Today is the 249th day of 2012 and the 78th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia.

In 1957, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," a defining novel of the postwar generation, was published by Viking Press.

In 2005, President George W. Bush nominated John G. Roberts for chief justice of the United States.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jesse James (1847-1882), legendary outlaw; Arthur Nielsen (1897-1980), market researcher; Darryl Zanuck (1902-1979), film producer; John Cage (1912-1992), composer; Bob Newhart (1929- ), comedian/actor; William Devane (1939- ), actor; Raquel Welch (1940- ), actress/model, Michael Keaton (1951- ), actor; Rose McGowan (1973-), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Palestinian terrorists took hostage and eventually killed 11 Israelis, including an Olympic wrestling coach and a weightlifter.

TODAY'S FACT: Jack Kerouac typed the manuscript of "On the Road" on a 120-foot-long scroll of paper.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "If two men on the same job agree all the time, then one is unnecessary. If they disagree all the time, then both are useless." -- Darryl Zanuck

TODAY'S NUMBER: 12 -- colonies represented at the First Continental Congress in 1774. Georgia declined to send delegates.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Aug. 31) and last quarter (Sept. 8).

Today is the 248th day of 2012 and the 77th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1888, George Eastman patented his roll-film camera and registered the Kodak trademark.

In 1917, the U.S. expeditionary force suffered its first World War I fatalities in France.

In 2002, Kelly Clarkson became the first winner on the "American" Idol TV series.

In 1998, graduate students Sergey Brin and Larry Page filed paperwork to incorporate Google, their 2-year-old research project.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Richard Wright (1908-1960), writer; Paul Harvey (1918-2009), radio broadcaster; Tom Watson (1949- ), professional golfer; Damon Wayans (1960- ), actor/comedian; Mike Piazza (1968- ), baseball player; Beyonce Knowles (1981- ), singer/actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1993, New York Yankee pitcher Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand, pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians.

TODAY'S FACT: According to Billboard, the most successful "American Idol" winners are Kelly Clarkson, who won the first season in 2002, and Carrie Underwood, who won season four in 2005.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "It's not the disability that defines you, it's how you deal with the challenges the disability presents you with." -- Jim Abbott

TODAY'S NUMBER: $37.9 billion -- revenue Google recorded in 2011.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Aug. 31) and last quarter (Sept. 8).

Today is the 247th day of 2012 and the 76th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1783, the signing of the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War.

In 1838, abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Baltimore.

In 1976, the unmanned Viking II landed on the surface of Mars to take the first close-up color photos of the planet's surface.

In 2008, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, newly announced as Sen. John McCain's presidential running mate and the first Republican woman nominated for the vice presidency, spoke before delegates at the Republican National Convention.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Louis Sullivan (1856-1924), architect; Kitty Carlisle (1910-2007), actress; Anne Jackson (1926- ), actress; Eileen Brennan (1932- ), actress; Charlie Sheen (1965- ), actor; Shaun White (1986- ), snowboarder/skateboarder.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1970, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi died at age 57.

TODAY'S FACT: The Viking photographs of Mars suggested that large amounts of water were once present on Mars, but the mission's chief aim -- to determine if life existed on the planet -- was not achieved.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "A school without football is in danger of deteriorating into a medieval study hall." -- Vince Lombardi

TODAY'S NUMBER: 12 -- record number of Winter X Games gold medals claimed by Shaun White from 2003 to 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Aug. 31) and last quarter (Sept. 8).