May 26, 2013

Feast Day of Saint Augustine of Canterbury (May 28 outside England and Wales)

Trinity Day

Australia: Sorry Day

Georgia: Independence Day

Andersonville Memorial Day Ceremonies, Andersonville, GA.

Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Indianapolis, IN. See www.indy500.com

In 1940, the evacuation at Dunkirk began.

In 1994, the US and Vietnam agreed to resume diplomatic relations.

In 2008, NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft successfully landed on Mars.

Birth anniversaries of actors Al Jolson (1886-1950), John Wayne (1907-79) and Jay Silverheels (1912-80).

Birth anniversary of US astronaut Sally Ride (1951-2012).

Happy Birthday! Helena Bonham Carter, Genie Francis, Pam Grier, Lenny Kravitz, Brent Musberger, Stevie Nicks, Philip Michael Thomas, Hank Williams Jr

May 27, 2013

Memorial Day (legal public observance in US)

United Kingdom: Spring Bank Holiday

England: Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling: Contestants race down a steep, 300-yard hill after a 7-9 pound wheel of double Gloucestershire cheese. The winner gets the cheese.

Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies, Gettysburg, PA.

In 1703, St. Petersburg was founded.

In 1873, the first running of the Preakness Stakes took place at Pimlico, MD.

In 1931, Paul Kipfer and Auguste Piccard became the first to reach the stratosphere.

In 1936, the RMS Queen Mary made her maiden voyage.

In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened. 200,000 people crossed the bridge that day.

Birth anniversary of Wild Bill Hickok (1837-76). Shot dead at a poker table at Deadwood, Dakota Territory, on Aug 2, 1876—holding two black aces, two black eights and one other card—now called the “dead man’s hand.”

Birth anniversaries of Rachel Carson (1907-64), Isadora Duncan (1878-1927), Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961), Hubert Horatio Humphrey (1911-78), Vincent Price (1911-93), Sam Snead (1912-2002).

Happy 98th birthday, Herman Wouk!

Happy 91st birthday, Christopher Lee!

Happy 90th birthday, Henry Kissinger!

Happy Birthday! John Barth, André Benjamin, Chris Colfer, Joseph Fiennes, Louis Gossett Jr, Ramsey Lewis, Jack McBrayer, Lee Meriwether, Jamie Oliver, Richard Schiff, Frank Thomas, Bruce Weitz.

May 28, 2013

Saint Bernard of Montjoux: Feast Day

Azerbaijan: Day of the Republic

Ethiopia: National Day

Nepal: Republic Day

Anniversary of the founding of Amnesty International (1961).

275th birth anniversary of Joseph Guillotin (1738-1814), French physician who helped create the decapitation device that now bears his name.

125th birth anniversary of perhaps the greatest male athlete of the 20th century--Jim Thorpe (1888-1953).

Birth anniversary of James Bond creator Ian Fleming (1908-64).

Happy Birthday! Carroll Baker, Rudolph Giuliani, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Gladys Knight, Carey Mulligan, Marco Rubio.

May 29, 2013

Ascension of Baha’u’llah

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (United Nations)

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

Rhode Island: Ratification Day

Wisconsin: Admission Day (1848)

Birth anniversary of John F. Kennedy (1917-63), 35^th president of the US.

Birth anniversary of American revolutionary leader and orator Patrick Henry (1736-99).

Birth anniversaries of G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) and Bob Hope (1903-2003).

100 years ago, in 1913, the audience rioted at the world premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (featuring Sergey Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky) in Paris, France. The police were called in to restore order.

60 years ago, in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay became the first team to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

In 1985, fans attending the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus clashed at the Brussels, Belgium, stadium. In the ensuing riot, 39 people were killed and more than 400 were wounded.

Happy Birthday! Carmelo Anthony, Annette Bening, Melissa Etheridge, Rupert Everett, Anthony Geary, Al Unser Sr, Fay Vincent Jr

May 30, 2013

Corpus Christi

Saint Joan of Arc: Feast Day

Memorial Day (traditional observance)

Trinidad: Indian Arrival Day

BookExpo America begins at New York, NY (May 30-June 1). See www.bookexpoamerica.com

Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals take place at Washington, DC (May 30). See www.spellingbee.com

Anniversary of the first Indy 500 in 1911. Ray Harroun won with an average speed of 74.6 mph.

Birth anniversaries of Mel Blanc (1908-89), Countee Cullen (1903-46), Carl Fabergé (1846-1920) and Peter I of Russia (1672-1725).

Happy Birthday! Keir Dullea, Steven Gerrard, Cee Lo Green, Wynonna Judd, Colm Meaney, Trey Parker, Manny Ramirez, Gale Sayers, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clint Walker