Today is the 308th day of 2012 and the 43rd day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 carrying a dog named Laika, the first creature to be sent into orbit.

In 1971, the first edition of the UNIX operating system's program manual was published.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton defeated incumbent Republican George Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot to win the White House.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Walker Evans (1903-1975), photographer; Charles Bronson (1921-2003), actor; Michael Dukakis (1933- ), politician; Anna Wintour (1949- ), fashion journalist; Roseanne Barr (1952- ), comedian/actress; Dennis Miller (1953- ), comedian; Phil Simms (1955- ), football player/sportscaster; Evgeni Plushenko (1982- ), figure skater.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1990, quarterbacks David Klingler of Houston and Matt Vogler of Texas Christian University achieved a combined 80 completions and 12 touchdowns in Houston's 56-35 win.

TODAY'S FACT: Though he didn't receive a single electoral vote, third-party candidate Ross Perot won a substantial portion (18.9 percent) of the popular vote nationally in 1992.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time." -- E.B. White

TODAY'S NUMBER: 162 -- days Sputnik 2 was in orbit. Laika, its canine passenger, died within hours of the launch due to overheating.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Oct. 29) and last quarter (Nov. 6).

Today is the 307th day of 2012 and the 42nd day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that Cuban missile bases were being dismantled, ending a crisis that had threatened war.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making the third Monday of January a federal holiday marking the birth of Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2000, the first permanent crew arrived at the International Space Station.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), queen of France; James Polk (1795-1849), 11th U.S. president; Warren G. Harding (1865-1923), 29th U.S. president; Burt Lancaster (1913-1994), actor; Steve Ditko (1927- ), comic-book artist/writer; Pat Buchanan (1938- ), political commentator; k.d. lang (1961- ), singer; David Schwimmer (1966- ), actor; Nelly (1974- ), rapper.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1991, down 49-14 in the third quarter against Weber State, the Nevada Wolf Pack football team scored 41 points, winning 55-49 and setting the record for the biggest comeback in NCAA history.

TODAY'S FACT: Jimmy Carter, elected president on this day in 1976, was the first U.S. president from the Deep South since before the Civil War.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The food that enters the mind must be watched as closely as the food that enters the body." -- Pat Buchanan

TODAY'S NUMBER: 14 -- age at which Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria married French King Louis XVI and became Marie Antoinette, Dauphine of France.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Oct. 29) and last quarter (Nov. 6).

Today is the 306th day of 2012 and the 41st day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1800, John Adams became the first president of the United States to reside in the Executive Mansion (later named the White House).

In 1848, the Boston Female Medical School, the first medical school for women, opened.

In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty went into effect, formally establishing the European Union.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Stephen Crane (1871-1900), writer; James Kilpatrick (1920-2010), journalist; Gary Player (1935- ), golfer; Lyle Lovett (1957- ), singer; Charlie Kaufman (1958- ), screenwriter; Anthony Kiedis (1962- ), musician; Toni Collette (1972- ), actress; Jenny McCarthy (1972- ), actress; Penn Badgley (1986- ), actor.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1959, NHL goalie Jacques Plantes of the Montreal Canadiens wore the first goalie facemask, which he designed himself.

TODAY'S FACT: John Adams was the only president elected as a member of the Federalist Party.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "It's harder to write songs when you're happy than it is when you're miserable. Who wants to hear how happy you are?" -- Lyle Lovett

TODAY'S NUMBER: 28 -- percentage of American physicians who are women.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Oct. 29) and last quarter (Nov. 6).