Today is the 316th day of 2012 and the 51st day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1620, religious pilgrims aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact calling for the formation of a "body politike."
In 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an armistice ending World War I fighting.
In 1992, the Church of England and the Anglican Church voted to allow women to become priests.
In 2004, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died in Paris.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Abigail Adams (1744-1818), first lady of the United States; James Renwick (1818-1895), architect; Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881), author; George Patton (1885-1945), U.S. general; Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (1922-2007), novelist; Stanley Tucci (1960- ), actor; Demi Moore (1962- ), actress; Calista Flockhart (1964- ), actress; Leonardo DiCaprio (1974- ), actor; Mark Sanchez (1986- ), football player.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1981, Rookie of the Year Fernando Valenzuela won the Cy Young Award, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to win both honors in the same year.
TODAY'S FACT: Abigail Adams was one of only two women (Barbara Bush was the other) to be wife of one president and mother of another, though she never knew it. She died seven years before John Quincy Adams was elected.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory." -- George Patton
TODAY'S NUMBER: 41 -- pilgrims who signed the Mayflower Compact.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (Nov. 6) and new moon (Nov. 13).