Lat is a Malaysian cartoonist whose work earned him the honorific title of datuk. He was born on 5 March 1951 in a village in Perak, Malaysia, and started supplementing his family's income at the age of nine by submitting his comics to magazines and newspapers. Four years later, he published his first comic book. In 1970, Lat left school and became a crime reporter while continuing his cartooning sideline. His comic about the Bersunat—a circumcision ceremony all Malaysian boys of the Islamic faith have to undergo—made a great impression on his newspaper's editor-in-chief. As a result, Lat became an editorial cartoonist. As he gained popularity through his cartoons in Malaysia, he published his autobiography in the form of two graphic novels—The Kampung Boy and Town Boy. The Kampung Boy was a huge success and gained him international renown. It is published in various countries around the world in several languages. Lat's cartoons provide an unbiased and humorous insight on the lives and culture of Malaysians, who consider him one of their most trustworthy citizens. His admirers include American cartoonists, Sergio Aragonés and Matt Groening.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lat

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1496:

King Henry VII of England issued letters patent to John Cabot and his sons, authorising them to explore unknown lands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot

1940:

World War II: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and the Politburo signed an order for the execution of about 22,000 Polish military officers, policemen, intellectuals and civilian prisoners of war that were captured during the Soviet invasion of Poland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre

1960:

Cuban photographer Alberto Korda took his iconic photograph of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrillero_Heroico

1981:

The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research and went on to sell over 1.5 million units around the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81

1999:

Paul Okalik was elected as the first Premier of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Okalik

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

moonraker (n): (nautical) A small, light sail located high on a mast and used for speed http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/moonraker

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. --Grace Hopper http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper