The almanac

Today is Thursday, May 30, the 150th day of 2013 with 215 to follow.

The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus. Evening stars are Mercury, Saturn and Venus.

Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include film director Howard Hawks in 1896; movie executive Irving Thalberg in 1899; Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and many other cartoon characters, in 1908; bandleader/clarinet virtuoso Benny Goodman in 1909; restaurant executive Bob Evans in 1918; Christine Jorgensen, who gained notoriety for undergoing a sex-change operation, in 1926; actors Clint Walker in 1927 (age 86), Keir Dullea in 1936 (age 77) and Michael J. Pollard in 1939 (age 74); NFL Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers in 1943 (age 70); actors Colm Meaney in 1953 (age 60), Ted McGinley in 1958 (age 55) and Jennifer Ellison in 1983 (age 30); publisher Kevin Eastman, one of the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in 1962 (age 51); country singer Wynonna Judd and musician Tom Morello, both in 1964 (age 49); and musician Cee-Lo Green in 1974 (age 39).

On this date in history:

In 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in Rouen, France, at age 19. She had been convicted of sorcery.

In 1783, the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" became the first daily newspaper published in the United States.

In 1806, future U.S. President Andrew Jackson took part in a duel, killing Charles Dickinson, a Kentucky lawyer who had called Jackson's wife a bigamist.

In 1868, the first major Memorial Day observance was held to honor those killed during the Civil War. It was originally known to some as "Decoration Day."

In 1911, Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 with an average speed of 74.6 mph.

In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington.

In 1937, a battle between police and strikers at the Republic Steel Corp. plant in Chicago killed 10 people and injured 90.

In 1943, the Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu off the Alaskan coast were retaken by U.S. forces after being occupied by Japanese troops during World War II.

In 1972, the unmanned U.S. space probe Mariner 9 was launched on a mission to gather scientific data on Mars, ultimately sending back valuable information and becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a planet other than the Earth.

In 1972, three Japanese terrorists used automatic weapons to kill 24 people at the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In 1982, Spain became the 16th member nation of NATO.

In 1998, Pakistan conducted an underground nuclear test, despite condemnation from many leading countries and the imposition of U.S. economic sanctions.

In 2002, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the FBI would have expanded powers to monitor religious, political and other organizations as well as the Internet as a guard against terrorist attacks.

In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush asked Congress for an additional $30 billion to fight AIDS globally.

Also in 2007, in a Gallup poll of U.S. adults, one-third of respondents said they believed the Bible was literally true.

In 2008, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the United States was at a record $3.96. The price hit $5 in some areas.

In 2009, analysts said 2009 U.S. college graduates faced dim employment prospects in a job market described as being in a state of "quiet desperation."

In 2011, ailing former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak denied he ordered his forces to use live ammunition against protesters, a charge officials said could result in the death penalty. Nearly 1,000 people had died during an 18-day uprising.

In 2012, former Liberian President Charles Taylor, convicted of aiding war crimes, was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

A thought for the day: Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" that, "No one is so thoroughly superstitious as the godless man."