contests, abandoned his bid. In Iran, runaway train cars carrying fuel and industrial chemicals derailed, setting off explosions that destroyed five villages and killed at least 200 people. Two bomb-laden trucks blew up outside a Polish-run base in Hillah, Iraq, killing about a dozen people.
In 2006, American Shani Davis won the men's 1,000-meter speedskating in Turin, becoming the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history. A Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament was sworn in.
One year ago: The Pakistan People's Party of assassinated ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto won the most seats in the country's parliamentary elections. A suicide car bomber targeting a Canadian military convoy killed 38 civilians in southern Afghanistan. Republican John McCain picked up the support of former President George H.W. Bush. Andy Pettitte apologized to the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and his fans for the "embarrassment" he caused them by taking human growth hormone. Writer Alain Robbe-Grillet died in Caen, France, at age 85.
Today's Birthdays February 18
Today's Birthdays: Former Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown is 87. Actor George Kennedy is 84. Former Senator John Warner, R-Va., is 82. Author Toni Morrison is 78. Movie director Milos Forman is 77. Singer Yoko Ono is 76.
Singer-songwriter Bobby Hart is 70. Singer Irma Thomas is 68. Singer Herman Santiago (Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers) is 68. Actress Sinead Cusack is 61. Producer-director-writer John Hughes is 59. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 59. Singer Juice Newton is 57.
Singer Randy Crawford is 57. Rock musician Robbie Bachman is 56. Rock musician Larry Rust (Iron Butterfly) is 56. Actor John Travolta is 55. Game show host Vanna White is 52. Actress Greta Scacchi is 49. Actor Matt Dillon is 45. Rapper Dr. Dre is 44. [This is why we have to scour the webz for all info. possible. The Crackerville, Carolina telebision station page whence we steal most of these AP today in history factoids won't list cats like Dre when his b-day passes 'round, though they'll show you every Grand Ole Opry has-been who's still drawing breath.] Actress Molly Ringwald is 41. Today In Entertainment History
On February 18th, 1953, "Bwana Devil," the movie that heralded the "3-D" fad of the 1950s, opened in New York.
In 1968, David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett as lead guitarist for Pink Floyd. [And that was it for that band. — Ed.]
In 1969, Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees married singer Lulu in England. Three-thousand fans showed up.
In 1972, Neil Young got a gold record for his album, "Harvest," which includes the number one single, "Heart of Gold."
In 1974, Kiss released its self-titled debut album. It only made it to 87 on Billboard's album chart, but it stayed on the chart for 23 weeks. [Shit finds its own level. — Ed.]
In 1992, fans rushed the stage at a New Kids on the Block concert in Seoul, South Korea, crushing people at the front of the crowd. A 17-year-old girl died the next day of injuries suffered in the stampede. The singers were not injured. Also, Vince Neil quit as lead singer for Motley Crue, after eleven years with the group. He said he wanted to spend more time on his race car driving. He has since returned to the band.
In 1995, Bob Stinson, a founding member of The Replacements, died in Minneapolis of complications from drug and alcohol abuse. He was 35.
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