Today is the 168th day of 2012 and the 89th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1884, the first U.S. roller coaster began operation at Coney Island in Brooklyn, N.Y.

In 1903, the Ford Motor Co. was incorporated.

In 1963, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.

In 2000, the FCC approved the merger of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. as Verizon Communications.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Stan Laurel (1890-1965), actor/comedian; Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), novelist; Laurie Metcalf (1955- ), actress; Phil Mickelson (1970- ), golfer; Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), rapper; Abby Elliott (1987- ), actress/comedian.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1998, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1, winning the Stanley Cup and sweeping the championship series for the second consecutive year.

TODAY'S FACT: The Formula Rossa roller coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, overtook Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., as the fastest coaster in the world in 2010, reaching a maximum speed of 149.1 mph.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I never change, I simply become more myself." -- Joyce Carol Oates

TODAY'S NUMBER: 25 cents -- cost of one ride on the Cyclone, the legendary Coney Island roller coaster, when it opened on June 26, 1927.

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (June 11) and new moon (June 19).

Today is the 167th day of 2012 and the 88th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1752, Benjamin Franklin, flying a kite, proved that lightning is electrical.

In 1846, Britain and the United States settled the boundary dispute between the U.S. and Canada in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1864, Arlington National Cemetery was established.

In 1994, Israel and the Vatican established formal diplomatic relations.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Edvard Grieg (1843-1907), composer/pianist; Mario Cuomo (1932- ), politician; Waylon Jennings (1937-2002), singer; Jim Belushi (1954- ), actor; Helen Hunt (1963- ), actress; Courteney Cox (1964- ), actress; Ice Cube (1969- ), rapper/actor; Andy Pettitte (1972- ), baseball player; Neil Patrick Harris (1973- ), actor; Tim Lincecum (1984- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1928, baseball great Ty Cobb stole home plate for his 54th and last time, establishing a major league record that still stands.

TODAY'S FACT: Excluding 1,538 miles in Alaska, the U.S.-Canada border is 3,987 miles long.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -- Benjamin Franklin

TODAY'S NUMBER: 2 -- U.S. presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetery (William H. Taft and John F. Kennedy).

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (June 11) and new moon (June 19).

Today is the 166th day of 2012 and the 87th day of spring.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1775, the U.S. Army was established.

In 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the national flag.

In 1900, Hawaii became a territory of the United States.

In 1982, Argentine troops surrendered their last stronghold in the Falkland Islands to the British, ending the Falklands War.

In 2007, Palestine's Fatah-Hamas unity government was dissolved after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), novelist; Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), physician; Burl Ives (1909-1995), singer/actor; Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928-1967), revolutionary leader; Donald Trump (1946- ), businessman; Pat Summitt (1952- ), basketball coach; Boy George (1961- ), singer; Steffi Graf (1969- ), tennis player; Diablo Cody (1978- ), screenwriter; Kevin McHale (1988- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1876, Philadelphia's George Hall became the first Major League Baseball player to hit for the cycle: a single, double, triple and home run in the same game.

TODAY'S FACT: The highest rank in the Army, General of the Armies, was created for John Pershing in 1911. The rank was awarded posthumously to George Washington in 1976.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Any mind that is capable of a real sorrow is capable of good." -- Harriet Beecher Stowe

TODAY'S NUMBER: 1,226 -- billionaires in the world as of March 2012, which set a new record both for number of billionaires worldwide and for their total net worth ($4.6 trillion).

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (June 11) and new moon (June 19).