UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 254th day of 2013 and the 83rd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1857, Mormon guerillas and Paiute Indians massacred 120 pioneers in Mountain Meadows, Utah.

In 1939, Canada made its first declaration of war, joining the Allies in opposition to Nazi Germany.

In 2001, hijacked planes crashed into New York City's World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Virginia and a Pennsylvania field in terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

In 2012, a heavily armed militia attacked the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, killing four Americans.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: O. Henry (1862-1910), short-story writer; D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930), novelist; Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-1983), football coach; Tom Landry (1924-2000), football coach; Brian De Palma (1940- ), film director; Brad Bird (1957- ), film director; Virginia Madsen (1961- ), actress; Moby (1965- ), musician; Harry Connick Jr. (1967- ), actor/singer; Ludacris (1977- ), rapper/actor; Ed Reed (1978- ), football player; Jacoby Ellsbury (1983- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S FACT: John Tyler was the first vice president to assume the presidency because of a sitting president's death. During the term he served, after William Henry Harrison's month-long presidency, Tyler was often referred to slightingly as "His Ascendancy" or "Acting President."

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1985, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's record with his 4,192nd career hit.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "There's a lot of blood, sweat and guts between dreams and success." -- Paul "Bear" Bryant

TODAY'S NUMBER: 4,256 -- total career hits for Pete Rose, which remains the Major League Baseball record.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Sept. 5) and first quarter moon (Sept. 12).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 253rd day of 2013 and the 82nd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1846, Elias Howe patented the first sewing machine.

In 1977, France used a guillotine in carrying out a death sentence for the last time.

In 2002, Switzerland became a member of the United Nations.

In 2008, the Large Hadron Collider was powered up for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Adele Astaire (1896-1981), dancer; Rin Tin Tin (1918-1932), canine actor; Arnold Palmer (1929- ), golfer; Roger Maris (1934-1985), baseball player; Charles Kuralt (1934-1997), TV journalist; Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002), biologist/writer; Bill O'Reilly (1949- ), TV host/author; Chris Columbus (1958- ), film director; Colin Firth (1960- ), actor; Guy Ritchie (1968- ), filmmaker; Mirko Filipovic (1974- ), mixed martial artist; Ryan Phillippe (1974- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: The United Nations, which included 193 member states as of August 2013, began in 1945 when representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw the charter.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1972, the U.S. men's basketball team fell for the first time in Olympic competition, suffering a controversial 51-50 loss to the Soviet Union team on a last-second shot in the gold medal match.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best -- and therefore never scrutinize or question." -- Stephen Jay Gould

TODAY'S NUMBER: 141 -- countries that have abolished the use of capital punishment as of 2013, according to Amnesty International.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Sept. 5) and first quarter moon (Sept. 12).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 252nd day of 2013 and the 81st day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1776, the Continental Congress officially changed the name of the "United Colonies" to the "United States" of America.

In 1850, California was admitted as the 31st U.S. state.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1997, Sinn Fein, the political ally of the Irish Republican Army, formally renounced violence as it prepared for negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), writer; Harland David "Colonel" Sanders (1890-1980), businessman; Cliff Robertson (1923-2011), actor; Otis Redding (1941-1967), singer-songwriter; Joe Theismann (1949- ), sportscaster/football player; Hugh Grant (1960- ), actor; Bob Stoops (1960- ), football coach; Adam Sandler (1966- ), comedian/actor; Eric Stonestreet (1971- ), actor; Michael Buble (1975- ), singer; Michelle Williams (1980- ), actress.

TODAY'S FACT: California did not go through a formal period as a U.S. territory. It quickly achieved the 60,000 residents required for statehood, due to the Gold Rush.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1965, Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly." -- Leo Tolstoy, "War and Peace"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 203.3 million -- albums certified sold by Elvis Presley, making him second only to the Beatles (253.2 million) as the greatest-selling artist of all time.

TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Sept. 5) and first quarter moon (Sept. 12).