Today is the 323rd day of 2012 and the 58th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1883, American and Canadian railroads formed five continental time zones.
In 1928, the first cartoon with sound, Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie," premiered.
In 1963, the first push-button telephones were test-marketed in Carnegie and Greensburg, Pa.
In 1966, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops eliminated the rule against eating meat on Fridays.
In 1985, comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" made its first newspaper appearance.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), composer; Louis Daguerre (1787-1851), inventor; George Gallup (1901-1984), pollster; Klaus Mann (1906-1949), publicist/dramatist; Johnny Mercer (1909-1976), lyricist; Alan Shepard (1923-1998), astronaut; Margaret Atwood (1939- ), writer; Elizabeth Perkins (1960- ), actress; Owen Wilson (1968- ), actor; Chloe Sevigny (1974- ), actress; David Ortiz (1975- ), baseball player.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1985, Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann's leg was so badly injured in a tackle by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor that he never played again.
TODAY'S FACT: The average American consumes 61.2 pounds of beef and 58.7 pounds of chicken every year.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "I'd like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me." -- Alan Shepard
TODAY'S NUMBER: 4 -- number of major league no-hitters pitched by Sandy Koufax during his career. Koufax, who retired on this day in 1966, is second only to Nolan Ryan (seven) on the all-time no-hitters list.
TODAY'S NUMBER: Between new moon (Nov. 13) and first quarter (Nov. 20).