ON THIS DAY
On this date in 1493, Columbus set sail on his second voyage to the New World
In 1513, Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean.
On this date in 1882, baseball's very first double-header was played.
In 1926, Henry Ford announced the 5-day work week.
On this date in 1977, the record for the world's longest skateboard jump was established -- at 17 feet!
May I just say that Christmas is exactly three months from today?
Catherine Zeta-Jones is 40. Will Smith turns 41, Mark Hamill, better known as Luke Skywalker in the original "Star Wars" movies, celebrates his 58th birthday, and Anson Williams, who played Potsie on "Happy Days," celebrates the big 6-0 today.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Madonna's best pal Debi Mazar has joined the list of "Dancing With The Stars" casualties after tearing a muscle in her neck. Fellow contestant Mya is also dancing injured -- she slashed her hand on broken glass.
- Julia Roberts is in India these days, shooting the pray part of her new movie, "Eat Pray Love."
- Mackenzie Phillip's half-sister Chynna Phillips says that Mackenzie told her about this whole incest thing years ago. In Chynna's words, "Why would you make something like that up?"
- Women's Health reports women spend about 27 minutes a day on their beauty routine, according to iVillage poll. 53% of Americans are trying to lose weight.
- Grey's Anatomy's Ellen Pompeo gave birth to a baby girl last week. Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery.
- Honda is showing off their new "personal mobility device," that's like a unicycle meets a Segway. No plans to market it yet.
- The first new Michael Jackson song since his death, "This is it," will come out October 12th.
- Marilyn Manson is the latest celebrity to be diagnosed with swine flu.
- Jennifer Garner's favorite swear word is "rats." That's the word from Ricky Gervais, who co-stars with Jennifer Garner in the new film, "The Invention of Lying."
- Jessica Biel has signed up to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, at more than 19,000 feet -- to raise awareness about the need for clean water.
- Eva Longoria Parker is going back to school to learn more about her Mexican roots. She's signed up for a master's program in Chicano studies and political science.
- Chrysler has announced that they're no longer going to put owner's manuals in their car.
- Jude Law's surprise child was born Tuesday. A girl, Sophia.
So how's NBC's grand experiment, the "Jay Leno Show," doing? According to a Netscape poll:
- It's fantastic and I'll be watching every night. (19%)
- It's pretty good, but I won't tune in every night. (25%)
- The jury's still out: I need to watch more shows before making a decision. (10%)
- It's going to need to make a lot of improvements to be a ratings success. (24%)
- This is the worst primetime show ever -- bring back scripted dramas! (16%)
- I've never watched the show.(6%)
If you're too sleepy for sex, you're not alone. When asked in a poll conducted by NBC's "Today Show" and Zogby International how often they would rather sleep than have sex, 44% chose sleep at least some of the time with 8% choosing it always. The poll also revealed that nearly half of us don't get enough sleep and roughly 25% get fewer than six hours a night. It's been headed this way for more than two decades, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. We work and play equally hard, leaving less time for rest. It isn't any better when we travel, a time that is ostensibly a getaway from our regular routine. A great night's sleep trumps great sex, according to 51% in a global survey about sleeping habits. 42% said they'd rather have a sleeping pill on their hotel pillow than the ubiquitous chocolate, and 62% take a relaxant, sleep or stress medication when traveling overnight.
