Spotlight
March is Women's History Month. Two activists in the cause of women's rights were born on this date: Gloria Steinem (72) and Matilda Gage (1826-1898). In the 1970s, Steinem helped found the National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's Action Alliance and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. She was also the founding editor of the feminist magazine Ms. Gage worked for women's suffrage and collaborated on A History of Woman Suffrage. An abolitionist, Gage grew up in a house used as a station on the Underground Railroad.

Quote
"Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it." – Gloria Steinem

Word of the day
freethinker: in philosophy, one who forms his or her beliefs based on reason and facts; Matilda Gage was a freethinker. (© )

Holiday
Annunciation Day, or Lady Day in the UK (Christianity)

Today's News

• Simpsons: to broadcast a live-action opening sequence Sunday night (story)
• Japan: cherry blossom forecasting becomes competitive (story)
• tortoise: giant turtle dies in Calcutta zoo at age 255 (story)

Today's History

• Robert the Bruce: became king of Scotland (1306)
• Coxey's Army: 1st popular protest march on Washington left Massillon, Ohio, led by Jacob Coxey (1894)
• European Economic Community: was established with the Treaty of Rome (1957)

Today's Birthdays

• Aretha Franklin: soul singer, "Respect" (64)
• Elton John: singer/songwriter, "Candle in the Wind," "Your Song" (59)
• Sarah Jessica Parker: actor, Sex and the City (41)