Today is Friday, Nov. 14, the 318th day of 2014. There are 47 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlights in History:
On Nov. 14, 1889, inspired by the Jules Verne novel “Around the World in Eighty Days,” New York World reporter Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane) set out to make the trip in less time than the fictional Phileas Fogg. (She completed the journey in 72 days.) Jawarharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, was born.
On this date:
In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel “Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale” was first published in the United States.
In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss pusher rolled off a sloping platform on the deck of the scout cruiser USS Birmingham off Hampton Roads, Virginia.
In 1922, the British Broadcasting Co. began its domestic radio service.
In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry.
In 1944, Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded “Opus No. 1” for RCA Victor.
In 1954, the president of Egypt, Muhammad Naguib, was deposed by the Revolutionary Command Council, leaving Gamal Abdel Nasser fully in charge as acting head of state.
In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon.
In 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC-9 crashed while trying to land in West Virginia, killing all 75 people on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.
In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.
In 1986, the Securities and Exchange Commission imposed a $100 million penalty against inside-trader Ivan F. Boesky and barred him from working again in the securities industry.
In 1990, it was revealed that the pop duo Milli Vanilli (Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan) had done none of the singing on their Grammy-winning debut album “Girl You Know It’s True.”
In 1997, a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, decided that Pakistani national Aimal Khan Kasi should get the death penalty for gunning down two CIA employees outside agency headquarters. Five years later on this date, Aimal Khan Kasi was executed.
Ten years ago: Mahmoud Abbas, successor to Yasser Arafat, escaped unharmed when militants firing assault rifles burst into a mourning tent for the deceased Palestinian leader in Gaza, killing two security guards. Usher was honored with four trophies at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles: favorite male soul-R&B artist, best pop-rock album, best pop-rock artist and best soul-R&B album.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama, on a mission to repair America’s global standing, told Asian countries during a speech in Tokyo that he was determined to engage them as equal partners in the economy, diplomacy and security.
One year ago: Reversing course, President Barack Obama said millions of Americans should be allowed to renew individual coverage plans ticketed for cancellation under the health care law. During a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Janet Yellen made clear she would be prepared to stand by the Federal Reserve’s low-interest policies, if she were confirmed as Fed chair. Former Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger was led off to prison to begin serving a life sentence at 84 for his murderous reign in the 1970s and ’80s. Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera won baseball’s Most Valuable Player awards.
Today’s Birthdays: Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is 92. Actress Kathleen Hughes is 86. Former MLB All-Star Jimmy Piersall is 85. Former NASA astronaut Fred Haise is 81. Jazz musician Ellis Marsalis is 80. Composer Wendy Carlos is 75. Writer P.J. O’Rourke is 67. Zydeco singer-musician Buckwheat Zydeco is 67. Britain’s Prince Charles is 66. Rock singer-musician James Young (Styx) is 65. Singer Stephen Bishop is 63. Blues musician Anson Funderburgh is 60. Pianist Yanni is 60. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is 60. Presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett is 58. Actress Laura San Giacomo is 53. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 53. Rapper Reverend Run (Run-DMC) is 50. Actor Patrick Warburton is 50. Rock musician Nic Dalton is 50. Country singer Rockie Lynne is 50. Pop singer Jeanette Jurado (Expose) is 49. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling is 48. Rock musician Brian Yale is 46. Rock singer Butch Walker is 45. Actor Josh Duhamel is 42. Rock musician Travis Barker is 39. Contemporary Christian musician Robby Shaffer is 39. Actor Brian Dietzen (TV: “NCIS”) is 37. Rapper Shyheim is 37. Rock musician Tobin Esperance (Papa Roach) is 35. Actress Olga Kurylenko is 35. Actress/comedian Vanessa Bayer (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 33. Actor Graham Patrick Martin is 23.
Thought for Today: “Adventure is not outside man; it is within.” — George Eliot, English author (1819-1880).