Today is the 299th day of 2012 and the 34th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit the People's Republic of China as the country's "official" government, expelling Taiwan.
In 1983, U.S. troops invaded Grenada to overthrow a Marxist regime.
In 2002, Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota was killed in a plane crash, along with seven others, while campaigning in northern Minnesota.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), artist; Charles Coughlin (1891-1979), radio host/priest; Minnie Pearl (1912-1996), comedian; Bobby Thomson (1923-2010), baseball player; Marion Ross (1928- ), actress; Helen Reddy (1941- ), singer/songwriter; Anne Tyler (1941- ), novelist; Midori Goto (1971- ), violinist; Pedro Martinez (1971- ), baseball player; Zadie Smith (1975- ), novelist; Katy Perry (1984- ), singer.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1986, the New York Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the World Series after a routine ground ball rolled between the legs of Boston first-baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the winning run and capping the Mets' 10th-inning, come-from-behind victory. The Mets won Game 7 the following night to earn the championship.
TODAY'S FACT: Picasso's final words reportedly were, "Drink to me."
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Show business is made up of disappointments, and it's through life's disappointments that you grow." -- Minnie Pearl
TODAY'S NUMBER: 162 -- weight (in tons) of the statue Pablo Picasso designed for the Daley Plaza in Chicago. It was unveiled in 1967.
TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (Oct. 21) and full moon (Oct. 29).