GMT

Today in History: May 8

1541 Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River which he calls Rio de Espiritu Santo.

1794 The United States Post Office is established.

1862 General 'Stonewall' Jackson repulses the Federals at the Battle of McDowell, in the Shenendoah Valley.

1864 Union troops arrive at Spotsylvania Court House to find the Confederates waiting for them.

1886 Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton invents Coca Cola.

1904 U.S. Marines land in Tangier, North Africa, to protect the Belgian legation.

1940 German commandos in Dutch uniforms cross the Dutch border to hold bridges for the advancing German army.

1942 The Battle of the Coral Sea between the Japanese Navy and the U.S. Navy ends.

1945 The final surrender of German forces is celebrated as VE (Victory Europe) day.

1967 Boxer Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.

1995 Jacques Chirac is elected president of France.

Born on May 8
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1884 Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States (1945-1953).

JOTD
A priest goes into a barbershop, gets a haircut, thanks the barber and asks how much he owes him.

The barber says, "Father, you're a holy man, a man of the cloth, I couldn't charge you, it's on the house."
The priest says, "Thank you very much" and leaves.
The next day, magically appearing on the doorstep of the barbershop are 12 gold coins.
A few days later, a minister goes in for a shave and a shine, and when the time comes to pay the barber says, "No money, please, you're a spiritual leader, a man of the cloth. It's on the house."
The next day, magically appearing on the doorstep are 12 rubies.
The following week a rabbi comes in, gets a haircut, goes to pay, and the barber says, "No, rabbi, you are a learned man, a wise man. I can't take any money from you. Go in peace."
And the next day, magically appearing on the doorstep of the barbershop are 12 rabbis.