Saturday, September 16, 2006

Spotlight
The first prime minister of independent Singapore was born on this date in 1923. Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore from 1959 until his resignation in 1990, choosing to remain in the government as a senior minister and minister mentor. Lee is credited with creating equal rights for women, industrializing his country and raising the standard of living for Singapore's citizens. The third and current prime minister of Singapore is Lee's son, Lee Hsien Loong.

Quote
"I learned how people survived and how people had to submit, because you need to eat and your family needs to live; so, I learned the meaning of power." — Lee Kuan Yew

Word of the day
aroint -- [archaic, origin unknown]
verb imperative: begone, used with reflexive thee aroint thee, witch - Shakespeare
vt: to drive away by or as if by an exclamation or curse (© )

Holiday
Dieciséis de septiembre (Independence Day, Mexico)

Today's News

• Pope Benedict XVI: Muslims demand apology for remarks on Muhammad and jihad (story)
• spinach: warning issued for packages of fresh leaves linked to E. coli breakout in the US (story)
• Zune: Microsoft reveals big plans for its new portable music player, including wireless feature and Zune Marketplace to compete with iTunes (story)
• HAT-P-1: planet newly discovered in distant solar system is the fluffiest ever (story)
• Duane Chapman: Dog the Bounty Hunter arrested over capture of fugitive (story)

Today's History

• General Motors: was founded by William C. Durant (1908)
• Wall Street: a horse-drawn wagon filled with explosives detonated, killing 300; no culprit or cause was determined (1920)
• Arnold Schwartzenegger: actor (now CA governor) became a US citizen (1983)

Today's Birthdays

• Lauren Bacall: actor, Key Largo (82)
• B.B. King: blues guitarist (81)
• David Copperfield: magician (50)
• Marc Anthony: actor and musician (37)