UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 28th day of 2013 and the 39th day of winter.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1547, King Henry VIII of England died.

In 1871, France surrendered to Germany, ending the Franco-Prussian War.

In 1915, Congress passed legislation creating the U.S. Coast Guard.

In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff, killing six astronauts and Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was to become the first civilian in space.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jose Marti (1853-1895), poet/activist; Colette (1873-1954), writer; Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), artist; Alan Alda (1936- ), actor; Nicolas Sarkozy (1955- ), French president; Sarah McLachlan (1968- ), singer/songwriter; Elijah Wood (1981- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: A ranch owner in Fort Keogh, Mont., discovered the largest reported snowflake on this day in 1887. It measured 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1959, Vince Lombardi was named the Green Bay Packers' head coach and general manager.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "It doesn't make much difference how the paint is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement." -- Jackson Pollock

TODAY'S NUMBER: 20,500 -- estimated number of genes in the human genome, revised from estimates of as many as 140,000 in 2001.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Jan. 26) and last quarter moon (Feb. 3).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

(DEAR SUBSCRIBERS: Effective January 21, 2013, the name of this column has been changed to "Universal Uclick Almanac.")

Today is the 27th day of 2013 and the 38th day of winter.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1924, the body of Vladimir Lenin was placed in a tomb in Moscow's Red Square.

In 1944, the German siege of Leningrad ended after 871 days.

In 1967, astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward H. White II and Roger B. Chaffee died in a cabin fire during a launchpad test of the Apollo 1 command module.

In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris by delegations representing the United States, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), composer; Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), writer; Donna Reed (1921-1986), actress; Mordechai Richler (1931-2001), novelist; Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948- ), dancer; John G. Roberts Jr. (1955- ), Chief Justice of the United States; Keith Olbermann (1959- ), TV personality; Bridget Fonda (1964- ), actress; Alan Cumming (1965- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: The U.S. Supreme Court decided 75 cases during the 2011-2012 term. Fifteen were 5-4 decisions.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1991, the New York Giants won Super Bowl XXV, defeating the Buffalo Bills 20-19 when Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds. The loss was the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Bills.

TODAY'S QUOTE: " The world itself looks cleaner and so much more beautiful. Maybe we can make it that way -- the way God intended it to be -- by giving everyone, eventually, that new perspective from out in space." -- Roger B. Chaffee

TODAY'S NUMBER: 91.5 million -- estimated population of Vietnam in mid-2012.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Jan. 26) and last quarter moon (Feb. 3).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

(DEAR SUBSCRIBERS: Effective January 21, 2013, the name of this column has been changed to "Universal Uclick Almanac.")

Today is the 26th day of 2013 and the 37th day of winter.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1802, Congress passed a bill that established the position of Librarian of Congress.

In 1950, the Indian Constitution went into effect, marking the birth of the Republic of India.

In 2005, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), military leader; Maria von Trapp (1905-1987), matriarch of singing family/memoirist; Paul Newman (1925-2008), actor; Jules Feiffer (1929- ), cartoonist/writer; Ellen DeGeneres (1958- ), TV personality; Wayne Gretzky (1961- ), hockey player.

TODAY'S FACT: The first Library of Congress burned (along with the rest of the Capitol building) in 1814 and its 3,000 books were destroyed. The library was rebuilt in part through the purchase of President Thomas Jefferson's personal library of 6,487 books in 1815.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1986, Chicago crushed New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX, as the Bears' renowned defense held the Patriots to seven yards rushing.

TODAY'S QUOTE: " Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens." -- Maria von Trapp

TODAY'S NUMBER: 67 -- U.S. secretaries of state who have served since 1790. Six went on to become president.

TODAY'S MOON: Full moon (Jan. 26).