Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Spotlight
West Virginia became the 35th state in the US on this date in 1863. It had broken away from Virginia two years earlier, during the US Civil War, protesting the decision of Virginia's government to secede from the Union. Located in Appalachia, the state is mountainous throughout and carries the nickname "The Mountain State." The Golden Delicious apple was first discovered in Clay County, WV, and it became the official state fruit.

Quote
"Come to West Virginia and we'll show you how to live ... how to treat people. We're open for business." – Gov. Joseph Manchin

Today in History

• Flight to Varennes: faced with anti-royalty hostility, King Louis XVI tried unsuccessfully to flee France (1791)
• superpowers: US, USSR agreed to set up hotline (1963)
• Jaws: Spielberg's thriller was released, chilling viewers and shattering box office records (1975)

Today's Birthdays

• Thomas Edward Bowdich: English traveler/writer and informal ambassador to the Ashanti empire (1791-1824)
• Olympia Dukakis: distinguished actress, Moonstruck (75)
• Vikram Seth: Indian author and poet who wrote the novels A Suitable Boy and An Equal Music (54)

Word of the Day
 impoverished: poor, without natural richness; Appalachia is one of the United States' most impoverished regions.   (© )