FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2008

Today is Friday, May 23, the 144th day of 2008. There are 222 days left in the year.

1430 _ Joan of Arc captured by Burgundians at Compiegne, who sell her to the British

1618 _ Imperial civil servants thrown out a window of Prague Castle

1785 _ Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals

1865 _ Flag flown at full staff over White House, first time since Lincoln shot

1900 _ Associated Press News Service forms in New York

1939 _ Hitler proclaims he wants to move into Poland

1945 _ Winston Churchill resigns as British P.M.

1956 _ Presbyterian Church begins accepting women ministers

1958 _ Mao Tse-tung starts ``Great leap forward" movement in China

1990 _ Cost of rescuing savings and loan failures is put at up to $130 billion