Sunday, March 1, 2009

Spotlight
In 1957, Senator Hubert Humphrey introduced the first Congressional bill proposing the creation of a Peace Corps, which would scatter American youth among the world's underdeveloped countries to share their expertise in the areas of health, education, agriculture and the environment. It met with only a lukewarm response. Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy proposed the idea again in 1960, in an impromptu speech before students at the University of Michigan. On this date in 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps as a volunteer agency which would "promote world peace and friendship." Sargent Shriver became the first director, at a token annual salary of $1.

Quote
"To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves." — John F. Kennedy

Question of the Day
What education or training do you need to join the Peace Corps?
You may already know that all Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens of at least 18 years of age. Here are a few things that might surprise you:

There is no upper age limit. In fact, the oldest volunteer ever to serve in the Peace Corps was 86.

You don't have to know another language.

Having a four-year college degree by the time you're ready to leave for the Peace Corps will help your chances of acceptance. But it isn't absolutely necessary, and for some programs work experience, relevant skills, and/or a community college degree can qualify you.

Word of the day
perambulate
v.tr.

1. To walk through.
2. To inspect (an area) on foot.

v.intr.
To walk about; roam or stroll.

(© Houghton Mifflin Company)

Today's History

Yellowstone National Park

• Buckeye State: Ohio became the 17th US state; in prehistoric times it was inhabited by Mound Builders (1803)
• Cornhusker State: Nebraska, purchased from France in 1803, became the 37th US state (1867)
• Yellowstone: the world's oldest national park was established; it is noted for its geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles (1872)
• Lindbergh kidnapping: Lucky Lindy's child was abducted, leading to the Lindbergh Act (1932)

Today's Birthdays

Javier Bardem

• Ralph Ellison (1914-1994): author of Invisible Man; poet Robert Lowell (1917-1977) shared this birth date
• Yitzhak Rabin (1922-1995): first native-born prime minister of Israel
• Roger Daltrey (65): rock singer, The Who; plus, musicians Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), Glenn Miller (1904-1944), Harry Belafonte (82) and Mike D'Abo (65)
• Ron Howard (55): actor-turned-director, A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon
• Javier Bardem (40): Oscar-winning actor, No Country for Old Men; also, actors David Niven (1910-1983), Robert Conrad (74), Alan Thicke (62), Tim Daly (53), George Eads (42), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (35) and Jensen Ackles (31)