Today is the 254th day of 2012 and the 83rd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1846, Elias Howe patented the first sewing machine.

In 1977, France used a guillotine in carrying out a death sentence for the last time.

In 2002, famously neutral Switzerland became a member of the United Nations.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932), canine actor; Arnold Palmer (1929- ), professional golfer; Roger Maris (1934-1985), baseball player; Charles Kuralt (1934-1997), TV journalist; Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002), biologist/writer; Chris Columbus (1958- ), film director; Colin Firth (1960- ), actor; Ryan Phillippe (1974- ), actor; Joey Votto (1983- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1988, Steffi Graf won the first Grand Slam in women's tennis since 1970 with her victory over Gabriela Sabatini in the U.S. Open.

TODAY'S FACT: The United Nations, which included 193 member states as of July 2012, began in 1945 when representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw the charter.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "If there is any consistent enemy of science, it is not religion, but irrationalism." -- Stephen Jay Gould

TODAY'S NUMBER: 97 -- countries that have abolished the use of capital punishment as of 2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (Sept. 8) and new moon (Sept. 15).

Today is the 253rd day of 2012 and the 82nd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1776, the Continental Congress resolved to use the name "United States" instead of the previous "United Colonies."

In 1850, California became the 31st U.S. state.

In 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" for the first time.

In 1997, Sinn Fein, the political ally of the Irish Republican Army, formally renounced violence as it prepared for negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), writer; Harland David "Colonel" Sanders (1890-1980), businessman; Otis Redding (1941-1967), singer/songwriter; Joe Theismann (1949- ), sportscaster/football player; Tom Wopat (1951- ), actor; Hugh Grant (1960- ), actor; Adam Sandler (1966- ), comedian/actor; Michael Buble (1975- ), singer; Michelle Williams (1980- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1965, Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.

TODAY'S FACT: California became a state in 1850 without going through a formal period as a U.S. territory. Its population exploded due to the Gold Rush, allowing the area to quickly achieve the 60,000 residents required for statehood.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." -- Leo Tolstoy

TODAY'S NUMBER: 134.5 million -- albums certified sold by Elvis Presley, making him second only to the Beatles (177 million) as the greatest-selling artist of all time.

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (Sept. 8) and new moon (Sept. 15).

Today is the 252nd day of 2012 and the 81st day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1664, New Amsterdam became New York as the Dutch surrendered Manhattan and surrounding land to the British.

In 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a massive hurricane.

In 1966, the "Star Trek" TV series premiered on NBC.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned former president Richard Nixon for any crimes he might have committed before resigning.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Claude Pepper (1900-1989), U.S. senator; Sid Caesar (1922- ), comedian/actor; Peter Sellers (1925-1980) comedian/actor; Patsy Cline (1932-1963), singer; Aimee Mann (1960- ), musician; David Arquette (1971- ), actor; Pink (1979- ), singer.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1998, Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' 1961 season home-run record by hitting his 62nd of the year.

TODAY'S FACT: More than 8,000 people are estimated to have died in the 1900 Galveston hurricane, making it the deadliest natural disaster in American history to date.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits." -- Richard Nixon

TODAY'S NUMBER: 8,244,910 -- population of New York City, formerly New Amsterdam, in 2011.

TODAY'S MOON: Last quarter moon (Sept. 8).