Sunday, August 14, 2005

Spotlight
Well, excuuuuuse me!!!! Wild and crazy guy Steve Martin turns 60 today! The world-famous funnyman started out writing for TV shows like The Smothers Brothers Show, turned to stand-up, and became a hit on Saturday Night Live, which he guest-hosted so often that people thought he was one of the original "Not Ready For Prime Time Players." Martin's made such film hits as Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Roxanne, Parenthood, and L.A. Story, and he's written a play, two novellas, and several pieces for New Yorker magazine.

Quote
"Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is." – Steve Martin

Word of the day
Lapin Agile: Montmartre cabaret made famous by a Picasso painting, "At the Lapin Agile"; Martin's play is named Picasso at the Lapin Agile. (© )

Today's News

• AIDS: scientific breakthrough may mean cure is near (story)
• Oxford Dictionary of English: gets some new words, e.g., phishing, chugger, labradoodle, ruby murray (story)
• Lucille Ball: has the highest Q score for a dead celebrity (story)

Today's History

• Social Security Act: was signed into law by US president Franklin D. Roosevelt, establishing pensions and unemployment insurance (1935)
• Oregon territory: was organized, consisting of all of present-day Oregon, Idaho and Washington, and parts of Montana and Wyoming (1848)
• blackout: 50 million lose electricity in northeastern US and Canada (2003)

Today's Birthdays

• Gary Larson: The Far Side cartoonist (55)
• Earvin "Magic" Johnson: LA Lakers basketball star (46)
• actors: Catherine Bell (37), Halle Berry (37)