Today's My Birthday!

October 12.

Many things happened on this day, besides my being born. Columbus (or one of his crewmen) sighted land in the Americas today, initiating a brutal period of European colonization. Al-Qaeda bombed the USS Cole in 2000 (in my family, I'm the lucky one - my brother's birthday is September 11th). And Matthew Shepherd died today in 1998.

On the other hand, Oktoberfest kicked off today in 1810. Desmond Doss won the Congressional Medal of Honor - he was a conscientious objector who volunteered as a medic, and he was honored for his bravery at Okinawa.

Luciano Pavarotti was born today (yay!), as was Chris Wallace (ick), Kirk Cameron (ewww), Dick Gregory (yay!), and Marion Jones (yay!). And last but definitely not least, Hugh Jackman.