Women's Health, Michelangelo, Real Madrid y Mango Sorbet

In honor of the upcoming International Women's Day on March 8, the Women and Family Life Center, in partnership with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman of Tolland, is hosting the 9th Annual Women's Health Conference at the Omni Hotel today in New Haven. Leading medical experts are presenting the most up-to-date information on health, and the event also provides a comfortable and fun way for women to connect with one another. Tolland Patch is here, and we'll be bringing highlights from the event throughout the week.

Today in History

Patrons of the arts rejoiced on this day in 1475 when the artost considered the master of Italian Renaissance, Michelangelo, was born. Some of his finest works include the statue of David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Also an accomplished poet, he worked until his death at age 88.

On March 6, 1857, the Supreme Court issued the inflammatory Dred Scott ruling, voted in favor of slave states, allowing slave owners to bring their slaves into the western territories. By greeting slaves as property instead of free citizens, regional tensions eventually boiled over into the Civil War.

For those of us who've suffered with a headache that just won't quit, we can celebrate March 6, 1899 as the day when Bayer patented acetylsalicylic acid, otherwise known as aspirin. Originally made from a chemical found in the bark of a willow tree, scientists in the late 1890s eventually produced a lab-based version of the drug that was more palatable and easier to ingest.

Futbol fans recognize the magnitude of arguable the most successful European football (soccer) franchise in the world, Real Madrid.  It all began with a group of enthusiastic fans who founded the club in 1902.

Music lovers mourned 2001 when the wildly popular site for downloading free music met a slow but eventual death as federal court prohibited the distribution of copyrighted material through its peer-to-peer network. On March 6, Napster began to comply with the order to shut down.

Recipe of the Day

Today is National Frozen Foods Day. When I think frozen foods, ice cream, sorbet and gelato come to mind. While it's not yet spring, we might just break 50-degress today and just thinking about sorbet makes think of sunshine, warm breezes and cold, refreshing treats on my tongue. Today's recipe of the day is a delicious mango sorbet with just three ingredients that you can easily whip up in an ice cream maker.

Joke of the Day

In honor of Michelangelo's birthday, a joke for you artists out there:

An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings on display at that time.

"I have good news and bad news," the owner replied. "The good news is that a gentleman inquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings."

"That's wonderful," the artist exclaimed. "What's the bad news?"

"The guy was your doctor..."