Yesterday in History

My alarm clock broke, too.

Tuesday, May 20, was the 141st day of 2008. There are 225 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

One hundred years ago, on May 20, 1908, actor James Stewart was born in Indiana, Pa.
(Check out TCM on cable this week for a bunch o' Jimmy's classic movies. - LB1901)

*In 1506, explorer Christopher Columbus died in Spain.
*Apparently, not much happened on this day for the next 350 years.
*In 1861, North Carolina voted to secede from the Union.
*In 1902, the United States ended a three-year military presence in Cuba as the Republic of Cuba was established under its first elected president, Tomas Estrada Palma.
*Ten years ago: The government unveiled the design for the new $20 bill, featuring a larger and slightly off-center portrait of Andrew Jackson. In Beverly Hills, Calif., Hollywood royalty bid farewell to Frank Sinatra, who had died almost a week earlier at age 82, in a private, invitation-only funeral.

Today's Birthdays: Actor James McEachin is 78. Actor Anthony Zerbe is 72. Actor David Proval is 66. Singer Joe Cocker is 64. Singer-actress Cher is 62. Actor-comedian Dave Thomas is 59. Musician Warren Cann is 56. Actor Dean Butler is 52. Ron Reagan is 50. Rock musician Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go's) is 50. Actor Bronson Pinchot is 49. Singer Susan Cowsill is 49. Actor John Billingsley is 48. Actor Tony Goldwyn is 48. Singer Nick Heyward is 47. TV personality Ted Allen is 43. Actress Mindy Cohn is 42. Rock musician Tom Gorman (Belly) is 42. Actress Gina Ravera is 42. Actor Timothy Olyphant is 40. Rapper Busta Rhymes is 36. Actor Matt Czuchry is 31. Actress Angela Goethals is 31. Rhythm-and-blues singer Naturi Naughton is 24.

Thought for Today: "If I had my career over again? Maybe I'd say to myself, speed it up a little." — James Stewart, American actor (1908-1997).