Today is the 332nd day of 2015 and the 67th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1895, the first automobile race in the United States was held in Chicago.
In 1905, Arthur Griffith formed the Sinn Fein political party, with the goal of independence for all of Ireland.
In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry debuted as the WSM Barn Dance.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton signed legislation repealing the federal 55-mph speed limit.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: William Blake (1757-1827), poet/artist/philosopher; Friedrich Engels (1820-1895), social philosopher; Claude Levi-Strauss (1908-2009), social anthropologist; Berry Gordy (1929- ), Motown Records founder; Randy Newman (1943- ), composer; Paul Shaffer (1949- ), bandleader; Ed Harris (1950- ), actor; Alfonso Cuaron (1961- ), filmmaker; Jon Stewart (1962- ), TV personality; Karen Gillan (1987- ), actress.
TODAY'S FACT: Randy Newman was nominated for an Academy Award a record 15 times without winning before finally earning an Oscar in 2001 for the original song "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc."
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1979, Billy Smith of the New York Islanders became the first goalie in NHL history to be credited with a goal. After a Colorado Rockies player mistakenly hit the puck into his own team's net, Smith was awarded the goal as the last Islander to touch the puck.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "When I tell any truth it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it but for the sake of defending those who do." -- William Blake
TODAY'S NUMBER: 7 -- Enron's rank among the largest U.S. companies before it went bankrupt in December 2001. Enron stock, which had reached a high of $90 per share in August 2000, plunged below $1 on this day in 2001.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Nov. 25) and last quarter moon (Dec. 3).