Today is Thursday, August 21, the 234th day of 2008. There are 132 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE:

1791 - Slaves rise, beginning the Haitian Revolution

1862 - British sailor Billy Barker strikes gold in western Canada's Cariboo mountains, digging up $600,000-worth. His wife squanders the fortune and Barker dies penniless.

1959 - Hawaii becomes 50th state of United States.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

"Happiness, it seems to me, consists of two things: first, in being where you belong, and second — and best — in comfortably going through everyday life, that is, having had a good night's sleep and not being hurt by new shoes" — Theodor Fontane, German author (1819-1898).