GMT

Today in History: August 16

1777 France declares a state of bankruptcy.

1896 Gold is discovered in the Klondike of Canada's Yukon Territory, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.

1965 The Watts riots end in south-central Los Angeles after six days.

1977 Elvis Presley dies of a heart attack in the upstairs bedroom suite area of his Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.

1984 The safe of the sunken ocean liner Andrea Doria is opened on TV after three decades, revealing cash and certificates but no other valuables.

1987 Astrological alignment of sun, moon and six planets marks what believers maintain is the dawning of a New Age.

2012 In South Africa police fire on striking mine workers, killing at least 34.


Today in History: Born on August 16

1958 Madonna [Louise Veronica Ciccone], entertainer and singer.

1960 Timothy Hutton, youngest actor ever to receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Ordinary People).


Joke of the Day

An Oklahoma State Trooper pulls over a circus clown for speeding

The trooper asks the clown "Why were you driving so fast?" The clown says "I'm headed to Tulsa for a circus show and I don't want to be late." The trooper asks the clown "What do you do in the show?" "I'm a juggler" says the clown.
"Alright" says the trooper, "If you juggle for me here, I won't give you a ticket." The clown says "I don't have my equipment, it got sent ahead of me."
The trooper says excitedly "I've got some flares in the back of my car."
As the clown begins juggling the flares on the side of the road, a good-old boy, drunk off his arse, pulls in behind the trooper to witness the spectacle. After watching for a few minutes, the man then climbs into the back seat of the squad car. The trooper, having never seen a man arrest himself before, walks over to the man and asks "What are you doin, son?"
The man says "You may as well take me to jail now, 'cause I ain't gonna pass that test."