Monday, March 5, 2007

 

Spotlight: In Detroit, in 1902, Henry Leland produced the first Cadillac. His company later became a part of General Motors. Some 200 years earlier, Antoine Cadillac (born on this date in 1658) had founded Detroit, which was to become the "auto capital of the world." Speed ahead another 100 years: GMC subsidiary Chevrolet has come out with its electric car, the Volt. The new vehicle will operate either as a straight electric car that fully charges in six hours or with a one-liter engine that runs at a continuous speed, replenishing its batteries; it is expected to go into production in 2010.

Quote: "Detroit is a one-trade town." — Norman Mailer

Today's News:

• sleep apnea: plays important role in cardiovascular disease (story)
• Iditarod: world's longest dog sled race kicks off in Anchorage, Alaska (story)
• Michael Jackson: visits Japan for high-priced fanfest (story)
• Coldplay: British band is at work on new album (story)

Today's History:

• Boston Massacre: five colonists were killed when British troops fired into a rowdy crowd (1770)
• Stars and Bars: first of several Confederate flags was adopted (1861)
• Iron Curtain: phrase coined by Winston Churchill in speech in Missouri (1946)

Today's Birthdays:

• Madame Chiang Kai-shek (1897-2003): wife of Chiang Kai-shek and advocate for his government
• Rex Harrison (1908-1990): actor, My Fair Lady
• Daniel Kahneman (73): winner of Nobel Prize in Economics
• Eva Mendes (33): actor, Training Day, Hitch