Today is the 150th day of 2012 and the 71st day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1453, Ottoman armies captured Constantinople, effectively crushing the Byzantine Empire.

In 1790, Rhode Island became the final state (of the original colonies) to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Bob Hope (1903-2003), comedian/actor; John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th U.S. president; Danny Elfman (1953- ), composer; Annette Bening (1958- ), actress; Rupert Everett (1959- ), actor; Melissa Etheridge (1961- ), singer; Carmelo Anthony (1984- ), basketball player.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1990, Rickey Henderson broke Ty Cobb's American League career stolen base record when he stole his 893rd base.

TODAY'S FACT: Rhode Island's constitution identifies the state's official name as the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." -- John F. Kennedy

TODAY'S NUMBER: 18 -- Academy Awards ceremonies for which legendary entertainer Bob Hope served as host or co-host.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (May 28) and full moon (June 4).

Today is the 149th day of 2012 and the 70th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1588, the first of 130 ships in the Spanish Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, bound for the English Channel.

In 1937, the government of Germany formed the automobile company that would later be known as Volkswagen.

In 1961, Peter Benenson formed Amnesty International.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Thomas Moore (1779-1852), poet; Jim Thorpe (1888-1953), multisport athlete; Ian Fleming (1908-1964), novelist; Jerry West (1938- ), basketball player; Rudy Giuliani (1944- ), politician; John Fogerty (1945- ), musician; Kylie Minogue (1968- ), singer; Carey Mulligan (1985- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1957, Major League Baseball's National League owners unanimously approved the moves of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to the West Coast.

TODAY'S FACT: Between 1939 and 2003, Volkswagen produced more than 21 million Beetles, which made the car the most produced vehicle model of all time.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "All that's bright must fade, the brightest still the fleetest; all that's sweet was made but to be lost when sweetest." -- Thomas Moore

TODAY'S NUMBER: 3 million -- members of Amnesty International in more than 150 nations.

TODAY'S MOON: First quarter moon (May 28).

Today is the 148th day of 2012 and the 69th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1937, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, responding to German World War II victories, proclaimed an "unlimited national emergency."

In 1999, a United Nations tribunal indicted Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for crimes against humanity.

In 2006, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake on the island of Java, Indonesia, killed nearly 6,000 people and injured more than 38,000.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Isadora Duncan (1877-1927), dancer; Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961), mystery writer; Rachel Carson (1907-1964), biologist/environmentalist; Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978), politician/U.S. vice president; Sam Snead (1912-2002), golfer; Henry Kissinger (1923- ), former secretary of state; Frank Thomas (1968- ), baseball player; Paul Bettany (1971- ), actor; Jack McBrayer (1973- ), actor; Andre "3000" Benjamin (1975- ), musician/actor; Jamie Oliver (1975- ), chef/activist; Chris Colfer (1990- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1972, Mark Donohue won the Indianapolis 500 with a record-setting average speed of 163.645 mph.

TODAY'S FACT: President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were not only Allied leaders in World War II; they were seventh cousins once removed, through Roosevelt's mother.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The Senate is a place filled with good will and good intentions, and if the road to hell is paved with them, then it's a pretty good detour." -- Hubert Humphrey

TODAY'S NUMBER: 1.9 billion -- vehicles that have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge since it opened in 1937.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (May 20) and first quarter (May 28).