Monday, June 5, 2006

 

Spotlight: Twenty-five years ago today, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that five homosexuals in Los Angeles had come down with a rare kind of pneumonia; they were the first recognized cases of what became known as AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Since then, almost 800,000 cases have been reported in the US alone; worldwide, over 40 million people have been infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS, with about five people dying every minute of the disease.

Quote: "It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance." – Elizabeth Taylor, at an AIDS-awareness gathering

Today in History:

• bananas: became popular at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition; they were served wrapped in foil (1876)
• gold standard: was abrogated in the US (1933)
• Six-Day War: began; Israel was victorious against Egypt, Syria and Jordan; Jerusalem was reunited (1967)

Today's Birthdays:

• Federico Garcia Lorca: passionate Spanish poet and playwright (1898-1936)
• Kenny G.: smooth jazz saxophonist (50)
• Liza Weil: Paris on Gilmore Girls (29)

Word of the Day:  contaminated: infected, impure; many drug users contract AIDS through the use of contaminated needles.   (© )