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Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and began to work as a sports broadcaster in Iowa. In 1937, he moved to California, and became a well-known film actor there. From 1947 to 1952, and from 1959 to 1960, Reagan served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild. From 1967 to 1975, Reagan served as the 33rd governor of California. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in the 1968 election as well as the 1976 election, but won both the nomination and election in the 1980 election, defeating President Jimmy Carter. As president, Reagan implemented new political initiatives as well as economic policies, advocating a laissez-faire philosophy, but the extent to which these ideas were implemented is debatable. The policies, dubbed "Reaganomics", included substantial tax cuts implemented in 1981. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

St. Anne's Church, Moxi

... that two European missionaries stationed in a Catholic church (pictured) were beheaded by Chinese Red Army soldiers led by Mao Zedong in 1935?
... that Felipe Lara's Pulitzer finalist Double Concerto turns its soloists into a "many-tentacled creature"?
... that birds have more species than mammals, but are relatively more uniform in appearance?
... that in addition to her popular manga series Delicious in Dungeon, Ryoko Kui has drawn fan art of the games Baldur's Gate, Pathfinder and Planescape: Torment?
... that one Italian broadcaster delayed airing Eurovision Song Contest 1974 by two months to avoid influencing an upcoming divorce law referendum?
... that Irish Gaelic footballer Jude McAtamney became interested in American football after reading a Twitter post in 2020, and became an NFL player in 2024?
... that Tim Robards returned to Neighbours in Episode 8851, two years after he had to quit his role early?
... that Franz Liszt's female admirers would fight over his cigar stubs and coffee dregs as souvenirs?

In the news

Saulos Chilima

A plane crash in Mzimba, Malawi, kills ten people, including Vice President Saulos Chilima (pictured).
In the Indian general election, the National Democratic Alliance, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is re-elected with a reduced majority.
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft conducts its first crewed flight, carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station.
The CNSA Chang'e 6 completes sampling and takeoff from the far side of the Moon.

On this day

June 11

George Wallace protesting desegregation at the University of Alabama

1594 – Philip II of Spain recognized the sovereign rights of the principalía, local Philippine nobles and chieftains who had converted to Catholicism.
1724 – Johann Sebastian Bach directed his cantata O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20 in Leipzig on the first Sunday after Trinity, beginning his chorale cantata cycle.
1914 – Around 2,000 members of European society attended a ball at Kenwood House, England, in one of the last major social events before the outbreak of the First World War.
1963 – The University of Alabama was desegregated as Governor George Wallace stepped aside after defiantly blocking the entrance to an auditorium (pictured).

Roger Bresnahan (b. 1879)
Sheila Heaney (b. 1917)
A. Thurairajah (d. 1994)
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (d. 2014)

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Today's featured picture

Zhou Fang was a Chinese painter during the Tang dynasty, living in the capital of Chang'an (modern Xi'an) during the 8th century. He came from a noble background and this was reflected in his works. He personally painted for the emperor and the themes of his artwork covered religious subjects and everyday life. This ink-and-color-on-silk painting, titled Court Ladies Playing Double-sixes, measures 30.5 cm × 69.1 cm (12.0 in × 27.2 in) and depicts members of the emperor's household playing the board game liubo. It now hangs in the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Painting credit: Zhou Fang

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