Daily Chat 24/05/09

On this day in 1626, Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan from the Lanape for 60 guilders (about $1000 in today's terms).  In 1738, John Wesley comes over all warm and fuzzy at a Moravian church meeting in Aldersgate, leading to Methodism.  In 1956, the first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland.  Lys Assia takes the title for the host country with the song "Refrain".  Lots of birthdays today:  the pride of Hibbing, Minnesota, Robert Zimmerman; Patti LaBelle, Jim Broadbent; Alfred Molina; Rosanne Cash; Kristin Scott-Thomas; and Eric Cantona.  It's Independence Day in Eritrea.  Here's some of Mr. Zimmerman's work: