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Spalding Gray, 62, vanished from his New York apartment (his body was found two months later in the East River). Novelist Alexandra Ripley died in Richmond, Va., at age 70.
• Five years ago: Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrived in Afghanistan, where he pledged long-term American support. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Europe and in Lebanon against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was commissioned with its namesake, the 41st president, and other members of the Bush family on hand for the ceremonies at Naval Station Norfolk.
• One year ago: President Barack Obama nominated White House chief of staff Jack Lew to be treasury secretary. Vice President Joe Biden met with representatives from the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups as he worked on recommendations to curb gun violence. A series of bombings in different parts of Pakistan killed nearly 200 people. Three Kurdish women, including a founder of a militant separatist group battling Turkish troops, were found shot to death in Paris. Major League Baseball announced it would test for human growth hormone throughout the regular season and increase efforts to detect abnormal levels of testosterone.
• Today's Birthdays: Opera singer Sherrill Milnes is 79. Blues artist Eddy Clearwater is 79. Rock singer-musician Ronnie Hawkins is 79. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Willie McCovey is 76. Movie director Walter Hill is 74. Singer Frank Sinatra Jr. is 70. Singer Rod Stewart is 69. Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 66. Actor William Sanderson is 66. Boxing Hall of Famer and entrepreneur George Foreman is 65. Roots rock singer Alejandro Escovedo is 63. Rock musician Scott Thurston (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) is 62. Singer Pat Benatar is 61. Hall of Fame race car driver and team owner Bobby Rahal is 61. Rock musician Michael Schenker is 59. Singer Shawn Colvin is 58. Rock singer-musician Curt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets) is 55. Actor Evan Handler is 53. Rock singer Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies) is 50. Actress Trini Alvarado is 47. Rock musician Matt Roberts is 36. Rock singer Brent Smith (Shinedown) is 36. Rapper Chris Smith (Kris Kross) is 35. Actress Sarah Shahi is 34.
• Thought for Today: "History must speak for itself. A historian is content if he has been able to shed more light." - William L. Shirer (SHY'-rur), American author and journalist (1904-1993).
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