Today is Thursday, May 22, the 143rd day of 2008. There are 223 days left in the year.
1570 _ First atlas, with 70 maps, published
1761 _ First life insurance policy in U.S., issued in Philadelphia
1803 _ First public library opens (Connecticut)
1927 _ 8.3 earthquake strikes Nan-Shan China, 200,000 killed
1939 _ Hitler and Mussolini sign ``Pact of Steel"
1943 _ Stalin disbands Komintern
1964 _ LBJ presents ``Great Society"
1973 _ President Nixon confesses his role in Watergate coverup
1990 _ North and South Yemen merge to form Republic of Yemen
1992 _ Johnny Carson's final appearance as host of the Tonight Show