Today is the 213th day of 2012 and the 42nd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1914, trading on the New York Stock Exchange stopped upon the outbreak of World War I. It did not resume until December of that year.

In 1967, the American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted the first close-up photographs of the moon.

In 2006, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro underwent surgery and transferred presidential power to his brother Raul.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Milton Friedman (1912-2006), economist; Primo Levi (1919-1987), writer; Evonne Goolagong (1951- ), tennis player; Wesley Snipes (1962- ), actor; Fatboy Slim (1963- ), musician; J.K. Rowling (1965- ), author; Dean Cain (1966- ), actor; Zac Brown (1978- ), musician; DeMarcus Ware (1982- ), football player.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1990, Nolan Ryan won his milestone 300th game.

TODAY'S FACT: U.S. trademarks protect words, names, symbols, sounds or colors that distinguish goods and services. Unlike patents, they can be renewed forever as long as they are being used in business.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Sooner or later in life everyone discovers that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who pause to consider the antithesis: that perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable." -- Primo Levi

TODAY'S NUMBER: 11.1 million -- estimated population of Cuba in 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (July 26) and full moon (Aug. 1).

Today is the 212th day of 2012 and the 41st day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1619, America's first representative assembly met in Jamestown, Va.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that created Medicare.

In 1975, former Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared from suburban Detroit.

In 2006, the Democratic Republic of the Congo held its first multiparty election in four decades.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Emily Bronte (1818-1848), novelist; Henry Ford (1863-1947), industrialist/automaker; Casey Stengel (1890-1975), baseball player/manager; Bud Selig (1934- ), baseball commissioner; Paul Anka (1941- ), singer/songwriter; Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947- ), actor/former governor; Laurence Fishburne (1961- ), actor; Lisa Kudrow (1963- ), actress; Christopher Nolan (1970- ), film director; Hilary Swank (1974- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2002, Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game.

TODAY'S FACT: In 1919, Henry Ford sued the Chicago Tribune for libeling him in an editorial headlined, "Ford Is an Anarchist." The jury found in his favor and awarded him 6 cents plus trial costs.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The key to good management is keeping the nine guys who hate your guts away from the nine guys who haven't made up their minds." -- Casey Stengel

TODAY'S NUMBER: 28 -- age at which Emily Bronte finished writing "Wuthering Heights."

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (July 26) and full moon (Aug. 1).

Today is the 211h day of 2012 and the 40th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1907, Sir Robert Baden-Powell formed the Boy Scouts in England.

In 1958, President Eisenhower signed legislation creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In 1981, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), writer/historian/political scientist; Benito Mussolini (1883-1945), Italian dictator; Elizabeth Dole (1936- ), U.S. senator; Peter Jennings (1938-2005), TV news anchor; Ken Burns (1953- ), documentary filmmaker; Tim Gunn (1953- ), TV personality; Martina McBride (1966- ), singer; Josh Radnor (1974- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2003, Bill Mueller of the Boston Red Sox became the first major league batter in history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a single game. The Red Sox defeated the Texas Rangers 14-7.

TODAY'S FACT: The Boy Scouts of America organization was founded in 1910, and the American Girl Guides (later changed to Girl Scouts) was founded two years later.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "In order to enjoy the inestimable benefits that the liberty of the press ensures, it is necessary to submit to the inevitable evils which it engenders." -- Alexis de Tocqueville

TODAY'S NUMBER: 700 million -- estimated number of people worldwide who watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer on television.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (July 26) and full moon (August 1).