TODAY IS

It's May 5th -- Cinco de Mayo, amigos!

Tina Yothers, the youngest daughter on "Family Ties" from long, long ago, turns 43 today. Back in her "Family Ties" days, she played the young, cute little sister to Michael J. Fox. Now she's no longer young, cute or Michael J. Fox's sister.

Former NBC news anchor Brian Williams turns 57 today, if he can be believed.

Rex Goh of the 80's group Air Supply turns 65 today. Their biggest hit was "Lost in Love." But of course, these days, there's an app for that.

Monty Python's Michael Palin turns 73 today. His only request for his birthday is making sure everyone knows he's NOT related to Sarah Palin.

Cinco de Mayo -- It was the "5th of May" when Mexico defeated the French army in 1862 at The Battle of Puebla. 

Cinco de Mayo Facts

• May 5, 1862 - the day the Mexican army defeated French invaders at the Battle of Puebla
• 28.3 million - the number of Mexican Americans living in the United States
• 61 feet - the height of the world's largest Pinata, created by Carnival Cruise Lines in 2008
• 564 - the number of calories in the 12 ounce margarita
• 234,507 tons - the amount of avocados imported from Mexico in 2008

Cinco De Mayo Quiz:

Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico's defeat of an army from:

1. Spain
2. Texas
3. France ***
4. England

The victory celebrated on Cinco de Mayo took place in 1862. How long was it before the enemy was actually ousted from Mexico?

1. Five years ***
2. 10 years
3. Six months
4. 15 years

The whole thing started over:

1. Gold
2. Money ***
3. Religious identity
4. Agricultural land

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated primarily in:

1. The U.S.
2. The Mexican state of Puebla
3. Mexico City
4. Both a) and b) ***

The Mexican figure most closely associated with Cinco de Mayo is:

1. Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
2. Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza ***
3. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
4. Paulina Rubio

The United States didn't intervene because:

1. It was pursuing an isolationist policy.
2. It favored France, a valued trading partner.
3. It was consumed by its own internal problems. ***
4. The governor of Texas asked that it not.

The president of Mexico at the time was:

1. Porfirio Diaz
2. Benito Juárez ***
3. Carlos Salinas de Gortari
4. Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

One group of Mexicans sided with the French. They were:

1. Conservative landholders ***
2. Peasants
3. Zapotec Indians
4. Both b) and c)

Slow Down Day -- In this hectic, fast-paced world, it's easy to become impatient when things don't happen as quickly as you'd like. It's hard to relax in a traffic jam or when the cash register at the supermarket needs a new roll of tape. But there's help in the new book "The Power of Patience: How to Slow Down the Rush and Enjoy More Happiness, Success, and Peace of Mind Every Day." Author M.J. Ryan offers these seven exercises to help you slow down and enjoy life to the max:

Go on a mental vacation.
When you find yourself tensing up, visualize yourself in the tropics or the Alps -- any place you find relaxing.

Enjoy the experience.
Even while doing chores, get into the pleasure of the experience, instead of rushing through it.

Seek practical solutions.
if something irritates you, find an easy way to fix it. For instance, get a pop-top tooth-paste dispenser if you see red at the sight of a loose cap on the sink counter.

Use the pebble-in-the-pocket trick.
When you start to feel irritated, move a pebble from one pocket to the other to interrupt the anger cycle, which will give you a chance to regroup your thoughts and emotions.

Ask for help.
Overload causes stress. Since there's no prize at the end of your life for doing too much, ask for help from others.

Use inspirations.
Find a quote that you like and paste it on your bathroom mirror or in your car. When you feel frenzied, use it as a patience pill.

Encourage others to be patient, too.
Instead of grumbling, strike up a conversation while standing in line. Time will fly and you may meet someone interesting.