Days gone by

Thought for today: We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity — romantic love and gunpowder — Andre Maurois, French biographer (1885-1967).

Today’s birthdays: Russia’s Czar Nicholas I (1796-1855); Antonio Gaudi, Spanish architect (1852-1926); Lord Louis Mountbatten, English statesman (1900-1979); George Orwell, British writer (1903-1950); Sidney Lumet, U.S. director (1924--); Carly Simon, U.S. singer (1945--); Jimmie Walker, U.S. actor/comedian (1947--); George Michael, pop singer (1963--); Ricky Gervais, British actor/writer/director (1961--).

Today is: Thursday, June 25, the 176th day of 2009. There are 189 days left in the year.

Today in history: In 1658, Aurangzeb, Mogul emperor of Hindustan, imprisons his father, the shah, after winning battle of Samgarh.
In 1862, United States recognizes independence of Liberia.
In 1872, Roman Catholic Jesuit order is expelled from Germany.
In 1876, a force of 200 U.S. soldiers under Gen. George Armstrong Custer is wiped out by the Sioux.