ANDREWS MCMEEL ALMANAC

Today is the 306th day of 2017 and the 42nd day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota were admitted as the 39th and 40th U.S. states.

In 1947, designer Howard Hughes piloted his "Spruce Goose," the largest flying boat ever built, on its maiden (and only) flight.

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 K. 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; Michael Buffer (1944- ), boxing announcer; k.d. lang (1961- ), singer-songwriter; David Schwimmer (1966- ), actor; Nelly (1974- ), rapper.

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 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 then-record for the biggest comeback in NCAA history.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "No president who performs his duties faithfully and conscientiously can have any leisure." -- James Polk

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

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 27) and full moon (Nov. 3).

ANDREWS MCMEEL ALMANAC

Today is the 305th day of 2017 and the 41st day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was exhibited to the public for the first time.

In 1800, John Adams became the first president to reside in the newly constructed "President's House" (later named the White House).

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

In 1870, the Weather Bureau (later renamed the National Weather Service) made its first meteorological forecast.

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-songwriter; Tim Cook (1960- ), business executive; Anthony Kiedis (1962- ), singer-songwriter; Toni Collette (1972- ), actress; Jenny McCarthy (1972- ), actress; Logan Marshall-Green (1976- ), actor; Penn Badgley (1986- ), actor.

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

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1959, NHL goalie Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens suffered a broken nose while blocking a shot and was taken to the locker room for stitches. He returned to the game wearing the first goalie facemask, a homemade fiberglass mask of his own design.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a seer." -- Stephen Crane, "The Red Badge of Courage"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 33.9 -- percentage of American physicians who are women.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 27) and full moon (Nov. 3).

ANDREWS MCMEEL ALMANAC

Today is the 304th day of 2017 and the 40th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, in protest of the selling of papal indulgences.

In 1926, magician Harry Houdini died of complications from a ruptured appendix.

In 1941, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, was declared complete.

In 1957, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., established its first American headquarters in Hollywood, California.

In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two bodyguards.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: John Keats (1795-1821), poet; Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927), Girl Scouts founder; Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), Taiwanese leader; Dale Evans (1912-2001), actress/singer-songwriter; Dan Rather (1931- ), TV journalist; Michael Landon (1936-1991), actor; John Candy (1950-1994), actor; Jane Pauley (1950- ), TV journalist; Peter Jackson (1961- ), filmmaker; Dermot Mulroney (1963- ), actor; Vanilla Ice (1967- ), rapper; Piper Perabo (1976- ), actress; Willow Smith (2000- ), actress/singer.

TODAY'S FACT: An outspoken critic of clerical celibacy, Martin Luther married Katherine of Bora, a former nun, in 1525. They had five children together.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1950, Earl Lloyd became the first African-American to play in an NBA game.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "I was never afraid of failure; for I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest." -- John Keats

TODAY'S NUMBER: 7 billion -- estimated population of the world on Oct. 31, 2011, which was officially designated "The Day of Seven Billion" by the United Nations Population Fund.

TODAY'S MOON: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 27) and full moon (Nov. 3).