SEPTEMBER 9TH

Today is Tuesday, Septemner 9, the 253rd day of 2008.
There are 113 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

• On September 9, 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term "United States" official, replacing "United Colonies."

On this date:

• In 1830, Charles Durant flew a balloon from New York City across the Hudson River to Perth Amboy, N.J.
• In 1850, California became the 31st state of the union.
• In 1893, Frances Cleveland, wife of President Cleveland, gave birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House; it was the first time a president's child was born in the executive mansion.
• In 1926, the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) was incorporated by the Radio Corporation of America.
• In 1948, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.
• In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
• In 1957, President Eisenhower signed into law the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction.
• In 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y., beginning a siege that claimed 43 lives.
• In 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in Beijing at age 82.
• In 1997, Sinn Fein, the IRA's political ally, formally renounced violence as it took its place in talks on Northern Ireland's future.

Ten years ago:

• Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr delivered to Congress 36 boxes of material concerning his investigation of President Clinton.
• Four tourists who had paid $32,500 each were taken in a tiny submarine to view the wreckage of the Titanic 2 1/2 miles below the ocean surface off Newfoundland.

Five years ago:

• The Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese agreed to pay $85 million to 552 people to settle clergy sex abuse cases.
• France's leading undertaker estimated the country's death toll from a summer heat wave at 15,000.
• Twin Palestinian suicide bombings killed 16 Israelis.
• Nuclear scientist Edward Teller died at age 95.

One year ago:

• Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, said in Sunday talk-show appearances that the fugitive al-Qaida leader was "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread anti-American propaganda.
• Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 to win his fourth straight U.S. Open championship.
• Britney Spears performed her new single "Gimme More" in a much-criticized comeback attempt at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Today's Birthdays:

• Actor Cliff Robertson is 85.
• Actor Topol is 73.
• Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Simmons is 66.
• Singer Inez Foxx is 66.
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson is 63.
• Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 63.
• Rock singer-musician Doug Ingle is 62.
• Country singer Freddy Weller is 61.
• Football commentator Joe Theismann is 59.
• Actor Tom Wopat is 57.
• Actress Angela Cartwright is 56.
• Musician-producer Dave Stewart is 56.
• Actor Hugh Grant is 48.
• Actor Adam Sandler is 42.
• Actor David Bennent is 42.
• Rock singer Paul Durham (Black Lab) is 40.
• Model Rachel Hunter is 39.
• Actor Goran Visnjic is 36.
• Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble is 33.
• Latin singer Maria Rita is 31.
• Actress Michelle Williams is 28.

Thought for Today:

"Neurosis is the way of avoiding non-being by avoiding being."
Paul Tillich, American theologian (1886-1965).

"Let's all be careful out there!"