Today is the 322nd day of 2012 and the 57th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1800, the United States Congress met for the first time in Washington, D.C., in the unfinished Capitol building.
In 1869, the Suez Canal was officially opened.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy dedicated Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Rock Hudson (1925-1985), actor; Martin Scorsese (1942- ), film director; Lauren Hutton (1943- ), actress; Danny DeVito (1944- ), actor; Lorne Michaels (1944- ), producer; Howard Dean (1948- ), politician; Jeff Buckley (1966-1997), singer; Sophie Marceau (1966- ), actress; Rachel McAdams (1978- ), actress, Christopher Paolini (1983- ), writer.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1968, with about a minute on the clock and the New York Jets leading the Oakland Raiders, 32-29, NBC switched to a scheduled broadcast of "Heidi." Oakland then scored two touchdowns in nine seconds, winning 43-32, as thousands of deprived fans overloaded NBC's switchboard.
TODAY'S FACT: Congress passed the Heights of Building Act in 1899, stating that no building in Washington, D.C., could be built taller than the Capitol. It was amended in 1910, allowing buildings to be as tall as the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "There's no such thing as simple. Simple is hard." -- Martin Scorsese
TODAY'S NUMBER: 1,900 -- average number of flight departures and landings at Washington Dulles International Airport on a given day.
TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Nov. 13) and first quarter (Nov. 20).