MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008

Today is Monday, May 19, the 140th day of 2008. There are 226 days left in the year.

1588 _ Spanish Armada sets sail for Lisbon, bound to England

1780 _ About midday, near-total darkness descends on much of New England to this day its cause is still unexplained

1905 _ Italian King Victor Emmanuel and Swiss President open world's longest railroad tunnel (Simplon) links Iselle Italy and Brig Switzerland

1943 _ Berlin is declared ``Judenrien" (free of Jews)

1944 _ German defense line in Italy collapsed

1951 _ U.N. begins counter offensive in Korea

1958 _ ``South Pacific" soundtrack album goes to No.1 and stays No. 1 for 31 weeks

1960 _ Belgian parliament requires rest day for self employed

1967 _ U.S. bombs Hanoi

1982 _ Sophia Loren jailed in Naples for tax evasion