Tuesday, May 2, 2006

Spotlight
In committee meetings across the US, when a question on procedure arises, members call for Robert's Rules of Order. General Henry Martyn Robert, born on this date in 1837, wrote his handbook on parliamentary procedure after he was embarrassed to realize that he could not run a simple church meeting. He based his rules loosely on the debate rules used in the US House of Representatives. Robert was an army engineer who designed the defenses for Washington, DC, during the US Civil War.

Quote
"Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of liberty." – Henry Martyn Robert

Word of the day
compendium: a concise compilation of information on a topic; Robert's Rules of Order is a compendium on parliamentary procedure. (© )

Holiday
Yom Hazikaron (Israeli memorial day)

Today's News

• boycott: over a million US immigrants and their allies protest across the nation (story)
• Anna Nicole Smith: wins Supreme Court support (story)
• The Scream: robbery verdict due today (story)

Today's History

• Martin Luther: the 23-year-old German theologian and future Protestant reformer was ordained (1507)
• Berlin: surrendered to Russian forces during WWII; the war in Europe ended less than a week later (1945)
• GPS: Bill Clinton announced that US citizens and the military would have equal access to the system (2000)

Today's Birthdays

• Theodor Herzl: founder of modern Zionism (1860-1904)
• Dr. Benjamin Spock: pediatrician who wrote the "bible" on child-rearing (1903-1998)
• The Rock: 6'5", 255-pound pro wrestling heavyweight and star of The Scorpion King (34)