Today is the 323rd day of 2012 and the 58th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1883, American and Canadian railroads formed five continental time zones.

In 1928, the first cartoon with sound, Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie," premiered.

In 1963, the first push-button telephones were test-marketed in Carnegie and Greensburg, Pa.

In 1966, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops eliminated the rule against eating meat on Fridays.

In 1985, comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" made its first newspaper appearance.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), composer; Louis Daguerre (1787-1851), inventor; George Gallup (1901-1984), pollster; Klaus Mann (1906-1949), publicist/dramatist; Johnny Mercer (1909-1976), lyricist; Alan Shepard (1923-1998), astronaut; Margaret Atwood (1939- ), writer; Elizabeth Perkins (1960- ), actress; Owen Wilson (1968- ), actor; Chloe Sevigny (1974- ), actress; David Ortiz (1975- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1985, Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann's leg was so badly injured in a tackle by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor that he never played again.

TODAY'S FACT: The average American consumes 61.2 pounds of beef and 58.7 pounds of chicken every year.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I'd like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me." -- Alan Shepard

TODAY'S NUMBER: 4 -- number of major league no-hitters pitched by Sandy Koufax during his career. Koufax, who retired on this day in 1966, is second only to Nolan Ryan (seven) on the all-time no-hitters list.

TODAY'S NUMBER: Between new moon (Nov. 13) and first quarter (Nov. 20).

Today is the 322nd day of 2012 and the 57th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1800, the United States Congress met for the first time in Washington, D.C., in the unfinished Capitol building.

In 1869, the Suez Canal was officially opened.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy dedicated Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Rock Hudson (1925-1985), actor; Martin Scorsese (1942- ), film director; Lauren Hutton (1943- ), actress; Danny DeVito (1944- ), actor; Lorne Michaels (1944- ), producer; Howard Dean (1948- ), politician; Jeff Buckley (1966-1997), singer; Sophie Marceau (1966- ), actress; Rachel McAdams (1978- ), actress, Christopher Paolini (1983- ), writer.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1968, with about a minute on the clock and the New York Jets leading the Oakland Raiders, 32-29, NBC switched to a scheduled broadcast of "Heidi." Oakland then scored two touchdowns in nine seconds, winning 43-32, as thousands of deprived fans overloaded NBC's switchboard.

TODAY'S FACT: Congress passed the Heights of Building Act in 1899, stating that no building in Washington, D.C., could be built taller than the Capitol. It was amended in 1910, allowing buildings to be as tall as the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "There's no such thing as simple. Simple is hard." -- Martin Scorsese

TODAY'S NUMBER: 1,900 -- average number of flight departures and landings at Washington Dulles International Airport on a given day.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Nov. 13) and first quarter (Nov. 20).

Today is the 321st day of 2012 and the 56th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1801, the first New York Post newspaper was published.

In 1841, the first underwater tunnel was completed beneath the Thames River in London.

In 1914, the Federal Reserve System of the United States officially opened.

In 1973, President Richard Nixon signed legislation authorizing the construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: W.C. Handy (1873-1958), composer; George Kaufman (1889-1961), playwright; Jose Saramago (1922-2010), writer; Chinua Achebe (1930- ), writer; Marg Helgenberger (1958- ), actress; Lisa Bonet (1967- ), actress; Oksana Baiul (1977- ), figure skater; Maggie Gyllenhaal (1977- ), actress.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1957, the longest winning streak in college football history ended at 47 games, when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish upset the Oklahoma Sooners.

TODAY'S FACT: The $5 bill is the U.S. currency with the shortest lifespan, lasting an average of 16 months in circulation.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "If you take no risks, you will suffer no defeats. But if you take no risks, you win no victories." -- Richard Nixon

TODAY'S NUMBER: 800 -- length (in miles) of the trans-Alaska pipeline system.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Nov. 13) and first quarter (Nov. 20).