Simone Russell is a fictional character that appeared from 1999 to 2007 on the American soap opera Passions on NBC. A member of the show's Russell family, Simone is the daughter of Eve and T. C. and the younger sister of Whitney. Conceived by the soap's founder and head writer James E. Reilly, the role was portrayed by three actresses: Lena Cardwell (1999–2001), Chrystee Pharris (2001–2004), and Cathy Jenéen Doe (2004–2007). The character's love interest in the early years is Chad Harris-Crane, but Doe's character comes out as lesbian and pursues a relationship with Rae Thomas. Passions became the first soap opera to show two women (Simone and Rae) having sex, and the first to feature an African-American lesbian. The show won GLAAD's 2006 Outstanding Daily Drama award for its portrayal of Simone. The representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender topics, and Doe's performance as Simone, received mixed responses from critics.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Russell

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1594:

The Portuguese governor of Ceylon Pedro Lopes de Sousa began a failed attempt to conquer the Kingdom of Kandy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_of_Danture

1775:

The Second Continental Congress of Britain's Thirteen Colonies adopted the Olive Branch Petition in the hopes of avoiding war with Great Britain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Branch_Petition

1937:

The Hormel Foods Corporation introduced Spam, the canned precooked meat product that would eventually enter into pop culture, folklore, and urban legend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food)

1948:

Aneurin Bevan, the Health Minister of the United Kingdom, launched the National Health Service, one of the major social reforms following the Second World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Health_Service

2012:

The Shard in London was inaugurated as the tallest building in Europe, with a height of 310 m (1,020 ft), but was surpassed by Moscow's Mercury City Tower four months later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

enormity: 1. (countable) An act of extreme evil or wickedness. 2. (uncountable) Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enormity

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Mystery has its own mysteries, and there are gods above gods. We have ours, they have theirs. That is what’s known as infinity.   --Jean Cocteau https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_Cocteau