On My Birthday...

Today is May 17th, and here are some cool facts about this day. (borrowed from MSNBC):

Today’s Highlight in History:
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education decision, which found that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal, and therefore unconstitutional.

On this date:In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was founded by brokers meeting under a tree located on what is now Wall Street.

In 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was run; the winner was “Aristides.”

In 1906, 100 years ago, opera singer Zinka Milanov was born in Zagreb, Croatia.

In 1938, Congress passed the Vinson Naval Act, providing for a two-ocean navy.

In 1939, Britain’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Quebec on the first visit to Canada by reigning British sovereigns.

In 1940, the Nazis occupied Brussels, Belgium, during World War II.

In 1946, President Truman seized control of the nation’s railroads, delaying a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.

In 1973, the Senate opened its hearings into the Watergate scandal.

In 1980, rioting that claimed 18 lives erupted in Miami’s Liberty City after an all-white jury in Tampa acquitted four former Miami police officers of fatally beating black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie.

In 1987, 37 American sailors were killed when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq and the U.S. called the attack a mistake.)


On a cool note: I also share birthdays with Bill Paxton, and Enya. Go me!