UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 356th day of 2013 and the second day of winter.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1864, Union Gen. William T. Sherman sent a message to President Abraham Lincoln that read, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah."

In 1990, Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland's first directly elected president.

In 2001, the first cloned cat was born at Texas A&M University.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), composer; Connie Mack (1862-1956), baseball manager; Peggy Ashcroft (1907-1991), actress; Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007), first lady; Barbara Billingsley (1915-2010), actress; Steve Carlton (1944- ), baseball player; Diane Sawyer (1945- ), broadcaster; Maurice Gibb (1949-2003), singer-songwriter; Robin Gibb (1949-2012), singer-songwriter; Ralph Fiennes (1962- ), actor; Jordin Sparks (1989- ), singer.

TODAY'S FACT: The five Great Lakes hold about 21 percent of all the fresh water on Earth.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Baltimore Bullets 127-120, winning their 27th straight game and breaking the record for consecutive wins in professional sports.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I'm lazy. But it's the lazy people who invented the wheel and the bicycle because they didn't like walking or carrying things." -- Lech Walesa

TODAY'S NUMBER: 33 -- games the Lakers extended their 1971 winning streak to before losing 120-104 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 7, 1972.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Dec. 17) and last quarter moon (Dec. 25).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 355th day of 2013 and the first day of winter.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1620, the Pilgrims went ashore at Plymouth Rock, setting foot on North America for the first time.

In 1937, Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first feature-length animated film, premiered.

In 1970, Elvis Presley met with President Richard Nixon at the White House.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), British prime minister; Josh Gibson (1911-1947), baseball player; Joe Paterno (1926-2012), football coach; Jane Fonda (1937- ), actress; Frank Zappa (1940-1993), musician; Samuel L. Jackson (1948- ), actor; Chris Evert (1954- ), tennis player; Ray Romano (1957- ), actor/comedian; Florence Griffith Joyner (1959-1998), Olympic track athlete; Adam Shefter (1966- ), journalist; Kiefer Sutherland (1966- ), actor; Julie Delpy (1969- ), actress; Philip Humber (1982- ), baseball player.

TODAY'S FACT: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," derided by Hollywood insiders as "Disney's Folly" while it was in production, cost Disney Studios an estimated $1.5 million to create. Walt Disney mortgaged his home to help cover the unanticipated expenses.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2010, the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team won its 89th consecutive game, setting a new Division I record for consecutive wins.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good." -- Joe Paterno

TODAY'S NUMBER: 41 -- adult male Pilgrims on the Mayflower who signed the Mayflower Compact before disembarking on Plymouth Rock.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Dec. 17) and last quarter moon (Dec. 25).

UNIVERSAL UCLICK ALMANAC

Today is the 354th day of 2013 and the 90th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1803, the territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase was formally transferred to the United States from France.

In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the United States.

In 1941, with his army under pressure on the Russian front, Adolf Hitler ordered "no retreat."

In 1989, the United States invaded Panama to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega in Operation Just Cause.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Harvey Firestone (1868-1938), business magnate; Branch Rickey (1881-1965), baseball executive; Irene Dunne (1898-1990), actress; Uri Geller (1946- ), illusionist; Dick Wolf (1946- ), TV producer; Alan Parsons (1948- ), musician; Billy Bragg (1957- ), singer-songwriter; Rich Gannon (1965- ), football player; David Wright (1982- ), baseball player; Jonah Hill (1983- ), actor.

TODAY'S FACT: The United States turned over all parts of the Panama Canal, including its supporting areas and military bases, to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1946, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson won the welterweight crown by a unanimous decision over Tommy Bell.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." -- Harvey Firestone

TODAY'S NUMBER: 2.2 million -- acres of land owned by media billionaire John Malone, making him the largest private landowner in the United States.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Dec. 17) and last quarter moon (Dec. 25).