Today is Saturday, May 23, the 143rd day of 2009. There are 222 days left in the year.
1430 _ Joan of Arc captured by Burgundians at Compiegne, who sell her to the British
1785 _ Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals
1867 _ Jesse James-gang rob bank in Richmond, Mo. (two die, $4,000 taken)
1900 _ Associated Press News Service forms in New York
1922 _ Walt Disney incorporates his first film company Laugh-O-Gram Films
1945 _ Winston Churchill resigns as British P.M.
1949 _ Federal Republic of [West] Germany proclaimed (Republic Day)
1956 _ Presbyterian Church begins accepting women ministers
1958 _ Mao Tse-tung starts ``Great leap forward" movement in China
1969 _ The Who release the rock opera ``Tommy"