Sunday Open Thread: May 13 is Mother's Day

Today's date is also Pungenday, Discord 60, 3184 YOLD (for you Discordians out there)

World History this day

1787 -- Captain Arthur Phillip left Portsmouth for Australia with 11 boatloads of convicts 1830 -- Ecuador broke free from Gran Colombia. 1846 -- The United States declared war on Mexico 1888 -- The Empire of Brazil abolished slavery. 1940 -- Germany invaded France 1943 -- Axis forces in North Africa surrendered to the Allies. 1958 -- A coup attempt in Algiers that eventually led to de Gaulle's return to prominence 1989 -- Students occupied Tiananmen Square

US History this day

1846 -- The United States declared war on Mexico 1958 -- Nixon's car was attacked in Caracas 1960 -- UC, Berkeley students first day of demonstrations against HCUA sessions in S.F. 1985 -- The Police bombed the MOVE house, killing 6 adults and 5 kids and destroying the homes of an additional 250 Philly residents, but the victims were no angels either. /s

Science & Technology this day

1861 -- The Great Comet of 1861 was discovered 1880 -- Thomas Edison first tested his electric railway. 1939 -- The first US commercial FM radio station was established.

The Arts this day

1954 -- The Pajama Game opened on Broadway

Misc. this day

1373 -- Julian of Norwich had visions which she later recorded in her "Revelations of Divine Love", the first book in the English language authored by a woman. 1917 -- Three kids reported the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima 1995 -- Alison Hargreaves became the first woman to summit Everest without oxygen or sherpas.

Birthdays of Note this day

1221 -- Alexander Nevsky, Russian prince and saint 1717 -- Maria Theresa, last Hapsburg ruler, cause of the War of the Austrian Succession ** 1911 -- Maxine Sullivan, singer and actress 1912 -- Gil Evans, pianist, composer, and bandleade 1914 -- Johnnie Wright, singer, songwriter and guitarist 1922 -- Bea Arthur, actress, activist, marine 1927 -- Fred Hellerman, folk singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer (The Weavers) 1931 -- Jim Jones, Religious leader, founder of the Peoples Temple 1935 -- Teddy Randazzo, singer, songwriter and accordion player 1941 -- Ritchie Valens, singer, songwriter and guitarist 1943 -- Mary Wells, singer and songwriter 1944 -- Carolyn Franklin, singer and songwriter 1945 -- Magic Dick, harmonica, trumpet, and saxophone player (The J. Geils Band) 1945 -- Lou Marini, saxophonist and composer 1950 -- Danny Kirwan, singer, songwriter, and guitarist 1950 -- Stevie Wonder, singer, songwriter, pianist, and producer 1969 -- Buckethead, guitarist and songwriter 1976 -- Ana Popovic, singer, songwriter, and guitarist

Deaths of Note this day

1878 -- Joseph Henry, physicist 1884 -- Cyrus McCormick, "inventor" of the mechanical reaper 1916 -- Sholem Aleichem, author 1945 -- Tubby Hall, drummer 1975 -- Bob Wills, singer, songwriter, and actor 1977 -- Mickey Spillane, businessman 1988 -- Chet Baker, singer and trumpet player 2006 -- Johnnie Wilder, Jr., singer 2012 -- Donald "Duck" Dunn,  bass player, songwriter, and producer 2013 -- Joyce Brothers, psychologist, author, and actress

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So now some music

Maxine Sullivan

Gil Evans  

Fred Hellerman  

Ritchie Valens  

Mary Wells  

Magic Dick  

Lou Marini  

Stevie Wonder  

Tubby Hall  

Bob Wills  

Chet Baker  

Johnny Wilder Jr.  

Donald "Duck" Dunn  

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Photo: Yellowstone National Park Newborn bison, Lamar Valley NPS / Neal Herbert

It's an open thread, so do your thing

Crossposted from http://caucus99percent.com