8 May: That Sounds Familiar

By The Associated Press 24 mins ago Today is Friday, May 8, the 128th day of 2009. There are 237 days left. From the AP, also. A/V. UPI Almanac. Today's Highlight in History: In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered in World War II, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe." The Trumanator speaks.On this date: In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. In 1794, Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror. [À bas la science!! — Ed.} In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by Gen. Zachary Taylor were able to beat back the Mexican forces. 125 years ago, in 1884, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, was born in Lamar, Mo. In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola. [Making America as we know & love her possible, through cocaine, water & sugar high-fructose corn syrup. — Ed.] In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru. [We'll add a "Boo!!" & a hiss. And some sputum. What the hell, right? — Ed.] In 1970, anti-war protests took place across the United States and around the world; in New York, construction workers broke up a demonstration on Wall Street. In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered. In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the "Son of Sam" shootings that had terrified New Yorkers. Twenty-five years ago, in 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ten years ago: NATO expressed regret for a mistaken attack on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, but pledged to pursue the bombing campaign; demonstrators in Beijing threw rocks and smashed cars at the U.S. Embassy. The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet, Nancy Ruth Mace. British actor Sir Dirk Bogarde died in London at age 78. Five years ago: Former Iraq hostage Thomas Hamill returned home to a chorus of cheering family and friends in Mississippi. One year ago: Sen. Barack Obama got a front-runner's welcome back at the U.S. Capitol, where he was surrounded by well-wishers calling him "Mr. President" and reaching out to pat him on the back or shake his hand. Silvio Berlusconi was sworn in as Italy's premier. Country music star Eddy Arnold died near Nashville, Tenn., at age 89. Today's Birthdays: Comedian Don Rickles is 83.Naturalist Sir David Attenborough is 83. Singer Toni Tennille is 69.Actor James Mitchum is 68. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 67. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 64. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 58. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is 58. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 56. Drummer Alex Van Halen is 56. Actor David Keith is 55. Actor Stephen Furst is 55. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 45. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 45. Today In Entertainment History -- In 1961, Ricky Nelson marked his 21st birthday by officially changing his stage name to Rick. [You have to "officially" change your stage name? We may be in trouble. — Ed.] In 1962, the musical comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway. In 1965, Bob Dylan made one of the earliest videos when he filmed a promotional clip for his current single, "Subterranean Homesick Blues." It shows him flipping through cards with words and short phrases while standing in an alley in London.[That's Allen Ginsberg w/ the beard & bald pate on the left. — Ed.] In 1968, George D. Hay died. He was the originator of the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts over station WSM in Nashville. The program, originally called the "Barn Dance," was first broadcast on November 28th, 1925.

In 1970, the Beatles' final original album, "Let It Be," was released. In 1972, Billy Preston became the first rock performer to headline at Radio City Music Hall in New York. In 1981, the debut album by Loverboy was certified gold in the US. In 1990, a Los Angeles judge ordered Frito-Lay and an advertising agency to pay singer Tom Waits almost $2.5 million dollars. The agency had hired a Waits imitator to sing a jingle praising Frito-Lay's corn chips. In 1991, Epic Records released Pearl Jam's first US promo single, with the songs "Alive" and "Wash" and a cover of The Beatles' "I've Got A Feeling." In 1992, Genesis opened its "We Can't Dance" tour in Irving, Texas. In 1996, actress Julie Andrews turned down her Tony nomination for "Victor/Victoria" to protest her "overlooked colleagues," including her husband, director Blake Edwards. In 1999, actress Dana Plato of "Diff'rent Strokes" fame died of an apparent accidental drug overdose in Moore, Oklahoma. She was 34.  Thought for Today: "Men don't change. The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." — President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). Copyright ©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reversed. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Copyright ©2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reversed.