Today is the 280th day of 2014 and the 16th day of autumn.
Advertisement
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1896, The Wall Street Journal began publishing what is known today as the Dow Jones Industrial Average as a daily feature.
In 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked in the Mediterranean by Palestinian terrorists.
In 1996, Fox News Channel was launched on cable TV.
In 2001, the United States and Great Britain began air strikes against strategic targets in Afghanistan.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Niels Bohr (1885-1962), physicist; Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975), spiritual/political leader; June Allyson (1917-2006), actress; Al Martino (1927-2009), singer/actor; Desmond Tutu (1931- ), archbishop/Nobel laureate; Thomas Keneally (1935- ), novelist; John Mellencamp (1951- ), singer-songwriter; Vladimir Putin (1952- ), Russian politician; Yo-Yo Ma (1955- ), cellist; Simon Cowell (1959- ), record executive/TV personality; Thom Yorke (1968- ), musician; Taylor Hicks (1976- ), singer; Charles Woodson (1976- ), football player.
TODAY'S FACT: In 2003, the sitting governor of California, Gray Davis, was voted out of office during a recall election. Actor and Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected as the state's 38th governor.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1984, running back Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears broke Jim Brown's career-rushing record of 12,312 yards during a 20-7 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." -- Desmond Tutu
TODAY'S NUMBER: 222 -- points scored by the Georgia Tech Engineers in a football game played on this day in 1916. Their opponents, the Cumberland College Bulldogs, were shutout. The final score of 222-0 marked the most lopsided game in college football history.
TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 1) and full moon (Oct. 8).