Today is the 279th day of 2012 and the 14th day of autumn.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1877, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe surrendered to U.S. Cavalry troops after a 1,700-mile retreat.
In 1947, President Harry Truman delivered the first address to be televised from the White House.
In 1969, "Monty Python's Flying Circus" debuted on the BBC.
In 2005, the U.S. Senate voted 90-9 to prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment" on detainees.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), theologian/evangelist; Louis Lumiere (1864-1948), inventor/filmmaker; Ray Kroc (1902-1984), founder of McDonald's Corp.; Bil Keane (1922-2011), cartoonist; Glynis Johns (1923- ), actress; Vaclav Havel (1936-2011), playwright/Czech president; Steve Miller (1943- ), musician; Bernie Mac (1957-2008), comedian/actor; Mario Lemieux (1965- ), hockey player; Grant Hill (1972- ), basketball player; Kate Winslet (1975- ), actress; Jesse Eisenberg (1983- ), actor.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2001, Barry Bonds set a new single-season home run record (twice) with his 71st and 72nd home runs.
TODAY'S FACT: In President Truman's first televised White House address (on this day in 1947), he asked the American people to stop eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays to help relieve food shortages in Europe.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get." -- Ray Kroc
TODAY'S NUMBER: 17 -- chief justices appointed to the Supreme Court in U.S. history.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 29) and last quarter (Oct. 8).