Today is the 302nd day of 2014 and the 38th day of autumn.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashed in what came to be called "Black Tuesday," beginning the Great Depression.
In 1966, the newly formed National Organization for Women held its first national conference.
In 1969, the first connection on ARPANET (the precursor to the Internet) was made between computers at UCLA and Stanford Research Institute.
In 2004, European leaders signed the first constitution of the European Union.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Fanny Brice (1891-1951), singer/comedian; Bill Mauldin (1921-2003), cartoonist; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (1938- ), Liberian president; Bob Ross (1942-1995), painter/instructor; Richard Dreyfuss (1947- ), actor; Lee Child (1954- ), author; Dan Castellaneta (1957- ), actor; Joely Fisher (1967- ), actress; Winona Ryder (1971- ), actress; India Eisley (1993- ), actress.
TODAY'S FACT: Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa's first female head of state.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1960, Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammed Ali) made his professional boxing debut, winning a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Certainly none of the advances made in civilization has been due to counterrevolutionaries and advocates of the status quo." -- Bill Mauldin
TODAY'S NUMBER: 77 -- age of astronaut John Glenn when the Space Shuttle Discovery launched on this day in 1998, making Glenn the oldest person ever to travel in space.
TODAY'S MOON: Between new moon (Oct. 23) and first quarter moon (Oct. 30).