Today is the 167th day of 2014 and the 89th day of spring.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1884, the first U.S. roller coaster began operation at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1903, the Ford Motor Co. was incorporated.
In 1963, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.
In 2000, the FCC approved the merger of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. as Verizon Communications.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Stan Laurel (1890-1965), actor/comedian; Barbara McClintock (1902-1992), geneticist; John Howard Griffin (1920-1980), journalist; Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ), author; Roberto Duran (1951- ), boxer; Laurie Metcalf (1955- ), actress; James Hellwig aka The Ultimate Warrior (1959-2014), wrestler; Cobi Jones (1970- ), soccer player; Phil Mickelson (1970- ), golfer; Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), rapper; Abby Elliott (1987- ), actress/comedian.
TODAY'S FACT: The Formula Rossa roller coaster at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, overtook the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, as the fastest coaster in the world in 2010, reaching a maximum speed of 149.1 mph.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1998, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1, winning the Stanley Cup and sweeping the championship series for the second consecutive year.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "By keeping 'peaceful' in this instance, we end up consenting to the destruction of all peace -- for so long as we condone injustice by a small but powerful group, we condone the destruction of all social stability, all real peace, all trust in man's good intentions toward his fellow man." -- John Howard Griffin, "Black Like Me"
TODAY'S NUMBER: 25 cents -- cost of one ride on the Cyclone, the legendary Coney Island roller coaster, when it opened on June 26, 1927.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (June 12) and last quarter moon (June 19).