Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Spotlight
Fifty years ago today the Salk vaccine was released for general use in the U.S. Developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, the vaccine was used to immunize against polio. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage on this date in 1945, became a victim of polio at the age of 39. Though he was partially paralyzed from the waist down, FDR did regain some use of his legs. When he died, he had just begun a record fourth term as US president.

Quote
"Intuition will tell the thinking mind where to look next." -- Jonas Salk

Word of the day
inoculable: vulnerable to a disease transmitted by inoculation (© )

Today's News

• NIH: may be toxic to female employees (story)
• Puerto Ricans: world's most satisfied people? (story)
• Sahara: movie tops Fever Pitch at box office (story)

Today's History

• Galileo: trial for heresy began during Inquisition (1633)
• US Civil War: started when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter (1861)
• Bill Haley and the Comets: recorded "Rock Around the Clock" and ushered in the era of rock 'n' roll (1954)

Today's Birthdays

• Vince Gill: country music superstar (48)
• TV/film: David Letterman (58), Claire Danes (26)
• writers: Beverly Cleary (89)
, Tom Clancy (58)