Today is the 304th day of 2012 and the 39th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1890, Oakland, Calif., became one of the first jurisdictions in the country to enact an anti-drug law, which banned opium, morphine and cocaine unless prescribed by a doctor.

In 1938, Orson Welles' radio production of "War of the Worlds" created panic in listeners who believed they were actually listening to reports of Martian invasion.

In 1991, President George Bush opened the Madrid Conference, the first direct, official peace talks to include Israel and all its Arab neighbors.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: John Adams (1735-1826), second U.S. president; William Halsey (1882-1959), U.S. admiral/fleet commander; Ezra Pound (1885-1972), poet/critic; Charles Atlas (1893-1972), bodybuilder; Grace Slick (1939- ), singer; Henry Winkler (1945- ), actor; Harry Hamlin (1951- ), actor; Nia Long (1970- ), actress; Matthew Morrison (1978- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1974, Muhammad Ali regained the world heavyweight title by knocking out George Foreman in the eighth round of the "Rumble in the Jungle."

TODAY'S FACT: Cocaine was not nationally regulated in the United States until 1914, when the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was passed.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I guess the definition of a lunatic is a man surrounded by them." -- Ezra Pound

TODAY'S NUMBER: 24.7 -- amount (in pounds) of candy that Americans consumed per capita in 2010.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Oct. 29) and last quarter (Nov. 6).

Today is the 303rd day of 2012 and the 38th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1929, the stock market crashed in what came to be called "Black Tuesday."

In 1966, the newly formed National Organization for Women held its first conference.

In 1969, the first connection on ARPANET (which introduced technology that would lead to the Internet) was made between computers at UCLA and Stanford Research Institute.

In 2004, European leaders signed the first constitution of the European Union.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Fanny Brice (1891-1951), singer/comedian; Bill Mauldin (1921-2003), cartoonist; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938- ), Liberian president; Bob Ross (1942-1995), painter/instructor; Richard Dreyfuss (1947- ), actor; Randy Jackson (1961- ), musician/TV personality; Joely Fisher (1967- ), actress; Winona Ryder (1971- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1969, New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver won the Cy Young Award with 23 of 24 first-place votes.

TODAY'S FACT: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa's first female head of state.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "There are only two places in the league: first place and no place." -- Tom Seaver

TODAY'S NUMBER: 2.5 -- hours by which the ticker tape from the New York Stock Exchange fell behind on Black Tuesday due to volume of trading.

TODAY'S MOON: Full moon (Oct. 29).

Today is the 302nd day of 2012 and the 37th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1793, Eli Whitney applied for a patent on the cotton gin.

In 1886, Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

In 1919, Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the Volstead Act, which provided for enforcement of alcohol prohibition.

In 2005, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, resigned following his indictment on charges related to the leaking of a CIA agent's name.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966), writer; Francis Bacon (1909-1992), artist; Jonas Salk (1914-1995), medical researcher; Charlie Daniels (1936- ), musician; Jane Alexander (1939- ), actress; Dennis Franz (1944- ), actor; Annie Potts (1952- ), actress; Bill Gates (1955- ), software pioneer; Andy Richter (1966- ), comedian/actor; Julia Roberts (1967- ), actress; Brad Paisley (1972- ), singer/songwriter; Joaquin Phoenix (1974- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2006, legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach Red Auerbach died.

TODAY'S FACT: The "gin" in "cotton gin" is short for "engine."

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning." -- Bill Gates

TODAY'S NUMBER: 8 -- length (in feet) of the Statue of Liberty's index finger.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter (Oct. 21) and full moon (Oct. 29).