Today is the 335th day of 2012 and the 70th day of autumn.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1782, provisional articles of peace were signed in Paris between Britain and the United States, under which Britain recognized U.S. independence.
In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, a major gun-control measure.
In 2004, Ken Jennings' record 74-game winning streak on the TV quiz show "Jeopardy!" came to an end.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), clergyman/satirist; Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) (1835-1910), writer; Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British statesman; Dick Clark (1929-2012), TV personality/producer; Abbie Hoffman (1936-1989), political activist; Ridley Scott (1937- ), director; Mandy Patinkin (1952- ), singer/actor; Ben Stiller (1965- ), actor; Ivan Rodriguez (1971- ), baseball player; Clay Aiken (1978- ), singer.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1991, the U.S. women's soccer team defeated Norway 2-1 to win the first Women's World Cup.
TODAY'S FACT: Mark Twain was not a fan of fellow novelist Jane Austen, at one point writing in a letter, "Every time I read 'Pride and Prejudice' I want to dig her up and hit her over the skull with her own shin-bone."
TODAY'S QUOTE: "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -- Winston Churchill
TODAY'S NUMBER: $2,520,700 -- total winnings of Ken Jennings during his record-shattering "Jeopardy!" run (not including a $2,000 consolation prize for coming in second in his final game).
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Nov. 28) and last quarter (Dec. 6).