Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Spotlight
Poet and writer of macabre tales Edgar Allan Poe was born on this date in 1809. His story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, is often considered the first modern detective story. Two of Poe's best-known poems are "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee."

Quote
"I have great faith in fools; self-confidence my friends call it." -- Edgar Allen Poe

Today in History

• Howard Hughes -- set a transcontinental air record, flying his monoplane from L.A. to Newark in under 7-1/2 hours (1937)
• "Lucy Ricardo" -- gave birth to little "Ricky" on I Love Lucy, with more people watching than tuned in to DDE's inauguration the next day (1953)
• Indira Gandhi -- was elected prime minister of India (1966)

Today's Birthdays

• James Watt -- inventor of the steam engine (1736-1819)
• Robert E. Lee -- leader of Confederate armies in the Civil War (1807-1870)
• songstresses -- Janis Joplin (1943-1970) and Dolly Parton (59)

Word of the Day
 behemoth -- something of extraordinary size and power; a huge Biblical animal. Used to describe the new Airbus A380, a "double decked behemoth" that is the largest passenger airplane in the world. (story)   (© )